BarbWIRED BY KACTUS KATE

For my darlin I love you, And I always will.

September 1956. The song also helped Elvis make history, when he became the first singer to replace himself on the billboard chart when “Love Me Tender” replaced “Don’t Be Cruel/ Hound Dog.” It is hard to believe that 56 years ago, 22-year-old ELVIS SLEPT HERE in Killeen-Central Texas. As a young G.I. going through basic training at Fort Hood, I imagine he felt about a million miles away from his southern roots and home in Memphis. And no doubt, he was totally out of his element. Military training and field maneuvers are a far cry from a recording studio or movie set. While stationed at Fort Hood, Elvis rented a modest, circa 1950s ranch-style home on Oakhill Drive near Conder Park in Killeen and shared the home with his parents and grandmother. According to neighbors, Elvis sometimes had to cross through their backyards to get to his house because of all the fans who were camped out in his front yard. Elvis lived in Central Texas for only 6 months and he only lived another 19 years after he left Fort Hood. This year will mark 37 years since his death. He may be gone, but he has never been forgotten. Last year, readers of USA Today selected Graceland as the No. 1 Best Iconic American Attraction, beating out the Statue of Liberty, Mt. Rushmore and many other places of historical significance. I am sure if Elvis was alive today (he would be 79 years old), he would be quite surprised to know his music continues to influence and inspire others and pleased to know he is still dearly loved and in our hearts...

Adapted from the 1861 Civil War ballet “Aura Lee,” “Love Me Tender” received more than 1 million preorders, making it the first single to ship as a gold record before its release in

Love me tender, Love me long, Take me to your heart. For it’s there that I belong, And will never part.

Slighty Sharp & Twisted

Love me tender ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATEST LOVE SONGS was recorded by legendary heart throb Elvis Presley in 1956 — just two years before he found himself stationed at Fort Hood. My maternal grandparents used to see Elvis riding his motorcycle through their neighborhood on his daily commutes to and from post; and my fraternal grandmother still recalls all the excitement he stirred at the post dental clinic where she worked, when he came in to have his wisdom teeth removed. Nothing captures the essence of romance or the spirit of Valentine’s Day better than listening to Elvis croon this beloved love ballad. Love me tender, Love me true, All my dreams fulfilled. 66

FEBRUARY 2014 TEX APPEAL