History of Elvis Presley’s Monkeys
Elvis Presley died in 1977, but the iconic image of him performing, as the undisputed king of roll and roll in his monkey suit, remains instantly recognizable all these years later, not just in America but around the world.
Perhaps the myth that Elvis is still alive has some truth to it, as his many imitators can often be seen still performing their Elvis tribute shows in most cities around the world today. Almost invariably, they choose to wear a copy of their monkey stage costume.
In fact, Elvis adopted his mono style of stage suit quite late in his career. It was after his comeback television concert in 1968 that his singing career resumed, and his main base for performing shows became Las Vegas around 1969. He wanted to distinguish his style of rock and roll from that of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and the other tuxedo crooner-style singers who often played in Las Vegas at the time. A tuxedo was not his style, and he needed a new look for his stage outfit.
Elvis turned to noted designer Bill Belew for ideas, who designed a two-piece suit inspired by Elvis’s interest in martial arts. This concept soon evolved into a wool gabardine one-piece jumpsuit, featuring a high neck, flared legs, pointed cuffs, and a deep V-neckline that partially exposed Elvis’s chest.
This basic outfit remained Elvis’ signature wardrobe from around 1969 until his death in 1977. However, there was much embellishment during this time, with elaborate accessories and decorations added in numerous variations.
The color of the monkeys varied. While the white version was often favored to show off the brightly colored trim and stand out on stage, a variety of other colors were also used.
A cape was popular with Elvis for a few years early on, but was rarely seen since around 1974. A scarf was often added. A wide belt with a large buckle replaced the tied-belt karate style that was worn earlier. Increasingly rhinestones, metal studs, and other decorative designs were used, followed by elaborate embroidered patterns. Gene Douchette’s workmanship was a major influence on the many decorative variations of successive jumpsuits, drawing inspiration from many concepts, ranging from the feathers of the peacock to the American eagle.
These richly decorated stage costumes were striking in appearance and often cost thousands of dollars to make.
