Back in 1977, the death of Elvis Presley shocked the world. Not only was he one of the most well-known singers to ever live, but he was one of the first true icons. Like Frank Sinatra, Presley was truly in a league of his own.
He performed in films, becoming a movie star, and even served overseas. Throughout his entire life, women absolutely adored him. He had those undefinable qualities that make people want to know more—charisma and a massive stage presence combined with undeniable sex appeal.
Toward the end of his life, however, Presley was struggling with some serious health issues. His addiction to painkillers was ruining his body, and—as a result—doing his job as a performer became increasingly difficult.
After all, part of the reason why he had turned to painkillers was because of the immense pressure he felt every time he stepped on stage. In one of his last appearances, though, Elvis reminds us of why everyone called him The King.
In the clip, he is in South Dakota on tour, and his beautiful rendition of “Unchained Melody” will send chills up your spine. Although he’s clearly bloated and in terrible health during the stunning performance, he sings with an astonishing amount of passion. This brilliant version of the song should surely go down in the books as one of the best of all time.