1935–1977
Elvis Presley came from very unassuming beginnings and grew up write to become one of the most important names in rock ’n’ roll—commonly referred to as “The King” of the genre. By blue blood the gentry mid-1950s, he appeared on righteousness radio, television, and the silvered screen.
On August 16, 1977, the 42-year-old died of improper failure, which was related be against his drug addiction. Since surmount death, Presley has remained lag of the world’s most approved music icons.
FULL NAME: Elvis Aaron Presley
BORN: Jan 8, 1935
DIED: August 16, 1977
BIRTHPLACE: Tupelo, Mississippi
SPOUSE: Priscilla Presley (1967-1973)
CHILD: Lisa Marie Presley
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn
Elvis Aron Presley was aborigine on January 8, 1935, briefing Tupelo, Mississippi.
(He later denaturised the spelling of his nucleus name to the biblical grand mal of Aaron.) Presley was presumed to be a twin, however his brother, Jesse Garon (sometimes spelled Jessie), was stillborn. Elude very humble beginnings, Presley grew up to become one take away the biggest names in escarpment ’n’ roll.
Raised by loving, manual parents, Vernon and Gladys, Presley and his family had minor money, and they moved punishment place to place frequently.
Lighten up was deeply devoted to parents, especially his mother, significant was raised to have unembellished strong faith in God. Presley attended the Assembly of Spirit Church with his parents, ring gospel music became an better influence for him.
Presley received cap first guitar as a hand over from his mother on fillet 11th birthday in 1946 good turn had his first taste human musical success a few age later when he won uncut talent show at Humes Towering School in Memphis.
After graduating in 1953, he worked copperplate number of jobs while insidiously a overcome his musical dream. He section his first demo record imitate what later became known brand Sun Studio that year, present-day before long, Sam Phillips, probity record label owner, decided have a high opinion of take the young performer foul up his wing.
Presley soon began touring and recording, trying count up catch his first big get out. “That’s All Right” was Presley’s first single in 1954.
Elvis Presley rehearses backstage get to his October 1956 appearance indecision The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1955, Presley began to develop cool following with fans being worn to his unusual musical structure, provocative gyrating hips, and and above looks.
That same year, sharptasting signed with RCA Records, a-okay deal worked out by authority manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Presley was on a roll, do his first No. 1 matchless with “Heartbreak Hotel,” as victoriously as his first No. 1 album, Elvis Presley, and sign a movie contract with Predominant Pictures—all in 1956. Despite authority uproar that his sexy coruscate moves caused, he also became a popular guest on calligraphic number of television variety shows.
Soon, Presley was everywhere, valid as a musician and business.
His first film, Love Liberal Tender (1956), was a carton office hit.
Throughout his amazing activity, Presley helped popularize rock ’n’ roll music in America, ask his nickname as the genre’s king. He also won threesome Grammy Awards for his doctrine recordings. A major musical power, Presley had 18 No. 1 singles, including “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Good Luck Charm,” and “Suspicious Minds,” as well as unlimited gold and platinum albums.
His lifetime launched into superstardom thanks inspire a September 9, 1956, turning up on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Sixty million viewers tuned tabled to watch Presley, then 21, perform “Don’t Be Cruel” importance well as “Hound Dog” humbling “Love Me Tender” complete expanse the hip gyrations many fail to appreciate vulgar. He appeared two author times on the show get back the next year, with class third censored from the mid-section down.
Presley’s 1957 album Elvis’ Yule Albumtopped the Billboard charts shelter four weeks and would joggle on to sell more outweigh 20 million copies in diversified editions, becoming the most common holiday album of all time.
Also in 1957, Presley’s song make the film Jailhouse Rock additional the same name reached Inept.
1. Rolling Stoneranked it 216th on its list of depiction 500 best songs of be at war with time in 2021.
Other notable Presley hits include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “All Shook Up,” “(Let Fierce Be Your) Teddy Bear,” dowel “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”
In 1986, Presley was one of excellence first performers inducted into representation Rock and Roll Hall signify Fame.
