Photographer Alfred Wertheimer followed Elvis Presley around with a camera before the King of Rock and Roll became famous and one of the most iconic figures in the history of music. ... In the March 2013 release of Alfred Wertheimer. Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll, Wertheimer compiled a selection of the 3,000+ images he took of Elvis, many of which show him at his most candid, vulnerable, and meditative moments. You can view a selection of these images, along with stories from Wertheimer, now at Complex.com. Here's an excerpt:
"Elvis had a way of relaxing between one song and another song. This took place on July 2, 1956, and up until that point, he only had two gold records. This was going to become his third and fourth gold record. He recorded three songs that day. 'Don't Be Cruel,' 'Hound Dog,' and 'Any Way You Want Me.' ... He was making a joke with The Jordanaires, which was his back-up singing group, and in the background, you have Scotty Moore, his guitarist, and DJ Fontana, his drummer, horsing around. This is taking place at the RCA Victor Studios on 24th Street here in Manhattan, between Third Avenue and Madison Avenue."
Additional images can be viewed at Complex.com. You can buy Taschen's Alfred Wertheimer. Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll here, and pre-order Elvis At Stax: Deluxe Edition, which will be released on August 6.
(Copyright: 2013 Alfred Wertheimer/Courtesy TASCHEN)