Elvis Presley
Biography
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon and Gladys Presley. His identical twin brother, Jesse Garon, was stillborn, making Elvis an only child. The family lived in a two-room house and had little money. In 1948, the Presley family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis graduated from Humes High School in 1953. His musical influences were diverse, including the pop and country music of the time, gospel music from church, and the black R&B he heard on Beale Street.
Rise to Fame
In 1954, Elvis began his music career at Sun Records in Memphis with producer Sam Phillips. His first single was "That's All Right". Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, a blend of country music and rhythm and blues. By 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor, and by 1956, he was an international sensation. His first single for RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel," released in January 1956, became a number-one hit and sold over a million copies. Presley's provocative performance style and fusion of musical influences led to both immense success and controversy. He became widely known as the "King of Rock and Roll".
The '68 Comeback Special
After focusing on films for much of the 1960s, Presley returned to the stage in 1968 for a television special, often referred to as the '68 Comeback Special. This acclaimed performance led to a renewed period of success, including a long-term concert residency in Las Vegas and several profitable tours.
Film Career
Presley starred in 31 feature films between 1956 and 1969. His debut was in "Love Me Tender" (1956). Other notable films include "Jailhouse Rock" (1957), "Blue Hawaii" (1961), and "Viva Las Vegas" (1964). While many of his films were commercially successful, they were often criticized for being formulaic. Presley himself grew frustrated with the quality of his movie roles. By the late 1960s, he shifted his focus back to music.
Personal Life
In 1958, Presley was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany, where he met Priscilla Beaulieu. They married on May 1, 1967, and had one daughter, Lisa Marie, born in 1968. The couple divorced in 1973. Presley's mother, Gladys, to whom he was very close, died in 1958 while he was on leave from the Army. Throughout his life, Presley was known for his generosity and his close relationship with his parents. He purchased the Graceland mansion in Memphis in 1957 for his family.
Later Years and Death
In his later years, Presley struggled with prescription drug abuse and his health declined. He gave his final concert in June 1977. On August 16, 1977, at the age of 42, Elvis Presley died of a heart attack at his Graceland home. His death was officially ruled as being from a cardiac arrhythmia. He is buried on the grounds of Graceland, which has become a major tourist attraction.