Elvis: Priscilla Presley discusses 'acting out his fantasies'
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When Elvis Presley was stationed in Bad Nauheim, Germany, in 1959 he met Priscilla Beaulieu. The would-be wife of the King had moved to Germany after her step-father, Paul Beaulieu, was similarly stationed at the European barracks. Elvis and Priscilla met at a party in his home, where he first laid eyes on the woman who would become his beloved wife and mother of his child.
Priscilla was just a teenager at the time but attended the party as a friend of Currie Grant and his wife, Carol.
24-year-old Elvis’ reputation proceeded him and all eyes were on the star to perform some songs for the group of guests.
In her book, Elvis and Me, Priscilla recalled the moment the King first set eyes on her.
As they were introduced, he called the young girl “baby”, something she was “upset” about at the time.
Priscilla was quickly won over, however, when Elvis turned on his talent and charms.
She wrote in her book: “Then Elvis got up and walked over to the piano and sat down.
“The room suddenly grew silent. Everyone’s eyes were riveted on him as he began to entertain us.”
The King performed three songs to Priscilla and the rest of the room, including some real heart-wrenchers.
Elvis Presley stars in trailer for 1962 film Girls! Girls! Girls!
Priscilla went on: “He sang Rags to Riches and Are You Lonesome Tonight? and then with his friends singing harmony, End of the Rainbow.”
The King would go on to release Are You Lonesome Tonight? as a single the following year in 1960.
The track was a monumental hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Top 40, becoming Elvis’ 15th number one single.
Three months after the love song’s release, Elvis had sold two million copies of it worldwide.
Priscilla added that he also entertained the room by doing impressions.
She continued: “He also did a Jerry Lee Lewis impersonation, pounding the keys so hard that a glass of water he’d set on the piano began sliding off.
“When Elvis caught it without missing a beat of the song, everyone laughed and applauded – except me. I was nervous.”
The singer later left Germany after his time in the army came to an end.
Although Priscilla felt as if she was never going to see Elvis again, they remained in contact through long-distance phone calls.
In 1962 Priscilla’s parents agreed for her to visit the King at Graceland, providing he paid for a first-class round trip.
They also demanded she was chaperoned at all times. This was on top of them telling Priscilla to write home every day.
A year later, in 1963, Priscilla moved to Graceland permanently, providing she attend an all-girl Catholic school, and live with Elvis’ parents until they were married.
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