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Elvis' #1 Pop Singles on Cashbox, USA: Heartbreak Hotel (1956) Don't Be Cruel (1956) Hound Dog (1956) Love Me Tender (1956) Too Much (1957) All Shook Up (1957) Teddy Bear (1957) Jailhouse Rock (1957) Don't (1958) Stuck On You (1960) It's Now Or Never (1960) Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960) Surrender (1961) Good Luck Charm (1962) Return To Sender (1962) In The Ghetto (1969) Suspicious Minds (1969) Burning Love (1972) (The Cashbox chart is now defunct) Elvis Facts: Elvis was 5' 11" tall
Elvis' natural hair color was dark blond
Elvis' blood type was O Positive
Elvis' shoe size was 11D
One of Elvis'( maternal) ancestors, Morning White Dove (born 1800, died 1835), was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian
Elvis' uncle, Noah Presley, became Mayor of East Tupelo on January 7, 1936
The Presley family moved to Memphis on November 6, 1948
Elvis was issued a Social Security card in September 1950 with the # 409-52-2002
In 1954 some of the shows played by Elvis & The Blue Moon Boys were at the Overton Park Shell; the Bel-Air Club; Sleepy-Eyed John's Eagle's Nest Club and the Louisiana Hayride
Elvis' first manager was Scotty Moore, then Bob Neal, before signing with Colonel Tom Parker
The first DJ to play an Elvis record was Fred Cook (WREC), not Dewey Phillips (WHBQ). However, Dewey had the distinction of being the first DJ to play an Elvis record in its entirety
Elvis once dated famous stripper, Tempest Storm
Elvis was filmed from the waist up only during his 3rd and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
In the 50s Elvis was friendly with rising stars, Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner and Ty (Bronco Lane) Hardin
Gladys Presley was 46 years old when she died, not 42, as many books suggest
The Roustabout album sold 450,000 copies on its initial release, 150,000 copies more than any of the preceding three soundtrack LPs. It was Elvis' last "soundtrack" album to reach #1 on the major album charts in the US
Elvis received $1m for filming Harum Scarum (aka Harum Holiday). The film grossed around $2m in the US
Elvis and Priscilla married on May 1, 1967
They were officially divorced on October 9, 1973
Elvis earns nearly $3.5m in 1968 and pays just over $1.4m in income tax
Elvis' return to live performing in Las Vegas on July 31, 1969 was in front of an "by invitation only" audience. Stars in attendance included Wayne Newton, Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson
On January 9, 1971, the national Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) announced Elvis as one of "The Top Ten Young Men of the Year". Elvis spoke at the official awards ceremony on January 16
"Elvis: Aloha From Hawai" made entertainment history on January 14, 1973, when it was beamed around the world by satellite. In the Philippines it drew 91% of the audience, in Hong Kong 70%. The viewing audience was estimated at more than 1 billion
For his 4 week Hilton Vegas season in August 1973 Elvis received $610,000 Sales of Elvis' 1973 album, Raised On Rock, were less than 200,000 units on its initial release
Elvis paid $2,959,000 in income tax in 1973
In December 1976 Elvis was sworn in as a special deputy sheriff of Shelby County (Memphis) by Sheriff Gene Barksdale
Elvis' final live concert was in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977 When Elvis died, he and his father Vernon, were embroiled in an FBI investigation called Operation Fountain Pen More than 1,500 books have been published about The King in more than 30 languages
At Dec 2005 Elvis' biggest selling album in the US is the budget priced, Elvis' Christmas Album, with accredited sales of 9 million units (fingers crossed it reaches 10 million to give Elvis his first "Diamond" award)
By early2006, Sony BMG's "collectors label", Follow That Dream, had released more than 50 Elvis CDs
During the 1980s, tour guides at Graceland stated that Elvis' biggest selling album (globally) was Moody Blue, with sales exceeding 14 million
While Sony BMG estimates Elvis' global sales exceed 1 billion, the company is unable to substantiate this figure. Accredited sales worldwide are estimated to be less than 400 million
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Elvis' stepbrother David Stanley recently took time out of his busy schedule to talk to EIN. David discusses progress on his first feature film, The Headhunter (an Impello Films/Aaron Productions motion picture), and a number of topical issues in the Elvis world.
