Honoring Elvis–35 Years Later

Sitting in my home, on top of a shelf in the corner of my living room, is a very precious possession–my velvet Elvis.

Yep, you read that right.

I own a velvet Elvis.

Go ahead and make fun.  But I bet this classic piece of Americana is priceless (at least it is to me)!

The painting was handed down from my mom, and to this day, Elvis pops right off the velvet canvas like he did in real life, full of charisma.

It’s hard to believe he’s been gone 35 years now.  I can still remember hearing of his death.

My family was on a road trip, seeing relatives in upstate New York, when word came across the radio that The King was gone.  I remember my mother crying.

I didn’t get the significance of the loss then…I was just seven years old at the time.  But I knew who he was.  And I knew the words to many of his songs.

Years later I would read stories about him…about how he may have fathered other children, including one named Desiree.  Whether that’s true, who knows, and I don’t care to look up the facts.  I just remember I felt a little more connected to him because of it, right or wrong.

And I remember the song “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” becoming one of my favorite songs after that.

I also loved “My Way”, and his rendition of the song that I used to guide my life for many, many years.

I loved “Hound Dog”, too, and sang it over and over to my first baby when he was “crying all the time”.  Hound Dog was my child’s first nickname because of it.  To this day, “In the Ghetto” can make ME cry.

What was your favorite Elvis song? Leave me a comment below and let me know.