When Elvis died, do you remember when/where you first heard it

[Timothy2700]

I was 19 and my summer job (between semesters) was working for the local county’s highway maintenance garage (picture picking up trash, burying roadkill, flag man for road construction, cutting roadside Canada thistles with a scythe…good honest work). The garage’s tradition was at the end of the season, the summer students put on a picnic for the full-timers.
So the four of us youngsters were preparing the grill, sides and beers (one could legally drink at 18 in WI back then) for the crew when the news came over the radio someone had brought out for the music. The old-timers reminisced, and us students just thought okay so when do we start the burgers?

Full disclosure: not an Elvis fan generally. However I think my favorite is ‘in the ghetto’ but I’m partial to tragic ballads.

 

[Golddollar]

I was at my parents' house, having just taken the PA bar exam and waiting to start my new job in Reading, PA. I grew up listening to Elvis because I had young uncles and a young aunt who bought his records and I played a lot of Elvis records on my college's radio station. I was taken aback because he was so young.

 

[djohns6]

I was working for an electric co op . We were in the shop and one of the meter techs walked out the back door . One of the other guys said " Earl is going home . Elvis died and he's too upset to stay at work " . We got a good laugh out of that . A grown man all broke up because Elvis died ...

 

[rwsmith]

I'm pretty sure I heard it at home...

...but it was a sad day at work.

 

[Chik a Boom]

Oh, yes.
"So hush, little baby, don't you cry. You know your Daddy's bound to die...all my trials, Lord, soon be over. (American Trilogy)
Heard it on the evening news, Hubby and I were heartsick. We had many (at the time) 8 tracks of his music. No, Elvis did not lead the exemplary life, but there is NO other voice like his. He could sing, rock, ballad, soul, gospel like no other. His only grammy was for a gospel album. The upbeat version of "How Great Thou Art" will be played at my funeral.

 

[5-Shot]

I lived in Memphis at the time and worked at a grain export company. As you might guess, we were highly dependent on telephone service. It seemed like only minutes after Elvis's death the Memphis area phone system just seemed to melt down from all the Elvis related calls.

 

[rkrcpa]

I was working in a factory at the time. I was not an "Elvis Fan" so to speak so I was somewhat indifferent to it. But Holy Bejeezus, the wailing that was coming from some of the people on the factory floor you would have thought the world was coming to an end.

 

[tlawler]

I was 15 years old and playing catch on the street in front of my house with a friend. My older sister came home from work and just sat in her car after she parked in the driveway. After a few minutes we went over to see if she was ok. She had her head bent down on the steering wheel and was crying. When we asked her what had happened, she replied that Elvis had died.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Driving to Colorado Springs from Lakewood to meet family with the only woman that , after a short time later, I wish I had never met; a real she devil. I remember the next day at work, the head cashier acted like she had lost her brother.

 

[Bo Rich]

Yes, I was 15, and sitting in the back seat of my Parents car when the news came over the radio. I remember my Mom screamed, and my Dad moaned. Later that year in October the Free bird fell to the ground. Taking Ronnie Van Zant, along with Steve, and Cassie Gaines. For me 1977 was the year that the music died!

 

[Telecaster]

I was 13, sitting in my bedroom listening to the radio. The DJ said there was a rumor that Elvis died, but it was just a rumor like when they said Paul McCartney had died, so don’t believe it. A few minutes later he broke in and said Elvis was dead.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I was an office boy at a big law firm downtown in New Orleans and in the copy room when one of the secretaries burst in crying that Elvis was DEAD! Me, I was kinda like ...Meh...

 

[NYlakesider]

That day was a Tuesday, as a guess I was working high in the air on a pipe rack at a nasty chemical plant.

Not a good thing for sure but its far from remembering where I was/what I was doing when JFKs death or the 9,11 event happened!

 

[ditrina]

I was an office boy at a big law firm downtown in New Orleans and in the copy room when one of the secretaries burst in crying that Elvis was DEAD! Me, I was kinda like ...Meh...

Now if'n we was talking 'bout Doug Kershaw..

 

[M29since14]

I remember it clearly. I was motorcycle riding in the Alps. The Europeans were on it! I was a bit amused that they were so concerned about someone that I considered a very minor American entertainer/vocalist. I guess I was in the “meh” camp with da Cajunlawyer when it came to Elvis-music.

 

[jdlii]

I was living in Memphis at that time, getting ready to start my first job as a teacher and football coach plus, getting married in October of that year. My fiancé was addressing wedding invitations at her parents' house.

I heard the news by radio at the apartment that I had rented on Spotswood, a couple of blocks from Memphis State now the University of Memphis. My future wife heard the news and told her mother, who immediately started to cry.

The news was numbing. I had seen Elvis in concert at Middle TN State Univ. in Murfreesboro. He was quite the showman and his voice was unique.

I met a lot of people who had "Elvis" stories when we lived in Memphis. The stories were universally about his kindness, gift giving and philanthropic nature. My roommate in college had grown up a couple of houses down the street from Elvis's first house. Elvis gave him rides on the back of his Harley.

It was a moment that I certainly remember just like assassination of JFK, MLK and others. My October 1977 bride and I are still married and will celebrate our 47 years together this year.

 

[Aggie1906]

Young wife stood in line for second Sagianw concert. He paid me back by dying on my birthday. I get to thank and remember him every year since.

 

[Doug627]

I was hanging drywall.

 

[Nick B]

I was in army boot camp.

 

[ZGrand]

I remember. I had just started a new job, and was training with a woman (who I found out) was a HUGE Elvis fan. When I came back from lunch, she was at her desk just sobbing. It upset her so much she took the rest of the day off.