Netflix The Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley revisits the 1968 television special that marked Presley’s return to live performance after a seven-year hiatus. Presley first exploded onto the national music scene when he appeared on the Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show several times between January and March 1956. The 21-year-old Elvis was a total unknown, but the show’s exposure led to the release of his first single – “Heartbreak Hotel” – and a September appearance on the hugely popular Ed Sullivan Show, the platform that propelled him to stardom. Sullivan paid $50,000 for the privilege.
Over the next two years, the singer’s unique blend of gospel and rock music and his energetic, charismatic, and controversial Elvis Presley onstage persona took America by storm. He released his first album, Elvis Presleywhich topped the Billboard charts for 10 weeks. In 1957, Presley released three singles that went straight to number one: “Too Much”, “All Shook Up” and “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear”. Money came in and he bought his home, Graceland, in March 1957. Elvis Presley started making movies and was on the set of King Creole when he received his draft notification in December 1957.
Elvis Presley spent two years in the army, 1958-1960
Elvis refused to sign up for special services
When Presley accepted the draft on March 28, 1958, at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, he found hundreds of people and the world’s media waiting for him. His trademark black hair was cut short and he was temporarily assigned to Company A, 2nd Medium Tank Battalion, at Ford Hood, Texas. Almost immediately, his mother Gladys fell ill with hepatitis, and Presley was given leave to visit her until her mother’s death in August 1957.
Interestingly, Elvis was not allowed to perform, having been persuaded by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, to serve as a regular soldier rather than in the Special Services. Presley made it clear that he did not want preferential treatment and to be seen as an ordinary, capable soldier, despite his fame. He donated his Army salary to charity, bought television sets for the base, and even bought extra uniforms for the soldiers in his unit. Colonel Parker, however, ensured that Presley’s two-year absence was not felt by his fans, as RCA, his record label, had him record a substantial amount of music before leavingand maintained a steady diet of new releases during his time away.
Elvis Presley’s Military Career Explained
Presley was promoted to sergeant in 1960
On October 1, 1958, Presley was assigned to the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armored Division, 3rd Armored Division, at Ray Barracks, West Germany.where he served as an armor intelligence specialist. He was promoted to sergeant in 1960. He was honorably discharged on March 5, 1960 and returned to the US, where the train taking him from New Jersey to Tennessee was robbed. His legion of American fans were unaware that while working in Bad Nauheim, Presley met 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, whom he would marry seven years later.
Priscila reports in The Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, that Presley was worried that his time in the army would put an end to his singing career, despite the colonel’s preparations back home. He needn’t have worried: During the two years he was abroad, Presley had ten top 40 hitsincluding “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck”, “Hard Headed Woman”, “One Night” and the 1959 number one “A Big Hunk o’ Love”. He returned to find his singing career intact and was welcomed by show business royalty in Frank Sinatra, who immediately booked him for his show, Frank Sinatra’s Timex Special.