Monday, October 11, 2004
Elvis Presley
The King of Rock 'n' Roll
Elvis Aaron Presley was born 8 January 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, the son of Vernon Elvis and Gladys Love (Smith) Presley. His twin, Jessie Garon, was stillborn. Elvis graduated from L.C. Humes High in Memphis, Tennessee 3 June 1953. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960.
Elvis grew up in poverty, and from an early age worked long and hard to succeed. By age 10 he was working after school, and although he continued to work throughout his school years, Elvis loved to read and maintained good grades. He also began playing guitar and singing at an early age, and learned to play the piano. He began his career entering amateur talent contests and singing at county and state fairs.
On July 5, 1954, Elvis had his first official recording session with Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. "That’s Alright Mama" was his first song played on the radio, on July 10, 1954, and was an immediate hit in the Memphis area. Elvis began touring throughout the South, and then the northern United States, and by the next year was invited to appear on national television. His television appearances included The Milton Berle Show and Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town.
In 1956 the single Heartbreak Hotel was released by RCA. It sold over one million copies, and became Elvis’ first gold record. Elvis recorded hundreds of songs including Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes and I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. Elvis Presley sold over one billion records worldwide, with 110 albums and singles certified as either gold, platinum or multi-platinum.
The Beatles met Elvis Presley in person on August 27, 1965. In a piece named "Ze King and I" John Lennon wrote about meeting Elvis: "There was only one person in the United States that we really wanted to meet…and that was Elvis….I know Paul, George, and Ringo were feeling as nervous as I was. This was the guy we had all idolized for years--from way back when we were just starting out in Liverpool. He was a legend in his own lifetime…."
Elvis starred in over thirty movies, including Love Me Tender, 1956, Jailhouse Rock, 1957 and King Creole, 1958. Elvis was named "One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation" by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1971. He received the Bing Crosby Award (later re-named the Lifetime Achievement Award) from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1971.
Elvis purchased Graceland Mansion in March 1957 where he lived until his death of cardiac arrhythmia at age 42 on 16 August 1977. Graceland has been preserved by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., which manages his estate, and is open to the public for tours.
He married Priscilla (Beaulieu) Presley 1 May 1967. They divorced October 9, 1973. They had one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
Write or call Graceland:P.O. Box 16508Memphis, TN 38186-0508(901) 332-3322(800) 238-2000
Click on the links below to learn more about Elvis:
Official Elvis Presley web site
Excellent early Elvis fan site - in frames
Posted by Contact on Monday November 23, 1998.
The King of Rock 'n' Roll
Elvis Aaron Presley was born 8 January 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, the son of Vernon Elvis and Gladys Love (Smith) Presley. His twin, Jessie Garon, was stillborn. Elvis graduated from L.C. Humes High in Memphis, Tennessee 3 June 1953. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960.
Elvis grew up in poverty, and from an early age worked long and hard to succeed. By age 10 he was working after school, and although he continued to work throughout his school years, Elvis loved to read and maintained good grades. He also began playing guitar and singing at an early age, and learned to play the piano. He began his career entering amateur talent contests and singing at county and state fairs.
On July 5, 1954, Elvis had his first official recording session with Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. "That’s Alright Mama" was his first song played on the radio, on July 10, 1954, and was an immediate hit in the Memphis area. Elvis began touring throughout the South, and then the northern United States, and by the next year was invited to appear on national television. His television appearances included The Milton Berle Show and Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town.
In 1956 the single Heartbreak Hotel was released by RCA. It sold over one million copies, and became Elvis’ first gold record. Elvis recorded hundreds of songs including Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes and I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. Elvis Presley sold over one billion records worldwide, with 110 albums and singles certified as either gold, platinum or multi-platinum.
The Beatles met Elvis Presley in person on August 27, 1965. In a piece named "Ze King and I" John Lennon wrote about meeting Elvis: "There was only one person in the United States that we really wanted to meet…and that was Elvis….I know Paul, George, and Ringo were feeling as nervous as I was. This was the guy we had all idolized for years--from way back when we were just starting out in Liverpool. He was a legend in his own lifetime…."
Elvis starred in over thirty movies, including Love Me Tender, 1956, Jailhouse Rock, 1957 and King Creole, 1958. Elvis was named "One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation" by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1971. He received the Bing Crosby Award (later re-named the Lifetime Achievement Award) from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1971.
Elvis purchased Graceland Mansion in March 1957 where he lived until his death of cardiac arrhythmia at age 42 on 16 August 1977. Graceland has been preserved by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., which manages his estate, and is open to the public for tours.
He married Priscilla (Beaulieu) Presley 1 May 1967. They divorced October 9, 1973. They had one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
Write or call Graceland:P.O. Box 16508Memphis, TN 38186-0508(901) 332-3322(800) 238-2000
Click on the links below to learn more about Elvis:
Official Elvis Presley web site
Excellent early Elvis fan site - in frames
Posted by Contact on Monday November 23, 1998.
