VANITY: Elvis is dead 42 years ago today. Where were you?

Me ^ | 8/16/2019 | Jenni Fink

[vespa300]

I was working at the Trane Home Comfort Center in South El Monte, CA. Door to door sales.

[HotHunt]

I was on a west coast car/camping trip with my wife up the Pacific Coast Highway traveling between assignments in the Air Force.

As was my habit, I went out on a training run (I was a marathoner back then), before we broke camp and drove to our next stop.

I was running along the highway overlooking the ocean and decided to take a break and take in the view at a pull off/overlook.

As I was standing there enjoying the view of ocean, a couple in a car drove up next to me and said they just heard on the radio that Elvis had died.

Though no real fan of Elvis at the time, I remember that moment like it was yesterday.

[mad_as_he$$]

Sure - makes the circumstances seem better.

[SamAdams76]

I was at my grandmother's house in northern Alabama when the news broke. Though I grew up in the North, my father sent me to his mother's house every summer to keep me out of trouble and off the mean streets of East Boston. (It worked)

Anyway, I had no idea my grandmother was such an Elvis fan. We spent the next few days listening to his music on the radio and bonded a little over it. So even to this day, most Elvis songs will remind me of my grandmother.

[apillar]

Well since I was 3 years old, I’m guessing at home playing with blocks or something (admittedly my memory is little foggy on the matter).

[N. Theknow]

I have no idea where I was. Just like I have no idea where I was when Kennedy was shot.
But... I do remember where I was in late December back in ‘63. What a very special time for me! What a lady! What a night!

[DAC21]

Working the Full Service pumps at Dick’s Exxon Yorba Linda California.

[ifinnegan]

I was a teenager.

Watching TV at friend’s house.

News Flash broke in. Announcer says “Special news bulletin. Elvis Presley...”

And I yelled out, “died of fatness”.

And I was right. Called it.

[GSWarrior]

I was in boot camp at MCRD in San Diego.

[Dan in Wichita]

I was an 18 year old driving home from my outdoor summer job. Heard it on the radio. When I got home, I rushed in to tell my mom, who was a big Elvis fan. She had already heard the news and was visibly shaken.

[Reily]

I was home at my parents house walking back from the gym as I came to the corner where the house was. I had just graduated with my BS, my previous career plans had been upended, so was home deciding what to do next. A friend in his car stopped rolled down the window and said with tears in his eyes ‘Elvis is dead!’. I was not a huge fan but this was a rural Appalachian town so it was full of serious fans. Apparently my friend was!

Regarding JFK I was on an elementary school bus trip to Sunrise museum in Charleston WV. A teacher told us, she was crying, many fellow kids were also. My family were “closet WV Republicans”. (You had to be “closet Republicans” in those days in WV!). I thought it was too bad, but I had junior little league to get to, so I wanted to go home ASAP!

[overkill_007_2000]

I was leaving a KISS concert at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Ca. As we were walking out there were news crews asking the fans what they thought about Elvis dying. I was lucky enough to see him live at the Oakland Arena when I was about 12 years old. I remember he tried to do some sort of karate move and he fell flat on his butt.

[nevergore]

Millington TN Naval Air Station on duty.....

[OrangeHoof]

I was in college. The school supplied a stack of university-produced newspapers that had the headline.

[NELSON111]

Funny-my cousins were over at my place spending the week with me before we all went back to school. We’re about the same age it seems since I was 10 and my oldest cousin was 10 and my other cousin was 8. If I remember correctly, we put on one of his 45s (“Hound Dog”), jumped up on the bed and started singing to commemorate him.

[mowowie]

My moms hysterical crying sort of ruined my 10th birthday party.
The Estes rocket i launched at sunset made up for it somewhat..

[daler]

I was a young DJ live on the air at a C&W radio station in Duluth, MN when an office staffer told me.

I remember my initial reaction being “yeah, right...”

For the next 2-3 days it was all Elvis all the time, as the phone was ringing off the wall with listener requests.

[real saxophonist]

My family would go to Jekyll Island for a few days every summer, so that’s where I was. I remember hearing the announcement on the radio in the VW Bettle we were in.

[mowowie]

That’s nice. :)
I have many pop culture thingies that always remind me of my wonderful grandmother as well.

[MayflowerMadam]

I was at my desk at work in Alaska. The wife of a co-worker called me and told me. Rock ‘n’ roll was banned from our life growing up in a parsonage, and then at seminary it taboo, too. So the Elvis thing didn’t impact me the way it did for others I knew.

Now I have a ton of Elvis music, and a couple from his gospel album are some of my favorites: “Who Am I?” and “Help Me”.

[odawg]

“Sure - makes the circumstances seem better.”

According to the autopsy report.

However, why does those circumstance make you feel better?