Bad Nauheim to the north of Frankfurt hosted Elvis Presley during his military days. The COVID-delayed grand reveal is set to take place during the European Elvis Festival this year.
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The west German town of Bad Nauheim announced on Thursday that it would unveil a bronze statue later this year to commemorate one of its most famous residents: Elvis Presley.
The King of Rock n' Roll lived in the small town just north of Frankfurt while he was stationed in Germany as a soldier from October 1958 to March 1960.
Elvis: a GI in Germany
Rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley spent less than 18 months in Germany - from October 1958 to March1960 - but his presence left an indelible mark on the small Hessian town where he was stationed with the US army.
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Arrival in Friedberg
He came, he saw, he rocked: On October 1, 1958, Elvis Presley docked in the port of Bremerhaven aboard the USS General Randall to serve with the US military in Germany. From there, he traveled by train to the American base in Friedberg near Frankfurt, where fans and the press gave him a rousing welcome. With more than 50 million records sold, Elvis was already an international star.
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Military duties
On October 2, the "King" moved into Ray Barracks in Friedberg. His room was in building 3707. Elvis served his 18 months of military duty in an armored tank unit. Thanks to his superiors, however, Private Presley enjoyed a few perks and had only limited duties. The star quickly swapped his barracks for a hotel and later an apartment in the neighboring town of Bad Nauheim.
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German teen magazines
Elvis's grandmother, Minnie Mae, his father, Vernon, and two bodyguards accompanied him to Germany. They first lived in the Hotel Grunewald in Bad Nauheim before moving to Goethestrasse 14. Elvis's only refuge was in his room, where he frequently read German pop culture magazines, like Bravo. He was often besieged by fans, but patiently gave autographs and found a few kind words for everyone.
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Autograph hunters
Day and night, teenage fans waited to catch a glimpse of the King. And those who waited long enough were rewarded: Elvis never denied anyone his much sought-after signature. In particular, the teenage girls were thoroughly enamored. His famous swivelling hips were all the rage and his schmaltzy crooning made many a female heart beat faster.
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Memories revisited
Angelika Springauf was one of the teenage fans encamped in front of Elvis' house in Bad Nauheim. Decades later, she proudly posed beside an old photo showing her standing next to Elvis. Even today, die-hard fans in the town nurse their memories of the rock 'n' roll legend.
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A visit among colleagues
When Bill Haley launched his European tour in Frankfurt in October 1958, Elvis paid him a visit in his dressing room. And, as always, the press was there. Haley and Presley are considered the fathers of rock 'n' roll. The older generation in Germany was suspicious of this new-fangled music from America, but the youngsters were enthralled by the new sound from across the pond.
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Recreation rather than reveille
During his stint in the US army in Germany, Elvis was more interested in hot cars and pretty women than the rigors of military duty. In this picture, Uschi Siebert, the 1958 beauty queen in the state of Hesse, presented Elvis with the keys to the BMW 507 sports car that race driver Hans-Joachim Stuck had steered to victory on several occasions.
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Young love
In 1959, while in Germany, Elvis met his future wife. Priscilla Beaulieu was just 14 when her stepfather, an Air Force officer, was transfered to Bad Nauheim. Currie Grant, manager of the Eagle’s Club and a friend of the family, took Priscilla to parties at Elvis's domicile in the Goethestrasse. The wedding didn't happen until eight years later.
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"Muss i denn..."
The popular soldier's farewell tune "Muss i denn zum Städtele hinaus" was at least 200 years old. But the song's triumphant march around the globe didn't come until Elvis sang his version, "Wooden Heart." The King sang it in English with a German refrain. It was heard for the first time in 1960 in the movie "G. I. Blues," a homage to Presley's tour of duty in Germany.
Image: Elvis Presley Museum Düsseldorf
Way back home
On March 2,1960, Presley's tour of duty in Bad Nauheim came to an end. He flew back home and never returned to Germany. But his presence is still felt today in the Hessian town with an Elvis monument, Elvis Square and Elvis "Walk of Fame." And, with the European Elvis Festival, residents of Bad Nauheim bring the King back to life in his "European home" year after year.
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The basis for the statue is a photo, presumably taken in 1959, which shows the singer leaning against a railing on a pedestrian bridge. The statue will stand against the railing in the same location as the photo.
The area is filled with memorials to the King of Rock n' RollImage: Arne Dedert/dpa/picture alliance
The statue was completed in October after two years of work and was scheduled to be unveiled in January. But the plan was scrapped because of the pandemic. It is now due to be revealed in August during the next European Elvis Festival, which takes place in the town. The town includes many markers and memorials to the late star, even a square named after him.
45 years after his death, Elvis reaches fans from beyond the grave
The King lives on in the hearts and minds of fans worldwide. Also in Germany, where he was stationed as a GI, Elvis left a legacy. Here are some highlights and unusual facts from his storied musical career.
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From small-town boy to household name
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1935, Elvis Presley began his career in Memphis, Tennessee. He is pictured here in 1954 while recording at the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, which also helped launch blues guitarist B.B. King's career. Quickly rising to fame, Presley's first hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," propelled him into stardom in 1956. He would go on to become known as the "king of rock and roll."
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A GI in Germany
Presley put his career on hold while serving in the US military in Germany from 1958 to 1960. Stationed in the small town of Friedberg, Presley stayed in a hotel in nearby Bad Nauheim instead of living in the barracks. There, he lived with an entourage: his grandmother, father and two bodyguards. Today, hotel guests can sleep in the Elvis Room, which was preserved to commemorate the King's stay.
