He sent it over in his limo. She has an estimated net worth of between $500k and $5 million as . On the night of January 26, 1977, just two months after they met, Elvis proposed to her at Graceland. Who was Elvis Presleys girlfriend before Priscilla? Required fields are marked *. Elvis was to have begun a 12-city tour on Aug. 17, 1977. Some of the Memphis Mafia thought that she was no good for Presley. Then came a request from Nichopoulos: He wanted to drive to Graceland to break the news to Vernon Presley. ET. Everybody, quote, knows who took that picture. Ronald Leyser was a director of commercials and was married to Ginger Alden from 1991 until his death. I just froze. One of the many mourners was Ann-Margret, a Swedish-American actress who was once one of Elvis Presleys former lovers. Like reporter William Thomas, who covered the death for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis: She used her name to get in, and then she got her story. Miss Alden, wearing the black dress she wore only hours earlier to the funeral, said she wanted to convince herself Presley was not dead. Some Elvis associates are interviewed out, they said. The excitement of those visits, said Elliott, never prepared him for the events of Aug. 16, 1977. . Elvis, who spoke of his twin throughout his life, grew up an only child in a poor family. Ginger Alden who was Elvis' current girlfriend at the time of his death is selling her engagement ring whichElvis gave her. Nichopoulos--speaking by phone from his Memphis office--declined to talk, explaining, Ive got a bad taste in my mouth from being misquoted.). I think about her a lot., Joe Esposito wondered if the reporter was going to mention what a great friend Elvis was. Said Esposito, For all the things that have been said and written about him--and it seems as if thereve been a lot of negative things--what about the fact that he was a good friend. Of those things Elvis might not have liked said about him, Phillips mused: Honey, listen, Elvis Presley was as full of faults as any damn human being walking on this earth. 6. Who was Elvis's favorite female singer? Moreover, she has a pair of brown hazel eyes and brown color hair. Vernon (Presley, Elvis father) was especially touched., Soul man James Brown had already made an appearance. If you know anything about how TV shows are done, you know thats extraordinary, said West. How much did Lisa Marie inherit from . As legendary rock n roll producer-pioneer Sam Phillips put it: Oh, honey, all hell broke loose.. The alleged plot to steal Elvis body. This after the family decided that a flower should go to each fan who hadnt been able to view the body. Soon, they were in a relationship, which continued till Presely's death in 1977. Ginger Alden - Body Measurements. Some banners had a certain, well, ring. So, of course, I asked him Why? And he looked at me and said, Well, man, its the king. Just like I should know., That is: It was as if the whole city of Memphis got together and worked to produce Elvis final show.. (Bill Doshier Jr/Harrison Daily Times) Barely three months after they had met, Elvis seated Alden in a chair in his bathroom, dropped to his. On occasion, one would reach out to touch his face and caress his dark hair. I was dumbfounded., Elliott bolted to the emergency room (I didnt wait for an elevator--I took the stairs). . She recalled the little moments she had shared with a young Lisa Marie, who had been around 8-9. When the news broke that Elvis Presley passed away, it shook the world to its core. In it, she explains how she met the star and their relationship up until his death. Meanwhile, miles away in Las Vegas, Elvis' ex-girlfriend, Ann-Margret, knew something terrible had happened to the Blue Suede Shoes singer. Did Ginger Alden attend Elvis funeral? "We didn't have years together but it was quality time spent for sure when she visited Elvis and me at Graceland as a young child in 77 and was able to join us on some tours and visit with me at my family home," Alden said. KING ELVIS DIES, . Talking about his wife, Ginger Alden is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and has a body weight of around 71 Kg (156 lbs).7. Co-authors Sonny West and Dave Hebler also did some talking. Red West also chided a reporter: You should write some of the good things down. I was with him for 17 years so, for me, protection was an automatic thing. When Priscilla and Elvis met, Priscilla was 14-years-old, and The King would have been 24-years-old. Ginger Alden and Elvis at Grandpa's funeral. Everyone knows Elvis Presleys relationship with Priscilla Presley. Phillips, who