Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi.He had a twin brother that was a still born. In September 1948 when Elvis was 13, he and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he attended Humes High School. In 1953 Elvis attended the senior prom with the current girl he was courting, Regis Wilson. After graduating from Humes High School in Memphis, Elvis took odd jobs working as a movie theatre usher and a truck driver for Crown Electric Company. He began singing locally as “The Hillbilly Cat,” then signed with a local recording company, then in 1955 with RCA. He did much to establish early rock and roll music, bringing black blues singing into the white, teenage mainstream. Teenage girls became hysterical over his blatantly sexual gyrations, particularly the one that got him nicknamed “Elvis the Pelvis” (television cameras were not permitted to film below his waist). At the time of his death, he had sold more than 600-million singles and albums. In 1956 following his six television appearances on The Dorsey Brothers’ “Stage Show”, Elvis was cast in his first acting role in a supporting part in Love Me Tender (1956), the first of 33 movies he starred in. Critics blasted most of his films, but they did very well at the box-office earning upwards of $150 million total.

In 1958, Elvis was drafted into the military where he relocated to Bad Nauheim, Germany. There he met and fell in love with 14-year old army damsel Priscilla Ann Wagner (later known as Priscilla Presley). Elvis’ military service and the “British Invasion” of the 1960s reduced his concerts, though not his movie/recording income. Through the 1960s, Elvis settled in Hollywood where he starred in over 20 movies, acting alongside some of the most well known character actors in Hollywood. On February 1, 1968, he and Priscilla had a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Elvis made a comeback in the 1970s with live concert appearances starting in early 1970 in Las Vegas with over 57 sold-out shows. Elvis toured throughout the United States appearing on-stage in over 500 live appearances, many of them sold out shows. Sadly, his marriage ended in divorce, and the stress of constantly traveling as well as his increasing weight gain and dependence upon stimulants and depressants took their toll. Elvis Presley died at age 42 on August 16, 1977 at his mansion in Graceland, near Memphis. Since his death, his Memphis home Graceland has become a shrine for millions of followers worldwide. Elvis impersonators and purported sightings have become stock subjects for humorists.
Elvis Presley began his career as first performer of rockabilly, an up-tempo fusion of country music and rhythm and blues with a strong backbeat. His novel versions of existing songs, mixing ‘black’ and ‘white’ sounds, made him popular – and controversial – as did his uninhibited stage and television performances. He recorded songs in the rock and roll genre, with tracks like “Jailhouse Rock” and “Hound Dog” later embodying the style. Presley had a versatile voice and had unusually wide success encompassing other genres, including gospel, blues, ballads and pop music. To date, he is the only performer to have been inducted into three separate music ‘Halls of Fame’.

In the 1960s, Presley made the majority of his thirty-three movies – mainly poorly reviewed musicals. His last film, of the 1960s Change of Habit (1969), deals with several social issues relevant today; romance within the clergy, an autistic child, almost unheard of in 1969, rape and mob violence. It has recently received critical acclaim. 1969 also saw a critically-acclaimed return to live music, followed by performances in Las Vegas and across the United States. Throughout his career, he set records for concert attendance, television ratings and recordings sales. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in the history of popular music. His death at age 42 on August 16, 1977 shocked his fans worldwide.
The home address of Vernon Presley and Gladys Presley, as they became parents on Tuesday January 8th 1935, was 306 Old Saltillo Road, East Tupelo, Mississippi. Zip codes were not created, until the 1960’s decade. His twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, died at birth. Elvis was successfully delivered, approximately 35 minutes later.
He earned a black belt in karate, in 1960 and won three Grammy Awards, all for his Gospel music.
His hair colour was blonde until his early teens. As he got older his hair became darker. By the time he had his hair cut for the army at age 22 its natural color was dark chestnut (according to Charlie Hodge, who served with him in the army).
Was originally considered for the Kris Kristofferson role in A Star Is Born (1976), but Elvis turned it down because his manager, Tom Parker refused him permission to act in a movie where he wouldn’t have top billing. Also, he didn’t like the fact that the producer, Jon Peters, was completely unknown.
Owned a pet chimpanzee called “Scatter.”
He Has more multiplatinum album sales than any other performer, with twelve albums selling over 2 million copies.
Father of Lisa Marie Presley (birthdate, Thursday, February 1st, 1968).
Interred at Graceland Estate, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
His autopsy detected ten different drugs in his bloodstream.
