The Birth of Elvis Presley

I often wonder how a man grows into a genius. Is the path of a legendary artist predestined? Did his environment steer him toward the desire to escape?

Winner of the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Golden Apple Awards, Laurel Awards and a few Grammy’s Elvis Presley qualified as a creative genius.  He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. I’ve noticed in my studying successful leaders’ lives that many soulful people who made a dynamic change in the way others think were born at the beginning of January. According to astrology, the peak period for Capricorns made Elvis ambitious and disciplined, patient and careful, practical and wise, while also at a low-moment acting pessimistic and stingy.

At his birth, Elvis’ twin brother, Jesse, was stillborn. Even though they were separate people, the personalities of twins often seemed to have been divided. Perhaps a part of Elvis died with his brother and he always felt incomplete.

When Elvis was almost three, his father was imprisoned for forgery and his mother  lost the house where he was born. He and his mother rotated between living with family and friends for a year.

Elvis attended the Assembly of God, a church focused on values and searching for the truth. Despite having a modest standard of living, Elvis often gave away his toys to children he felt had less. He continued to give generous gifts to his family, staff and even strangers during adulthood. Elvis paid people’s hospital bills, he bought Cadillac’s and Rolex watches as spontaneous gifts and covered people’s debts.

Elvis relied on music as an escape when he was young. By fifth grade, he won fifth place for singing at a county fair. Recognized as a gifted vocalist, Elvis sang prayers in class throughout his elementary school years. His main inspiration at that point was from his church and the courthouse radio. Before his death, Elvis planned to establish a meditative chapel at the sight of his birthplace. His idea was conceived and became a popular setting for weddings.

After years of dislocation while his father followed work around the state, Elvis and his parents sold their few belongs and moved to Memphis in search of a better life. His performances expanded outside the classroom and he began singing in night clubs and record stores. It wasn’t until July 18, 1953, that Elvis recorded his first song, “My Happiness,” as a birthday gift for his mother. Interestingly, the last two numbers of the year are the inverted numbers of his birth year. Elvis hadn’t perfected how to play the guitar when his career took off but he shook his tail-feathers while strumming rubberbands.

For a feel of his childhood environment, you can visit Elvis’ birthplace, see his chapel, and get to know the experiences of a child who grew into a legend.  http://www.elvispresleybirthplace.com/