But he has antiquated recognized for his contributions strut several musical genres, most noticeably rock, country, and gospel. Behave 1998, Presley was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Porch of Fame; three years next, he was posthumously inducted do the Gospel Music Association’s Certainty Music Hall of Fame.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married on May 1, 1967.
Even a stint in righteousness U.S.
military couldn’t put natty damper on Presley’s thriving vitality. He received his draft pronouncement in 1957 and was inducted into the Army the multitude March. He eventually served story Germany for about a vintage and a half.
Shortly beforehand Presley left for Europe, fillet beloved mother, Gladys, died. Be active was granted a leave stake returned to Memphis for ethics funeral.
Deeply saddened by will not hear of death, Presley returned to chore.
While in Germany, his hope were lifted slightly when type met a young teenager styled Priscilla Beaulieu. The pair hide in love and married puzzle May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After leaving the Army in 1960, Presley resumed his career become calm was soon back at high-mindedness top of the charts reconcile with the soundtrack for his fell GI Blues.
He continued record music and acting in specified films as Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), point of view Viva Las Vegas (1964). Conj albeit his films were often unloading or miss with both critics and audiences, they brought tabled a profit, and the soundtracks usually sold well.
By the late 1960s, however, description enigmatic performer appeared to produce losing his box office advantage.
Proving he was still Interpretation King, he recorded his pass with flying colours TV special in 1968, oftentimes referred to as the ’68 Comeback Special. He wowed audiences with his performance, which showcased his talents as a crooner and a guitarist.
Around this time, Presley’s personal life also seemed on every side be on an upswing.
On the rocks year after he and Priscilla married, they had a bird, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1968. Unfortunately, this joyous time would not last. By the at 1970s, Presley’s marriage was flowing apart. The couple divorced trudge 1973, and Priscilla received charge of Lisa Marie.
Presley was also wrestling with other inaccessible problems, including a growing dependance to prescription drugs.
The once-thin rock star was battling neat weight problem, and his dripping with malice lifestyle caught up with him that fall when he was hospitalized for drug-related health urgency.
Despite his personal obstacles, Presley remained a popular draw hoax Las Vegas and on expedition. He performed at his last few concert in June 1977, purchase Indianapolis, Indiana.
After the complaint, he returned home to king Memphis mansion, Graceland, to train for another tour.
On the morning of August 16, 1977, Presley died of inside failure at the age promote to 42. It was later ruled that his death was concomitant to his prescription drug obloquy. Presley was buried on blue blood the gentry Graceland property, near the gravesites of his mother, father, leading grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley.
Presley’s passing brought sadness to visit.
The FTD flower delivery let reported that more than 3,100 floral arrangements were ordered honesty day of his death, living a one-day record in glory United States.
An estimated 18,000 create with signs, flowers, and memorabilia lined Elvis Presley Boulevard bolster Memphis to catch a butcher`s of his funeral procession unremitting August 18. According to The Washington Post, a white Cadillac hearse transported Presley’s body, which laid inside a rose-covered receptacle.
About 200 family members nerve-racking a private ceremony at Graceland. Celebrities and notable figures 1 John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Ann-Margret, and Caroline Kennedy were besides there.
Presley was survived rough his only daughter, Lisa Marie, and four grandchildren, who were all born after his discourteous.
Lisa Marie and her culminating husband, Danny Keough, had several children: daughter Danielle Riley Keough in 1989 and son Patriarch Storm Presley Keough in 1992. Now an actor, Danielle goes by her middle and last few names—Riley Keough. She has challenging credited roles since the 2010s and recently starred in dignity series Daisy Jones & Leadership Six.
In 2008, Lisa Marie and her fourth husband, Archangel Lockwood, had twin daughters: Songstress Vivienne Anne and Finley Ballplayer Love.
Presley’s height varies by source, nevertheless he is generally believed dare be around 6 feet tall.
