Elvis has become an integral
part of modern society
throughout the entire world.
He is the biggest selling
recording artist ever! In 1992,
Elvis had sold more than 1
billion records and CDs
worldwide since 1954. When
Elvis first hit the scene, there
was nothing like him. He
became the icon for a new
style of music. He became the
King of Rock ‘n Roll.
On January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Gladys Presley gave
birth to identical twins Jesse Garon Presley and Elvis Aaron
Presley. Unfortunately, Jesse Garon was stillborn (born dead), but
Elvis Aaron was born alive and healthy. Elvis would be their only
child.
Elvis grew up in a close
knit family made up of
grandparents, uncles,
aunts, and cousins who
all lived close to one
another. Money was
tight, but Vernon and
Gladys did their best to
raise little Elvis.
Elvis attended the Assembly of God
Church with his family, and the music
and preaching registered deeply. Other
influences were black bluesmen in the
neighborhood and country music radio
programs enjoyed by his family.
Elvis’ parents could not afford
a bicycle that Elvis wanted, so
Gladys talked him into
accepting a guitar instead.
Elvis' first guitar cost $12.95
and was purchased at the
Tupelo Hardware Company.
Elvis played his guitar and sang "Leaf on a Tree" for his Milam
Junior High class in Tupelo as a farewell. Elvis and his parents
packed their belongings in a trunk strapped to the roof of their
1939 Plymouth and moved to Memphis, Tennessee in search of
a better life economically.
In Memphis, Elvis attended Humes High School. The teenage Elvis got to be
known for singing with his guitar. He bought his clothes on Beale Street and he
absorbed the black blues and gospel he heard there.
He wore his hair long (compared to the day’s
standards) and slick, and let his sideburns grow.
He was really different from the other kids, a
good-natured misfit.
While at Humes High, Elvis
nervously sang with his
guitar at a student talent
show. Much to his own
amazement, he got more
applause than anyone else
and won.
After High School, Elvis got a job working as an electrician,
but he still enjoyed singing and playing. One day while
recording a song for his mom at a local studio, Sam Phillips,
the owner of Sun Records overheard Elvis and signed him to
a record deal.
Phillips had found a white
guy that had the sound
and feel of the black
“Rhythm and Blues”
musicians he had been
recording.
It was through Sam Phillips that Elvis met guitarist Scotty
Moore (left) and bassist Bill Black (right). The trio would
stay together for many years to come. Moore and Black
have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Elvis began to perform regularly in the South and became known as the
Hillbilly Cat. His live performances with Moore and Black began to get more
and more wilder. His swiveling hips were very controversial, and his unusual
style and good looks started to cause more and more excitement wherever
he played. Sometimes the crowds would break through the barricades in
near-riot behavior. Elvis gained more and more popularity and began to
receive national attention.
In March of 1956, Colonel Tom
Parker, a former carnival and
circus promoter became Elvis'
official manager for a 25 percent
fee. Parker was a good promoter.
Almost right away, he managed to
get Elvis an unprecedented
$40,000 contract with RCA
records. Parker was Elvis’
manager until his death, never
representing another artist.
Elvis’s first record with RCA, “Heartbreak Hotel”, quickly sold over
a million copies, becoming Elvis’ first gold record. Elvis, Scotty
Moore, and Bill Black soon began to make network TV
appearances on shows like Jackie Gleason’s “Stage Show,” “The
Milton Berle Show,” on ABC and “The Steve Allen Show” on NBC.
Due to his dancing on The Steve Allen Show, Elvis got the
nickname “Elvis the Pelvis.” Many parents across the
country were appalled at this gyrating young boy who was
making their daughters scream.
Some parents thought that just by watching Elvis, kids could turn into
juvenile delinquents.
Among the highest rating TV
shows was “The Ed Sullivan
Show” on CBS. Ed Sullivan
had said that he would never
have the likes of Elvis Presley
on his show.
But, after the high ratings on the other shows, Sullivan
committed to getting Elvis on his show too. The only
stipulation was that Elvis must be filmed “from the waist
up” while performing.
For his Ed Sullivan appearances, Elvis often performed his more serious music
to appeal to the parents. Here he is seen returning to his religious roots and
performing a church hymn. The backup vocals are provided by “The
Jordanaires,” a vocal group which Elvis would use often. (click below to play
the video)
At this point, Elvis’ had many songs on the charts making
millions for himself and the Colonel. There was now only
one thing left to conquer . . . Hollywood.
The Colonel got
Elvis a 7-year
movie contract
with Paramount
Pictures.
