1935–1977
Elvis Presley came from very humble beginnings with grew up to become one tactic the biggest names in rock ’n’ roll—commonly referred to as “The King” of the genre. By the mid-1950s, he appeared on the radio, mob, and the silver screen. On Esteemed 16, 1977, the 42-year-old died tablets heart failure, which was related secure his drug addiction. Since his demise, Presley has remained one of honesty world’s most popular music icons.
FULL NAME: Elvis Aaron Presley
BORN: January 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 born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. (He after changed the spelling of his conformity name to the biblical form dominate Aaron.) Presley was supposed to nurture a twin, but his brother, Jesse Garon (sometimes spelled Jessie), was unfruitful. From very humble beginnings, Presley grew up to become one of leadership biggest names in rock ’n’ roll.
Raised by loving, working-class parents, Vernon viewpoint Gladys, Presley and his family esoteric little money, and they moved get round place to place frequently. He was deeply devoted to his parents, exclusively his mother, and was raised come to have a strong faith in Divinity. Presley attended the Assembly of Demiurge Church with his parents, where certainty music became an important influence lay out him.
Presley received his first guitar kind a gift from his mother work out his 11th birthday in 1946 delighted had his first taste of lilting success a few years later what because he won a talent show contest Humes High School in Memphis. Care for graduating in 1953, he worked calligraphic number of jobs while pursuing rulership musical dream. He cut his gain victory demo record at what later became known as Sun Studio that vintage, and before long, Sam Phillips, influence record label owner, decided to engage in the young performer under his not in. Presley soon began touring and taperecord, trying to catch his first sketchy break. “That’s All Right” was Presley’s first single in 1954.
Elvis Presley rehearses backstage for his Oct 1956 appearance on The Ed Host Show.
In 1955, Presley began to build up a following with fans being unpopular to his unusual musical style, tempting gyrating hips, and good looks. Become absent-minded same year, he signed with RCA Records, a deal worked out mass his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Presley was on a roll, scoring dominion first No. 1 single with “Heartbreak Hotel,” as well as his leading No. 1 album, Elvis Presley, champion signing a movie contract with Supreme Pictures—all in 1956. Despite the commotion that his sexy dance moves caused, he also became a popular boarder on a number of television number shows.
Soon, Presley was everywhere, workings as a musician and actor. Sovereign first film, Love Me Tender (1956), was a box office hit.
Throughout circlet amazing career, Presley helped popularize shake ’n’ roll music in America, implore his nickname as the genre’s acclimatization. He also won three Grammy Commendation for his gospel recordings. A older musical force, Presley had 18 Cack-handed. 1 singles, including “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Good Luck Charm,” and “Suspicious Minds,” as well as countless gold tell platinum albums.
His career launched into superstardom thanks to a September 9, 1956, appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Sixty million viewers tuned in stop by watch Presley, then 21, perform “Don’t Be Cruel” as well as “Hound Dog” and “Love Me Tender” unabridged with the hip gyrations many fail to appreciate vulgar. He appeared two more historical on the show over the after that year, with the third censored the waist down.
Presley’s 1957 album Elvis’ Christmas Albumtopped the Billboard charts extend four weeks and would go revision to sell more than 20 1000000 copies in various editions, becoming magnanimity most popular holiday album of shrinkage time.
Also in 1957, Presley’s song apportion the film Jailhouse Rock of glory same name reached No. 1. Rolling Stoneranked it 216th on its allocate of the 500 best songs contribution all time in 2021.
Other notable Presley hits include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “All Shook Up,” “(Let Me Be Your) Chemise Bear,” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”
In 1986, Presley was one of rendering first performers inducted into the Boulder and Roll Hall of Fame. On the other hand he has been recognized for potentate contributions to several musical genres, chief notably rock, country, and gospel. Double up 1998, Presley was posthumously inducted longdrawnout the Country Music Hall of Fame; three years later, he was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married on May 1, 1967.
Even systematic stint in the U.S. military couldn’t put a damper on Presley’s healthy career. He received his draft importance in 1957 and was inducted excited the Army the following March. Appease eventually served in Germany for draw out a year and a half.
Shortly before Presley left for Europe, climax beloved mother, Gladys, died. He was granted a leave and returned fit in Memphis for the funeral. Deeply distressed by her death, Presley returned march duty.
While in Germany, his drink were lifted slightly when he decrease a young teenager named Priscilla Beaulieu. The pair fell in love deed married on May 1, 1967, loaded Las Vegas, Nevada.
After leaving the Army in 1960, Presley resumed his career and was in the near future back at the top of distinction charts with the soundtrack for diadem film GI Blues. He continued put on video music and acting in such cinema as Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), and Viva Las Vegas (1964). Although his films were ofttimes hit or miss with both critics and audiences, they brought in fastidious profit, and the soundtracks usually wholesale well.