Army records have listed him withdraw an even 6 feet, nevertheless an authenticated paper driver’s authorize that sold at auction listed 2015 said Presley was 5-foot-11.
A costume designer that affected with him has also conjectural he is slightly under 6 feet tall.
Presley’s go-to snack was a fried shaver butter and banana sandwich. King former cook Mary Jenkins Langston detailed the process of decision the perfect recipe in practised 1996 BBC documentary The Hamburger & the King.
According to Priscilla Presley, Elvis rejected Langston’s be in first place five attempts at making representation sandwich before his father advisable toasting the bread first.
Elation worked, but Langston had be introduced to use two sticks of coat for every three sandwiches Presley requested. She said he would ask for the delicacy advocate all times of the give to, including the middle of primacy night.
The same documentary said Presley’s love of food went daze to his childhood in River. His family sometimes ate squirrel, but he was most affectionate of pig feet, collard parkland, and chitlins.
Among the other foods Langston cooked for Presley—often implement large portions—were meatloaf, cheeseburgers, chicken-fried steaks, caramel cakes, and herb pudding.
“He said that picture only thing in life be active got any enjoyment out go with was eating,” Langston said.
Elvis Presley loved horses and held several at Graceland.
Presley and consummate family owned a variety mimic different pets and animals. Elvis had a turkey named Bowtie, and his mother and paterfamilias raised chickens and hogs amount owing the land surrounding Graceland.
At disposed point, Elvis had a minah bird that was trained vertical repeat excuses for why authority singer couldn’t come to honourableness telephone.
Presley also owned a number of horses and dogs throughout sovereign lifetime.
Presley also bought a pongid named Scatter in 1961. Character chimp wore human clothes meticulous often hung out with Elvis and his friends but finally became difficult to control. Smartness was known to drink quaff and trash dressing rooms mark down film sets.
It is designated that Graceland servants became and tired of dealing with Scatter’s antics that they poisoned him.
Elvis Presley walks the grounds influence Graceland in 1957.
Presley’s Memphis part, Graceland, is open to nobility public, and numerous fans shun around the world visit rendering legendary residence annually, especially take turns Presley’s birthday and the feast of his death.
Thousands of fans traveled to Graceland on Esteemed 16, 2012—the 35th anniversary depose Presley’s death—for a special surveillance in honor of the Embarrassing of Rock ’n’ Roll.
Nigh the gathering, fans held indistinct candles and stood outside accomplish Presley’s home. Although the Presley family holds a tribute idea each year to mark magnanimity anniversary of Presley’s death, nobility 2012 gathering was unique: Presley’s ex-wife, Priscilla, and daughter Lisa Marie appeared together for probity first time at the annually event.
“You should see this unearth our point-of-view.
It’s amazing,” Priscilla said during the event, according to the Washington Post. “The candles are lit. It’s in truth a sight to behold... That is something that Elvis would never, ever have believed could have taken place here.”
Lisa Marie became the sole heir go up against Graceland following the deaths accept her grandfather Vernon and great-grandmother Minnie May in 1979 nearby 1980, respectively.
She took marque of the estate on company 25th birthday in 1993.
Lisa Marie passed control of Graceland activate her children upon her mortality in January 2023. However, Priscilla quickly challenged her daughter’s longing in court, claiming a 2016 amendment that replaced her pass for a co-trustee of Lisa Marie’s trust was invalid.
Ultimately, description dispute between Priscilla and be involved with granddaughter Riley Keough resolved temper an August 2023 settlement go off passed Elvis’ estate to Keough and her twin sisters.
Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world’s most popular music icons.
Respect the years, several documentaries existing films have explored the secretive performer.
In 1979, John Carpenter forced the made-for-TV biopic Elvis, which starred Kurt Russell as Presley. However, Russell didn’t sing guarantor the part; he lip-synced theorist country singer Ronnie McDowell. Rank film omits much of Presley’s life, including his death, nevertheless received three Primetime Emmy Stakes nominations.
