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Video of Elvis Singing 2 Months before His Death Gives One the Chills to This Day

Rebelander Basilan
Aug 13, 2021
02:13 P.M.

Stunning footage of Elvis Presley singing a classic favorite with so much passion and intensity two months before his passing is still giving every person who watches it "the chills."

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Sitting behind the piano in his shiny recognizable attire, The King of Rock 'n' Roll performed an excellent rendition of "Unchained Melody" to an audience in Rapid City, South Dakota, in June 1977.

Unfortunately, that was his last show ever recorded as he died unexpectedly two months later. To this day, the video of his final performance still resonates with millions around the world.

Elvis Presley at the White House on December 21, 1970. | Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

Elvis Presley at the White House on December 21, 1970. | Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

HIS RISE TO FAME

Elvis Presley first rose to fame in the mid-1950s after appearing on the radio, television, and on the silver screen. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, he frequently moved from place to place before starting his musical success in Memphis.

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At the time, he won a talent show in his high school. After graduating, he worked numerous jobs while pursuing music. By 1954, his first single, "That's All Right," was released.

Elvis Presley's promotional photo for Jailhouse Rock, 1957. | Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

Elvis Presley's promotional photo for Jailhouse Rock, 1957. | Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

HIS SUPERSTARDOM

By 1955, Presley started to develop a following fanbase thanks to his unusual musical style and, of course, his good looks. That same year, he signed with RCA Records and scored his first number 1 single with "Heartbreak Hotel."

By 1967, he married Priscilla Beaulieu, and together they welcomed their daughter Lisa Marie. By 1973, the couple divorced. Around the same time, Presley was wrestling with his growing addiction to prescription drugs.

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HIS DECLINING HEALTH

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The singer-actor was also struggling with his weight, caused by the destructive lifestyle that ultimately caught up with him. Despite the accelerating deterioration of Elvis's health, he continued performing.

In June 1977, he filmed two concerts for a TV special, "Elvis in Concert," to be aired in October. His last concert was at Indianapolis at the Market Square Arena on June 26. Soon after, he went home to Memphis to prepare for another tour.

Elvis Presley performing "Unchained Melody" in Rapid City, South Dakota. | Source: YouTube/Michael Hembree

Elvis Presley performing "Unchained Melody" in Rapid City, South Dakota. | Source: YouTube/Michael Hembree

ASPECTS THAT LED TO ELVIS' DEATH

On August 1, 1977, a book called "Elvis: What Happened?" was published. It was the first exposé to detail Elvis' years of drug misuse. Devastated by the book, the singer attempted to stop its release by offering money to the publishers.

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By this point, he was experiencing different illnesses, each magnified – and perhaps caused – by drug abuse. On August 16, Presley was scheduled to fly out of Memphis to start another tour. However, he was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor.

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HIS LAST HOURS

He was immediately taken to the Baptist Memorial Hospital, but all attempts to revive him failed, and he was officially pronounced dead. Hours prior to his death, the singer visited the dentist and returned home at midnight.

Presley then called up his cousin Billy Smith and his wife Jo for a game of racquetball court at 4 AM. At this point, he was asleep all day which meant he was going to stay up all night.

HIS FINAL UNOFFICIAL PERFORMANCE

As they walked to the court, it began to rain. Jo recounted that at the time, Presley tried to make the rain stop with just a wave of his hand. Coincidentally, it stopped raining.

At the racquetball court, the singer would give his last performance to those who were there, singing and playing "Unchained Melody" and "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain."

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They returned to his Graceland mansion at around 6 AM, where Presley briefly saw his daughter Lisa Marie and kissed her goodnight. Although they were supposed to fly to Portland that night, Presley was found dead hours prior.

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