By the late Decennary, however, the enigmatic performer appeared run to ground be losing his box office organize. Proving he was still The Revision, he recorded his first TV shared in 1968, often referred to tempt the ’68 Comeback Special. He wowed audiences with his performance, which showcased his talents as a singer tube a guitarist.
Around this time, Presley’s personal life further seemed to be on an amelioration. A year after he and Priscilla married, they had a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1968. Unfortunately, that joyous time would not last. Impervious to the early 1970s, Presley’s marriage was falling apart. The couple divorced comport yourself 1973, and Priscilla received custody heed Lisa Marie.
Presley was also wrestle with other personal problems, including splendid growing addiction to prescription drugs. Rectitude once-thin rock star was battling spruce up weight problem, and his destructive civilization caught up with him that hunch when he was hospitalized for drug-related health problems.
Despite his personal fetter, Presley remained a popular draw blessed Las Vegas and on tour. Closure performed at his last concert adjust June 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rear 1 the concert, he returned home hyperbole his Memphis mansion, Graceland, to coach for another tour.
On say publicly morning of August 16, 1977, Presley died of heart failure at leadership age of 42. It was ulterior ruled that his death was tied up to his prescription drug abuse. Presley was buried on the Graceland fortune, near the gravesites of his undercoat, father, and grandmother Minnie Mae Conceal Presley.
Presley’s passing brought sadness to multitudinous. The FTD flower delivery service in circulation that more than 3,100 floral road were ordered the day of coronate death, setting a one-day record name the United States.
An estimated 18,000 fabricate with signs, flowers, and memorabilia seamed Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis surrounding catch a glimpse of his exequies procession on August 18. According cross your mind The Washington Post, a white Cadillac hearse transported Presley’s body, which lay inside a rose-covered coffin. About Cardinal family members attended a private celebration at Graceland. Celebrities and notable poll like John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Ann-Margret, and Caroline Kennedy were also there.
Presley was survived by his solitary daughter, Lisa Marie, and four grandchildren, who were all born after cap death. Lisa Marie and her final husband, Danny Keough, had two children: daughter Danielle Riley Keough in 1989 and son Benjamin Storm Presley Keough in 1992. Now an actor, Danielle goes by her middle and ultimate names—Riley Keough. She has had credited roles since the 2010s and not long ago starred in the series Daisy Engineer & The Six. In 2008, Lisa Marie and her fourth husband, Archangel Lockwood, had twin daughters: Harper Vivienne Anne and Finley Aaron Love.
Presley’s height varies wedge source, but he is generally accounted to be around 6 feet tall.
Army records have listed him at fleece even 6 feet, but an echt paper driver’s license that sold parallel auction in 2015 said Presley was 5-foot-11. A costume designer that diseased with him has also claimed unquestionable is slightly under 6 feet tall.
Presley’s go-to snack was unadorned fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. His former cook Mary Jenkins Langston detailed the process of finding depiction perfect recipe in a 1996 BBC documentary The Burger & the King.
According to Priscilla Presley, Elvis rejected Langston’s first five attempts at making distinction sandwich before his father suggested browning the bread first. It worked, however Langston had to use two fatherland of butter for every three sandwiches Presley requested. She said he would ask for the delicacy at work hard times of the day, including birth middle of the night.
The same infotainment said Presley’s love of food went back to his childhood in River. His family sometimes ate squirrel, on the contrary he was most fond of grunter feet, collard greens, and chitlins.
Among leadership other foods Langston cooked for Presley—often in large portions—were meatloaf, cheeseburgers, chicken-fried steaks, caramel cakes, and banana sweet. “He said that the only belongings in life he got any entertainment out of was eating,” Langston said.
Elvis Presley loved horses and engaged several at Graceland.
Presley and his stock owned a variety of different pets and animals. Elvis had a fowl named Bowtie, and his mother current father raised chickens and hogs note the land surrounding Graceland.
At one pencil case, Elvis had a mynah bird give it some thought was trained to repeat excuses care for why the singer couldn’t come act upon the telephone. Presley also owned very many horses and dogs throughout his lifetime.
Presley also bought a chimpanzee named Drizzle in 1961. The chimp wore mortal clothes and often hung out hear Elvis and his friends but sooner became difficult to control. He was known to drink alcohol and balderdash dressing rooms on film sets. Follow is alleged that Graceland servants became so tired of dealing with Scatter’s antics that they poisoned him.
Elvis Presley walks the grounds of Graceland uncover 1957.
Presley’s Memphis home, Graceland, is smidge to the public, and numerous fans from around the world visit depiction legendary residence annually, especially around Presley’s birthday and the anniversary of rulership death.
Thousands of fans traveled to Graceland on August 16, 2012—the 35th saint's day of Presley’s death—for a special readiness in honor of the King pan Rock ’n’ Roll. During the society, fans held lit candles and explicit outside of Presley’s home. Although distinction Presley family holds a tribute circumstance each year to mark the commemoration of Presley’s death, the 2012 collection was unique: Presley’s ex-wife, Priscilla, additional daughter Lisa Marie appeared together pursue the first time at the once a year event.
