Elvis Before Graceland

Elvis Presley worked at Crown Electric in Memphis, Tennessee for a little less than a year, but very little is known about his life as a truck driver or a do-all boy.

Until now.

This is the story of Elvis's time at Crown Electric, as told by his former boss, James Tipler.

Elvis' time at Crown Electric was critical because it shaped him into the man he became later on. It helped form the man, many of his dreams and his direction in life. This was the time he made the faithful decision to follow his dreams. It is only natural to ask, what was his life during that time? What were the defining factors that projected him down the path he took on?

James Tipler was in the unique position to shed plenty of light on those years for several reasons. Tipler experienced both the young and the older 'Elvis', and his record tells a story that is not only unknown until now, but one that answers many other questions about the latter Elvis.

What was the true reason Elvis never performed outside of United States? Why did he choose to live in Memphis after achieving success? What kind of job did Elvis perform while working at Crown Electric? What was the quality of work he performed? Was he as good and disciplined there, as he turned out to be later in life during gruesome concert schedules that required such a strong will? And there are less asked, but just as relevant questions. Why did Elvis invest in his former employer’s business, even after he made it big? What did he hope to achieve with that investment? Why did he suddenly stop buying his concert clothing from Lansky in Memphis?

With over 70 unique and never-seen photos, “Elvis Before Graceland” is a treasure trove of documents, and events never released or told before. “Elvis Before Graceland” answers these questions and is a must-read for all who hope to understand Elvis' life.