Elvis Presley faced backlash for his dance moves, but he kept on doing it due to a saddening reason.
In 1954, Presley released his debut studio album, which became a stepping stone for him to become the King of Rock and Roll. While he was known for his groovy songs, his dance moves did not impress everyone.
Why Did Elvis Presley Dance "That" Way?
Presley's pal revealed the reason behind his hip-shaking dance moves, which were viewed as something vulgar by critics.
In the book "Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy," the late singer said he was inspired by the pasters he watched as a child.
"I remember sometimes in church, you would listen to the choir and all of them would have great voices," he shared. "But it was often the preacher, who might not have had as good a voice, who was jumping around and getting them all worked up, who was the center of it all. It was like a bit of a show. And good."
His friend and then-future bodyguard Red West disclosed that in Presley's earlier shows, the "Can't Help Falling In Love" singer did it to hide his fear.
Presley reportedly used to shake and swing himself around rather than stay still on stage because people would see him quivering with fear if he stopped doing so.
During a press conference in 1972, he clarified that he did not do anything but jiggle on stage.
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Elvis Presley Promised Not To Dance
When Presley appeared on "The Steve Allen Show," the public demanded that NBC cancel the singer from his show because of his controversial moves.
"As of now he is still booked for July 1, but I have not come to a final decision on his appearance. If he does appear, you can rest assured that I will not allow him to do anything that will offend anyone," he said, per "Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley" book by Peter Guralnick.
The network asked Presley to stand still while he sang, and the performance wrapped up without more controversies - though he referred to it as one of the most embarrassing moments in his career.
Presley died of a heart attack on August 16, 1977. He was found by his then-fiancée, Ginder Alden.
READ MORE: Elvis Presley Performed This Final Song Before His Tragic Death
