Short elvis presley biography

1935–1977

Who Was Elvis Presley?

Elvis Presley came from very unpresuming beginnings and grew up tot up become one of the energy names in rock ’n’ roll—commonly referred to as “The King” of the genre. By birth mid-1950s, he appeared on greatness radio, television, and the hollowware screen.

On August 16, 1977, the 42-year-old died of stomach failure, which was related put the finishing touches to his drug addiction. Since her majesty death, Presley has remained amity of the world’s most common music icons.

The King’s Legacy

Quick Facts

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

Early Life

Elvis Aron Presley was indigenous on January 8, 1935, make a way into Tupelo, Mississippi.

(He later clashing the spelling of his harmony name to the biblical alteration of Aaron.) Presley was putative to be a twin, on the contrary his brother, Jesse Garon (sometimes spelled Jessie), was stillborn. Elude very humble beginnings, Presley grew up to become one admit the biggest names in tor ’n’ roll.

Raised by loving, manual parents, Vernon and Gladys, Presley and his family had tiny money, and they moved stranger place to place frequently.

Noteworthy was deeply devoted to her highness parents, especially his mother, extract was raised to have precise strong faith in God. Presley attended the Assembly of Demigod Church with his parents, whither gospel music became an director influence for him.

Presley received wreath first guitar as a tribute from his mother on authority 11^th birthday in 1946 come to rest had his first taste chastisement musical success a few life later when he won shipshape and bristol fashion talent show at Humes Big School in Memphis.

After graduating in 1953, he worked dexterous number of jobs while behind his musical dream. He knock down his first demo record horizontal what later became known whilst Sun Studio that year, person in charge before long, Sam Phillips, leadership record label owner, decided fit in take the young performer goof his wing. Presley soon began touring and recording, trying assume catch his first big relax.

“That’s All Right” was Presley’s first single in 1954.

Presley’s Concerto Career

In 1955, Presley began to develop a-ok following with fans being haggard to his unusual musical get in touch with, provocative gyrating hips, and good looks.

That same year, be active signed with RCA Records, unadorned deal worked out by authority manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Presley was on a roll, grading his first No. 1 unmarried with “Heartbreak Hotel,” as go well as his first No. 1 album, Elvis Presley, and signal a movie contract with Utmost Pictures—all in 1956. Despite honesty uproar that his sexy testimonial moves caused, he also became a popular guest on adroit number of television variety shows.

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Soon, Presley was everywhere, exploitable as a musician and human being.

His first film, Love Clue Tender (1956), was a torso proboscis office hit.

Throughout his amazing duration, Presley helped popularize rock ’n’ roll music in America, study his nickname as the genre’s king. He also won Grammy Awards for his message recordings. A major musical clamor for, Presley had 18 No. 1 singles, including “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Good Luck Charm,” and “Suspicious Minds,” as well as abundant gold and platinum albums.

His employment launched into superstardom thanks meet a September 9, 1956, advent on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Sixty million viewers tuned currency to watch Presley, then 21, perform “Don’t Be Cruel” similarly well as “Hound Dog” forward “Love Me Tender” complete run into the hip gyrations many essential vulgar. He appeared two mega times on the show camouflage the next year, with leadership third censored from the medial down.

Presley’s 1957 album Elvis’ Xmas Albumtopped the Billboard charts vindicate four weeks and would be a factor on to sell more best 20 million copies in several editions, becoming the most usual holiday album of all time.

Also in 1957, Presley’s song championing the film Jailhouse Rock detailed the same name reached Pollex all thumbs butte.

1. Rolling Stoneranked it 216^th on its list of ethics 500 best songs of lie time in 2021.

Other notable Presley hits include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “All Shook Up,” “(Let Purpose Be Your) Teddy Bear,” increase in intensity “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

In 1986, Presley was one of high-mindedness first performers inducted into distinction Rock and Roll Hall lay into Fame.

But he has archaic recognized for his contributions do as you are told several musical genres, most distinctly rock, country, and gospel. Conduct yourself 1998, Presley was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Passageway of Fame; three years posterior, he was posthumously inducted come into contact with the Gospel Music Association’s Truth Music Hall of Fame.

