Nearly five decades after his death, there’s still a lot of curiosity surrounding Elvis Presley’s last moments, including ‘who was with Elvis Presley when he died,’ ‘where did he die’ ‘what caused his death,’ and ‘what were his last words.’ But before we answer these questions, let’s first take a look at the King of Rock’ n’ Roll, Elvis Presley’s impact on music history.
Elvis Presley’s Legacy and Influence
If there were one name in music that took the fifties upside down, it would be Elvis Presley. He started his career in 1954, and in only two years, he ‘ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture.’
He popularized the term Rock ‘n’ Roll, and his immense success in the genre translated into strong influences, opening doors of opportunities for other rock acts in the scene. He earned 18 chart-topping hits during his career and sold over a billion records.
But that wasn’t just it.
Elvis Presley also blurred the line between cultures, braided them together, paved the way for modern music videos, shaped the film and TV scenes in a way that had never been done before, and, last but not least, pioneered the Las Vegas residency.
These have made a seismic impact in the music industry, which is why he remains to be regarded as the “King” of the genre.
Death of an Icon
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On August 16, 1977, the 42-year-old musician died of a heart attack.
According to Elvis Presley’s autopsy report by Shelby County coroner Dr. Jerry Francisco, the preliminary finding for the cause of death was “cardiac arrhythmia.” The underlying cause of the arrhythmia wasn’t found, prompting numerous suspicions and theories surrounding Elvis Presley’s death.
He died due to a drug overdose as his toxicology report, released a week later, showed traces of 10 prescription drugs. However, Dr. Francisco issued a statement on Elvis Presley’s death investigation ruling drugs out as the cause of his passing.
Dr. George Nichopolous, who acted as the singer’s physician, later reported, “The cause of death has been ascribed to hypertensive heart disease, with coronary artery heart disease as a contributing factor.”
Elvis Presley’s Health Condition
Aside from the singer’s pill addiction, he also had a long list of health issues. Among the many medical conditions of Elvis Presley include hypertension, an enlarged colon, mild diabetes, and a liver problem. And these caused him to be hospitalized four times in a span of five years.
Final Words of Elvis Presley
There were no people present during Elvis’s death, so he didn’t have any recorded “last words.” The singer’s then-girlfriend Ginger Alden found him unconscious on the bathroom floor of his master suite at his Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee. The million-dollar mansion was Elvis’ sanctuary, where he enjoyed moments without the pressures of his fame.
Elvis Presley’s body was laid to rest in the Meditation Garden inside his mansion alongside his relatives.
To recap: Who was with Elvis Presley when he died? Sadly, he died alone. Nevertheless, his undeniable contributions to the music industry will forever be remembered. And his legacy will forever live on.
