14/12/2025
Some thoughts for .
GREATNESS CARRIES WEIGHT
SENSITIVITY IS NOT A WEAKNESS
HUMILITY RESTORES BALANCE
Be kind, Be humble and Be patient. Your destiny will find you, if you allow it to.
In 1971, when the roar of his own concerts faded and the lights went dark, Elvis Presley often became a quiet observer instead of the center of attention. Las Vegas was overflowing with stars in those days, and Elvis loved slipping into showrooms unnoticed, sitting in the shadows to watch performers he admired. It made him feel normal again. One night after finishing his show at the International Hotel, he joined Priscilla, Jerry Schilling, and a few close friends to see Tom Jones perform at the Stardust. It was a shared understanding between artists. When Tom came to see Elvis, Elvis showed up for Tom.
During the performance, Elvis felt the familiar urge to step out for a moment. He and Jerry moved quickly through the casino corridors, trying to avoid attention. As they walked back, music drifted from a smaller room nearby. Inside, the Irish Royal Show Band was playing, and their lead singer Brendan Bowyer was performing an Elvis song with dramatic flair and heavy vibrato. Elvis stopped. Something about the imitation struck a nerve. Without thinking, he stepped into the room, cane in hand, leaving Jerry frozen at the doorway.
Elvis walked straight onto the stage, lifted his cane, and stunned everyone in the room. The singer nearly stopped breathing. But Elvis did not scold him harshly. He spoke calmly and said that if someone was going to imitate another artist, they should do it properly. Then he turned to the audience and gave a playful wink. The crowd laughed, thinking it was all part of the act. The singer did not see the wink and was left shaken as Elvis slipped back out just as suddenly as he had entered.
At first Elvis laughed about the incident with Jerry, amused by how spontaneous it had been. But once they were seated again watching Tom Jones, the laughter faded. Elvis grew quiet. He began to worry that he had humiliated a man who was simply doing his job and trying to entertain people. That was the side of Elvis few ever saw. He carried a deep sensitivity and an almost painful awareness of how much his presence could affect others. He asked Jerry to find the band and invite them to his suite later that night. He wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings.
When Brendan Bowyer arrived at the suite, any fear disappeared instantly. Elvis greeted him warmly, spoke kindly, and treated him with genuine respect. What had started as a frightening moment became a memory Brendan would treasure for the rest of his life. For Elvis, it was a quiet reminder of the weight he carried wherever he went. He never meant to hurt anyone. Had he enjoyed the imitation, he likely would have jumped onstage and sung along. Beneath the legend and the power of his name, Elvis Presley was simply a musician who loved music, respected other artists, and followed his heart even when it led him to unexpected places.
