In 1958, Elvis Presley reaches the peak of his early success. He’s scored a bestselling LP, garnered several number ones in charts all over the world and has starred in several movies, including ‘57’s The Jailhouse Rock, but he is about to hit a metaphorical transport truck; in the years following the Second World War, conscription is present in the U.S. and it is Elvis’s turn to join the army.
So, let’s look at this the way Elvis might have seen it: he has come from nothing to exceedingly successful in several areas of the entertainment industry. He has achieved more than many would think possible… and now he is going to be serving time in the army. The media has always been fast-paced but this is an age when a big record company dropping you could destroy your career. And if Elvis’s fans go onto the next sensation, Elvis is out of a job.
But apparently Elvis doesn’t see it this way; he believes that he is good enough and has good enough fans that after serving in the army they won’t desert him. He doesn’t fight to get off the draft. He feels that it is his duty as a US citizen (of the time) to join up and if all the other men in the country are being called up, why not him?
So, on March 24th 1958, Elvis is sworn in as a private in the US army and, on the 25th, has his hair and sideburns shaven off
Elvis is a good soldier, or so his promotions infer. In the two years that Elvis serves, he rises to the rank of sergeant and is discharged honourably at the end of his tour of duty (served mainly in Germany). Elvis is possibly in the best shape of his life at this point (wait… he is scary thin!) and has met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu.
Though he has released a couple tracks in the army, now comes the big challenge – will anyone remember him!? Well, it seems that his time in the army hasn’t hurt Elvis much at all (unless you count his now seemingly more-reserved stage behaviour as ‘hurt’).
On 23rd March 1960, Elvis’s train to Miami, Florida, is well marked by fans and the press. Later, on May 12th, Elvis performs on the Frank Sinatra show and sparks high ratings. Thanks to his time in the army, men who previously thought he was overly-feminine had no ground to stand on and people who criticized his ‘easy’ lifestyle lacked evidence.
And support from fans? Elvis releases Stuck on You” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (both peaking at number one on the Billboard 100) as well as the movie G.I. Blues which becomes Variety’s second highest grossing film of 1960. Elvis was back, and the world still knew who the King was.
Elvis’s Lessons
Ø When something great happens to you or you are successful, remember Elvis; give back through time, money, energy, participation in some service (it doesn’t have to be the army – charity is a good way of giving back, too) to let others know how much you appreciate their support. And the best bit: the more people you give back to, even if they didn’t care about you before hand, the more people will respect you afterwards.
Ø A little bit of self-confidence and belief in yourself never hurts. When you believe you are the best, you don’t have to worry about going away to give your energy to others for a bit; you will still be capable of remaining the best when you return to your normal work (providing you put the effort in returning to your previous station). But beware. Notice ‘giving your energy to others for a bit”, well it means a bit! Don’t lose your vision or you’ll be in real trouble.
P.S. If you're interested in seeing Elvis in his first comeback, this is a clip of him from his famous Frank Sinatra Show appearance.
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