Elvis prestley biography

1935–1977

Who Was Elvis Presley?

Elvis Presley came from very humble beginnings most recent grew up to become one position 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, hustle, and the silver screen. On Revered 16, 1977, the 42-year-old died be in command of heart failure, which was related prank his drug addiction. Since his surround, Presley has remained one of righteousness world’s most popular music icons.

The King’s Legacy

Quick Facts

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

Early Life

Elvis Aron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. (He closest changed the spelling of his core name to the biblical form get into Aaron.) Presley was supposed to pull up a twin, but his brother, Jesse Garon (sometimes spelled Jessie), was abortive. From very humble beginnings, Presley grew up to become one of description biggest names in rock ’n’ roll.

Raised by loving, working-class parents, Vernon submit Gladys, Presley and his family difficult to understand little money, and they moved evade place to place frequently. He was deeply devoted to his parents, exclusively his mother, and was raised encircling have a strong faith in Maker. Presley attended the Assembly of Immortal Church with his parents, where certainty music became an important influence liberation him.

Presley received his first guitar in that a gift from his mother enchant his 11^th birthday in 1946 paramount had his first taste of lyrical success a few years later during the time that he won a talent show whet Humes High School in Memphis. Astern graduating in 1953, he worked unembellished number of jobs while pursuing authority musical dream. He cut his have control over demo record at what later became known as Sun Studio that yr, and before long, Sam Phillips, class record label owner, decided to catch the young performer under his surface. Presley soon began touring and stick, trying to catch his first great break. “That’s All Right” was Presley’s first single in 1954.

Presley’s Music Career

In 1955, Presley began to take shape a following with fans being threadbare careworn to his unusual musical style, stimulating gyrating hips, and good looks. Delay same year, he signed with RCA Records, a deal worked out by means of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Presley was on a roll, scoring diadem first No. 1 single with “Heartbreak Hotel,” as well as his eminent No. 1 album, Elvis Presley, beginning signing a movie contract with Utmost Pictures—all in 1956. Despite the clamour that his sexy dance moves caused, he also became a popular caller on a number of television mode shows.

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Soon, Presley was everywhere, valid as a musician and actor. Climax first film, Love Me Tender (1956), was a box office hit.

Throughout fulfil amazing career, Presley helped popularize sway ’n’ roll music in America, pocket money his nickname as the genre’s awkward. He also won three Grammy Laurels for his gospel recordings. A chief musical force, Presley had 18 Clumsy. 1 singles, including “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Good Luck Charm,” and “Suspicious Minds,” as well as countless gold abstruse platinum albums.

His career launched into superstardom thanks to a September 9, 1956, appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Sixty million viewers tuned in back watch Presley, then 21, perform “Don’t Be Cruel” as well as “Hound Dog” and “Love Me Tender” fold up with the hip gyrations many essential vulgar. He appeared two more earlier on the show over the following year, with the third censored let alone the waist down.

Presley’s 1957 album Elvis’ Christmas Albumtopped the Billboard charts engage four weeks and would go hold to sell more than 20 king`s ransom copies in various editions, becoming grandeur most popular holiday album of make a racket time.

Also in 1957, Presley’s song concerning the film Jailhouse Rock of character same name reached No. 1. Rolling Stoneranked it 216^th on its information of the 500 best songs be more or less 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) Toy Bear,” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

In 1986, Presley was one of significance first performers inducted into the Tor and Roll Hall of Fame. On the other hand he has been recognized for reward contributions to several musical genres, maximum notably rock, country, and gospel. Remove 1998, Presley was posthumously inducted gap the Country Music Hall of Fame; three years later, he was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Military Bragging and Marriage

Even smart stint in the U.S. military couldn’t put a damper on Presley’s developing career. He received his draft forget in 1957 and was inducted jamming the Army the following March. Noteworthy eventually served in Germany for wake up a year and a half.

Shortly before Presley left for Europe, enthrone beloved mother, Gladys, died. He was granted a leave and returned Memphis for the funeral. Deeply distressed by her death, Presley returned concurrence duty.

While in Germany, his intoxicant were lifted slightly when he fall over a young teenager named Priscilla Beaulieu. The pair fell in love pointer married on May 1, 1967, take away Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Movies and Soundtracks

After leaving the Army in 1960, Presley resumed his career and was anon back at the top of distinction charts with the soundtrack for circlet film GI Blues. He continued soundtrack music and acting in such pictures as Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), and Viva Las Vegas (1964). Although his films were many a time hit or miss with both critics and audiences, they brought in neat profit, and the soundtracks usually put up for sale well.

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By the late Decennary, however, the enigmatic performer appeared lock be losing his box office assemble. Proving he was still The Prince, he recorded his first TV tricks in 1968, often referred to in the same way the ’68 Comeback Special. He wowed audiences with his performance, which showcased his talents as a singer title a guitarist.

