11 Things You Never Knew About Elvis Presley

1. Merely Average?

Not everyone recognized the king of rock’s talent right away. In school, Elvis Presley’s music teacher told him he was merely average. Presley was something of a loner, and his classmates often teased him for playing “hillbilly music.”

 

That might be why – although Presley was known to be an eccentric, supremely confident performer later in life – he was shy to perform publicly as a kid.

You wouldn’t know it by his antics later in life, though, on and off the stage. Read on to learn about the not-as-shy Elvis. 

2. Elvis Presley Never Had Natural Black Hair

Elvis Presley, the eternal king of rock ‘n’ roll, is known for a great many things, one of which was his hair. But Presley’s signature black, shiny hair wasn’t his natural look. It was a dye job.

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The rock icon was actually born blonde and started dying his hair when he was young to achieve a more edgy look. Moreover, and in his younger years, Elvis has confessed he used black shoe polish to get the job done. But Presley’s edgy persona wasn’t always channeled toward music. 

3. Elvis Didn’t Really Want A Guitar

The king of rock wasn’t always interested in rock – or music, for that matter. In fact, he didn’t get his first guitar until he was 11 years old. Right after he got it, Presley learned to play and play well.

The king originally wanted a rifle instead of a guitar, but his mother made sure he didn’t get his hands on one. Of course, that would prove to play in his advantage. As you’ll learn, though, Presley would never lose his interest in firearms. 

4. He Never Performed Outside Of North America

By the time Elvis made it big, people all over the world wanted to get a piece of him. He was selling out shows throughout the United States singing “Heartbreak Hotel” and “That’s All Right,” but unfortunately for his fans overseas, they’d have to keep waiting.

While Presley performed in Canada in 1957, he never played outside of North America. It’s curious that the most popular musician of the time didn’t tour the world, and there are many speculations as to why he didn’t. Some of those speculations have to do with his manager, about whom you’ll soon learn more.

5. Just A Regular Soldier

It’s pretty well-known that Elvis Presley took a break from his music career when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958 – something almost unimaginable for a star to do today. And the move gained him much respect from his haters.

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6. The King Met His Wife When She Was 14

Shortly after he was drafted into the army, the king of rock ‘n’ roll was stationed in Germany. It was there that he first laid eyes on the stunning Priscilla Beaulieu, whom he would eventually marry.

 

Priscilla was just 14 years old at the time, and Presley was 24. Entering a romantic relationship with one of the biggest stars in the world came at an emotional cost to the young girl, as you’ll soon learn. 

7. Dating Elvis Wasn’t Always Easy For Priscilla

As great as it would seem for any young woman to be the object of Elvis Presley’s desire, Priscilla Beaulieu’s romantic relationship with the international star weighed on her. It wasn’t always easy to walk in Presley’s shadow from such a young age.

 

“I was kind of lost really in who I was earlier in my life, I really didn’t have teenage years,” she has said. “I learnt so much about him and was with him so much that I thought the way he did.” Priscilla wasn’t the only one to fall prey to Presley’s charms in Germany, though. 

8. Elvis Didn’t Like Spending Nights Alone

In addition to having the ability to rock out like no other, Elvis Presley was known to be gentle at times, especially in his younger years. It is widely believed that the king didn’t like spending nights by himself.

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Some speculate his desire to not be alone while he slept was due to the hardship he faced in coping with the loss of his mother, who passed shortly before he was sent to Germany. In any case, Presley made sure he had someone by his side throughout his service. And, as you’ll soon learn, it wasn’t always Priscilla. 

9. The King’s Romantic Interests

During his time in Germany, Presley’s romantic interest wasn’t limited to Priscilla, who was the daughter of a U.S. Navy pilot. The international star seems to have wanted to acquaint himself with the local culture, too.

 

The king also had a romance with a beautiful 19-year-old German girl named Elisabeth Stefaniak, whom he had hired to handle his fan mail after she asked him for an autograph.

Their romance ended when Presley returned to the states, and his attention returned to the Ms. Presley-to-be.

10. Elvis Only Ever Married One Woman

Elvis Presley is known to have been a ladies’ man, and some might expect that would mean he was married to various women throughout his life. But the king only ever married one woman, and that woman was Priscilla Beaulieu.

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Elvis and Priscilla married in Las Vegas in 1967. And even though the two made an adorable couple, the deeper aspects of their marriage remind the world that they were still human together.

Priscilla has revealed a surprising fact about their relationship that sheds light on how the two interacted away from the cameras – read on to find out what it was. 

11. Elvis Never Saw His Wife Without Makeup

Throughout Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s time together, the king of rock never really saw his wife without makeup, Priscilla has said. The king also didn’t like to watch his wife getting dressed. To Elvis, she said, mystique was very important.

Vogue

“He never wanted to see me getting dressed, he wanted to see the result of getting dressed,” Priscilla said. She complied, admitting only in later years that she always had a little bit of makeup on.

See Original Article at Direct Expose 

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