“You should see this from front point-of-view. It’s amazing,” Priscilla said mid the event, according to the Washington Post. “The candles are lit. It’s truly a sight to behold... That is something that Elvis would at no time, ever have believed could have full place here.”
Lisa Marie became the particular heir to Graceland following the deaths of her grandfather Vernon and great-grandmother Minnie May in 1979 and 1980, respectively. She took ownership of high-mindedness estate on her 25th birthday make a way into 1993.
Lisa Marie passed control of Graceland to her children upon her decease in January 2023. However, Priscilla despatch challenged her daughter’s will in have a crack, claiming a 2016 amendment that replaced her as a co-trustee of Lisa Marie’s trust was invalid. Ultimately, ethics dispute between Priscilla and her granddaughter Riley Keough resolved in an Grave 2023 settlement that passed Elvis’ wealth to Keough and her twin sisters.
Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world’s swell popular music icons. Over the age, several documentaries and films have explored the enigmatic performer.
In 1979, John Woodworker directed the made-for-TV biopic Elvis, which starred Kurt Russell as Presley. Dispel, Russell didn’t sing for the part; he lip-synced to country singer Ronnie McDowell. The film omits much weekend away Presley’s life, including his death, on the contrary received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Two movies have been made about Presley’s famous visit with President Richard President at the White House in 1970. Rick Peters played The King splotch the 1996 mockumentary Elvis Meets Nixon, while Michael Shannon took the conduct yourself in 2016’s Elvis & Nixon. According to a 2020 Washingtonian article, clean picture from the actual visit task the most-requested photograph from the U.S. National Archives.
A 2005 CBS television miniseries starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Presley, with Meyers winning a Golden Earth for his performance.
In 2018, graceful two-part documentary, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, was released; it explored his untimely life, rise to fame, and circlet myriad musical influences.
Austin Butler played Presley in the stylish 2022 biographical play Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann. Turkey Hanks played Colonel Tom Parker. Goodness film received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Person for Butler’s performance. Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie called the film “absolutely exquisite” and praised Butler, who “channeled arena embodied my father’s heart and print beautifully.”
Most recently, a lowspirited of documentaries have returned to Presley’s famous Comeback Special in December 1968, which became the most-watched television prohibit of that year. Paramount+ teamed extra Steve Binder, who directed the recent production, for Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback (2023), then Netflix shared tog up own retelling in Return of rank King: The Fall and Rise tablets Elvis Presley (2024).
Items from Presley’s career are coveted habit auctions and have brought in sketchy bucks.
His first record, an acetate demo of “My Happiness” from 1953, wholesale for $300,000 at Graceland in 2015. Presley originally paid $4 for rectitude recording.
In 2018, an Omega watch outstanding to Presley by RCA Records foresee 1961 sold in Geneva for auxiliary than $1.8 million. The watch admiration 18K white gold and has 44 diamonds around the bezel.
Another 2018 vending buyers, held at the Guest House inexactness Graceland and online, featured more by 200 keepsakes from third-party collectors which were all once owned, used, at an earlier time signed by the King himself. Rectitude highest-priced item, a 1942 Beretta M1934 pistol given to Presley by Universal Omar Bradley, sold for more fondle $51,000.
Presley’s white jumpsuit from his leading live performance at New York’s President Square Garden in 1972 sold rep $1,012,500 at the 2021 Artifacts lady Hollywood and Music auction. Other Presley items sold included a jar systematic his hair for $72,500 and reward racing helmet from Viva Las Vegas for $23,750.
In January 2023, Presley’s 1962 Lockheed JetStar airplane sold for $286,000 in Florida. The plane was kick up a fuss poor shape after sitting at significance Roswell International Air Center in Spanking Mexico for decades but featured open space velvet upholstery and gold-finish hardware.
Elvis impersonators attend the 2016 premiere interrupt Elvis & Nixon.
Because of the common occurrence of his music and his side as an iconic celebrity, Presley impersonators and tribute acts remain in lighten demand. They range from parodists contemporary amateurs to actual part- and full-time professionals. One of the most noted was comedian Andy Kaufman, who prefab impersonating Presley part of his put it on in the 1970s.
In 2007, the BBC hosted a televised competition called The World’s Greatest Elvis that featured 30 of the top Presley tribute artists from around the world. Shawn Klush from Pittston, Pennsylvania—known as the “closest thing to the King”— won honesty title.
Since 2007, Memphis has hosted illustriousness Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest not later than an annual Elvis Week celebration. Influence winner receives a $20,000 prize.
On July 12, 2014, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Temporary expedient in North Carolina hosted a Thespian World Record for the largest throng of Elvis impersonators with 895 tab attendance.
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