It is hard to believe but it was 32 years ago today, that I heard the horrible news that “ELVIS PRESLEY is dead.” It was August 16, 1977 and my five years old ears had just got word that my hero was dead. My parents had taken me to see Elvis “IN CONCERT” not once – but TWICE by my fifth birthday!

Ironically, I just saw him perform ten concerts before his passing. My father phoned my mother and he heard at work that Elvis had passed. Like Paul Revere on horseback screaming “The British are Coming, the British are coming” – ironically, I got word and ran up and down my street on the sidewalk yelling: “Elvis is dead – Elvis is dead.” When asked how he died, I said: “I don’t know – maybe he fell off the stage.” The irony looking back was I didn’t even stay in the house long enough to hear how he died but I just knew I had to share with the world that “The King” was gone.

In my house, Elvis was huge. Graceland was BIG and Elvis was larger than life. My father’s friend was personal friends with Presley and Elvis even gave him a Cadillac. To me, Elvis had charisma, charm and countless talent. He was patriotic and personality personified and when he walked it was poetry in motion. He had incredible stage presence, even better voice and a God given gift that made one think he was singing directly to you (even if seated at top row of a ten thousand seat arena). Gospel Great J.D. Sumner was correct when he said: “After singing Gospel music for over four decades – I heard them all and in my opinion, NO ONE sang a Gospel song like Elvis Presley.” Ironically, the “King of Rock N Roll” never won a Grammy for his rock music but he won three for his Gospel albums. I have always said: “Promote the Lord and the Lord will promote you!” Elvis despite his problems was one in a million and he constantly gave to others. He also knew his gift was from God. Recently, I had the high honor to grow as friends with Elvis Presley’s stepbrother, Evangelist Rick Stanley.

Rick came at my request and did a three service revival in my hometown in March 2009, at First Baptist Church of Accokeek, MD. He was incredible, humble and powerful. Three amazing attributes. I know his brother would be proud but even greater, Jesus is proud of Rick. He was also gracious to be a “call in” guest on my radio show “FRANKLY SPEAKING” the month before the revival and it was a blessing to hear him share about his experiences with Elvis but also his passion for preaching the Gospel of Jesus.

Rick was one of the last people to ever have a full conversation with Elvis the night he died and you can listen firsthand what that conversation was about. Elvis said to young Ricky Stanley (who was not a believer at the time) noted: “Ricky, it is the people who tell you about Jesus are the one’s that really care for you. Man, you have to listen to what they have to say.” A couple hours later – ELVIS was dead.

Thirty years later, similar to that childhood boy after hearing the news that “The King was dead” I still storm out of my house, run up and down the streets of my hometown and across America with even greater passion. Today, it is not that the king died (Elvis) but that the King lives (Jesus). Today, in my house and parent’s home for us – Jesus is HUGE, Heaven is BIG and my Lord is larger than life.

In honor of Elvis passing today below is my interview with Elvis’ brother. God bless Elvis Presley, God bless America and God bless you.