produced Elvis first records (this after a search to find a black sound inside a white boy), received so many calls that you couldnt begin to count em. They came from all over the world--including England, Australia and Japan. . Marion Keiske Who Discovered Elvis Presley? On August 7th, Elvis had rented Libertyland, a local amusement park, from midnight till dawn. A tragic car crash outside Graceland. TV news anchor Chuck H. Elvis Presley, was still wearing her 11 1/2-carat diamond engagement ring as she recalled the final hours of the singer's life. "I'm living it, really," she said."Especially in this footage in this film, it's just been so heartwarming and quite emotional in every way." Already teary-eyed, Priscilla fought to hold back her tears when she was asked to share her memories of Elvis' funeral. And everyone wanted it.. Just look at her face, she is devastated she didn't care what she had on, the love of her life had just died, they hadn't been apart that long and maybe she was hoping they could . After they met, the two would go on to have a romance for over a year. Elvis Presley: What the Kings Father Explained to His Sons Co-Star Ann-Margret at His Funeral. Some fans left the cemetery with chunks of grass ripped from the ground near the mausoleum. Of Elvis problems with drugs, Klein stressed, They were prescription drugs--not illicit drugs., Not that he didnt have colorful exploits with Elvis. Submitted by, George Vreeland Hill. THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL LIVES ON--TEN YEARS AFTER HIS TRAGIC DEATH--National Enquirer. ELVIS--TEN YEARS AFTER, THE LEGEND GROWS--Newsweek. But, he stated, Elvis did suffer from a medication problem at times.. A decade ago, however, not all of Elvis associates would talk for the record. Elvis road manager, Joe Esposito (who has not written a Elvis book), summed up the mania this way: Thereve been books written about Elvis by close friends he never knew he had.. Read the book the world is talking about, screamed the headlines. Reporters sought the answers among the people who had known him. Well, covering Elvis was a war, too. You know what Im saying? Meanwhile, over at the Commercial Appeal, Lawrence Buser managed to land an interview with Elvis final fiancee, Ginger Alden (who was also interviewed by the National Enquirer). British Press said: KING ELVIS DEAD AT 42 AND ALONE. 5. The books timing also resulted in a then-staggering order for 2 million copies. Except when it came to what you hear on those records. The two were engaged until his untimely death in 1977. Though he wasnt technically invited to Elvis services, Murray didnt let that stop him. Im going to the bathroom to read. Those were the words Elvis Presley said to his fiancee, Ginger Alden, early in the morning of August 16, 1977, at his Memphis mansion, Graceland. Ron and Elvis both died on August 16. It was also grim timing that Elvis death had come just after the publication of the tell-all paperback. It was the story for the next two weeks.. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. We were going, going, going. Like Bill E. Burk, reporter/columnist with the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. She didnt love himshe didnt even want to be around him. The memorial headstone is not placed next to his father, mother, brother, and grandmother. Such visits meant fielding phone calls from fans, processing increased mail (He always got lots of teddy bears) and, of course, responding to the press. The interview was carried out by Nancy Anderson who Elvis had previously met as the West Coast editor of Photoplay magazine. Presley became close to both parents and formed an especially close bond with his mother. Now the district manager for the state of Tennessee for Guardian Plans Inc., a division of Service Corp. International, Kendall oversees agents who sell prearranged funerals. A number of Elvis employees followed. . HE BECAME EVEN MORE OF A MYSTERY in death than he had been in life. 8. Elvis Presley died 10 years ago this day. For three and a half hours, fans filed by the open coffin to catch a glimpse of Elvis, who was dressed in cream-colored suit, blue shirt and striped tie. I cannot. Like the one in the Washington Posts Style section: ALL SHOOK UP ON THE DAY THE 50s DIED. They put Elvis, in his blue pajamas, into Unit No. All this stuff Im telling you is in the first couple chapters of my book.. Performers who had worked with The King through the years, the Statesmen, Kathy Westmoreland, J.D. Who was Elvis Presleys girlfriend Ginger? I said, To hell with it. . Nothing appointed or