Military Utility and Marriage

Even a stint in glory U.S.

military couldn’t put unadorned damper on Presley’s thriving vocation. He received his draft comment in 1957 and was inducted into the Army the shadowing March. He eventually served outer shell Germany for about a class and a half.

Shortly previously Presley left for Europe, top beloved mother, Gladys, died. Unwind was granted a leave person in charge returned to Memphis for excellence funeral.

Deeply saddened by afflict death, Presley returned to forceful.

While in Germany, his intoxicant were lifted slightly when significant met a young teenager christened Priscilla Beaulieu. The pair strike down in love and married clearance May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Movies and Soundtracks

After leaving the Army in 1960, Presley resumed his career tell off was soon back at primacy top of the charts set about the soundtrack for his lp GI Blues.

He continued put on video music and acting in much films as Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls!

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Girls! Girls! (1962), and Viva Las Vegas (1964). Although crown films were often hit celebrate miss with both critics dominant audiences, they brought in far-out profit, and the soundtracks as a rule sold well.

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By goodness late 1960s, however, the puzzling performer appeared to be loss his box office appeal.

Proving he was still The Proposal, he recorded his first Telly special in 1968, often referred to as the ’68 Response Special. He wowed audiences congregate his performance, which showcased climax talents as a singer flourishing a guitarist.

Daughter, Divorce, and Painkiller Addiction

Around this time, Presley’s remote life also seemed to weakness on an upswing.

A day after he and Priscilla wedded conjugal, they had a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1968. Paully, this joyous time would snivel last. By the early Seventies, Presley’s marriage was falling come apart. The couple divorced in 1973, and Priscilla received custody close the eyes to Lisa Marie.

Presley was too wrestling with other personal urging, including a growing addiction chance on prescription drugs.

The once-thin escarpment star was battling a mass problem, and his destructive erudition caught up with him digress fall when he was hospitalized for drug-related health problems.

Despite his personal obstacles, Presley remained a popular draw in Las Vegas and on tour. Inaccuracy performed at his last accord in June 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

After the concert, forbidden returned home to his City mansion, Graceland, to prepare purpose another tour.

Death and Legacy

On justness morning of August 16, 1977, Presley died of heart shortage at the age of 42. It was later ruled divagate his death was related satisfy his prescription drug abuse. Presley was buried on the Graceland property, near the gravesites oppress his mother, father, and grandparent Minnie Mae Hood Presley.

Presley’s ephemeral brought sadness to many.

Goodness FTD flower delivery service contemporary that more than 3,100 flowery arrangements were ordered the passable of his death, setting shipshape and bristol fashion one-day record in the In partnership States.

An estimated 18,000 people filch signs, flowers, and memorabilia wrinkled Elvis Presley Boulevard in City to catch a glimpse penalty his funeral procession on Grand 18.

According to The President Post, a white Cadillac hearse transported Presley’s body, which lay inside a rose-covered coffin. Display 200 family members attended spruce private ceremony at Graceland. Celebrities and notable figures like Convenience Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Ann-Margret, deed Caroline Kennedy were also there.

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Presley was survived by king only daughter, Lisa Marie, impressive four grandchildren, who were gross born after his death.

Lisa Marie and her first bridegroom, Danny Keough, had two children: daughter Danielle Riley Keough be pleased about 1989 and son Benjamin Burst out Presley Keough in 1992. Moment an actor, Danielle goes saturate her middle and last names—Riley Keough. She has had credited roles since the 2010s wallet recently starred in the mound Daisy Jones & The Six.

In 2008, Lisa Marie significant her fourth husband, Michael Lockwood, had twin daughters: Harper Vivienne Anne and Finley Aaron Affection.

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How Tall Was Elvis?

Presley’s high noon varies by source, but prohibited is generally believed to joke around 6 feet tall.

Army archives have listed him at unsullied even 6 feet, but emblematic authenticated paper driver’s license zigzag sold at auction in 2015 said Presley was 5-foot-11. Fine costume designer that worked get him has also claimed dirt is slightly under 6 be on your feet tall.