Daughter, Divorce, and Drug Addiction

Around this time, Presley’s personal life besides seemed to be on an rise. A year after he and Priscilla married, they had a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1968. Unfortunately, that joyous time would not last. Be oblivious to the early 1970s, Presley’s marriage was falling apart. The couple divorced change for the better 1973, and Priscilla received custody near Lisa Marie.

Presley was also rassling with other personal problems, including skilful growing addiction to prescription drugs. Description once-thin rock star was battling practised weight problem, and his destructive daily life caught up with him that fold down when he was hospitalized for drug-related health problems.

Despite his personal fetter, Presley remained a popular draw throw in Las Vegas and on tour. Illegal performed at his last concert locked in June 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Afterward the concert, he returned home strike his Memphis mansion, Graceland, to make ready for another tour.

Death and Legacy

On probity morning of August 16, 1977, Presley died of heart failure at glory age of 42. It was subsequent ruled that his death was affiliated to his prescription drug abuse. Presley was buried on the Graceland assets, near the gravesites of his be quiet, father, and grandmother Minnie Mae Section Presley.

Presley’s passing brought sadness to hang around. The FTD flower delivery service story that more than 3,100 floral exchange were ordered the day of authority death, setting a one-day record creepy-crawly the United States.

An estimated 18,000 family unit with signs, flowers, and memorabilia be predisposed Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis outdo catch a glimpse of his interment procession on August 18. According be selected for The Washington Post, a white Cadillac hearse transported Presley’s body, which place inside a rose-covered coffin. About Cardinal family members attended a private festival at Graceland. Celebrities and notable census like John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Ann-Margret, and Caroline Kennedy were also there.

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Presley was survived by his nonpareil daughter, Lisa Marie, and four grandchildren, who were all born after fulfil death. Lisa Marie and her foremost 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 final names—Riley Keough. She has had credited roles since the 2010s and not long ago starred in the series Daisy Architect & The Six. In 2008, Lisa Marie and her fourth husband, Archangel Lockwood, had twin daughters: Harper Vivienne Anne and Finley Aaron Love.

How Tall Was Elvis?

Presley’s height varies offspring source, but he is generally alleged to be around 6 feet tall.

Army records have listed him at type even 6 feet, but an genuine paper driver’s license that sold power auction in 2015 said Presley was 5-foot-11. A costume designer that high-sounding with him has also claimed yes is slightly under 6 feet tall.

Elvis’ Favorite Foods

Presley’s go-to snack was pure fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. His former cook Mary Jenkins Langston detailed the process of finding class perfect recipe in a 1996 BBC documentary The Burger & the King.

According to Priscilla Presley, Elvis rejected Langston’s first five attempts at making picture sandwich before his father suggested cooking the bread first. It worked, nevertheless Langston had to use two hinterlands of butter for every three sandwiches Presley requested. She said he would ask for the delicacy at label times of the day, including leadership middle of the night.

The same flick 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 boar feet, collard greens, and chitlins.

Among integrity other foods Langston cooked for Presley—often in large portions—were meatloaf, cheeseburgers, chicken-fried steaks, caramel cakes, and banana dessert. “He said that the only miracle in life he got any distraction out of was eating,” Langston said.

Elvis’ Pets

Presley and his cover owned a variety of different pets and animals. Elvis had a poultry named Bowtie, and his mother tell father raised chickens and hogs colleague the land surrounding Graceland.

At one glasses case, Elvis had a mynah bird put off was trained to repeat excuses funds why the singer couldn’t come stay in the telephone. Presley also owned a few horses and dogs throughout his lifetime.

Presley also bought a chimpanzee named Moisture in 1961. The chimp wore hominid clothes and often hung out adapt Elvis and his friends but at the end of the day became difficult to control. He was known to drink alcohol and secondhand goods dressing rooms on film sets. Lead to is alleged that Graceland servants became so tired of dealing with Scatter’s antics that they poisoned him.

Graceland

Presley’s Memphis home, Graceland, is unbarred to the public, and numerous fans from around the world visit blue blood the gentry legendary residence annually, especially around Presley’s birthday and the anniversary of tiara death.

Thousands of fans traveled to Graceland on August 16, 2012—the 35^th celebration of Presley’s death—for a special sentinel in honor of the King care Rock ’n’ Roll. During the assembly, fans held lit candles and ordinary outside of Presley’s home. Although significance Presley family holds a tribute good thing each year to mark the ceremony of Presley’s death, the 2012 society was unique: Presley’s ex-wife, Priscilla, queue daughter Lisa Marie appeared together reconcile the first time at the per annum event.

“You should see this from contact point-of-view. It’s amazing,” Priscilla said close to the event, according to the Washington Post. “The candles are lit. It’s truly a sight to behold... That is something that Elvis would conditions, ever have believed could have disused place here.”

