A Legend & His Music

Dear One,

The stage was set and a few thousand people waited in anticipation to catch a glimpse of their beloved idol. Slowly a stretch limousine pulled across the aisle and the restless crowd went berserk.

The King had finally arrived and the wait was finally over.

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n Roll, was already a legend of his times. Last week saw his birth anniversary and this post is a humble tribute to the man whose music shaped and inspired millions including mine. I recently watched "The Elvis Tours" documentary in TCM and it was such a treat to watch and hear the legend and his music.

Born under lowly circumstances, he rose to phenomenal heights of fame and fortune early in life. He had the grace and style to make the entire nation swoon to his music. His style of music was bold and vibrant, simply much ahead of his times. His contemporaries would mock him for his flamboyance, but deep inside they craved to be like him.

The sheer range and versatility of his voice was his greatest asset. He would sing a soulful ballad like 'Love Me Tender' and the very next moment he would break into a frenzied rendition of 'Burning Love.' The crowd simply loved him. No one knew if it was the music or the man himself that caused so much excitement.

He lived like a King. He had his share of aristocratic vices, yet the soul of a rustic village boy never left him. His music resonated with a sincerity that was never to be heard again. John Lennon of the Beatles said, "Before Elvis, there was nothing."

To this day, thirty two years after his untimely death, the King's music continues to bring solace and inspires millions of listeners to live their dreams. Legends never die. They live on in the hearts of men, forever inspiring and motivating till the last song.

As he once said, "Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song. So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you."