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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services Ducks, Buckeye fans make playful wagers ahead of championship game Old stained-glass windows face threats College on the K-12 dime Mobile Health Center pulls out of Gold Hill Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Emergency services One killed Friday in single-vehicle crash in Rogue River Emergency services Men sentenced in heroin case Politics and Elections Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Education College on the K-12 dime Students forge links between forest health and people Medford School Board meeting deferred because of Ducks game Medford bulks up student support for math, reading Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions Environment OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock State News Oregon State University plans $60 million forestry complex Washington man arrested in Portland hotel slaying Timber group updates green label forestry standards Attorney: Use Boy Scout files in sex-abuse trial Oregon capitalizes on championship run Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Ricardo Ruiz-Santillan Richard Thompson LuErna Mae Jacobson Robert Charles Pollock Bob Lozano Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? Sports Latest Stories Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle No. 11 Oregon State drubs Oregon again Walker, Matsuyama tied for Kapalua lead Luck leads Colts to upset of Manning, Broncos N.C. State hands No. 2 Duke first loss Varsity 541 College Sports No. 11 Oregon State drubs Oregon again N.C. State hands No. 2 Duke first loss Will players show wear and tear? UO’s resilient receivers stay ready McShay’s take on pro Ducks Pro Sports Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle Walker, Matsuyama tied for Kapalua lead Luck leads Colts to upset of Manning, Broncos Packers shake Cowboys, to play for NFC title Federer notches 1,000th match win Community Sports Business Latest Stories Business briefs People in Business Blog: Former Meier & Frank stores avoid Macy's hit list Ride & Drive: 2015 Chevrolet Trax Blog: One Frenchman's perspective on Jan. 7 attack Real Estate News Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers People In Business Transportation Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Opinion Latest Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Another View: A few questions to make the AG nominee squirm Another view: Politicians retreat from racism Guest Opinion: FERC fails our planet Editorials Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Other Views: ACLU leader helped change Oregon Our View: It's best to prepare for the worst Our View: Falls has work to do to restore trust Our View: WISE project offers many benefits Letters to the Editor Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 9 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 8 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 7 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 6 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: FERC fails our planet Guest Opinion: East is east and west is west Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Guest Opinion: Say yes to clean energy jobs, no to the LNG project Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Lifestyle Latest stories Chasing the mopes The King's rocky career road ... past his supposed death It's about what we give out Medics in the Woods Resist, reject those uninformed attitudes Food Community blog: Happy New Beer Year! 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Mobile Health Center pulls out of Gold Hill ... Latest attempt at public safety levy targets specific needs ... Old stained-glass windows face threats ... Mobile Health Center pulls out of Gold Hill ... Latest attempt at public safety levy targets specific needs ... ELVIS AT 80 The King's rocky career road ... past his supposed death Comment By Malcolm X Abram and Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal MailTribune.com By Malcolm X Abram and Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal Posted Jan. 11, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Malcolm X Abram and Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal Posted Jan. 11, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News What if Elvis Presley had lived? In August 1977, the singer was found unconscious in his Graceland home and later pronounced dead at age 42. But what if the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had in fact been saved by paramedics and had continued his musical career? If so, we would have marked his 80th birthday on Jan. 8 in a very different way. And we would be pondering four more decades of Presley’s work and life, a life that might have looked like this ... August 1977. After recovering from his near-death experience, Elvis proclaims that he promised to live a saintly life if he was spared. He enters drug rehab and emerges lean, sleek and ready to rock. Only he is talking Rock of Ages, vowing to record only gospel and appearing solely on shows on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Pat Robertson says Elvis has been “all shook up by Jesus.” Elvis severs ties with Tom Parker, turning his career over to his ex-wife Priscilla. There are tensions — his spiritualism versus her Scientology — but she proves a savvy manager. 1977-81. Aside from his Christian work, Elvis performs little, living quietly in Graceland. But, an admirer of Ronald Reagan, he gives a show-stopping performance of his hits at the Reagan inaugural, realizes how much he misses his old songs and follows it up with his first world tour. He is shocked when European audiences respond poorly to his music, even after Elvis markets himself as “TOP: The Original Punk.” But they love him in Japan. Mid-1980s. Tired of the old songs (and disappointed by the sales of re-recordings of his greatest hits via late night TV), Elvis casts about for a new producer and sound. He toys with hip-hop, guesting on a single produced by Afrika Bambaataa. It is unsuccessful. A tour with Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis as “Monsters of Rock ‘n’ Roll” collapses when the three performers fight constantly over who should close the show. 1987. Elvis is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He gives a touching and heartfelt speech about his impoverished youth, the craziness and confusion of being the first global rock star, losing his way in ego and drugs, and finding his way back with the help of his Lord and Savior. He receives a lengthy standing ovation, and Elvis, Scotty Moore and James Burton have a long three-man bear hug. The stage during the night-ending jam session is so packed with artists wanting to plug in and play behind Elvis, it blows fuses at The Waldorf Astoria. “That’s rock and roll!” Elvis yells from the suddenly darkened stage, drawing cheers. 