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Happy birthday! Elvis still lives
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| While it’s been more than 30 years since his death, Elvis Presley’s birthday still sparks bitterweet memories among his fans. He also remains a vital marketing item, as in this Pasadena store-front window. |
By YVETTE OROZCO
Every year, many music fans commemorate the birthday of Elvis Presley, who would have turned 74 today.
Although he died more than 30 years ago, the iconic figure lives in on the media — on countless anniversary specials, music tributes and year-round memorabilia.
But perhaps most tangibly, Presley lives on through those who remember him as one of their own.
“He was a God-fearing man who served in the army when he was called and who stayed simple,” said David Heickman, who spent Wednesday afternoon looking for guitar books for his 13-year-old granddaughter, a budding musician.
That personal identification with the man who was born in Tupelo, Miss., drove a truck for a living and then conquered the world with his talent and persona struck a chord with a generation.
“I remember hearing about how close he was to his mother and that always made him seem like one of us,” said the 70-year-old Heickman.
Janie Orozco was there — at the Houston Coliseum in 1956 when she was 18 years old.
“I remember a lot of people being there and a lot of screaming,” she said. “My sister was screaming, but I was too embarrassed to scream because I was with my boyfriend.”
Orozco’s boyfriend became her husband and 52 years later, he still remembers the screaming and the price of the ticket: $2.25.
“I wasn’t a big fan, but he was the first one to make that kind of music popular,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mary Martinez was searching for her Elvis pin, the one she wears on his birthday every year.
“I wear it as a tribute to him,” she said.
Martinez’s son was born the day Presley died, Aug. 16, 1977, and she said she always knows how long it’s been by her son’s birthday.
“He (Elvis) was so good-looking and he was the king of rock and roll,” said Martinez.
Arlena Eewitt didn’t get a chance to see him in person, but she remembers the famous appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show.”
“I was already married with kids and still liked him, so it wasn’t just the teenagers,” she said.
For all the continuing media blitz during anniversaries and for all the marketing by the Presley Estate, what remains most tangible to Eewitt is the music and the talent.
“He was just a great singer,” she said. “Whatever else he was, he was talented and had charisma.”
In the midst of Presley’s personal struggles with substance abuse, he continued to perform and tour until the end of his life.
Janie Orozco and her husband were there again in 1975, this time at the Houston Astrodome and while the magic was still there, it wasn’t 1956 anymore.
“You could tell he had changed and it was different,” said Orozco.
Every year on Jan. 8 conjures up bittersweet memories of the “King” for life-long fans like Orozco.
“It was sad to learn about his problems, but it didn’t change how I felt,” she said. “He was my favorite when I was a teenager — and he always will be my favorite.”
Although he died more than 30 years ago, the iconic figure lives in on the media — on countless anniversary specials, music tributes and year-round memorabilia.
But perhaps most tangibly, Presley lives on through those who remember him as one of their own.
“He was a God-fearing man who served in the army when he was called and who stayed simple,” said David Heickman, who spent Wednesday afternoon looking for guitar books for his 13-year-old granddaughter, a budding musician.
That personal identification with the man who was born in Tupelo, Miss., drove a truck for a living and then conquered the world with his talent and persona struck a chord with a generation.
“I remember hearing about how close he was to his mother and that always made him seem like one of us,” said the 70-year-old Heickman.
Janie Orozco was there — at the Houston Coliseum in 1956 when she was 18 years old.
“I remember a lot of people being there and a lot of screaming,” she said. “My sister was screaming, but I was too embarrassed to scream because I was with my boyfriend.”
Orozco’s boyfriend became her husband and 52 years later, he still remembers the screaming and the price of the ticket: $2.25.
“I wasn’t a big fan, but he was the first one to make that kind of music popular,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mary Martinez was searching for her Elvis pin, the one she wears on his birthday every year.
“I wear it as a tribute to him,” she said.
Martinez’s son was born the day Presley died, Aug. 16, 1977, and she said she always knows how long it’s been by her son’s birthday.
“He (Elvis) was so good-looking and he was the king of rock and roll,” said Martinez.
Arlena Eewitt didn’t get a chance to see him in person, but she remembers the famous appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show.”
“I was already married with kids and still liked him, so it wasn’t just the teenagers,” she said.
For all the continuing media blitz during anniversaries and for all the marketing by the Presley Estate, what remains most tangible to Eewitt is the music and the talent.
“He was just a great singer,” she said. “Whatever else he was, he was talented and had charisma.”
In the midst of Presley’s personal struggles with substance abuse, he continued to perform and tour until the end of his life.
Janie Orozco and her husband were there again in 1975, this time at the Houston Astrodome and while the magic was still there, it wasn’t 1956 anymore.
“You could tell he had changed and it was different,” said Orozco.
Every year on Jan. 8 conjures up bittersweet memories of the “King” for life-long fans like Orozco.
“It was sad to learn about his problems, but it didn’t change how I felt,” she said. “He was my favorite when I was a teenager — and he always will be my favorite.”
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