On August 16, 1977, the world awoke to shocking news. Elvis Presley was gone. He was only forty two years old. Just weeks earlier, he had stood before thousands of fans during his final concert in Indianapolis, still doing what he loved most. Another tour was already scheduled to begin the very next day. Despite years of health struggles and exhaustion, Elvis never stopped thinking about the next performance. The stage was more than a place where he sang. It was where he connected with people. It was where he felt understood. As longtime friend Jerry Schilling later recalled, performing remained one of the few things that truly made Elvis happy.
On August 16, 1977, the world awoke to shocking news. Elvis Presley was gone. He was only forty two years old. Just weeks earlier, he had stood before thousands of…