Image: Bodo Marks/dpa/picture alliance
Made in Germany
Although he was prohibited from performing during military service, the King still found time to make music. Germany was the birthplace of two chart-toppers: "One Night" and "A Fool Such as I." He also gave global fame to the popular German folk song, "Muss i denn zum Städtele hinaus," or in English, "Wooden Heart."
Image: United Archives/picture alliance
Happily ever after?
While Elvis was stationed in Germany, he also met Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of a US military officer. She was just 14 years old at the time. The couple married years later at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas in 1967, although Elvis reportedly continued to enjoy the company of other women.
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Profiting after death
Elvis passed away at his residence, Graceland, on August 16, 1977. Graceland is the second-most-visited home historical residence in the US, after the White House. It's run by a multi-million dollar company called Elvis Presley Enterprises — making it unsurprising that Elvis regularly hits the top of Forbes' annual "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities" list.
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The King lives on
His legacy is honored all over the world, including at the "European Elvis Festival" in Bad Nauheim, Germany. Elvis also has official fan clubs in at least 38 countries. And of course, "The King" graces stamps as well: Germany issued an Elvis stamp in 1988.
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License to suit up
Legend has it that Elvis adopted the jumpsuit after he split his pants while performing on stage. Whatever the reason, the garment was an instant hit. B&K, a company in Charlestown, Indiana, creates Elvis jumpsuits based on the originals, such as for impersonator Dave Stovall (pictured). The company also created suits for the 2022 film "Elvis."
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Inspiration from Hollywood
Elvis has inspired an entire industry of impersonators, as well as films like "Bye Bye, Birdie" (1967), based on his career. But who inspired the King? Elvis was known to enjoy the music of gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and once called actor James Dean (pictured) a "genius."
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Inspiration for Hollywood
June 2022 saw the life story of Elvis Presley, played by Austin Butler (pictured), hit movie theaters. The film focuses on the complicated relationship with his shady manager, Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks). Director Baz Luhrmann set electrifying music and stage scenes; and Butler has been celebrated for his fantastic portrayal of "The King."
Image: Warner Bros./dpa/picture alliance
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Bad Nauheim has also played host to other big American names throughout its history, not least a young future President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who traveled to the town and went to school there for a short time in the 1890's.
Pop songs that moved us over the decades
Songs of love, truth and freedom that touched us heart and soul. As we enter the new decade, we look back on memorable torch songs from the postwar era, along with the stories behind them.
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2019: No one is immune from death — Freddie Mercury's "Time Waits for No One"
"Time is running out for us all," Freddy Mercury sings in "Time" (1986), a previously unreleased version of which came out in 2019. Accompanied by solo piano, producer Dave Clark found the unpublished gem in the archives 30 years after the record was made. But for Mercury, the march of time caught up with him: he died in 1991.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Arndt
2012: Together through adversity — Adele's "Skyfall"
Following Shirley Bassey’s James Bond theme classic "Goldfinger" (1964) and Tina Turner’s "Golden Eye" (1995), 2012's "Skyfall" is another legendary Bond song that won singer Adele an Oscar. The dramatic ballad was written for the eponymous film starring Daniel Craig as Agent 007, with Adele singing of a person who, in the face of a great threat, falls from the sky but ultimately triumphs.
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1997: Love beyond death — Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On"
The ultimate sentimental torch song of the '90s, Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" captures the tumult of an ill-fated but passionate love aboard the Titanic. It was of course the theme song for James Cameron’s film "Titanic," based on the 1912 sinking of the ship upon which the lead characters Rose and Jack defy societal norms to pursue love till death did them apart.
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1984: Love conquers all — Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"
The music video to the iconic single "Time After Time" begins with a scene in a camper van where Cindy Lauper is watching the heart-wrenching final scene of Richard Boleslawski’s 1936 film, "The Garden of Allah." Lauper recites the lines as the lovers bid each other farewell, echoing the sentiment of her own song in which a woman must leave her lover, but will be there for him "time after time."
Image: Imago/MediaPunch/G. Gershoff
1970: A family saga — Cat Stevens' "Father and Son"
Under stage name Yusuf Islam, Cat Stevens sings of a different kind of relationship in "Father and Son." The song is about a boy who wants to participate in the Russian Revolution against his father’s wishes. Stevens' ballad speaks to the universal struggles of father-son relationships, with Johnny Cash and Rosie Nix Adams covering the song under the title, "Father and Daughter."
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1968: Giving hope to a child — The Beatles' "Hey Jude"
Dedicated to John Lennon’s son, Julian, Paul McCartney wrote this for the then 5 year-old dealing with his parents' divorce after Lennon began a relationship with Yoko Ono. "Remember to let her into your heart," sang McCartney in 1968. "Then you can start to make it better." Originally titled "Hey Jules," the name was changed to "Jude" for confidentiality. It spent weeks at number one.
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1956: Love and war — Elvis Presley's "Love me Tender"
One of the first great pop ballads, "Love Me Tender" had a long history. It first emerged out of the American Civil War, the tune featuring in the 1866 patriotic song, "Aura Lee." Elvis Presley then added his own lyrics to the melody in the theme for the Civil War romantic drama, "Love Me Tender," the film in which Presley plays Clint Reno, the youngest of four sons who suffers a tragic end.
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Germany has a soft spot for the famous singer and particularly for his time spent in the country — not unlike the national passion for the Beatles' period performing in Hamburg before making it big.
The town of Friedberg, where Elvis served while in the US army, changed its street crossing lights to reflect his signature moves. It also has a statue to "The King."
Friedberg changed their streetlights to celebrate its former soldierImage: Michael Probst/AP/picture alliance