Elvis Presley, a megastar and one of the most significant cultural forces in the early 20th century, was famously known as the King of Rock and Roll. Despite his untimely death at an age too young for a legend like himself, what happened remains mysterious after 45 years. Let us explore this enduring enigma by delving deeper into its depths.
Who Was Elvis Presley?
Elvis Aaron Presley, better known as simply Elvis, was an incredibly influential and sophisticated American singer-songwriter and actor. He earned the title of “The King of Rock and Roll,” cementing him among the most iconic cultural figures of the twentieth century. His impact on music is still felt to this day, with his signature style having been imitated by countless artists since.
On January 8, 1935, the iconic and captivating singer Elvis Presley was born. Known for his relentless energy on stage and seductive yet controversial performances, he quickly gained legions of devoted fans worldwide. His revolutionary style set him apart from other singers at the start of his career but also resulted in some heated public debates over appropriateness.
From his birthplace in the outskirts of Tupelo, Mississippi, to Memphis, Tennessee, at age thirteen, Elvis Presley’s music career flourished with a chance opportunity. In 1954 he recorded with esteemed producer Sam Philips at Sun Records – determinedly working towards introducing African-American music to a vast audience. This was but only just the beginning for The King!
Elvis Presley made his music debut in November 1956 with the classic Love Me Tender. He continued capturing millions’ hearts through iconic Hollywood films and soundtracks such as Jailhouse Rock, Blue Hawaii, and Viva Las Vegas. To this day, Elvis’s first solo concert Aloha From Hawaii remains a remarkable performance remembered fondly by all who experienced it.
With over five hundred million recordings sold worldwide, Elvis Presley holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling solo artist of all time. On top of that impressive feat, he was only thirty-six when he received three Grammys and a lifetime achievement award from them! Not to mention his induction into several music halls of fame and the posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom bestowed upon him.
How Did Elvis Presley Die?
Undeniably one of the most iconic and incredibly gifted singers in history, Elvis Presley’s career was cut short when he passed away at only forty-two years old on August 16th, 1977. Reports state that his girlfriend, Ginger Alden found him unresponsive inside the bathroom of his master suite.
Upon losing consciousness, he was quickly placed in an ambulance and sent to the Baptist Memorial Hospital. Unfortunately, despite the doctors’ best efforts, his life could not be saved; at 3:30 PM, it became official that he had passed away. It shocked many, considering that he was only forty-two years old when death claimed him.
Elvis Presley’s Cause Of Death Explained
Tragically, Elvis Presley’s death was attributed to cardiac arrest; however, it is apparent that this cardiac episode directly results from the singer’s chronic and excessive drug intake.
At the time, it was famous for entertainers to take prescription medications, and Elvis Presley was no exception. He consumed vast amounts of opiates, barbiturates, and sedatives regularly. After weeks had passed since his death, toxicology reports were released that detailed the high dosages of these drugs in his body at the time of passing.
After the death of Elvis Presley, Dr George Nichopoulos (commonly known as “Dr Nick”) came under scrutiny for his alleged reckless use of controlled medications to treat him. Reports indicate that over twenty years, Elvis had been given no less than 12,000 pills and other pharmaceuticals from this doctor alone! As a result, Dr Nick’s medical license was suspended due to these accusations.
The Dissension Around Elvis Presley’s Death
In the aftermath of Elvis Presley’s unexpected death, people from all corners sought to uncover its cause. It has since been widely accepted that his demise was primarily a result of his excessive drug use.
Therefore, his family and team worked desperately to conceal the truth about his death. The family members were determined to keep any unseemly details of his personal life hidden from public knowledge. They feared that if word got out about drugs being involved, it would mar their reputation forever.
Furthermore, the family urgently requested a private autopsy to determine Elvis’ cause of death. Jerry Franciso completed the autopsy and declared that Presley had succumbed to heart disease; none of the prescription drugs found in his blood was contributory factors. It was concluded that even if these medications weren’t present, he would have passed away regardless.
It was quite clear that Dr Jerry Franceso committed this crime in defence of Elvis’ family, ultimately hiding the actual cause of death. Unfortunately, many pathologists reacted strongly to his unethical approach and condemned him for his dishonourable behaviour consistent with medical morality.
So the death of Elvis Persley became quite the topic of discussion when many doctors vehemently reported that a toxic combination of pharmaceuticals was the sole reason for the end of the singer.
The complete findings of the singer’s death became a subject for debate and were consequently locked away. Subsequent attempts to acquire these sealed documents proved futile until 1993, when the case was reopened – without releasing an autopsy report. It eventually took almost two years after their passing before news of potential drug involvement surfaced.