EIN: Where did filming of The Headhunter take place? DS: Principal filming was in Los Angeles where we shot in and around Burbank, North Hollywood and down town L.A. The airplane scenes were shot in Van Nuys and we also filmed in Pasadena and several other places. We traveled quite a lot during filming so as you can imagine it was quite tiring. EIN: Who are the principal actors in The Headhunter? DS: We had a number of changes prior to shooting. Billy Baldwin, who was to play The King had an illness in his family and was unavailable. In his place we cast Peter Dobson. Peter is a well credentialed actor whose credits include Forrest Gump. Tom Sizemore, an actor who will be familiar to many people plays the role of Ronnie. Tom also has an impressive resume including roles in Saving Private Ryan, Heat, Pearl Harbor and Blackhawk Down. The character of Ronnie is a composite of two or three of the guys who was a part of the Kings entourage. Mark Roston, who appeared in Rush Hour and the Shawshank Redemption, has the role of Frank. Bryan Kurst plays Jeff. Bryan has appeared in the popular TV show, Charmed. Playing my girlfriend/1 st wife, named Katie in The Headhunter, is Danielle Keaton. Max Perlick plays the respected character of Darryl. We also have martial arts master Larry Tatum playing the character based on Ed Parker. I think people coming to see The Headhunter will be impressed by the quality of the actors whom we have casted. We have deliberately used different names for the main characters. There are a number of reasons for this. It would have been too expensive to hire 15 actors to play each of the guys in the Memphis Mafia so we decided to use composite characters instead. The device also allows us to focus is on the David Stanley character, not the King or the entourage.
While "The King" features prominently in The Headhunter we are not trying to tell the Elvis story again. This movie is not about high collers, sideburns and hound dogs. There is no Elvis music and there are also no scenes of Elvis on stage. You will see him about to go on stage. We didn't want to include someone impersonating The King on stage. That never works because there was only one Elvis and nobody can recreate what he did on stage. From my perspective it is also important that The Headhunter be balanced in the story we tell. For this reason you will see several sides to the story. For instance, in relation to Red and Sonny's book, 'Elvis What Happened?', the film will give their side of the story through Frank and Jeff. As with life, things are often not as black and white as we sometimes believe. EIN: David, how did you find it reliving some of the more emotional times of your life? DS: There is one particularly haunting scene which I think people will find very moving. It is the scene on the day Elvis died. It is very powerful and when I walked away from shooting it I had a tear in my eye. EIN: You're now into the post-production phase of The Headhunter? DS: Yes, we now are now heading in to 6 weeks of post production in Dallas and L.A . During this phase we will be doing all the editing, the sound mix and music score. Again, because The Headhunter is the David Stanley story it will feature a lot of my favorite music as I was growing up. ZZ Top, the Allman Brothers Band, Lynard Skynard. EIN: And promotion of The Headhunter? DS: There are several film festivals we schedule to attend. They include The Toronto Film Festival, American film Market – L.A., Sundance Film Festival and Caan Film Festival. We will be previewing The Headhunter at these and solidify national and international distribution. We know we will receive positive reviews . EIN: David, what category of film is The Headhunter? DS: Essentially The Headhunter is a drama. It has elements of tragedy and of course historical content. EIN: Have you secured a distributor for the film? DS: We have been talking with several of the major film distributors, Miramax, Dream Works, Lion's Gate. And we have had pre-buy offers from 22 companies. We are carefully considering which company we go with.
EIN: You mentioned the character of Darryl is based on Charlie Hodge. How were you affected by Charlie's recent passing? DS: I was deeply saddened to hear of Charlie's death. I have very fond memories of him. He was a fun, happy guy. As a mark of respect to Charlie, at the end of the film we will be including:"In memory of Charles Franklin Hodge". EIN: We imagine that making The Headhunter has left you little time for other ventures. Have you been able to do anything else? DS: You're certainly right. Making a film is a demanding and exhaustive process. I still find time though for my other activities such as my motivational speaking through Solutionary Dynamics. Also, I'm looking forward to commencing pre-production of my next film, Predator In The Pulpit, in the late fall. It will occupy most of my time next year as the world marks the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death. EIN: In a recent DVD documentary, The TCB Gang, Charles Stone tells the story that when Elvis died, he (Charles) actually had a plane ticket in his pocket to go to London to book Wembley. Were you aware of this? DS: No I wasn't. EIN: What is your view on Elvis tribute artists? DS: This is a difficult question. Many of the grass roots guys do their act out of real respect for Elvis. And there are some tribute artists who are consumate professionals. When the whole thing gets tacky, well, I think it's a bit like life...sometimes we have to take the good with the bad. EIN: David, did you see the CBS mini-series, Elvis, and if you did what did you think about it? DS: Yes I did watch it. I thought many of the scenes were quite well done, however I did not like the way the live performances were staged. They were not convincing. EIN: The sale of the operational arm of EPE to entrepreneur, Robert Sillerman. What is your view on this? DS: I think this is a smart move for both EPE and Sillerman. For the estate it allows them to ensure Elvis' legacy is professionally handled well into the future by a very successful entrepreneur. For Robert Sillerman, it offers him the opportunity to take the Elvis icon to another level. I'm looking forward to some of the breakthrough things he will implement. The idea of Elvis themeparks, an Elvis casino in Vegas, etc are brave concepts, but if they are successful the sky's the limit for Robert Sillerman and Elvis. EIN: David, thank you very much for talking to us. We look forward to the premier of The Headhunter. DS: It was my pleasure talking to you today and I know fans will enjoy the film.