Is a direct descendant of Abraham Lincoln’s great-great grandfather, Isaiah Harrison.
Had 18 Billboard #1 songs, the first being “Heartbreak Hotel” in March of 1956. His 18th and final #1, “Suspicious Minds”, was released in September 1969.
When The Beatles came to America in 1965 there was only one person they wanted to meet: Elvis. On Friday, August 27, 1965, they got their wish and, according to John Lennon, spent an entirely enjoyable evening at the Presley home in Bel Air, California, talking, singing and laughing with each other.
He bought Graceland mansion on Tuesday March 19, 1957, from Mrs. Ruth Brown Moore for $102,500. The mansion, built of tan Tennessee limestone, consists of 23 rooms and 13.7 surrounding acres. The Music Gates were installed in April of 1957. The name “Graceland” came with the mansion, from the days when it was originally used as a church.
His television debut was on the regionally telecast Louisiana Hayride (1955), Saturday, March 5th, 1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
In September 1955, “Country Song Roundup” magazine was the first to feature an article on Elvis, calling him a “folk music fireball”.
In April of 1955 Elvis auditioned for a spot on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (1948) and was turned down.
Elvis’ body was placed in a family crypt in Memphis on Thursday, August 18th, 1977. Eleven days later, Monday, August 29, 1977, however, an attempt was made to steal his body but the plan failed and three men were charged with trespassing and released on bond. Because of this incident, Vernon Presley, received approval from the Memphis Adjustment Board to allow re-interment of the bodies of Elvis and his mother, Gladys Presley to the Meditation Garden behind Graceland, which took place, on Sunday, October 2nd, 1977.
The book he was reading at the time of his death was “The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus” by Frank O. Adams, (Psychical Aid Foundation, USA, 1972).
From the time they met up until his death, Elvis always sent a roomful of flowers to Ann-Margret whenever she opened up a show in Las Vegas.
Was one of the performers featured on a set of stamps of rock and blues legends issued by the U.S. Postal Service in June 1993.
His mother, Gladys Presley, gave him his first guitar in 1947, when he was 12 years old, as a birthday present.
He was a 1953 graduate of Humes High School, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Was one of the first people in the U.S. to own a “Betamax” system VCR
Honorary Member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.
After seeing him in concert, Liberace suggested adding flashy costumes into his act. Elvis took the advice, and became famous for his gold lame jackets and jeweled white jumpsuits. He later reserved a seat for Liberace at a majority of his concerts, as his way of saying thanks.
One of only a handful of artists inducted into both The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and The Country Music Hall of Fame. Others include Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.
Died with about $5 million in his bank account.
Elvis did not like confrontation. He wanted to fire his manager, Tom Parker, many times. He would tell his friends “Tell Parker, he’s fired.” His friends would go tell him, then Parker would say “Tell Elvis to tell me personally”. Elvis never did.
“Heartbreak Hotel”, which spent 17 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s country chart (and 10 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100) was the #1 country song of 1956.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
His 1977 country hit, “Way Down,” was the #1 song on Billboard magazine’s country singles chart the week of Elvis’ death. Nine other songs would go to #1 on Billboard’s country charts between 1956 and 1981: “I Forgot to Remember to Forget,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You,” and the two-sided #1 hit “Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel” (all 1956); “All Shook Up,” “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” and “Jailhouse Rock” (all 1957); “Moody Blue” (1977); and “Guitar Man” (1981, a remixed version released more than three years after his death). Most of his 1950s #1 country hits were also #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well.
In Sam Lovullo’s book “Life in the Kornfield”, which recalled his years as producer of 1969’s country music TV series Hee Haw (1969), he remarked that Elvis was a big fan of the show and had always wanted to perform on it. However, according to Lovullo, Elvis remarked they’d have to tape his spots in the middle of the night, knowing that if manager Tom Parker had found out, he’d never clear his appearance. Several months after Elvis’ death, his father, Vernon Presley, appeared on “Hee Haw” and spoke about how the world would always love him and remember his music.
Hysteria over “Elvis sightings” after his death were lampooned in the Mojo Nixon song “Elvis Is Everywhere” and “Elvis Is Dead” by Living Colour.
His personal entourage were known as the “Memphis Mafia”, and were given matching rings by Elvis. The diamond and gold rings sported a thunderbolt and the letters “TCB” (reportedly standing for “Take Care of Business”). Elvis was buried wearing one of the rings.