1991. Now 55, Elvis sees other veteran artists such as bluesman John Lee Hooker and singer/guitarist Bonnie Raitt (whose singing voice he professes to love) have platinum success and decides he wants in. He hooks up with producer Mutt Lange, who gives Presley a big contemporary arena rock sound and loads the album with guests, including a hit rocking version of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart with Shania Twain that wins a Grammy. The album debuts at No. 1 but underperforms. The lengthy arena tour starts out well, with corporate backing from Skippy peanut butter and Chiquita bananas, for which Elvis does a series of self-deprecating commercials. But after injuring his back during an on-the-road karate exhibition, his old prescription drug habits begin anew and a few of the old Memphis Mafia members appear on the tour bus. Priscilla cancels the last few dates to get him back to rehab. 1993. Elvis follows in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra and records a duets album featuring songs from his back catalog. Elvis and Paul McCartney’s lightly funky version of That’s All Right, Mama rules AAA radio for six weeks; His Eye Is on the Sparrow with former backup singer Cissy Houston (and, it’s believed, a little help from Whitney) earns them both a Dove Award. 1994. On May 26, Lisa Marie Presley quietly marries Michael Jackson in the Dominican Republic. On May 30, Elvis has a minor stroke. He quickly recovers and swears publicly the two incidents were unrelated. Still, confused fans spread rumors that Elvis is dating Janet Jackson. 1995. In a Rolling Stone interview, a fully recovered Elvis declares he hates grunge. He opines that he just can’t figure out why all these dirty looking, miserable whippersnappers are complaining all the time when they have the best job in the world. He does kind of like Nirvana’s Lithium. “I had some great times on Lithium,” he chuckles. Also, after seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform while appearing on Late Show with David Letterman he declares, “Them L.A. boys are some crazy fellas.” Because of the interview, Elvis is initially booed in Cleveland Stadium when he makes a surprise appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert; he wins people over with his version of Bob Marley’s One Love. 1996. Elvis watches his Million Dollar Quartet buddy Johnny Cash’s career be rejuvenated by the American Recordings series and wants in. He and uber-hot producer Rick Rubin team up and produce The King Wears No Clothes, a stripped down, back-to-basics rock recording backed by a mix of old friends and a gaggle of relative youngsters including The Mavericks, Matchbox 20, three-fifths of Guns ‘N Roses, U2 and the recently re-formed Eagles. Critics and fans exult over the album featuring songs written for the project by Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Lyle Lovett and R.E.M. It sweeps the big awards at the Grammys. The cover photo — a svelte, 61-year-old Elvis in a Vegas-era jumpsuit unzipped halfway to show his surprisingly toned chest — becomes iconic. Elvis closes out the century with two more Rubin-produced albums and a huge New Year’s Eve show in Vegas shown on pay-per-view. People magazine calls him the Sexiest Man Still Alive. 2002 . Elvis and daughter Lisa Marie record an album, The King & The Princess, produced by Rick Rubin that is well received and sells briskly. They don’t tour but make the talk-show rounds telling stories and generally being a cute daddy-daughter team. Elvis admits on the Today show he finds Lisa Marie’s then-new husband Nicolas Cage’s obsession with him to be a bit “unsettling, but otherwise he seems to be an all right guy.” After the couple divorce, Elvis admits “that guy was pretty weird.” Cage replies: “Pot. Kettle.” 2005. Elvis, still touring but clearly winding down, quietly celebrates his 70th birthday with friends and family. Fans swarm Graceland and sing Happy Birthday to him. He briefly sticks his head out of one of the upstairs windows and waves. 2009. Following the death of Michael Jackson, Elvis releases a tribute collection of Jackson tunes. His cover of Bad — which mingles bits of his own Trouble — becomes the most downloaded song of the year. A will.i.am remix will be heard in commercials for years. 2010-present . Looking for different ways to reach old and new fans, Elvis begins a blitz of TV appearances. Teamed with Cheryl Burke, he wins Dancing With the Stars — although critics question the season having an “all Elvis music” night. He is a guest judge on American Idol. He appears in an Adam Sandler movie; it flops, but Elvis’s scene gets millions of YouTube views. He guests in a multi-episode Nashville arc asking if Elvis is Deacon’s father. (He’s not.) Jan. 8, 2015. Elvis’s 80th birthday is celebrated at a live concert special from Las Vegas. Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Lopez, Usher and other celebrities sing Elvis songs for a global audience. Elvis looks a bit frail after recent hip replacements (Jimmy Kimmel jokes, “He shakes, rattles and clanks”). Sitting in a special box with Priscilla, Lisa Marie and his grandchildren, Elvis rises at show’s end to declare, as he so often did, “Thank you. Thank you very much.” If only ... By Malcolm X Abram and Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal MailTribune.com By Malcolm X Abram and Rich Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal Posted Jan. 11, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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