Click to comment on this interview About David Stanley.... The Headhunter
David, who had endured 21 excruciating foot surgeries before the age five, found himself welcomed into rock’s first family by the man who would become both brother and father-figure, Elvis Presley. He would soon learn that being Elvis’ little brother has its downside, as he had difficulties getting along in school. When the offer from the King came to become his bodyguard, David gladly accepted his place on the road at just 16. Physically imposing at 6’3” and 240 lbs., he was called “The Kid” by most of the entourage. By the age of 17, David was an expert in kenpo karate, carrying a nine-millimeter handgun, and most importantly, had the full trust of the King. The kid had grown up and was a force not to be ignored. Life on the road was both a blessing and a curse. David quickly fell into the lavish rock-n-roll lifestyle – comfortable private jets, power, money, and the company of beautiful women. It would be these same luxuries that would unleash his most personal demons. In an attempt to get his life together, David married Kate, his childhood sweetheart and a former high school cheerleader. However, David found marriage and the road mixed like fire and water, and again he was caught in a downward spiral, the result of the excesses of power, money, women and drugs. In addition to battling his own addictions, David was also witness to the problems that would lead to the King’s untimely end. As “The HeadHunter,” David would become one of Elvis’s most trusted allies, both brother and bodyguard, caretaker and confidant. Through the laughter and tears of the last five years of Elvis’ life, David would be there every step of the way, protecting the King from everything except his own worst enemy…himself.
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Quote: "Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture" (Dr. Gary Enders) Quote: "Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together....which subconciously gives our world meaning" (Anonymous) Quote: "Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis" (humorist Dave Barry) Quote: "He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying" (Greil Marcus, "Dead Elvis") Quote: "I think Elvis Presley will never be solved" (Nick Tosches) Quote: "He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here" (Carl Perkins) Quote: "When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybody...hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail" (Bob Dylan) Quote: "When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley" (Sir Paul McCartney) Quote: "You can't say enough good things about Elvis. He was one of a kind" (Johnny Cash) Quote: "And don't think for one moment he's just a passing fancy....he's got enough of it to keep him on top for a long time" (R. Fred Arnold, Fury magazine, Aug 1957) Quote: "It isn't enough to say that Elvis is kind to his parents, sends money home, and is the same unspoiled kid he was before all the commotion began. That still isn't a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public" (Eddie Condon, Cosmopolitan) Elvis records reaching #2 & #3 on the Cashbox Pop Singles chart: #2: A Fool Such As I (1959) #2: A Big Hunk Of Love (1959) #3: Hard Headed Woman (1958) #3: One Night (1958) #3: (You're The Devil) In Disguise (1963) Elvis Facts: Tickets for Elvis' show on March 29, 1957 in St. Louis cost $2.00 to $2.50
While in Germany Elvis was hospitalised with tonsillitis in October 1959
Despite being an illegal immigrant, photographic evidence shows Colonel Tom Parker traveled to Canada with Elvis in 1957
Elvis strongly believed there weren't enough good songs in King Creole to justify releasing a soundtrack album. RCA initially agreed, releasing two very successful EPs from the movie. A soundtrack LP eventually followed
During the 1960s Elvis had his own football team, Elvis Presley Enterprises, which played in the Menphis touch football league. In the 1962 final, EPE narrowlt lost to Delta Automatic Transmission. 6-13
In Clambake, (Elvis) Scott Hayward's driving licence shows February 23, 1940...taking 5 years off Elvis' real age
In the 1970s Elvis was ofered $5m to stage a concert in front of the Pyramids in Egypt. When the Colonel declined the offer, Saudi billionaires raised the offer to $10m
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