MICHIGAN

8 things you never knew about Elvis' presence in Michigan

Navya Gupta
Detroit Free Press

With the musical drama "Elvis," which explores the King of Rock 'n' Roll’s life, now in theaters, it's a perfect time to brush up on Elvis Presley lore, including his ties to Michigan.

The musical life of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), from growing up in Mississippi to his later days in Las Vegas, is chronicled in Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis."

While Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977, some conspiracy theorists are certain that Elvis faked his death in order to get away from the fame.

In fact, 11 years after his death, two Michigan women grabbed headlines after insisting that they spotted the King at a local supermarket and, fittingly, at Burger King.

Kalamazoo resident Louise Welling swears she spotted Presley at Felpausch supermarket while wearing a white jumpsuit and purchasing an electrical fuse. 

Her daughter also spotted him eating a Whopper at Burger King.

Elvis Presley is shown performing in this undated photo at an unknown location. Nutballz, a cookie company founded by a snowboarder, says it has won an eBay auction to borrow a plastic foam cup its owner says was used by Elvis Presley during a 1977 concert. (AP Photo/File)

The story, which never actually panned out, grabbed international headlines after gracing the cover of supermarket tabloid "Weekly World News." 

Elvis owned an office in downtown Kalamazoo, which he used when visiting the city's Gibson Guitar factory. The office was a part of the Columbia Hotel, where Elvis stayed when he was in the city. The hotel was converted to offices in the 1980s.

Here are other facts about Elvis Presley in Michigan:

Presley’s first nationwide hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," was written by songwriter Thomas Durden, who died at his Michigan home in Houghton Lake.
  • Elvis first performed in Michigan in May 1956 at Detroit’s Fox Theatre.
  • Presley’s first nationwide hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," was written by songwriter Thomas Durden, who died at his Michigan home in Houghton Lake. 
  • Two recordings from the King’s 1977 Ann Arbor concert, “Little Darlin” and “Unchained Melody,” were featured on Elvis' final album, “Moody Blue.” 
  • The soundtrack to the “Elvis” film features two Michigan artists: Eminem and Jack White.
  • Presley’s performance of “Unchained Melody” at Ann Arbor’s Crisler Arena in 1977, features as the final song on the soundtrack to "Elvis." 
  • Elvis performed at Saginaw’s Dow Event Center inside Wendler Arena on April 25 and May 3 in 1977. The audio recording of the concert is available on YouTube.

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Contact Navya Gupta: ngupta@freepress.com