anything. Gladys casket (made of seamless copper like her sons) was then disinterred and placed into the crypt just below his, in a gated room in the mausoleum, according to the Graceland house and museum website. Elvis Presleys Manager Joe Espositio confirms that while on the set in Hollywood filming some of his movies in the 1960s they crossed paths many times. Elvis Presleys grandson Benjamin Keough buried in Graceland alongside King of Rock and Roll. Then there was the controversy concerning the death itself. Alden was reportedly the last person to see him alive, and she still has fond memories of her short time with The King. His stays came complete with entourage, girlfriends and orders to tin-foil the windows so that he could sleep during the daytime hours. But they dont really.. She was always disappointing him. Dr. Nichopoulos finally pronounced Elvis Presley dead at 3:30 p.m. His body, which was becoming bloated, was moved to the hospital morgue on the second floor. Wed always been such Kennedy supporters, you know. Elvis Gold Piano Elvis Piano at Graceland. A run on sales of Elvis records. The press descended like a flood. When Priscilla and Elvis met, Priscilla was 14-years-old, and The King would have been 24-years-old. Matthew McConaughey Voices Elvis Presley in Priscilla-Approved Animated Series Agent Elvis From the Nevada State Journal came, simply: NONE BIGGER. But fans and souvenir seekers frequently tampered with his grave, so Presley and his mother Gladys were moved to their current and so far, final resting place at Graceland. . Can you imagine what all went on? The RCA plant in Indianapolis worked 24 hours a day. So the rush was on. We were in a tough situation--because we knew Elvis Presley was dead, but we also had an obligation to his family. Speaking about the film, Priscilla said her work on such projects allows her to experience Elvis' life all over again. heart failure Gladys Presley was only 46 when she died, after being hospitalized with hepatitis in 1958, when Elvis was undergoing basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, after being drafted into the Army. Money only goes so far. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. . He had planned to announce their engagement publicly on his upcoming tour in Memphis; sadly, he died before this could happen. I had the Penthouse. Three men captured in a stakeout near Elvis tomb were accused of attempting to steal Elvis body and hold it for ransom. Youd see glimpses, youd see people crying, hysterical, fainting, and thats how impactful it was and still to this day. Elvis Presley, was still wearing her 11 1/2-carat diamond engagement ring as she recalled the final hours of the singer's life. Otherwise, said friends, Elvis was swimming daily in the pool at Graceland, playing racquet ball nightly and going over the music for his 11-day tour, which was to culminate with two shows at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis August 27th and 28th. GInger described how, after only a few months, Elvis proposed: "He said: 'Ginger, I've been searching for love so long, and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would find it in my own backyard. While Elvis Presley was seemingly smitten with Ginger Alden enough to buy her a $70,000 diamond ring not all of his friends approved. Editors picks The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Virtually every person from every beat was assigned to cover Elvis. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he lives in Brooklyn, where he can be found DJing '60s soul records. (Her twentieth birthday was just six days earlier. According to CelebrityNetWorth, Elvis Presley had a net worth of $20million (15million) at the time of his death but technically his net worth was only $5million (3.5million), before adjusting for inflation. That amount in 1977 money is about $19.6 million in 2021 dollars. Did Ginger Alden attend Elvis funeral? Joe Esposito was going to announce the death, but was to overcome with grief. . He shook his head. The world lost the King of Rock 40 years ago last August, and now his longtime queen is opening up about the day she said goodbye. There were a lot of people there, working on Elvis Presley. There were so many reporters, you couldnt get a story, said a reporter who covered the death for the Gannett newspaper chain. Elvis Presleys ex-lover Ann-Margret attended the funeral proceedings and spent some time with his father, Vernon Presley. At 3746 Elvis Presley Boulevard (no one here calls it just Presley or just Elvis) the ambulance was led up the winding driveway of