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Introduction
Elvis Presley’s life was marked by many milestones, but the birth of his daughter Lisa Marie Presley in February 1968 was undoubtedly one of the most joyful and transformative events for the King of Rock and Roll. According to his close friend and drummer, D.J. Fontana, Elvis was absolutely captivated by his newborn daughter.
In an intimate recounting, Fontana recalled a special visit to Graceland shortly after Lisa Marie’s birth. He described how a group of friends, including himself and fellow musician Peter Drake, traveled by bus to see Elvis. Upon arriving at the mansion, they were greeted by family members who ushered them into the upstairs nursery where Elvis was tenderly rocking his daughter in a large rocking chair. Fontana’s vivid memory captures the tenderness of that moment: “Seeing Elvis rocking a baby was really something to see. He really looked after her.” Elvis, always known for his powerful on-stage presence, showed a softer side as a father, a side that few got to witness outside of his home.
Graceland, Elvis’s iconic mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, served as a backdrop for countless personal moments that were far from the public eye. Elvis had transformed one of the upstairs rooms into a nursery, a peaceful retreat for Lisa Marie. This moment at Graceland exemplified the contrast between the public image of Elvis Presley—the rock icon—and his role as a loving father. In Fontana’s account, he notes how Elvis’s joy and devotion to his daughter seemed to be the pinnacle of his happiness. With the arrival of Lisa Marie, Elvis entered a new phase of life, one that was filled with the love and responsibility of fatherhood, even though the pressures of fame never fully eased.
The story shared by D.J. Fontana, as detailed in his book Remembers Elvis, highlights an intimate glimpse into the life of a man whose legacy as a rock and roll king was matched only by his love for his family. Graceland, with its storied history, continues to attract thousands of fans annually, with many visiting to see where Elvis Presley, a true cultural icon, lived and loved. In the decades since, the Presley family, including Lisa Marie, maintained a strong connection to their roots in Memphis. Today, fans from all over the world visit Graceland to honor the memory of Elvis Presley, his remarkable career, and personal moments like these that show the softer side of the man who defined an era.