The King’s Final Act: A Valiant Performance Despite Clear Health Struggles

Elvis Presley passed away on August 16, 1977, at 42, succumbing to the long-term effects of prescription medication and alcohol misuse. His final appearance before the public took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 26, 1977, a mere few weeks before his early passing. In the lead-up to his ultimate performance, two of Presley’s concerts were captured on film for a television special on June 19 in Omaha, Nebraska, and June 21 in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The television special “Elvis in Concert,” which included footage from these performances, aired six weeks following Presley’s passing. Following several reruns as per the contractual agreement, the Presley estate later restricted further showings due to its portrayal of Presley in a diminished state, leading to unfortunate references to this as the “Fat Elvis” concert.

The concluding encore at the South Dakota concert, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”, stands as Presley’s final recorded act. Despite struggling with the spoken portion of the piece, Presley’s vocal performance remained robust. Devoted followers have pointed out in the comments that Presley frequently played with the lyrics and breaks in his songs. However, his spoken words in this instance were notably more indistinct, and his deteriorating health was apparent. Some biographers have suggested that he was in dire need of hospitalization at the time.

Reflecting on his 1973 separation from Priscilla, Presley introduced his last song with poignant words: “This one is called ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’ I am, and I was.” The performance was deeply emotional, and despite an uncomfortable spoken segment, which he shrugged off with a laugh alongside the audience, Presley’s singing regained its flow. Despite his physical condition, his vocal talent remained undeniable. Furthermore, his clear and coherent introduction of “Unchained Melody” earlier contrasts with the difficulties in his encore performance.

The performance was truly exceptional. A YouTube user named Mikey shared, “That final glance as he finished the song…absolutely chilling. My father made us visit Graceland multiple times during my childhood. I understand now, Dad. Such a voice. Such a soul. The King, eternally.”

The stark difference between the clear introduction of “Unchained Melody” and the mumbled delivery in “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” suggests that Presley’s severe health issues and exhaustion might have played a role in the challenges he faced during the spoken section of the latter. Considering it was the encore and despite his evident health struggles, including heart enlargement, gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and significant sleep deprivation, Presley managed to give 55 performances in the first half of 1977 alone.

Jerry Schilling, a close associate of Presley, revealed in his memoir that he questioned Colonel Tom Parker, Presley’s manager, about allowing the visibly unwell Presley to be filmed. Parker reportedly stated that it was Presley himself who insisted on proceeding with the special as planned. My research for this piece has left me both surprised and moved by the quality of Presley’s vocal performance in his final recorded public concert. The king may be gone, but Elvis’s legacy endures.