Tryin' To Get To You: The Story of Elvis Presley [Paperback]

Valerie Harms (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

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 You: The Story of Elvis Presley explores the early years of his life: 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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Valerie Harms started one of the first Elvis Presley fan clubs in Texas in 1955 after she had met the then-unkown singer a number of times. She attended Smith College and later became an author of books. Saddened by Elvis' death, Harms resurrected her memorabilia to put together Tryin' To Get To You.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595092985
• ISBN-13: 978-0595092987
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,206,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

VALERIE HARMS is the author of nine distinguished books in various genres: the environment, psychology, women's studies, biography, juveniles. A graduate of Smith College, she not only writes, but also consults and teaches in these areas. Her most recent book is Dreaming of Animals.

For 7 years she was a Science Editor at the National Audubon Society in New York City.Grosset/Putnam published her National Audubon Society Almanac of the Environment / The Ecology of Everyday Life .

She has taught writing since 1979 as a faculty member of the Long Ridge Writers Group, which offers courses on writing for the adult trade and juvenile markets, and as a private counselor and workshop leader.
For over 20 years she has taught the Intensive Journal method, a psychological self-help tool developed by Ira Progoff. She has studied the ideas of Carl Jung, led a tour to Switzerland based on his life, and taught courses regularly at the C.G. Jung Foundation in NYC.
Her self-designed programs have been given in the northeast, plus Chicago, Berkeley, Vancouver, and Skyros, Greece. She has been tour leader on 4 trips to Europe and lived in France for 3 years.

In the '70's, she co-founded Magic Circle Press. As director, she edited, produced, and distributed 15 titles. Honors received: a National Science Teachers Award, National Endowment for the Arts Grant, an NET documentary, and the Pushcart Prize for the Best of the Small Presses.
She has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. Honored by the United Nations as 'a most remarkable woman,' she is also listed in various Who's Who directories.
Recent travels have taken her for long stays in Costa Rica, Mexico, Bali, and Morocco.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Been a long time..., May 27, 2001

By 

"kikocalero" (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tryin' To Get To You: The Story of Elvis Presley (Paperback)

I read this book when I was in 7th grade, which was.... oh, let's see... I'm 30 now... so that means I read this book approximately seven billion years ago. Or so it seems. Anyway, I also wrote a report on this book for English class. The book was okay, but to this day I remember one glaring error: the author named Elvis' first post-army film "G.I. Joe." Of course, that title should be "G.I. Blues." Hopefully that error has been corrected in this new edition.

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique contribution to the Mythology & Literature Regarding "The King", February 16, 2009

By 

Eugenia (BOZEMAN, Malta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tryin' To Get To You: The Story of Elvis Presley (Paperback)

Several factors distinguish this book from others in the cannon of literature regarding Elvis. It offers firsthand
anecdotes about the "human" Elvis rather than relying on the more sensational mythology that has evolved over
the past few decades. Written in a lively and compelling style, Harms brings Elvis alive in all the various stages
of his professional development and elucidates the contexts that led to his numerous personal challenges.
The book sustains its humanity and compassion for Elvis throughout his triumphs and travails. Most endearing
are the portrayals of his early days from birth and boyhood to roadtripping between saloons in the south
before fatefully signing contracts and having notorious agents and promoters.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars author speaks:, November 16, 2000

By 

Valerie "author" (Bozeman, Malta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tryin' To Get To You: The Story of Elvis Presley (Paperback)

In the fall of 1954 I was 14 and living in the very small town Stamford, Texas, where Elvis came to sing, accompanied by Scotty and Bill. Elvis had just recorded "That's All Right, Mama" and Sun Records would produce four more in quick succession, as Elvis toured around in his pink Cadillac. The night he appeared in our high school auditorium (tickets $.25), he wore ivory shirt, slacks and shoes. I had never been to a "concert" before but I was totally crazy about him from the start. A couple of my friends and I rushed backstage and got his autograph. We stayed up late that night gushing about his music, smile, and unusual Adonis-like appearance. In the early morning we heard where the guys were eating breakfast, and we rushed over. He invited us to join them.

As Elvis toured Texas that year, we went too and always were invited backstage. I got to know what Elvis was like then and was even kissed by him. In between stops we had energy to burn and the local disc jockey (wisely) suggested we start a fan club. Elvis gave us photos, signed cards, and read letters that came to me.

This book was first published after Elvis' death and is now restored to print by a special program of the Authors Guild. That's me in the cover photo standing to Elvis' right.