Elvis Presley’s Birthday: Behind the Scenes of How He Celebrated
Elvis Presley was just 42 when he died on Aug. 16, 1977. However, for the 22 years he reigned as the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis celebrated in many different ways. As Elvis is honored on what would have been his 90th birthday, a behind-the-scenes peek reveals how he spent this special day in the public eye.
How did Elvis Presley spend his birthdays?
Elvis Presley became a public figure around the age of 20. Therefore, he had 22 years of birthdays to share with his adoring fans. The Elvis Presley Blog, which cites Peter Guralnick and Ernest Jorgensen’s book Elvis: Day By Day as a source, reports that Elvis spent his birthday either working or at Graceland.
Beginning in 1955, Elvis rang in his 20th birthday performing on the Louisiana Hayride. For the next three years, Elvis celebrated with his parents, Vernon, and Gladys, at Graceland, extending the party from the family’s big Christmas celebrations.
By 1959, Elvis had been drafted by the United States Army and served as a soldier in Bad Nauheim, Germany. He celebrated at the Hotel Grunewald in 1960, ringing in his birthday with Priscilla Presley and 200 guests.
In ’61 and ’62, Elvis was hard at work on Jan. 8. He filmed Wild in the Country and performed at the Sahara Hotel. In 1963, Elvis and Priscilla spent his birthday together at Graceland, where she was visiting from Germany. He spent the next six birthdays near or at Graceland.
By the time 1970 began, Elvis rang in number 35 in Los Angeles as he prepared for a Vegas engagement at the International Hotel. The next year, the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce named him one of the country’s Ten Outstanding Young Men.
In ’19’72 and ’73, Elvis spent his birthdays at Graceland and in Los Angeles, where he prepped for the Aloha From Hawaii television special. During birthdays 39, 40, and 41, Elvis remained at Graceland and traveled to Vail, Colorado.
What did Elvis Presley do on the last birthday of his life?
On Jan. 8, 1977, Elvis Presley would celebrate the last birthday of his life. He spent his 42nd birthday with his new girlfriend, Ginger Alden, and her sister Rosemary.
The trio spent the day in Palm Springs, California, per Larry Gellar, his hairstylist and spiritual advisor. He shared details of the day on his official Facebook fan page.
Gellar wrote, “As always, Elvis and I were talking while I was doing his hair before everyone got together to celebrate his 42nd birthday. He had an air of optimism, even excitement, as he spoke about the coming new year and the many changes he planned to make in his life, both personal and professional. As he spoke, I felt the fire in his belly getting stronger as his ideas became more focused.”
“For his career, he was finally going to fire the colonel and get new management; he told me in confidence who he thought would be the perfect manager for him. He had ideas for other career changes as well that had been building within him over the years. More importantly, we talked about changes he knew he had to make in his personal life, especially his health, which he admitted he had denied and neglected for way too long. It was great to see him this way and to feel his energy and enthusiasm for life.”
Gellar concluded that Elvis handed each of the wives and girlfriends of the Memphis Mafia a hundred-dollar bill. He wanted them to “have fun” shopping in honor of his birthday.
Elvis died 8 months later
Throughout 1977, Elvis spent the year touring and getting to know his new girlfriend Ginger Alden better. The couple met in November 1976 and she spent the holidays with him and his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
Elvis took Alden and her sisters to Hawaii as part of a private party numbering around 30. However, he had to return to Memphis earlier than planned because he got sand in his eye and feared he had scratched his cornea.
His last televised concert was filmed and recorded for a special that would ultimately air after his death on Aug. 16, 1977. Elvis was at home in Graceland with Alden and Lisa Marie when he died in his bathroom. He was just 42.
His beloved Graceland home is the best place to celebrate Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday. Special exhibits commemorating his life will remain up for a year at the complex in Memphis, Tennessee.
