# Was Elvis called "The King" prior to his death? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749 "2008-07-25T17:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/1 "2008-07-25T17:35:51Z")
I’m having a hard time finding any evidence one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/2 "2008-07-25T17:42:13Z")
Yes. I’m sure you’ve seen photos of him in his full regalia, including cape. That was all playing on the King theme. Just as Michael Jackson was called “King of Pop” before his popularity waned, Elvis was called the King long before his death. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/3 "2008-07-25T17:44:24Z")
“I’ll never replace Elvis! He’s the King!” - Stan Freberg, “Old Payola Roll Blues,” 1960 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/4 "2008-07-25T17:50:06Z")
The king is gone, but he’s not forgotten. This is the story of Johnny Rotten. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/5 "2008-07-25T17:51:48Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] The king is gone, but he’s not forgotten. This is the story of Johnny Rotten. [/QUOTE] Johnny Rotten being still alive, of course. It’s Sid Vicious who’s dead. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/6 "2008-07-25T18:18:17Z")
[QUOTE=Terminus Est] Johnny Rotten being still alive, of course. It’s Sid Vicious who’s dead. [/QUOTE] It’s better to burn out, than it is to rust. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/7 "2008-07-25T18:43:49Z")
He was “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, often shortened to The King. Not to be confused with The King of Pop Michael Jackson or The King of All Media Howard Stern. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/8 "2008-07-25T18:59:11Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] He was “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, often shortened to The King. Not to be confused with The King of Pop Michael Jackson or The King of All Media Howard Stern. [/QUOTE] Or the King (the King, the King, the King!) of Cartoooooons! ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/9 "2008-07-25T20:59:50Z")
Being somewhat of an Elvis fan myself, I took to the books and the Internet to give the OP a big Yes, of course, man, but I didn’t find any source of the King being called the King before his death (aside of some bloke at some time might’ve etc). Therefore, for the first time as a doper, I demand cites. Yes, you heard it: Cites, I tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/10 "2008-07-25T21:33:28Z")
From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley#fn_h): > [@](#): > > At a press conference after his first opening in Vegas, when a reporter referred to him as “The King”, Presley pointed to Fats Domino, standing at the back of the room. “No,” he said, “that’s the real king of rock and roll.” So yes, Elvis was known as “The King” before he died. The honorific was well known. so much so that in the immediate wake of his death, Ronnie McDowell released a tribute song entitled “The King Is Gone” ([video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_tv-_3UtjU)) and no one had to ask who he was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/11 "2008-07-25T21:38:48Z")
Assuming this is the original headline: [Rock and roll ‘king’ Presley dies](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/16/newsid_2496000/2496375.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/12 "2008-07-25T21:45:06Z")
[QUOTE=Wakinyan] Being somewhat of an Elvis fan myself, I took to the books and the Internet to give the OP a big Yes, of course, man, but I didn’t find any source of the King being called the King before his death (aside of some bloke at some time might’ve etc). Therefore, for the first time as a doper, I demand cites. Yes, you heard it: Cites, I tell you. [/QUOTE] Well, for what it’s worth, I clearly remember him being commonly referred to as “the King of Rock and Roll” (often shortened to just “the King”) while he was still alive. I also remember the endless media coverage when he died (it was very similar to the Diana coverage but without the cable news channels) constantly referencing that particular honorific. I guess it’s not a Dope-worthy cite, but I can’t be the only one around here who remembers it first hand. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/13 "2008-07-25T21:46:44Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] Assuming this is the original headline: [Rock and roll ‘king’ Presley dies](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/16/newsid_2496000/2496375.stm) [/QUOTE] Heh. If a big star bought his girl a $50,000 ring these days he’d be taken to task for being a cheapskate. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/14 "2008-07-25T21:47:09Z")
The front page of the British _Sun_ read [“KING ELVIS DEAD - HE WAS 42 AND ALONE.”](http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/fpage/popculture/pop.html) ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/15 "2008-07-25T21:54:31Z")
[QUOTE=Cisco] Heh. If a big star bought his girl a $50,000 ring these days he’d be taken to task for being a cheapskate. [/QUOTE] Economists call it blingflation. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/16 "2008-07-25T22:23:38Z")
OK, thanks citers. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/17 "2008-07-26T15:49:20Z")
[QUOTE=Terminus Est] Johnny Rotten being still alive, of course. It’s Sid Vicious who’s dead. [/QUOTE] This may be a bit of a whoosh– **Leaffan** is quoting from Neil Young’s “Hey Hey My My.” See the complete lyrics [here](http://www.lyrics007.com/Neil%20Young%20Lyrics/Hey%20Hey,%20My%20My%20Lyrics.html). The “King” in Young’s song definitely isn’t Sid Vicious, IMHO. Similarly, it’s been contended that the line “And while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown” in Don McLean’s “American Pie” (released in 1971) is about Elvis and Bob Dylan, respectively. Radio personality Bob Dearborn published his analysis of McLean’s song in early 1972, long before Elvis died. That analysis is reproduced on [this site](http://user.pa.net/~ejjeff/pie.html), and I’ll quote the relevant part: > [@](#): > > McLean talks about the “King and Queen.” Logically, one would assume – and many have – that the King is Elvis Presley… > > American Pie then tells of the “Jester” stealing the King’s crown. Most people that I’ve talked to have concluded that the Jester is Bob Dylan. When Presley’s popularity began to fade in the early 1960’s, the only man who emerged with anything close to a parallel influence on music was Bob Dylan… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/18 "2008-07-26T16:13:58Z")
Dick Dale is known as ‘King Of The Surf Guitar’. He even has a song called _King Of The Surf Guitar_: > [@](#): > > Listen to the king of the surf guitar > Listen to the king of the surf guitar > Listen, listen to the king > > Oh how he can pluck a string > Oh how he makes you sing > Listen, listen to the king > > From Balboa to Anaheim > San Bernardino to Riverside > All the kids in all L.A. > Love to hear Dick Dale play I’m not sure how I feel about that. Is he mocking himself? I don’t see any irony in the lyrics. So ISTM it’s a display of egotism. When I think of Surf music several bands come to mind; but only one name: Dick Dale. He _is_ The King. But it’s poor form to proclaim it. In any case, the song isn’t all that great anyway. It’s the weakest song on the _King Of The Surf Guitar_ compilation. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-elvis-called-the-king-prior-to-his-death/457749/19 "2008-07-26T20:00:06Z")
[Elvis was the King of Rock 1,800 years ago](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2447019/Elvis-lives-in-2,000-year-old-carving.html). 😉