There are few performers with the kind of voice and influence that seem heaven sent, but Elvis Presley was one of those performers.
And he had it ALL.
The voice of an angel, the looks of Adonis, and more charm than a politician. His contribution to music is unquantifiable.
His music brought rock and roll to the mainstream and still touches the hearts of many even after his death in August 1977.
And some even say that one of his last performances before his death was among his best.
This is because it’s a true testament to the human spirit and shows how far humans are willing to go without giving up. The performance says a lot about Presley’s character considering the condition the King of Rock and Roll was in at the time.
Presley was suffering from a slew of health problems, prescription drug abuse, and sleeping problems, according to Rolling Stone.
Despite these serious issues, Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker arranged for cameras to film Presley’s upcoming shows for a TV special and live album.
Presley wasn’t doing too well before his show in Rapid City, South Dakota. But that all changed when Presley hit the stage.
He poured all the strength he had into a gorgeous rendition of “Unchained Melody,” a song written in 1955 by Alex North and Hy Zaret.
Guitarist Charlie Hodge held the microphone while Presley belted out the song with everything he had as he played the piano.
Other than Presley’s voice and that piano, you could hear a pin drop in that room. The audience stood spellbound in awe.
Sweat dripped from every pore in the King’s face as he belted out each emotional note.
And just as quickly as the song began, it ended and Presley was whisked off stage.
“Elvis has left the building,” the announcer said as Presley’s driver sped off.
There were five more shows in that tour which finished on June 26th at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The last song that Presley ever sang in the tour was “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
He died less than two months after that.
That performance has been viewed more than 10 million times on YouTube.
“I don’t care what anyone says, this is the best damn version of this song ever! It’s haunting and you can tell his whole heart and soul is in this,” wrote YouTuber Thomas Boner.
You can watch the performance below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
