Over his incredible career, Elvis Presley was showered with awards, but did you know The King only collected one in person?
This week marks the 52nd anniversary of that event, as highlighted by Graceland’s Instagram account.
On January 16, 1971, Elvis was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men by the United States Junior Chamber (or the Jaycees).
Graceland posted on Instagram: “This was the only award that he ever accepted in person, and he carried it with him everywhere he went for the rest of his life.
“On stage at the awards ceremony, Elvis quoted one of his favourite Roy Hamilton songs during his heartfelt acceptance speech.”
The King shared how he was always a dreamer as a kid whose dreams came true.
Elvis said: “When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I ever dreamed, has come true a hundred times… I learned very early in life that, ‘Without a song, the day would never end. Without a song, a man ain’t got a friend. Without a song, the road would never bend.’ So I keep singing a song.”
Elvis’ award and the tuxedo he wore to the ceremony are currently on display at Graceland.
As for why this was the only award Elvis accepted in person, perhaps it was partly his great patriotism after being awarded by the US Junior Chamber.
After all, less than a month prior, The King has met with President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office of The White House, expressing his concern for the American youth and asked what he could do to help.
Let’s also not forget that in the mid-1950s during his rise to stardom, Elvis was considered by some to be a bad influence on youth culture. Whereas in 1971 he was being named as one of Ten Outstanding Young Men, so very much the opposite.
