Jimmie Rodgers was cited as an early influence on both Presley and King. Rodgers, another white Mississippian who grew up among Black railroad workers, was also a font of inspiration for some blues singers in the mid-20th century, certainly B. B. King among them.
Elvis' musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager.
He says Elvis's favorite groups were the Harmonizing Four and Golden Gate Quartet and his favorite gospel singers included Jimmy Jones, Jake Hess (who sang with the Statesmen and later formed the Imperials) and Mahalia Jackson.
The Jordanaires backed Elvis on his early television performances, including his "Ed Sullivan Show" performances. The quartet backed him at his concerts, too, including his 1956 Homecoming show in Tupelo.
Despite taking 50 per cent of all the profits from Elvis' career, Parker was no less gullible than the 'rubes' whom he delighted in exploiting in his carnival days. The Colonel himself ended up being the greatest sucker of them all, giving back almost his entire fortune to the Hilton croupiers.
The sum varies from $2 million to $10 million, she says, and as the movie shows, Elvis ultimately decided he couldn't afford to pay and went back to work for the colonel.
No matter where it came from, be it from touring, record sales, his time at Sun Records, or merchandise, Colonel Parker took up to 50 percent of Elvis' earnings throughout his career.
Colonel Parker agreed to turn over all of Mr. Presley's master recordings to RCA for $1 million. The rest of the payment was for movies, television clips and Colonel Parker's rights to a 1977 videotaped Presley concert.
But in 2004, she agreed to sell off 85% of Elvis Presley Enterprises' assets, including Elvis' likeness rights, for around $100 million to music entrepreneur Robert F.X. Sillerman and his company CKX Inc. Lisa Marie Presley retained 15% ownership in Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Whenever he ran into financial trouble he would approach his manager to negotiate a deal on his behalf. These deals generated a lot of money. Elvis would get $130,000 for a one night performance, he could received $1million for a movie deal and $250,000 to do a recording session.
"A few days later when I mentioned Marilyn to Elvis, he said, 'She's a nice gal, but a little tall for me'." "I knew that this was the sort of thing that could ruin their careers."
Now Jerry Schilling, one of the legendary singer's closest friends, is telling PEOPLE how he hopes to see the rock and roll star's legacy unfold in the wake of his only child's death. For him, preserving Elvis's Memphis home, Graceland, is key.
Did Ginger Alden Attend Elvis' Funeral? Yes. As his fiancée at the time, it is believed that Ginger Alden was present for Elvis' funeral. Following the funeral, however, she was reportedly banned from Graceland by Presley's family and had to receive permission to visit his grave.
His music has been influential in rock and roll, country, and pop. Elvis was influenced by many different artists, but there are three that stand out: Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and Chuck Berry. Little Richard was a rock and roll pioneer who influenced Elvis with his wild style and energetic performances.
Elvis loved the twang of country music. He had several records by his pal Johnny Cash, as well as records by Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. His collection includes a 45 of “Ode to Billie Joe” by fellow native Mississippian, Bobbie Gentry.
“Don't criticize what you don't understand, son. You never walked in that man's shoes.” - Elvis often used this adaptation of a well-known quotation.
The iconic Memphis home of Elvis Presley, which had been willed to his daughter Lisa Marie Presley — who died Jan. 12 at the age of 54 — will now go to Presley's three surviving children: elder daughter Riley Keough, 33, and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, 14. Lisa Marie Presley's son, Benjamin Keough, died in 2020.
Elvis Presley's famous Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, is staying in the family following the death of his daughter. Lisa Marie Presley inherited the 13.8-acre, 23-room estate from her rock'n'roll legend father after he died in 1977, when she was nine.
Yes, Colonel Tom Parker did go to Elvis' funeral.
At the time of Elvis' death in 1977, his estate was worth about $5 million (roughly $25.4 million in today's dollars). Lisa Marie Presley inherited her father's estate when she turned 25 years old in 1993.
No, Elvis Didn't Fire Colonel Tom Parker From the Stage at Las Vegas. In the later years of his life Elvis performed several Las Vegas residency shows after the Colonel made a deal to keep him there in order to pay for his large gambling debt.
In 1983, during her 25th birthday, Lisa Marie finally inherited her father's entire estate, which had grown to about $100 million.
Elvis Presley was always reputed to be a free-spender. Estimates place his lifetime earnings anywhere from $100 million up to one billion dollars.
Estate estimated net worth: US$400-500 million
But that wasn't the case back in the day. When he was found dead in 1977, his net worth was only US$5 million, which is worth about US$20 million in today's money.