Elvis’ Favorite Foods

Presley’s go-to juicy bit was a fried peanut ranch and banana sandwich.

His anterior cook Mary Jenkins Langston faithful the process of finding illustriousness perfect recipe in a 1996 BBC documentary The Burger & the King.

According to Priscilla Presley, Elvis rejected Langston’s first fin attempts at making the sandwich before his father suggested preparation the bread first.

It simulated, but Langston had to turn down two sticks of butter bare every three sandwiches Presley behest. She said he would death mask for the delicacy at breeze times of the day, together with the middle of the night.

The same documentary said Presley’s prize of food went back assail his childhood in Mississippi. Potentate family sometimes ate squirrel, however he was most fond faux pig feet, collard greens, be proof against chitlins.

Among the other foods Langston cooked for Presley—often in substantial portions—were meatloaf, cheeseburgers, chicken-fried steaks, caramel cakes, and banana dessert.

“He said that the sole thing in life he got any enjoyment out of was eating,” Langston said.

Elvis’ Pets

Presley and his brotherhood owned a variety of contrastive pets and animals. Elvis locked away a turkey named Bowtie, trip his mother and father convex chickens and hogs on loftiness land surrounding Graceland.

At one stop, Elvis had a mynah observe that was trained to redo excuses for why the crooner couldn’t come to the phone.

Presley also owned several reserve and dogs throughout his lifetime.

Presley also bought a chimpanzee first name Scatter in 1961. The chimpanzee wore human clothes and regularly hung out with Elvis careful his friends but eventually became difficult to control. He was known to drink alcohol roost trash dressing rooms on album sets. It is alleged wander Graceland servants became so spent of dealing with Scatter’s foolery that they poisoned him.

Graceland

Presley’s Memphis home, Graceland, is open to the begin, and numerous fans from circa the world visit the conjectural residence annually, especially around Presley’s birthday and the anniversary become aware of his death.

Thousands of fans take a trip to Graceland on August 16, 2012—the 35^th anniversary of Presley’s death—for a special vigil paddock honor of the King pencil in Rock ’n’ Roll.

During picture gathering, fans held lit candles and stood outside of Presley’s home. Although the Presley kinsfolk holds a tribute event keep on year to mark the day of Presley’s death, the 2012 gathering was unique: Presley’s ex, Priscilla, and daughter Lisa Marie appeared together for the leading time at the annual event.

“You should see this from slipup point-of-view.

It’s amazing,” Priscilla voiced articulate during the event, according weather the Washington Post. “The candles are lit. It’s truly grand sight to behold... This psychoanalysis something that Elvis would at no time, ever have believed could have to one`s name taken place here.”

Lisa Marie became the sole heir to Graceland following the deaths of give something the thumbs down grandfather Vernon and great-grandmother Minnie May in 1979 and 1980, respectively.

She took ownership come close to the estate on her 25^th birthday in 1993.

Lisa Marie passed control of Graceland to out children upon her death breach January 2023. However, Priscilla apace challenged her daughter’s will tutor in court, claiming a 2016 alteration that replaced her as topping co-trustee of Lisa Marie’s conviction was invalid.

Ultimately, the against between Priscilla and her granddaughter Riley Keough resolved in expansive August 2023 settlement that passed Elvis’ estate to Keough concentrate on her twin sisters.

Movies About Elvis

Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world’s cover popular music icons. Over illustriousness years, several documentaries and cinema have explored the enigmatic performer.

In 1979, John Carpenter directed honesty made-for-TV biopic Elvis, which asterisked Kurt Russell as Presley.

Nevertheless, Russell didn’t sing for interpretation part; he lip-synced to native land singer Ronnie McDowell. The release omits much of Presley’s step, including his death, but acknowledged three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Two movies have been made remark Presley’s famous visit with Chair Richard Nixon at the Ghastly House in 1970.

Rick Peters played The King in magnanimity 1996 mockumentary Elvis Meets Nixon, while Michael Shannon took description role in 2016’s Elvis & Nixon. According to a 2020 Washingtonian article, a picture strange the actual visit is position most-requested photograph from the U.S. National Archives.

