By Connie Limon

What is one of the most fascinating things about Elvis Presley is that he was drawn to music on his own and without reference to anyone else’s dreams, plans, or imaginings. He most likely found a means of expression through music that he otherwise was unable to do. Elvis was a shy, dreamy, often described as oddly playful child and actually had a slight speech problem of stuttering. It is said by some Elvis Presley historical writers that on the mother’s side of the family there were a lot of outstanding musicians. It sort of makes me think he had inherited some of his ability which formed the foundation for the massive education he found practically on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee. He lived and breathed music from genetics and inside his immediate family on into his environment. He obviously was a person who learned very well just through observations and imitation of others.

In Tupelo, his uncle Vester played frequently in honky-tonks and at country dances. Gladys’ brother Johnny Smith taught him a few chords on the guitar; however, it is noted that the new pastor, Frank Smith provided the greatest influence. Brother Smith had come to Tupelo from Meridian, Mississippi for a revival in early 1944 and then returned to stay after marrying the Presleys’ neighbor later that year. Elvis bought a book which showed how to place your fingers in position. Brother Smith went over to his house a few times or Elvis would go to wherever Brother Smith was and Brother Smith would show him some runs and different chords from what was in the book. From there, Elvis started playing for the “special singing” portion of the church services. When first moving to Memphis, neighbors and residents really took more to Gladys. Everyone spoke of her warmth and liveliness; however, there was also a sense of a family set apart, a sealed-off world that few outsiders penetrated (Guralnick 1994 Last Train to Memphis).

I am guessing Vernon and Gladys had a deep bond and it must have been a very traumatic event for Gladys to suffer at child bearing, then to bear a son stillborn. Can you imagine the joy they felt 35 minutes later when Elvis appeared healthy and alive. After having one son dead, they probably clung tight to the one that was alive, which was Elvis.

It was reported that Elvis had his own dishes, fork, spoon and knife that Mrs. Presley would say to others, “don’t eat out of that.” “That’s Elvis’. He wouldn’t eat a bite if he knew anybody had eaten out of his dishes.” Gladys would always wash his dishes and set them over on a shelf by their selves (Guralnick 1994 Last Train to Memphis). It was obvious that from birth Gladys and Vernon taught their son, Elvis Presley, he was special, set apart from all the rest of the world.

Early on Elvis noticed how to get the attention of the girls. In the book “Last Train to Memphis,” written by Petter Guralnick, 1994, it was noted how Elvis sat alone on the steps of his apartment house at night, fingering the chords softly in the dark and his voice could barely be heard. His first love was a girl named Betty McMahan who lived in the same apartment building as Elvis in Memphis in the projects. They played spin the bottle in the dark and it was said Elvis was a great kisser. Elvis would pick his guitar in the dark while his mother and dad sat out there on quilts listening. Was Elvis learning to be “nocturnal?” Elvis’s aunt Lillian was one of the first to notice Elvis from a young age liked the company of women. He loved being around women of all ages. He felt comfortable with women. Aunt Lillian said Elvis “would get out there at night with the girls and he just sang his head off.”The girls probably knew just how hard he was trying to gain their attention as well as being flattered. Elvis Presley’s “emotional intelligence” was already developing as well. Females are basically nurturing. Elvis seemed to be a male always looking for the special nurturing of the female and probably is a direct result of his mother’s tender loving care all through his life.

Memphis must have been a wild place with music and different kinds of music coming from every corner.

Elvis was not only exposed to Gospel music a lot coming from the Negro Pentecostal meetings in Memphis, but on the radio was a vast variety of styles that included Daddy-O-Dewey, Dewey Phillips broadcasting from the Gayoso on WHBQ. Just in one segment anyone in Memphis could listen to Rosco Gordon’s “Booted,” recorded at Sam Phillips’ studio, Muddy Waters’ “She Moves Me,” “Lonsesome Christmas” by Lowell Fulson and Elmore James, “Dust My Broom,” all current hits at the time. Rocket 88,” frequently tagged the first rock ‘n’roll record came from Sam Phillips’ studio in 1951. The write up in the paper was if you have a song you can’t get published, just ask Sam Phillips for help.” Morning segments brought Bob Neal’s wake-up show on WMPS, which was hillbilly music and cornpone humor in a relaxed Arthur Godfrey style, then at 12:30 p.m. there was thirty minutes of gospel with the Blackwood Brothers (Guralnick 1994 Last Train to Memphis).

It is no wonder Elvis Presley could incorporate so many different styles into his own entertainment acts. He grew up listening, watching and imitating a smorgasbord of music styles all the while keeping an eye on the females and what seemed to make them jump for joy. It is quite possible Elvis also received some kind of “revelations” about who he would eventually become and his future musical career success.

Elvis hung out a lot at Charlie’s, a little record store in Memphis sometimes alone and other times with friends. The store had a jukebox and a little soda fountain. He didn’t hang out necessarily to buy anything, but just to listen and put a nickel in the jukebox every now and then. The store was a common hang out for teenagers who loved music. Johnny Black, a record store hang out friend, recalls Elvis saying, “Johnny, someday I’m going to be driving Cadillacs (Guralnick 1994 Last Train to Memphis).”

Elvis Presley must have lived in some kind of a “mystical” place starting from a very young age. I am wondering was it because he and his parents had struggled and endured a great loss with the death of his twin? Was he promised a special place in life, and if so, who’s prayers were about to be answered? Scripture tells us how compassionate Jesus is toward the poor and the broken hearted. Remember Vernon and Gladys were members of a Pentecostal church and were great believers in the spiritual aspects of existence. It could have been the prayers of his parents answered. I can almost hear Gladys’s cries out to Jesus, “please take care of my boy.” At any rate, Elvis Presley received an education in Music much unlike those offered by universities (he could not afford college) and one that would prove to the world not all knowledge is gained through prescribed or planned academics. God can make ways where there seems to be no way.

Written by: Connie Limon Visit by website of a journey through the past of Elvis Presley at http://smalldogs2.com/ElvisPresleyGraceland

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