Presley's drug habit is now generally accepted as a cause of death. The Encyclopedia Britannica states, simply: "Elvis Presley died of a heart attack in 1977 brought on largely by drug abuse." The Wikipedia synopsis of the singer's biography provides this summary: "Years of substance abuse and unhealthy eating severely compromised his health."

Long Island mourned Elvis Presley's death in 1977, with fans gathering to honor the rock and roll icon's memory at Nassau Coliseum.

Culled from The Commercial Appeal's archives, here are some of our favorite Elvis Presley quotes from interviews with him over the years.