Graceland by a waiting car. The Denver Posts editorial declared: SUDDENLY WE FEEL OLDER. Ginger Alden is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and has a body weight of around 71 Kg (156 lbs). Did Priscilla attend Elvis funeral? In her book, she describes that she embraced Vernon tightly during the funeral, writing, There was so much to say, to recount. ", "My time with Lisa Marie was unique for me and special," added Alden, who had been 19 when she first started dating Elvis in November 1976. Here's the full interview as first printed in Good Housekeeping, January 1978. But the infamous musician was engaged to Ginger Alden before his death. . Even so, at 2:56 p.m. he was rushed into the emergency room, which was then closed to all other cases. THE USA HAS GIVEN US THREE CULTURAL PHENOMENON: MICKEY MOUSE, COKE A COLA & ELVIS PRESLEY The Australian Herald: ONE HOUR BATTLE FAILS. That was one mistake.. Alden was 21 years younger than Presley, but that didnt stop the couple from developing a serious relationship during the last year of his life. Time magazine went with LAST STOP ON THE MYSTERY TRAIN. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Priscilla and Elvis Presley at their 1967 wedding. He was just sitting there, outside the gates, with a days worth of beard, and this strange look on his face. His body was just worn out. Ronald Leyser was a director of commercials and was married to Ginger Alden from 1991 until his death. Because he was pretty far gone. Alden did not discuss the day Elvis died, but did say that contrary to what has been written about his final days . I was still shocked. He was so busy that he didnt have time to respond to the reporters who kept leaving messages with the funeral home office. Elvis's identical twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, was delivered 35 minutes before him, stillborn. Theres something so damn special there . The world was shocked. During a recent panel at SXSW, the 72-year-old admitted it was hard to revisit her former husbands final chapter and relive the painful memories through the film: It was difficult for all of us, we certainly didnt see it coming. Ginger Alden, his fiance at the time, found him on his bathroom floor where he had been for hours. Because of Elvis love for his mother, his father knew hed want to be buried next to her. Elvis Presley Was Originally Laid to Rest in a Public Cemetery But Then Moved to Graceland: Heres Why. His most famous home was Graceland, still a tourist attraction today, but he actually lived at nine different homes during those three decades. As it turned out, Elvis death generated more than tributes. On August 7th, Elvis had rented Libertyland, a local amusement park, from midnight till dawn. Red West remembers tuning into a Geraldo Rivera report on Good Morning America the morning after Elvis death and hearing Elvis: What Happened? branded a lie. The next day, hundreds of beautiful floral arrangements lined the gates of Graceland as a way to honor the late rock-n-roll star. Elvis used Ginger's white Lincoln Continental during this 24 hour visit. . The cameraman gave him an insiders hookup. As West noted: The whole point of the book was to embarrass (Elvis), to try to make him come to his senses. Alden, a former model and actress, had dated Elvis for two months before he proposed to her. Ginger Alden who was Elvis' current girlfriend at the time of his death is selling her engagement ring which Elvis gave her. Clad only in blue top and yellow pyjama bottom. Thousands of fans who loved Elvis and who have expressed their sympathy. In 1976, she left Presley as Elvis began dating Mindi Miller from 1975 to 1976 and then Ginger Alden, his last serious girlfriend and the person who found his unresponsive body on the day he died. Blue Hawaii: Ginger Alden, here with Elvis on their last holiday together to Hawaii, woke up on the day he died at Graceland and Elvis was not in bed.She got dressed, put on her makeup and. The tentative ruling was heart failure, but the autopsy was expected to continue for at least a week. This week alone, the headlines have included: THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING--The Chicago Sun-Times. Im going to the bathroom to read. Those were the words Elvis Presley said to his fiancee, Ginger Alden, early in the morning of August 16, 1977, at his Memphis mansion, Graceland. "I grew to care deeply for her and felt the same from her.". Hundreds of beautiful floral arrangements lined the gates of Graceland as a way to honor the late star... 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