With Presley’s enormous popularity, one would think that he’d been around the world to perform for his fans. You couldn’t be more mistaken. As odd as it may seem, Elvis Presley never toured outside of North America.
His music resonated all around the globe only through records, radio, television, and in his movies. There was “Heartbreak Hotel” and “That’s All Right” to enjoy, while people hoped and prayed for him to travel and perform in their distant countries. He toured in Canada in 1957 but never ventured elsewhere. There are speculations as to why he never held international concerts, and most fingers point to his manager.
Presley's Hair Wasn't Naturally Black
Elvis Presley had the moves, and with this came the graceful swing of his shiny black hair that people loved so much, looking wild and suave in magazine photographs. The color of his hair perfectly complemented his skin tone and accentuated his features, but you’d be surprised to learn it didn’t grow naturally black.
Presley deliberately had his hair dyed black to achieve an edgy effect. It was a gimmick of sorts that he had planned when he was very young. Startling as it may sound, he actually used black shoe polish to attain the exact color he wanted.
Elvis Wasn’t Interested in a Guitar
Elvis Presley didn’t always know he had it in him to be the greatest rock 'n' roller of all time. When he was young, he was just like other boys. He was more interested in owning a gun to shoot at cans in open fields. While we’re happy to report he developed an interest in the guitar, it’s interesting to note that he maintained a fascination with firearms for the rest of his life.
Thankfully, his mother insisted on giving him a guitar instead to distract him from the draw of owning a gun. It did the trick, as we all know by now, and when he picked up the guitar, he discovered this latent ability within him.
He Was Your Typical Soldier
Because his music was as heady as his personality was wild and unruly, not everyone would give Elvis Presley’s songs a chance. Some considered him a bad influence on the youth, a representation of what was wrong with society, something bad that was slowly creeping in.
But Presley would even win his haters over when he decided to halt his career to join the military. He was offered to enlist in Special Services to entertain, but he roundly rejected it to become just a regular soldier, and this practically disarmed the once-guarded crowd, finally affording him his due respect.
Elvis's Wife Was 14 When She Met Him
The army brought some wonderfully good tidings to Elvis Presley’s life. First, he was able to show the general public that he was quite a likable fellow, a celebrity who was down to earth and who shared most people’s sentiments about national issues.
On a personal level, though, the army gave him the opportunity to travel to Germany, where he would meet his soon-to-be wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. She was only 14 years old then. Presley, meanwhile, was 24, handsome, and wildly popular. How would she handle the pressure of scrutiny, the spotlight, and the incessant demands expected in celebrity life?