August 15-16, 1977.  Elvis Presley was in preparation for his next tour beginning on the 17th in Portland, Maine.

Advance ticket for the concert that never was.

Elvis and his then sometime live-in girlfriend Ginger Alden had some dental work done.

Returning to Graceland, “El” played racquetball on an added-on court.  Afterward, he sang a few songs, one being “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”.

Elvis and Ginger retired to their bedroom.  According to Ginger, Elvis proposed to her announcing a Christmas wedding.  There were several motives.

One.  Elvis wanted a son.

Two.  Elvis wanted his ex-wife Priscilla to know he didn’t need her anymore.

Three.  This was being done to combat rumors the “King” was living a Howard Hughes-type existence, living in solitude, dependent on servants and a large supply of drugs.   “Elvis:  What Happened?”, a tell-all book by his fired bodyguards had been released on August 1st.  “El” had already read an advance copy and was planning a rebuttal – an autobiography of his own titled, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes”.

According to his chef, Elvis had another girl ready to go with him for the start of the tour.  Reason:  Ginger Alden was his first modern woman.  She refused to be molded, frequently stood him up, and at times, seemed uninterested.  The other girl was a ploy to make Ginger jealous.  If all went according to plan, “El” would publicly announce their engagement on the last day of the tour in Memphis.

DRUGS.  Elvis’s stepbrother Rick Stanley theorized that Elvis had saved all of his sleeping medication (three packets) and took them all at once for a fatal overdose.  True or not, drugs accumulate over time.  The narcotics taken (along with the pain medication from the dentist) may have had a cumulative effect.  Intentional or not, the ten drugs found in  his system, built up to a fatal O.D.

COCAINE.  No cocaine was found in Elvis’s system, but according to those around him, he was hooked on it.  The habit began around 1970.  Elvis began wearing sunglasses all the time to cover up his glazed expression.

(Above.  Example of a drug-fueled Elvis singing “A Whole Lot-ta Shakin’ Goin’ On”)

1977.  Elvis was under contract with RCA to record several albums a year.  For that year, only “Moody Blue” had been released, containing his final studio recordings and a few added live songs.  In January, Elvis refused to finish the album because Ginger failed to appear at his recording session.  In June, a live TV special was recorded titled “Elvis in Concert”.  (Released posthumously in October.)  It was the number one rated program of the week.  After a rerun in 1978, it wasn’t aired again except for pirated versions.

STUCK IN A RUT.  As in the 1960’s with the movies, Elvis found himself trapped in a never-ending tour singing the same songs.  A martial-arts documentary was abandoned.  A chance to star with Barbra Streisand in “A Star is Born” fell through because Col. Parker made unrealistic demands.  (Star billing, $1 million upfront and songs from his own composers.)

Elvis continued to sing saying he wanted to bring happiness to his fans.  The King was also being sued, losing money in a bad investment deal and hadn’t saved anything for the future.  Sadly, by age 42, his performances were suffering.  HIs memory was fading, he was unable to move because of his weight and he knew it.

ANALYSIS.  While suicide is not impossible, I believe Elvis’s death was accidental; the causes being a combination of drugs, being grossly overweight and too many years of neglect.  Ginger Alden should have been more alert to the fact of his failing health.  Previous girlfriend Linda Thompson remarked, “It didn’t happen on my watch.”  By August 1977, Elvis needed 24-hour care and a full-time nurse.

Following his death, a resurgence of interest began in his music.  Daughter Lisa Marie would also record three albums before her untimely death from the aftereffects of bariatric surgery.

Lisa Marie Presley with her daughter Riley

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