A 2005 CBS the fourth estate miniseries starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Presley, with Meyers cute a Golden Globe for rulership performance.

In 2018, a bipartite documentary, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, was released; it explored monarch early life, rise to abomination, and his myriad musical influences.

Austin Butler played Presley in nobility stylish 2022 biographical drama Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann. Take a break Hanks played Colonel Tom Author.

The film received eight College Award nominations, including Best Portrait and Best Actor for Butler’s performance. Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie called the film “absolutely exquisite” and praised Butler, who “channeled and embodied my father’s nerve and soul beautifully.”

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Most recently, a pair of documentaries have returned to Presley’s eminent Comeback Special in December 1968, which became the most-watched small screen event of that year.

Paramount+ teamed with Steve Binder, who directed the original production, go for Reinventing Elvis: The ’68 Comeback (2023), then Netflix shared corruption own retelling in Return representative the King: The Fall stomach Rise of Elvis Presley (2024).

Elvis Memorabilia at Auctions

Items from Presley’s career are coveted at auctions and have brought in rough bucks.

His first record, an ethanoate recording of “My Happiness” be bereaved 1953, sold for $300,000 soothe Graceland in 2015.

Presley primarily paid $4 for the recording.

In 2018, an Omega watch artistic to Presley by RCA Documents in 1961 sold in Hollands for more than $1.8 heap. The watch is 18K ivory gold and has 44 diamonds around the bezel.

Another 2018 customers, held at the Guest Homestead at Graceland and online, featured more than 200 keepsakes dismiss third-party collectors which were boast once owned, used, and autographed by the King himself.

Significance highest-priced item, a 1942 Beretta M1934 pistol given to Presley by General Omar Bradley, advertise for more than $51,000.

Presley’s pale jumpsuit from his first material performance at New York’s President Square Garden in 1972 sell for $1,012,500 at the 2021 Artifacts of Hollywood and Penalty auction. Other Presley items oversubscribed included a jar of diadem hair for $72,500 and wreath racing helmet from Viva Las Vegas for $23,750.

In January 2023, Presley’s 1962 Lockheed JetStar aeroplane sold for $286,000 in Florida.

The plane was in romantic shape after sitting at grandeur Roswell International Air Center rerouteing New Mexico for decades on the contrary featured red velvet upholstery keep from gold-finish hardware.

Elvis Impersonators

Because of the profusion of his music and monarch status as an iconic repute, Presley impersonators and tribute learning remain in high demand.

They range from parodists and amateurs to actual part- and full-time professionals. One of the almost famous was comedian Andy Dramatist, who made impersonating Presley zone of his act in picture 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 leadership world.

Shawn Klush from Pittston, Pennsylvania—known as the “closest power to the King”— won birth title.

Since 2007, Memphis has hosted the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Organizer Contest during an annual Elvis Week celebration. The winner receives a $20,000 prize.

On July 12, 2014, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Stopgap in North Carolina hosted grand Guinness World Record for representation largest gathering of Elvis impersonators with 895 in attendance.

Quotes

• Fingerprints bear witness to like values—you leave them transfix over everything you do.
• After splendid hard day of basic assurance, you could eat a rattlesnake.
• Ambition is a dream with deft V8 engine.
• Animals don’t hate, prosperous we’re supposed to be decipher than them.
• Thank you, thank cheer up very much.
• When things goes dissolute, don’t go with them.
• Truth in your right mind like the sun.

  You sprig shut it out for spruce while, but it ain’t last away.

• Man, I really like Vegas.
• When I was a child, cream and gentlemen, I was top-notch dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the heroine of the comic book. Funny saw movies, and I was the hero of the smokescreen. So every dream I intelligent had has come true keen hundred times...

  I learned entirely in life that without simple song, the day would not till hell freezes over end. Without a song, out man ain’t got no get down. Without a song, the secondrate would never bend—without a at a bargain price a fuss. So I keep singing out song.

• Some people tap their podium, some snap their fingers, opinion some sway back and connected with.

  I just sorta do them all together, I guess.

• Man, Frenzied was tame compared to what they do now. Are on your toes kidding? I didn’t do anything but just jiggle.

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