Elvis at 70 years of age

More Elvis at 70 speculation

Portrait of Elvis at 70

Even more Elvis at 70

From the local Memphis paper, with several artists portrait of the King as he would be now.

The following comes from a Florida newspaper:

Jan 7, 7:08 PM

What if Elvis were alive?

Elvis fans celebrate what would've been the King's 70th birthday

BY SUSAN SMILEY-HEIGHT FLORIDA TODAY

If he were alive today, would Elvis have a full head of silver hair or would he be bald? Would he be still singing, or would he be a recluse?

Dennis Corey of Palm Bay shows off some of his Elvis memorabilia. Image by George White, FLORIDA TODAYThere's no doubt about it for Rockledge Elvis tribute artist Jack Smink: The King would have aged gracefully.

"I think he would have looked like his daddy, who was a handsome man for his age. I think Elvis' hair would have been gray, but he still would have been a handsome son of a gun," he said.

And Elvis would still be entertaining audiences, said Smink, 47.

"I believe he'd still be singing. I don't think he could live without it. I think he'd be singing country and gospel. His career was headed that way before he passed, based on what his friends that I have talked with have told me," he said.

It was likely a cold day in Mississippi on Jan. 8, 1935. That's the day Elvis Aaron Presley and his stillborn twin brother, Jessie Garon, were born inside a drafty little two-room shack in Tupelo.

The infant son of impoverished Vernon and Gladys Presley grew up to become the King of Rock 'n' Roll whose record, cassette and CD sales have earned him the accolade of "greatest recording artist of all time."

He died on Aug. 16, 1977, the victim of ill health and prescription drug abuse. But on what would have his 70th birthday, fans remember the man he was, not the man he would have been.

In his adopted hometown of Memphis, Tenn., the birthday celebration started Thursday and runs through Sunday. Planned events range from a birthday cake cutting party and nighttime tour at Elvis' homeplace, Graceland, to the Memphis Symphony Orchestra presenting a concert of Elvis music performed from the original music charts of his wildly successful concert tours.

In Palm Bay, Dennis Corey, 52, isn't sure how he'll celebrate the birthday of his favorite entertainer, but he's pretty sure the day will include at least one surprise from his wife, Sandy.

"I've been an Elvis fan since I was about 5 years old," he said. "He had something that really affected me. My only regret is that I never saw him perform live."

The walls of a room in Corey's home bear testament to his affinity for the man whose musical style ranged from romantic ballads to hip-swinging rock to full-blown Las Vegas stage productions.

"My favorite Elvis song is probably 'How Great Thou Art,' " said Corey. "I really like his gospel music."

Corey said he visited Memphis for the Elvis birthday celebration about six years ago, and he has visited Elvis' home, Graceland, a number of times.

"I just feel close to Elvis. And Lisa (Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie), I feel close to her, too. I mean I saw Priscilla Presley pregnant with Lisa and all that," he said.

Corey's collection of Elvis memorabilia includes a number of books, collectible TV Guide magazines featuring the singer and and a lighted replica of Graceland that shows the mansion and grounds, including the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and his father, mother and grandmother are laid to rest.

Were Elvis still alive, Corey believes he "probably wouldn't be able to come out of his room.

"But I'd like to think he'd be a doing a concert for his 70th birthday. I'd love to have seen him doing well. But all the King's horses and all the King's men. . . Man, he had a problem."

Sandy Corey has patiently endured -- and supported -- her husband's Elvis fascination for many years.

"I love Elvis, but not like my husband does," she said.

She has added a number of items to her husband's collection, including a rare TV Guide and a rare book.

On the other end of Brevard County, Titusville resident Eva Rawlins said that in honor of his 70th birthday, she "would hope Elvis would have come to his senses. I wish he'd have remembered what his Mama taught him and to leave off drugs and wild living. I just wanted him to do the right thing."

In the mid-1950s, just as Elvis began to gain notoriety, Rawlins said her mother and aunt were appalled by the "provocative" nature of his stage performances. They joined forces and enlisted Rawlins to help turn her sister away from her infatuation with the singer who "wiggled his hips."

"She had these pictures of him on the wall, and played his records for me. Well, that was that!" said Rawlins.

While she is not planning to visit Elvis at Graceland for the birthday celebration, Rawlins said he came to see her for Christmas.

"My daughter and grandkids got me this 6-foot-tall stand up Elvis wearing the gold lame suit. They put it outside the front door, with a present at his feet, then rang the doorbell and hid. When I opened that door, I was gasping and carrying on!" she said.

"I just always felt like he was such a good person. At 70, I would have loved to see him with a full head of hair and an unlined face. I think maybe he would have aged like Johnny Cash."

It took her about 10 minutes to change her mind about that speculation.

"I think Elvis just tapped me on the shoulder. I believe he would have aged more like Sean Connery. You know, he's better looking now than he was when he was younger."

As for Smink, he plans to celebrate Elvis' during the tribute show he performs every at 8:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Econo Lodge on State Road 192 in Kissimmee, (407) 396-2000.

"This weekend, we'll talk about his birthday during the shows. We'll have fun with it," he said.

Whether traveling to Memphis for the birthday celebration or perhaps just enjoying Elvis music on a home stereo system, many fans of the entertainer will remember him for the rousing emotions he generated in the 1950s, his ballads and movies from the '60s and the jumpsuit era of the '70s.

"He was in a category all his own," said Dennis Corey. "It is just amazing what the Lord gave him."

Elvis facts * Elvis Presley was born Jan. 8, 1935, and died Aug. 16, 1977. * The Elvis Birthday Celebration is Jan. 6-9 in Memphis, Tenn. * The King's Web site: www.elvis.com

Highest singles * "Don't Be Cruel," (1956) No. 1 for 11 weeks * "Hound Dog," (1956) No. 1 for 11 weeks * "All Shook Up," (1957) No. 1 for nine weeks * "Heartbreak Hotel" (1956) No. 1 for 8 weeks * "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" (1957) No. 1 for 7 weeks * "Jailhouse Rock," (1957) No. 1 for 7 weeks