Tryin' To Get To You: The Story of Elvis Presley

by Valerie Harms

In the fall of 1954, author Valerie Harms met Elvis after a concert in her high school auditorium. As Elvis toured Texas that year, she got to know what Elvis was like and she was even kissed by him. At the suggestion of a local disc jockey, Harms and her friends started a fan club, possibly the first. Elvis gave them photos, signed cards, and read the letters sent to him. When Elvis Presley died, Valerie Harms resurrected her memorabilia of encounters with him and published the story of his life. More deeply than any other book, Tryin' To Get To The Story of Elvis Presley explores the early years of his his poor childhood in rural Tupelo, Mississippi, his teenage insecurities in a big city high school in North Memphis and early successes in the South. Elvis Presley changed American culture with a new style of popular music; one based on country ballads, the gospel hymns of his youth, and the black rhythm and blues he heard as a teen. Tryin' To Get To You takes the reader behind-the-scenes of Elvis’ short, meteoric life and reveals his true personality.

188 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1979

About the author

Some steppingstones of my life: Smith College, 3 years in France with a new husband. Back in the U.S., with 2 children, I helped establish a Montessori school. A feminist, my first book was Unmasking: Ten Women in Metamorphosis (1973). My religion became depth psychology & nature. A passion for Anais Nin led to joint projects, two more books and the founding of Magic Circle Press. When Elvis Presley died, I resurrected my memorabilia of encounters with him and published the story of his life. (Atheneum). Authored 2 children's books. For 20 years I’ve been an Intensive Journal consultant and C.G. Jung scholar. Working with the National Audubon Society in NYC on global environmental problems, I came to see how humans are inextricably woven into the web of nature and how essential it is to heal this relationship. I began life in Chicago, lived many years in Weston, CT, now live in Bozeman, MT.

Reviews

[Brian Rothbart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not a true biography, but more of a young adult book/novel. I might have given it a higher rating, but there are a number of mistakes including saying that he starred in "GI Joe" when he got out of the army instead of "GI Blues". I would not recommend.

[Gracie Wentworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was good

[Jamie]

Another book I read in school.