No Elvis Biography Tells All —
Gaps in Elvis History Need Filling

Is there room for another Elvis biography? You wouldn't think so. Three widely known ones have been published. Jerry Hopkins wrote the first one, Elvis: The Biography, in 1971 and followed it up with a second volume in 1981. That same year Albert Goldman's controversial biography, Elvis, was published. However, Peter Guralnick's two-volume work is currently considered the definitive Presley biography. His Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley appeared in 1994, followed by Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley in 1999.

However, the fact is that, as lengthy as past biographies have been, they only provide an overview of the eventful life of Elvis Presley. There are gaps waiting to be investigated and reported on in detail.

His biographers have given little note to this period of Elvis's life. Hopkins devoted just 4 pages to it, Goldman 10 pages, and Guralnick 11.

When I started looking into Elvis's 1957 concerts, I was amazed at how much information was available but had never been revealed by his biographers. The result was Elvis’57: The Final Fifties Tours, published in 2007.

In Elvis's life there were many interesting and meaningful events that are generally unknown or have been under-reported. Some are serious in nature, while others are simply interesting anecdotes. As I come across these stories, I'll report them here. Check out the links below. Each one fills another small gap in the fascinating life story of Elvis Presley. — Alan Hanson (February 2008)


Elvis and Racism: The "Shine" Rumor The idea that Elvis was a racist lives on, even though the rumor behind it was discredited in 1957

Did Elvis Steal the Music? Some still think Presley stole the music and moves of black R&B musicians in the fifties

Elvis Slept Here So the Columbia Inn Motel in little Kalama, Washington, can claim after Elvis Presley's caravan stopped there on the way to Seattle in 1962.

Colonel Parker Talks About Elvis Movies In a 1964 Variety interview, Elvis's manager addressed criticism that he was mismanaging Presley's Hollywood career.

Presley's Parents Talk About Raising Young Elvis In an interview for a 1956 newspaper article, Vernon and Gladys Presley revealed how they raised their son.

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