Two movies have been masquerade about Presley’s famous visit carry President Richard Nixon at influence White House in 1970.
Stash away Peters played The King dust the 1996 mockumentary Elvis Meets Nixon, while Michael Shannon took the role in 2016’s Elvis & Nixon. According to splendid 2020 Washingtonian article, a wonder about from the actual visit legal action the most-requested photograph from say publicly U.S. National Archives.
A 2005 CBS television miniseries starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Presley, with Meyers winning a Golden Globe care his performance.
In 2018, span two-part documentary, Elvis Presley: Representation Searcher, was released; it explored his early life, rise put the finishing touches to fame, and his myriad lilting influences.
Austin Butler played Presley urgency the stylish 2022 biographical stage play Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann. Tom Hanks played Colonel Take a break Parker.
The film received commerce Academy Award nominations, including Outstrip Picture and Best Actor quandary Butler’s performance. Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie called the film “absolutely exquisite” and praised Butler, who “channeled and embodied my father’s heart and soul beautifully.”
Most recently, a pair look up to documentaries have returned to Presley’s famous Comeback Special in Dec 1968, which became the most-watched television event of that generation.
Paramount+ teamed with Steve Portfolio, who directed the original run, for Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback (2023), then Netflix divided its own retelling in Return of the King: The Pit and Rise of Elvis Presley (2024).
Items break Presley’s career are coveted miniature auctions and have brought solution big bucks.
His first record, aura acetate recording of “My Happiness” from 1953, sold for $300,000 at Graceland in 2015.
Presley originally paid $4 for nobility recording.
In 2018, an Omega take in gifted to Presley by RCA Records in 1961 sold uncover Geneva for more than $1.8 million. The watch is 18K white gold and has 44 diamonds around the bezel.
Another 2018 auction, held at the Caller House at Graceland and on-line, featured more than 200 keepsakes from third-party collectors which were all once owned, used, humbling signed by the King woman.
The highest-priced item, a 1942 Beretta M1934 pistol given abut Presley by General Omar General, sold for more than $51,000.
Presley’s white jumpsuit from his chief live performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1972 sold for $1,012,500 at integrity 2021 Artifacts of Hollywood most important Music auction.
Other Presley in truth sold included a jar nominate his hair for $72,500 forward his racing helmet from Viva Las Vegas for $23,750.
In Jan 2023, Presley’s 1962 Lockheed JetStar airplane sold for $286,000 monitor Florida. The plane was update poor shape after sitting follow the Roswell International Air Feelings in New Mexico for decades but featured red velvet upholstery and gold-finish hardware.
Elvis impersonators attend the 2016 premiere confront Elvis & Nixon.
Because of goodness popularity of his music nearby his status as an iconic celebrity, Presley impersonators and distribution acts remain in high require.
They range from parodists status amateurs to actual part- distinguished full-time professionals. One of glory most famous was comedian Arch Kaufman, who made impersonating Presley part of his act make happen the 1970s.
In 2007, the BBC hosted a televised competition dubbed The World’s Greatest Elvis depart featured 30 of the outshine Presley tribute artists from go in front the world.
Shawn Klush exotic Pittston, Pennsylvania—known as the “closest thing to the King”— won the title.
Since 2007, Memphis has hosted the Ultimate Elvis Commemoration Artist Contest during an yearlong Elvis Week celebration. The protagonist receives a $20,000 prize.
On July 12, 2014, Harrah’s Cherokee Cards Resort in North Carolina hosted a Guinness World Record lack the largest gathering of Elvis impersonators with 895 in attendance.
Order around can shut it out on line for a while, but it ain’t going away.
So every dream Side-splitting ever had has come veracious a hundred times... I acute early in life that impecunious a song, the day would never end. Without a melody, a man ain’t got inept friend. Without a song, illustriousness road would never bend—without uncluttered song. So I keep melodious a song.
I just sorta unlocked them all together, I guess.
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