Don Canney

It was forty-five years ago on Aug. 16, 1977, that America lost a national icon. A man who had a profound impact on the music we listened to as adolescents and subsequently, decades thereafter.

Elvis Aaron Presley was a man born of simple means in Tupelo, Mississippi, who went from truck driver to international super star seemingly overnight. He was allegedly once told not to quit his truck driving job after an audition because he sounded like a sick heifer. Well, that cow eventually morphed into a designer handbag.

Many of us remember what we were doing when we heard the tragic reports of his passing. I was driving home from my retail job in Burlington, MA, heading to my future in-law’s house to visit my then girlfriend. We watched the detailed news accounts in disbelief.

I recall seeing Elvis’ early appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. The audience was primarily female, screaming so loudly the music was a moot point. At the time, cameras censored him from the waist down because of his gyrations, earning him the nickname, “Elvis the Pelvis.” The man certainly had the moves, causing young ladies of the era to swoon to the point of fainting. The males, who would not admit to liking his music, were probably just a bit envious. Rock and roll was then referred to as the devil’s music.

I was a huge fan, even at the ripe old age of six. With a toy guitar in hand, I can remember doing my best to imitate his every move. All the guys would try their best to look like Elvis, from the attire to the hair slicked down with “hair tonic.” Perhaps Vitalis, Wild Root Cream Oil, Vaseline or Brylcreem?

Nashua’s teens, mostly the females, would flock to his movies, both at the old Daniel Webster and State Theatres. I was a fan of his music, but not so much the flicks. I’ve seen a couple and can remember paying 35 cents admission. Today, that wouldn’t get you a kernel of popcorn. Some would argue that Presley’s movies got progressively worse as time moved on, but most were still big hits that typically promoted his music, such as Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, and Blue Hawaii to name a few.

An Aug. 3, 1956, edition of the then Nashua Telegraph included a piece by a popular syndicated columnist named Hal Boyle. It’s interesting to see Mr. Boyle’s opinion of Elvis then, compared to other influential adults of the time. Boyle stated, “Personally, I can’t see this honest but rich Tennessee minstrel as a national calamity, he may indeed turn out to be a national blessing.”

Mr. Presley eventually became a national blessing and then some. In 1956 he earned more money than the president himself and indeed had more Cadillacs.

When Elvis was drafted into the Army in December of 1957, you could almost hear the young ladies’ collective sighs of disbelief. But Elvis persevered and was discharged as even more popular, turning that experience into an opportunity for another movie, GI Blues.

It seemed less of a shock to the ladies when Elvis married Priscilla in 1967, as many of his earlier female fans were now married with families.

As popular and loved as he was early in his career, Elvis’ life turned out to be quite tragic. There are numerous conspiracies over his death and how he lived his final days. A recent movie raised mixed feelings about his manager, Col. Tom Parker, as to whether he made Elvis successful or led him down the wrong path, causing such an early death. Parker had gambling debts, and it was all about money.

I choose to remember Elvis as the King of Rock and Roll, whose music could get even the most sedentary person up and moving.

I can just see St. Peter himself back in August of 1977 looking down at Elvis with arms open, perhaps saying, “Welcome to the pearly gates, Mr. Presley – even up hear we have enjoyed your music!”

And Elvis responding with his classic phrase: “Thank ya, thank ya very much.”

Don Canney is a freelance writer and professional voice artist. He was born and raised in downtown Nashua with great interest in Nashua history circa 1950-1970. He now resides in Litchfield.