Endless Love (Elvis Presley Story)

Part 1 - Prologue of Fate

"Two souls are sometimes created together and in love before they're born," - F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Let me take you on a journey through a heartwarming love story that changed the course of music history and two people's lives forever. 

Picture this: two souls from opposite ends of the world, living their separate lives, unaware of the invisible thread between them. One day, destiny intervened, and they crossed paths by chance. It was a moment that would set the stage for a beautiful love story.

Born on a crisp September 21st morning in 1940, in the heart of South Africa, Brandi Ann Lockwood was the second eldest among four siblings. Her father, Derrick Lockwood, was American, while her mother, Sharon Lockwood, hailed from South Africa. Brandi's older brother Mark, born two years before her in 1938, was a strikingly handsome young man with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Her younger sister Anita, born in 1943, was known for her feisty personality and petite frame.

Finally, the youngest Lockwood, Hailey, was born in 1952. Growing up in a middle-class suburb in West Johannesburg, South Africa, the Lockwood children experienced a typical yet joyful upbringing.

Even in her childhood, Brandi possessed an otherworldly beauty, with raven hair flowing in soft waves around her face and emerald eyes that ensnared hearts with a single glance. Despite her petite stature, standing at just 5'5" and weighing 123 pounds, Brandi's presence was undeniable. Even from an early age, Brandi showcased a myriad of talents, excelling in singing, acting, dancing, and songwriting.

Sharon, Brandi's mother, who had always lived vicariously through her, frequently entered her in local beauty pageants. This paved the way for Brandi to compete in the 1955 Miss South Africa competition, where she emerged victorious. This win opened the doors for Brandi to compete on a global stage in the Miss Universe competition, where she once again emerged victorious, propelling her to stardom.

While she never imagined her life would undergo such a significant transformation, Brandi had always sensed that something monumental was on the horizon. As a result of her enormous success, her parents decided to relocate from South Africa to her father's birthplace in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States.

Eager to explore new horizons, Brandi was thrilled about the move to Memphis. And boy, did she hit the ground running! In 1956, at just 16, she took the local scene by storm as a singer and dancer. A powerhouse voice paired with magnetic charm -  audiences couldn't get enough of her. 

It didn't take long for the bigwigs at RCA to take notice. They snapped her up in no time, sealing the deal with a record contract.  From there, Brandi's star only rose higher. And guess who else was making waves in Memphis at the time? None other than the hip-thrusting sensation himself, Elvis Presley.

Back in the days before the digital tsunami, folks would devour every juicy morsel printed in newspapers, treating each snippet like gold. Though their names danced across headlines and their voices echoed from radios, Brandi and Elvis remained strangers; they were like ships passing in the night—living in separate worlds, yet somehow intertwined. 

Their worlds revolved around their careers, leaving little room for anything beyond the spotlight—until destiny, that master weaver, took the stage.