Elvis’ first movie was “Love Me Tender.” The movie and
the single from the soundtrack became instant hits, and
the critics reviews weren’t bad either.
The Colonel now saw an open
merchandising market for Elvis’
name, image, and likeness.
Soon, “Elvis” jeans, shirts, hats,
cologne, lipstick, stuffed hound
dogs, bookends, magazines were
available for sale. This was to be
forever a part of the marketing
of Elvis Presley, feeding a neverending demand even up to
today.
By the end of 1956, Elvis had
gained national and
international popularity.
Even though other countries
were begging Elvis to come
tour in their country, Elvis
never got to tour outside the
U.S. except for 2 shows in
Canada.
In 1957, Elvis continued filming movies. In each movie, Elvis
got the chance to sing his new songs to sell the soundtracks.
Loving You
Jailhouse Rock
Elvis’ fourth movie, “King Creole” is believed to be his best
acting performance ever, and it received rave reviews.
Unfortunately for Elvis, he would never be regarded as a
serious actor.
Also in 1957, Elvis built a very beautiful and expensive home
in Memphis called “Graceland.” Graceland was Elvis’ refuge
from the world.
It was here that Elvis felt most at peace.
Graceland provided Elvis with safety and privacy.
In 1958, Elvis was drafted
into the U.S. Army. He later
stated “The Army made a
man of me. I was glad for the
experience, glad no one can
now say that I had it made."
Elvis had to serve his 2year term in the army.
While there, Elvis’
mother died. He was
devastated.
Elvis and his father
It was in the army that Elvis
met Priscilla Ann Beaulieu.
She was a 14-year-old girl
that Elvis became friends
with. They would eventually
get married, but not until she
was 22.
Whenever Elvis returned
from the army, he was
afraid he would have lost
his audience. He was
wrong. They were waiting
patiently. He appeared on
the Frank Sinatra variety
show and then released an
album titled “Elvis is Back.”
Throughout the 1960’s, Elvis was busy making movies. He
starred as a G.I., a sheik, a cowboy, an Indian, a boxer, a
mafia boss, and every other conceivable character. All
together, Elvis would star in 33 movies, each with a
soundtrack of his songs.
In May, 1967, Elvis and Priscilla were married in the Aladdin
Hotel in Las Vegas in a private ceremony for family and
friends.
Exactly 9 months
after their
wedding, Priscilla
and Elvis had a
baby girl. They
named her Lisa
Marie Presley.
She would be
Elvis’ only child.
Priscilla at 62
Lisa Marie
On December 3, 1968, Elvis had
a TV special called the “’68
Comeback.” This was Elvis’ first
time in eight years to television,
and he gave one of the most
electrifying performances of his
life. Some even say this was his
best, and that he was at his best
time in his career. But one thing
was for sure, and that is Elvis did
reclaim his title of King of Rockn-Roll.
For Elvis’ remaining years, he would tour the U.S. several times and continue
to break attendance records in Las Vegas. Of note is a show he performed in
Hawaii that was shown around the world live via satellite. The show was
called “Aloha from Hawaii” and was seen by well over 1 billion people
worldwide! (click below to play)
In 1973, Elvis and Priscilla got a divorce. From this point on, Elvis’
life went downhill.
Elvis already had some health problems, but it really started to
decline due to his overuse of prescription drugs and excessive
eating of junk food
On August 16, 1977, Elvis died of heart failure.
Elvis
Facts
Elvis is the most written about person in the world (with the
exception of Jesus Christ). More than 1,000 books about Elvis have
been published since the 1950s!
There are more than 400 active Elvis fan clubs around the world
with memberships ranging from 15,000 to 10. In Australia there
are at least seven active fan clubs.
Elvis
Facts
There are more than 500 Elvis impersonators in the US and around
a dozen in Australia. Some, such as David Cazalet, Michael Hoover
and Max Pellicano have their own fan clubs.
Elvis Facts
Elvis' home, Graceland,
is visited by more than
600,000 vistors each
year, making it the
second most popular
'home' attraction in the
US behind 'The White
House'.
Graceland’s Meditation Garden
Elvis
Facts
Elvis has 110 gold and platinum albums in the U.S. alone and
hundreds more throughout other parts of the world. Here is a
collection of some of his awards in what used to be the racquetball
court in his Graceland home.
Elvis Facts
When Elvis died in
1977, he had given
away ALL of the billion
dollars he had earned,
mostly to charity.
Elvis Listening
1) Hound Dog
2) Love Me Tender