Biography Elvis had a natural talent for singing and sang in church from an early age. At the age of ten he entered a talent contest. Although he didn't win, his father was impressed enough to buy him an acoustic guitar for his next birthday. On leaving school, Elvis became a truck driver and his main ambition was to become an electrician. In 1953 (aged 18) Elvis decided to find out what his voice would sound like on a record and this resulted in him recording a demo and meeting the studio owner. Elvis was asked into the studio to record, ‘Without You’, and although the recording was not suitable, he was teamed up with two local musicians to cut a country record good enough for commercial release. It was not until July 1954 that they found something that worked. It was a speeded-up version of the blues song, 'That's All Right', and was released as his first single. This record resulted in the trio having a hit tour around the southern States. Elvis’s manager negotiated a new record deal with RCA Records and this enabled Elvis to gain exposure on nationally networked television. No performer had ever been seen on TV screens like Elvis. He radiated sex appeal in the way he delivered a song and moved on stage. His first single for RCA was 'Heartbreak Hotel', in January 1956 which sold over 300,000 copies in its first three weeks. The record eventually sold more than a million copies and spent eight weeks at number one in the national charts. This was followed by a series of huge hits which sold by the million and were still being enjoyed decades later. Although Elvis didn’t write the songs he performed, he was a skilful piano player. Throughout the late 1950s his success was phenomenal. In 1956 Elvis made his debut as an actor in the film Love Me Tender and although he wanted to become a serious actor, this was never possible because he was such a hit in the musicals for which he became famous. In 1957 Elvis moved into his Memphis mansion, Graceland. This was his home for the rest of his life. Later that year he was drafted into the US Army for two years' service. In 1958 his mother died and soon afterwards he was posted to Germany were he was allowed to live off-base with his father, grandmother and some old friends from Memphis. Elvis was discharged from the army in 1960 (aged 25). Elvis topped the British singles chart ten times in the years 1960-63 but in 1964 the Beatles arrived in New York for their first visit to the USA. Beatles records soon occupied all of the top five places in the Billboard singles chart. In 1967 he married Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas, Nevada. Priscilla gave birth to their only child, Lisa Marie, nine months to the day after the wedding. By then, his career was in a sharp decline and his records and films were no longer automatic major hits. He made a determined (and successful) attempt to get his musical life back on course by returning to the concert stage and he played his first live show in eight years in 1968. In 1970 (aged 35) he announced his first nationwide tour since 1957, taking him to nine cities across the USA. Elvis continued to tour successfully during 1971 but his marriage was beginning to run into trouble. Priscilla moved out and took Lisa Marie with her. Elvis turned to prescription drugs and junk food. His health began to suffer and he dramatically started to gain weight. In 1973 Elvis and Priscilla were divorced. The following week he was hospitalised suffering from pneumonia, pleurisy, an enlarged colon and hepatitis. However, he did recover and for the next three years he continued to tour and make recordings. But his health continued to decline and he was hospitalised twice more in 1975. Despite this he kept on touring. He toured extensively in the first half of 1977 and on 16th August 1977 his girlfriend found him lying unconscious in the bathroom. He was rushed to hospital but at around 3.30pm he was pronounced dead. He was aged 42. The official cause of death was heart failure, but a post-mortem examination found that Elvis had an enlarged liver and traces of drugs in his system. Elvis Presley played a huge part in establishing Rock 'n' Roll as the most popular music of the 20th century and more than one billion of his records have been sold.
Astrology - Elvis brought a new type of music into the world in the form of Rock ‘n’ Roll in his own style. He was attractive and talented but many consider that his full potential was never reached as he was encouraged to do the things that made money rather than using his real talent. And because his family were very poor, Elvis probably considered that making money was his priority. The Ascendant or rising sign (your appearance, how you are seen) is in Sagittarius and Elvis was seen as happy-go-lucky and open. With Chiron in Gemini opposite the Ascendant, this could be related to the twin who was stillborn with the Ascendant representing birth, opposite Chiron being the pain of loss and Gemini the twin. The Sun (your personality, how you experience life, your essential energy) is in Capricorn in the 2nd house and this shows that Elvis valued personal security and the material world. Musical ability is also indicated. The Moon (your instinctive natural reaction, moods, habits and your mother) is in Pisces in the 3rd house and Elvis may have been more emotional and sensitive than he appeared. This position of the Moon also adds a tendency to daydreaming and living in a fantasy world to escape the harsh realities of real life. Alcohol or drugs may be used to this end. But this is also a good position for acting and being someone different when performing. Mercury (your mind, intellect, communication, learning, mischief and criminal activities) is in Capricorn in the 2nd house and Elvis had a special gift for making money connected with music which is shown here. There is also mass appeal and planned ambition with this positioning. Venus (your relationships, love, affection, harmony and sociability) is in Capricorn in the 2nd house showing making money from artistic ability and the possibility that his partner was chosen as a status symbol. A love of beauty and looking good is also very important as well as showing off your possessions. Mars (your physical energy, initiative, action and how you get what you want) is in Libra in the 10th house and this shows that Elvis focussed his energy on pursuing his career even when he should have taken things a bit slower. This position also indicates his physical sex appeal as part of his public image and a heightened sex drive. Jupiter (your belief system, expansion and also representing the world of publishing) is in Scorpio in the 11th house and Elvis had staying power, did nothing in half measures and was a force to be reckoned with. He had energy, enthusiasm and was able to inspire others. His achievements were in a great part due to the backing he had of his many supporters. Saturn (your limitations, lessons to be learned, the key to your career, professional performance and your father) is in Aquarius in the 3rd house showing that Elvis had mental discipline but was also prone to depression. His early life was restricted but he had ambition and much originality. Uranus (your power to invent the new, desire for change, originality and unpredictable behaviour) is in Aries in the 5th house and he was a creative pioneer with an original flair. However, sudden breaks in romantic attachments are also shown here and with Uranus square Venus, unpredictable behaviour through love. Neptune (the collapse of your boundaries, mysterious behaviour, elusiveness and dreams) is in Virgo in the 9th house showing an impressionable mind, someone religious, imaginative and creative. Neptune square the Ascendant shows an adverse physical reaction to alcohol/drugs. Pluto (your hidden issues, compulsion and dark side) is in Cancer in the 8th house and this could be another indicator of depression. Elvis probably wanted to have a family and settle down to a normal life, but this would never be possible as he was too famous.
Midheaven (your career, aspirations, public face and what you become) is in Virgo and Elvis was extremely self-critical and needed perfection in his public image. This would add much nervous tension to his character. |
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