While on military service in Germany, Elvis Presley stayed in an attractive small hotel in Bad Nauheim. Now it has been freshly renovated, including the famous room number 10.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Lindlar
Advertisement
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.
Image: dpa/picture alliance
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."
Image: picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS
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.
Image: Bert Reisfeld/dpa/picture alliance
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.
Image: Jerzy Dabrowski/dpa/picture alliance
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.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/EPA/T. Maury
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."
Image: Brian Cahn/Zumapress/picture alliance
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."
Image: akg-images/picture-alliance
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
9 images1 | 9
The famous American musician Elvis Presley died forty years ago on 16 August in Graceland, Memphis. Now fans can see a black toilet lid in Hessen which Elvis had flown in from the United States because he did not like the one in his bathroom in Bad Nauheim.
Hotel manager Thomas Dröscher in the newly renovated Elvis RoomImage: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Rumpenhorst
In the late 1950's Presley stayed there at the Villa Grunewald for several months. Since then fans have flocked to see room number 10 with its original furniture. Now you can stay the night in the room and even sleep in the bed where Elvis used to rest.
A journey back in time for Elvis fans
Thomas Dröscher, who runs the small hotel, stresses that it is not a museum. The newly renovated hotel has now re-opened after standing empty for years.
The legendary black toilet lidImage: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Rumpenhorst
Fifteen of the 16 hotel rooms offer modern furniture alongside elegant antiques. But room 10 is different. It has heavy dark furniture with thick carpets and thick curtains, gilded pictures and pink armchairs, a bathroom with flowery tiles and the famous black toilet lid. Highly fashionable back in the 1950's it might now take a bit of getting used to says hotel manager Dröscher.
But the room is part of the Elvis legend and most of the furniture was in the room during his stay.
Secret love: Elvis and Priscilla in Hessen
Elvis and Priscilla married on May 1, 1967Image: AP
Presley came as a GI to Friedberg, Hessen in 1958. He stayed in the neighboring Bad Nauheim until early 1959. Then he moved to a house in the Goethestrasse, where he met the fourteen year old Priscilla Beaulieu. Later they married. Presley left Germany in 1960.
Bad Nauheim is proud of the fact that Elvis once stayed here and helps keep his memory alive. Every year it stages the European Elvis Festival which attracts visitors from around the world. This year it takes place from 18 August until 20 August.
Flowers at the Elvis monument in Bad NauheimImage: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Rumpenhorst
The town is glad to announce that the hotel where Elvis once stayed has now re-opened. Bookings have already been taken for room 10 and now the hotel's manager is keen to welcome his new guests.