Otis Singleton
Before Elvis Presley rose to fame, he worked a number of odd jobs, including as a delivery boy for Crown Electric, a Memphis power company. From April 1954 to mid-October 1954, Elvis worked at Crown Electric, delivering supplies to job sites and hoping to learn how to become an electrician. He earned $1.00 an hour and drove a truck for the company. This experience inspired the track Gave It Away on Kathryn Williams' album Crown Electric.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Worked at Crown Electric | 1954 |
| Job | Drove trucks, delivered supplies to job sites |
| Hourly wage | $1.00 |
| Inspiration | The job inspired the Crown Electric Truck Build |
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What You'll Learn
Elvis worked at Crown Electric in 1954
In 1954, before he became a famous musician, Elvis Presley worked at Crown Electric in Memphis, Tennessee. He began working at the company in April 1954, earning $1.00 an hour. During his time at Crown Electric, Elvis drove trucks and delivered supplies to job sites. He had ambitions to learn how to become an electrician.
Elvis worked at Crown Electric for around six months, leaving in mid-October 1954. During his time at the company, he also recorded his first record at Sun Studio and began his journey to becoming a self-employed entertainer.
This period of Elvis's life, before he rose to fame, is often remembered as his "pre-fame years". It is notable that he held a variety of jobs during this time, including working as an assembler at a furniture manufacturer, an usher at a movie theater, and operating a spindle drill press at a plant that manufactured rocket shells for the military.
The time Elvis spent working at Crown Electric has been referenced in popular culture. For example, Kathryn Williams' 2013 album is titled "Crown Electric", referring to the Memphis power company that employed Elvis before he became a famous musician. The album explores a new dimension in Williams' sound and includes the track "Gave It Away", which directly mentions Elvis' time at Crown Electric.
Additionally, an Elvis-inspired truck build has been featured on the Reddit community dedicated to the singer. This truck build includes a wooden toolbox in the back with Elvis' name on it, reflecting his brief but significant time at Crown Electric before pursuing his musical career.
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He was paid $1 an hour
Before Elvis Presley became a famous musician, he worked for Crown Electric, a Memphis power company. In April 1954, he began working at Crown Electric for $1 an hour. He delivered supplies to job sites and aspired to become an electrician.
At Crown Electric, Elvis earned a modest wage of $1 per hour, which was the typical rate for such jobs at the time. He worked long hours to make a living and support himself financially. This was one of his many jobs before he rose to fame as a musician.
During his time at Crown Electric, Elvis gained valuable experience and learned new skills. He was responsible for delivering supplies and equipment to different job sites. This involved driving trucks and ensuring that the right materials were delivered to the correct locations on time. It is also believed that he hoped to receive training in electrical work during his time at Crown Electric.
While working at Crown Electric, Elvis also pursued his musical interests. He continued to develop his musical talents and performed with his friends. By mid-October 1954, he had recorded his first record at Sun Studio, marking the beginning of his self-employment as an entertainer.
Elvis's time at Crown Electric was short-lived, as he soon left to focus on his music career. In 1955, just a year after working at Crown Electric, he reported earnings of $25,240.15, a significant increase from his $1-an-hour job. This rapid financial growth highlights the success of his musical endeavours and the stark contrast between his income as a working stiff and a rising musician.
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He delivered supplies to job sites
Before Elvis Presley became a musician, he worked for Crown Electric, a Memphis power company, delivering supplies to job sites. He started working at Crown Electric on April 20, 1954, earning $1.00 an hour. He drove trucks for the company, and his name was emblazoned on a wooden toolbox in the back of one of the trucks.
Elvis worked at Crown Electric for about six months, leaving in mid-October 1954 after recording his first record at Sun Studio. During his time at Crown Electric, he aspired to become an electrician. However, his musical career soon took off, and by 1955, he was earning over $25,000, a far cry from his $1-an-hour job.
The pre-fame years that Elvis spent working for Crown Electric inspired the album "Crown Electric" by Kathryn Williams, with the track "Gave It Away" referring to his time at the company. The album explores a more melancholic side of Williams' music, reflecting on the hard work and humble beginnings of one of the world's biggest stars.
Elvis' time at Crown Electric is a reminder that even icons like him started from humble beginnings, working regular jobs before achieving superstardom. His journey from a truck driver to the King of Rock and Roll is an inspiring testament to pursuing one's dreams and never giving up.
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He drove a truck for the company
Before Elvis Presley became a famous musician, he worked for Crown Electric, a Memphis power company. In April 1954, he started working at Crown Electric, where he drove a truck and delivered supplies to job sites. He earned $1.00 an hour, and his paycheck from Crown Electric is dated June 17, 1954.
Elvis Presley's time at Crown Electric was short-lived, as he left in mid-October 1954 to pursue his music career. However, this job inspired the song "Gave It Away" on Kathryn Williams' album "Crown Electric."
During his time at Crown Electric, Elvis Presley drove a truck and had a wooden toolbox in the back with his name on it. He worked for the company from early 1954 until around the time he started the Louisiana Hayride, a touring commitment that required him to leave his day job.
While working at Crown Electric, Elvis Presley had aspirations to learn more about electricity and become an electrician. Unfortunately, there is limited information available specifically about his truck-driving duties for the company.
Overall, Elvis Presley's brief stint as a truck driver for Crown Electric is an interesting footnote in his remarkable life story, which saw him transform from a working-class teenager to the King of Rock and Roll, earning over a million dollars a year by 1958.
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He left Crown Electric to pursue music
Before Elvis Presley rose to fame, he worked a number of odd jobs to make ends meet. In April 1954, he began working at Crown Electric, a Memphis power company, earning $1 an hour. His role at Crown Electric involved delivering supplies to job sites, and he also hoped to learn how to become an electrician.
However, Elvis had bigger dreams and a passion for music. He left Crown Electric in mid-October 1954, just a few months after starting, to pursue his musical career. By this time, he had already recorded his first record at Sun Studio and was well on his way to becoming a self-employed entertainer.
Elvis's time at Crown Electric was short-lived, but it inspired him in many ways. He even referenced his time at the company in his music. In Kathryn Williams' album "Crown Electric," which is named after the company, there is a track called "Gave It Away" that alludes to Elvis's time there.
Elvis's decision to leave Crown Electric and follow his musical dreams paid off handsomely. In 1955, just a year after leaving the company, he reported earnings of over $25,000. By 1958, just four years after leaving Crown Electric, Elvis was earning more than a million dollars a year.
Elvis's journey from working a 9-to-5 job at Crown Electric to becoming a millionaire entertainer is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication to his craft. He proved that sometimes, taking a leap of faith and pursuing your passions can lead to extraordinary success.
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Frequently asked questions
Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor known as the King of Rock and Roll.
Elvis worked for Crown Electric as a truck driver, delivering supplies to job sites.
Elvis worked for Crown Electric from April 1954 to mid-October 1954.
Elvis earned $1.00 an hour at Crown Electric.
Elvis left Crown Electric to pursue his music career after recording his first record at Sun Studio.
