The Brief
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Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old.
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News of his passing profoundly affected fans worldwide.
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Fans continue to mourn him decades later.
August 16 marks the anniversary of music legend Elvis Presley’s death and even decades later since he passed, fans of the king continue to honor his legacy.
Presley’s untimely death at just 42 years old sent shockwaves throughout the world, but especially at home.
FILE – View of the front page of the Commercial Appeal newspaper the day after the death of American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, Memphis, Tennessee, August 17, 1977. The main headline reads ‘Death Captures Crown of Rock and Roll–Elvis Dies Apparently After Heart Attack.’ (Photo by Blank Archives/Getty Images)
Fans mourn the king
In an era before the internet, some found out through word of mouth and others found out while watching the news or reading the paper.
News of Presley’s death had a profound impact on casual fans and superfans alike.
Hordes of fans and mourners gathered outside Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, the day after Presley’s death to pay their respects to The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
His death was covered extensively in the media and his songs began charting once again.
Local perspective
FOX 10 Phoenix in Arizona captured footage from 1977 of people reacting to the news of Presley’s death in real-time.
What they’re saying
“I couldn’t believe it. He’s a legend, he’s a legend. He’s not supposed to die,” one woman told FOX.
“I don’t believe it man, you’ve got to be putting me on,” one man said after being told the breaking news. “I feel like a part of America is gone.”
“Our switchboards were jammed from the time the bulletin came over shortly after 4 o’clock. It brought out an expression of people that you just don’t see a lot. The man meant a lot to everybody, no matter how old you are,” one DJ from Atlanta, Georgia, said at the time of Presley’s death.
Even decades later, fans flock to his home and The Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum in Tupelo, Mississippi, which stand as pilgrimage sites for devoted fans, honoring his life and impact on the entertainment industry.
Elvis Presley’s legacy
Dig deeper
Presley stormed into the 1950s music world, transforming popular music by infusing rockabilly, rhythm and blues, and country.
His stage presence and dynamic shows took the world by storm, forging an unwavering fan following.
With chart-topping hits like “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock,” Presley became an emblem of youth culture and rebellion. His soulful vocals, infectious energy and daring style set him apart from other artists.
Beyond music, Presley ventured into acting, starring in a string of movies throughout the ’60s and ’70s. While his films varied in critical acclaim, they cemented his status as an entertainer.
Elvis Presley’s decline
The backstory
In the months leading up to his sudden death, Presley was reportedly in a lot of pain.
“He was really heavy,” Ted Pryor, author and former bodyguard for Presley, told Fox News Digital.
“Elvis was at a point where he was so heavy he didn’t like to be touched, because he was constantly perspiring and hot,” he said.
Compounding Presley’s declining health with his diminished career, he was also struggling financially.
Presley’s divorce and addiction to junk food led him to become a recluse in his final years, according to History.com.
FILE – Funeral of Elvis Presley in Memphis (Tennessee), United States on August 18, 1977. (Photo by Gilbert UZAN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Elvis Presley’s cause of death
Presley died of a heart attack and a preliminary autopsy report indicated that he suffered cardiac arrhythmia, according to The New York Times.
However, a toxicology report that came out weeks after his death found that there were high levels of opiates found in Presley’s bloodstream, USA Today reported.
Since then, many tell-all books and biographies came out that revealed Presley not only suffered from bad dietary habits, but also from diabetes, glaucoma and constipation.
Conspiracies
There’s also a faction of people who believe that Presley never actually died, but rather, faked his death due to the pressures of fame and financial hardships.
There have been numerous “sightings” of Presley in various places, including one that suggests a groundskeeper at Graceland is actually just Presley who has grown older.
There’s even a theory that he was sighted in the 1990 movie “Home Alone” as one of the background actors.
One author, Gail Brewer-Giorgio, wrote an entire book, “Is Elvis Alive,” perpetuating the theory that Presley was enlisted by the FBI to become an undercover agent. However, during one of his missions, he was discovered to be a mole, hence why he faked his death.
None of these theories or sightings have been substantiated.
The Source
Information for this article was taken from FOX Local’s archival footage from 1977 and 1978. Previous reporting by The Associated Press, FOX News, Time magazine and History.com contributed.