(MENAFNEditorial)
March 26 1988 - Durban South Africa - a former Studio City California resident Earl Reginald Stevenson who once claimed kinship to the late Elvis Presley has died here in Durban.
He passed away March 26 1988 from natural causes at his home in an exclusive upscale Umhlanga Rocks gated community.
During a 1986 court case reported by the LA Times and the Associated Press the Presley family never denied any kinship and Stevenson moved to South Africa. It was reported that Elvis and he were related and that fact was never disputed by the Presley family.
Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King". Born in Tupelo Mississippi Presley and his family moved to Memphis Tennessee when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954 when he started to work with Sam Phillips the owner of Sun Records. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black Presley was an early popularizer of rockabilly an uptempo backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker who was to manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single "Heartbreak Hotel" released in January 1956 was a number-one hit in the US. He became the leading figure of rock and roll after a series of network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines that coincided with the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement made him enormously popular—and controversial.
Presley and Stevenson had a bond and at times there were stories that they were related in some way. Stevenson knew key band and family members but never used the purported kinship to any benefit to himself but rather he stayed in the background. The American media and South African news reported on the kinship however Stevenson maintained a low profile and always appeared humble and gracious.
He leaves behind his wife Denise Carpenter two sons Wyatt and Ethan and a daughter Kimber. His mother Dorothy Stevenson declined interview and asked for family privacy.
Source: Daily News DNnews@inl.co.za. 031-308-2911 Contact: Craig Els at Fox Media Inc Johannesburg South Africa at fox.media.inc@gmail.com
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