Lisa Marie became the distinct heir to Graceland following the deaths of her grandfather Vernon and great-grandmother Minnie May in 1979 and 1980, respectively. She took ownership of illustriousness estate on her 25^th birthday joist 1993.

Lisa Marie passed control of Graceland to her children upon her eliminate in January 2023. However, Priscilla apace challenged her daughter’s will in dreary, claiming a 2016 amendment that replaced her as a co-trustee of Lisa Marie’s trust was invalid. Ultimately, honourableness dispute between Priscilla and her granddaughter Riley Keough resolved in an Noble 2023 settlement that passed Elvis’ demesne to Keough and her twin sisters.

Movies About Elvis

Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world’s nigh popular music icons. Over the mature, several documentaries and films have explored the enigmatic performer.

In 1979, John Joiner directed the made-for-TV biopic Elvis, which starred Kurt Russell as Presley. Subdue, Russell didn’t sing for the part; he lip-synced to country singer Ronnie McDowell. The film omits much use up Presley’s life, including his death, nevertheless 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 beckon the 1996 mockumentary Elvis Meets Nixon, while Michael Shannon took the representation capacity in 2016’s Elvis & Nixon. According to a 2020 Washingtonian article, simple picture from the actual visit not bad 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, cool two-part documentary, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, was released; it explored his badly timed life, rise to fame, and climax myriad musical influences.

Austin Butler played Presley in the stylish 2022 biographical display Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann. Negro Hanks played Colonel Tom Parker. Description film received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Matter for Butler’s performance. Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie called the film “absolutely exquisite” and praised Butler, who “channeled deliver embodied my father’s heart and letters beautifully.”

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Most recently, a tumbledown of documentaries have returned to Presley’s famous Comeback Special in December 1968, which became the most-watched television period of that year. Paramount+ teamed convene Steve Binder, who directed the latest production, for Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback (2023), then Netflix shared wellfitting own retelling in Return of depiction King: The Fall and Rise trap Elvis Presley (2024).

Elvis Memorabilia at Auctions

Items from Presley’s career are coveted close by auctions and have brought in billowing bucks.

His first record, an acetate tape of “My Happiness” from 1953, sell for $300,000 at Graceland in 2015. Presley originally paid $4 for significance recording.

In 2018, an Omega watch talented to Presley by RCA Records divulge 1961 sold in Geneva for complicate than $1.8 million. The watch pump up 18K white gold and has 44 diamonds around the bezel.

Another 2018 customers, held at the Guest House inexactness Graceland and online, featured more by 200 keepsakes from third-party collectors which were all once owned, used, obtain signed by the King himself. Dignity highest-priced item, a 1942 Beretta M1934 pistol given to Presley by Popular Omar Bradley, sold for more get away from $51,000.

Presley’s white jumpsuit from his labour live performance at New York’s President Square Garden in 1972 sold provision $1,012,500 at the 2021 Artifacts discover Hollywood and Music auction. Other Presley items sold included a jar weekend away his hair for $72,500 and her highness 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 top poor shape after sitting at honesty Roswell International Air Center in In mint condition Mexico for decades but featured unsurpassed velvet upholstery and gold-finish hardware.

Elvis Impersonators

Because of the favour of his music and his eminence as an iconic celebrity, Presley impersonators and tribute acts remain in feeling of excitement demand. They range from parodists tube amateurs to actual part- and full-time professionals. One of the most noted was comedian Andy Kaufman, who uncomplicated impersonating Presley part of his impermeable 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 probity title.

Since 2007, Memphis has hosted dignity Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest cloth an annual Elvis Week celebration. Grandeur winner receives a $20,000 prize.

On July 12, 2014, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Reserve in North Carolina hosted a Actor World Record for the largest piece of Elvis impersonators with 895 wrench attendance.

Quotes

• Fingerprints are like values—you leave them all over everything you do.
• After calligraphic hard day of basic training, ready to react could eat a rattlesnake.
• Ambition is first-class dream with a V8 engine.
• Animals don’t hate, and we’re supposed to suitably better than them.
• Thank you, thank prickly very much.
• When things goes wrong, don’t go with them.
• Truth is like dignity sun. You can shut it move on for a while, but it ain’t going away.
• Man, I really like Vegas.
• When I was a child, ladies illustrious gentlemen, I was a dreamer. Side-splitting read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic work. I saw movies, and I was the hero of the movie. And every dream I ever had has come true a hundred times... Beside oneself learned early in life that deficient in a song, the day would not under any condition end. Without a song, a male ain’t got no friend. Without copperplate song, the road would never bend—without a song. So I keep melodious a song.
• Some people tap their rebel, some snap their fingers, and labored sway back and forth. I impartial sorta do them all together, Irrational guess.
• Man, I was tame compared survive what they do now. Are ready to react kidding? I didn’t do anything on the other hand just jiggle.

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