The Music, Movies and Life of Elvis Presley Quiz

Answer: Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling In Love

"Rock-A-Hula Baby" was written by Ben Weisman/Fred Wise/Dolores Fuller, "Can't Help Falling In Love" was written by Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore/George David Weiss.

"Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling In Love" was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Elvis Presley in 1962. "Can't Help Falling In Love" peaked at number two and the B-side "Rock-A-Hula Baby" peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

It was his fourth double A-Sided UK number one hit. "Blue Hawaii" the movie it was taken from, was his most successful at the box office and the music from the movie was his best selling soundtrack album.

Question submitted by shipyardbernie

Answer: 14

Elvis met Priscilla, the daughter of an Air Force Officer, when he was in the US Army and stationed in Freidberg, Germany., in 1959. After seeing her in a nightclub, he arranged for a friend of his to ask if she would like to meet him, and to bring her to his home. Elvis took a liking to her immediately.

When he returned to the US after being discharged from the Army in March of 1960, they had an on and off long distance relationship until 1962. When Elvis suggested she finish her schooling in Memphis, her father reluctantly let her move.

They married in Las Vegas in May 1967, and had one daughter, Lisa-Marie. Some suggest that Elvis lost interest in Priscilla once she was a mother, which is the reason for her affair with a karate instructor. They divorced in 1973.

Question submitted by Fifiscot

Answer: Wearing a white fringed costume in place of a regular uniform

Elvis, who like many American soldiers in Germany had limited interaction with locals, did learn one folk song, "Muss i denn", literally "Must I Then". The song was to serve later as the base for the hit song "Wooden Heart" in his film "G. I. Blues". It was a number one hit for Elvis in the UK in 1961. In the US Joe Dowell took the song to number one.

Today you can trace the steps of Elvis in Bad Nauheim, the city where he lived. This includes the Elvis Presley Platz (plaza) dedicated to him in 1995, places where he lived, and his favorite local hangouts. Since 2002, Bad Nauheim has hosted the "European Elvis Festival" to mark the anniversary of his death with concerts and even a Cadillac parade.

Question submitted by Pitegny

Answer: Johnny Cash

Apparently when Elvis and Johnny Cash played on the same bill they would often do a lighthearted impersonation of each other to entertain the punters. When Johnny did this version of "Heartbreak Hotel" Elvis wasn't present since he had been drafted, but my guess is he would have enjoyed it as much as the crowd did, and as much as I did when I watched it.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is mad for Elvis and has been filmed several times impersonating his idol, once when visiting Graceland.

Neil Diamond has often been described as the Jewish Elvis.

The criminally-underrated Carl Perkins wrote and performed "Blue Suede Shoes", a watershed composition in the history of popular music. Johnny Cash was actually the one to come up with the idea of "Blue Suede Shoes" when Perkins, Elvis and he were touring together. Rock legend has it that if Perkins had not been involved in a serious car accident in 1956, he would have had the chance to promote his version of the song further, plus produce a follow-up, and maybe he would have become a bigger star than Elvis.

Question submitted by thula2.

Answer: His mother, Gladys

Elvis bought Graceland primarily for his mother. Vernon, Elvis' father thought he might like to move to California. His mother Gladys prevailed upon him and knowing how happy the house would make her he bought it, though she would survive to live in it for just two years. The mansion was bought in 1957 from Dr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Moore; it had originally been named after Mrs. Moore's great-aunt Grace. Elvis based himself in Graceland for the rest of his life; he left us at far too young an age, being only 42 when he died in 1977.

In 1986, Paul Simon released an album called "Graceland" and the song "Graceland" became the first hit single from the compilation. Paul Simon said at the time that the song was not specifically about Elvis, but it is hard to imagine that he did not intend at least a respectful nod in the direction of The King, as he surely knew what a powerful image Graceland would evoke in his listeners.

Question submitted by elmo7

Answer: Juliet Prowse

Juliet Prowse was born in Bombay, India on 25 September 1936. She grew up in South Africa, where her family went to live after World War II. Her career spanned over 40 years and she worked in movies, on TV and on the stage. She died on 14 September 1996.

"G. I. Blues" was directed by Norman Taurog, who went on to direct eight more films starring Elvis Presley. This was Elvis' sixth motion picture and the first made by him after he came out of the Army. In fact, some preliminary filming took place in Germany while Elvis was still there, but he did not appear in any of the footage, as a stand-in was used. All his work was done on a sound stage in Hollywood. In one scene in the movie, somebody puts a coin in a jukebox and selects "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley. Ursula Andress was considered for the Juliet Prowse role. The character played by Elvis is named Tulsa McLean, a soldier in the US Army stationed in Germany. Tulsa is coerced into taking a bet that he can spend the night with beautiful nightclub dancer, Lily. Of course after many mix-ups and several musical numbers later, true love wins. The three alternative actress answers all starred with Elvis Presley in other movies.

Elvis Presley was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album or Recording from a Motion Picture.

Question submitted by wenray

Answer: Don't Be Cruel

"Don't Be Cruel" was his first song, followed by "Love Me Tender", in his first set, and "Ready Teddy" and "Hound Dog" in his second set.

Although the show was televised out of New York, Elvis was in Hollywood making "Love Me Tender", so his two segments were televised from Television City in Hollywood. Due to being injured in a car accident, Ed Sullivan could not host his show that evening, so Charles Laughton guest-hosted. He stood in front of four plaques containing gold records and introduced Elvis by saying, "These gold records, four of them... are a tribute to the fact that four of his recordings have sold, each sold, more than a million copies. And this, by the way, is the first time in record making history that a singer has hit such a mark in such a short time. ... And now, away to Hollywood to meet Elvis Presley."

Elvis appeared twice more on "The Ed Sullivan Show. His second appearance was on 28 October 1956, when he again sang "Don't Be Cruel", "Love Me Tender" and "Hound Dog". His final appearance was on 6 January 1957, when he sang numerous songs, again including "Hound Dog" and "Love Me Tender".

Question submitted by wenray.

Answer: (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care

"(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" is one of many Elvis smashes that was written by the great team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was written as part of the score for the movie "Jailhouse Rock" (1957) and was released on the "Jailhouse Rock" EP which featured the playing of Scotty Moore and Bill Black.

Freddy Mercury and the band Queen included "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" on the double album of their live performance at Wembley Stadium in 1986. This song was part of a medley that paid tribute to the influence of some fifties' rockers; the Ricky Nelson song "Hello Mary Lou", as well as Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" are also included. The influence of Elvis can most readily be heard on Queen's own "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

Question submitted by elmo7

Answer: Suspicious Minds

"Suspicious Minds" was written and first recorded by Mark James in 1968 but did not make the charts. Elvis heard the song when he was looking for new material and immediately took a liking to it. Noted session guitarist Reggie Young played on both the Mark James and Elvis Presley versions.

Elvis' recording of "Suspicious Minds" became his eighteenth and last US number one hit during his lifetime. It is said to have fueled his return after his '68 comeback special. It became a staple of his Las Vegas act. Elvis and Priscilla, who married in 1967, divorced in 1973.

Question submitted by mikegolden

Answer: An American Trilogy

"An American Trilogy" was arranged and first sung by country singer/songwriter Mickey Newbury. It includes "Dixie", probably the best known song to have come out of blackface minstrelsy. It became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", was the marching song of the Union Army during the Civil War and uses the music from "John Brown's Body". "All My Trials" was based on a Bahamian lullaby and giving the message that no matter how bleak a situation can be, the struggle will soon be over.

Elvis Presley's version was a number 66 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a number eight hit on the UK singles chart in 1972.

Question submitted by linda122