Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll," was a hugely influential American singer and actor of the 20th century. He achieved immense fame and sparked controversy with his sexually charged performances and unique blend of musical styles, which significantly impacted race relations during a period of social change. His impact on music and pop culture remains undeniable.
On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Gladys Love and Vernon Presley. His twin brother, Jesse Garon, was stillborn.
In 1938, Elvis Presley's family lost their home after his father, Vernon, was found guilty of altering a check and was jailed for eight months. This event significantly impacted the family's early life.
In September 1941, Elvis Presley began his formal education, entering first grade at East Tupelo Consolidated.
On October 3, 1945, Elvis Presley gave his first public performance at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. He sang "Old Shep" and placed fifth.
In 1945, Elvis Presley sang "Old Shep" at a talent show, which he later recorded for his second RCA Victor album, marking the first time he played piano on an RCA Victor session.
In September 1946, Elvis Presley entered Milam for sixth grade, continuing his education.
In July 1954, Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black recorded Arthur Crudup's 1946 blues number "That's All Right", marking a significant moment in the creation of Elvis's signature sound.
In November 1948, Elvis Presley's family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, a significant relocation for their future.
In 1950, Elvis Presley began practicing guitar under the tutelage of Lee Denson, a neighbor, contributing to his musical development.
In June 1953, Elvis Presley graduated from high school, having already identified music as his future career path.
In August 1953, Elvis Presley recorded his first two-sided acetate disc at Memphis Recording Service, featuring "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin".
In 1953, "Hound Dog" became a hit for blues singer Big Mama Thornton, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
In 1953, during his senior year, Elvis Presley competed in Humes' Annual "Minstrel" Show, singing and playing "Till I Waltz Again with You" by Teresa Brewer.
In January 1954, Elvis Presley cut a second acetate at Sun Records, featuring "I'll Never Stand in Your Way" and "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You", but nothing came of it.
On July 17, 1954, Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black played publicly for the first time at the Bon Air club, marking an early milestone in their collaborative career.
In November 1954, Elvis Presley performed on Louisiana Hayride, a significant venue for rising country and rockabilly stars, leading to a year's worth of Saturday-night appearances.
In 1954, Elvis Presley's music career began in Memphis, Tennessee, at Sun Records. Working with producer Sam Phillips, Presley pioneered rockabilly, a fusion of country music and rhythm and blues, along with Scotty Moore and Bill Black.
In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis Presley made his first professional recordings.
In 1954, rockabilly crystallized into a recognizable style with Elvis Presley's first release on the Sun label.
In August 1955, Elvis Presley renewed Neal's management contract and simultaneously appointed Colonel Tom Parker as his special adviser, marking a crucial shift in his career management.
By early 1955, Elvis Presley's regular Hayride appearances, constant touring, and well-received record releases had made him a regional star.
In 1955, D. J. Fontana joined Elvis Presley's band as the drummer, completing the classic quartet. Also in 1955, RCA Victor acquired Presley's contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker.
In 1955, Elvis Presley introduced the vocal stutter on the song "Baby Let's Play House".
On January 10, 1956, Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA Victor in Nashville, with an extended backup including Chet Atkins and The Jordanaires. The session produced "Heartbreak Hotel".
In January 1956, Elvis Presley's first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released and became a number-one hit in the US. Within a year, RCA Victor sold ten million Presley singles.
On September 9, 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, watched by approximately 60 million viewers. His performance of "Love Me Tender" resulted in a million advance orders and made him a national celebrity.
In November 1956, Elvis Presley made his film debut in "Love Me Tender".
In 1956, Elvis Presley expressed respect for African-American performers and their music, and disregarded segregation and racial prejudice. He recalled Arthur Crudup's influence on his music. Presley also reportedly "cracked Memphis' segregation laws."
In 1956, Elvis Presley had a Las Vegas engagement that proved to be dismal, leading to nervousness before his return in 1969.
In 1956, Elvis Presley played piano on the songs "Old Shep" and "First in Line" from his album Elvis.
In 1956, Elvis Presley's rise to national attention transformed popular music, significantly impacted popular culture, and helped define rock and roll as a musical genre and a key aspect of youth culture, fostering greater acceptance of black culture.
In 1956, Elvis Presley's self-titled debut album first topped the British chart, marking the beginning of his record-breaking chart success.
On January 6, 1957, Elvis Presley made his third and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, during which he sang "Peace in the Valley", defying Sullivan's wishes.
On March 19, 1957, Elvis Presley purchased his 18-room mansion, Graceland.
In 1957, Elvis Presley starred in the film "Jailhouse Rock", which became one of his most famous movies.
In 1957, Elvis Presley's first gospel record, the four-song EP Peace in the Valley, was released and became the top-selling gospel EP in recording history, certified as a million-seller.
In mid-1957, Elvis Presley denied making a racist statement about African Americans in an interview with Jet journalist Louie Robinson on the set of Jailhouse Rock.
In January 1958, Elvis Presley held recording sessions in Hollywood for the King Creole soundtrack. Leiber and Stoller provided three songs, marking the last time they worked closely together.
On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was drafted into the United States Army at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, which was a major media event.
Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, Elvis Presley completed basic and advanced training at Fort Hood, Texas.
After the end of his International engagement on September 7, 1970, Elvis Presley embarked on a week-long concert tour, largely of the South, his first since 1958.
In 1958, Elvis Presley was drafted into military service, pausing his music and film career.
In 1958, despite being in the army, Elvis Presley had several top-40 hits, including "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", the bestselling "Hard Headed Woman", and "One Night".
On June 1, 1959, Elvis Presley was promoted to specialist fourth class while serving in West Germany.
In 1959, Peter John Dyer described Elvis Presley's onscreen persona as "aggressively bisexual in appeal".
In 1959, while serving in the army, Elvis Presley continued to have success with songs like "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" and the number-one "A Big Hunk o' Love".
On February 11, 1960, Elvis Presley was promoted to sergeant.
On March 2, 1960, Elvis Presley returned to the U.S. after his military service. The train was mobbed by fans along the way.
In 1960, Elvis Presley recorded the gospel number "Crying in the Chapel", which was released in 1965.
In 1960, Elvis Presley starred in the film 'Flaming Star'. As it was less commercially successful than his formulaic musical comedies, he reverted back to focusing on formulaic movies.
In 1960, Elvis Presley's first post-Army single, "Stuck on You," was released, marking a shift towards a toned-down rock and roll style.
In February 1961, Elvis Presley performed two shows in Memphis, benefiting 24 local charities. Before the event, RCA Victor presented him with a plaque recognizing worldwide sales of over 75 million records.
In 1961, Elvis Presley released "Can't Help Falling in Love". This song came from one of his movies and became one of his most popular songs.
In 1961, Elvis Presley starred in the film "Blue Hawaii", contributing to his success in Hollywood.
In 1961, Elvis Presley starred in the film 'Wild in the Country'. As it was less commercially successful than his formulaic musical comedies, he reverted back to focusing on formulaic movies.
In June 1962, Elvis Presley released the album Pot Luck. It was followed by a long period without a non-film album until 1968.
In 1962 Elvis owned the Lockheed 1329 JetStar, which later was sold at auction in January 2023
In 1962, Elvis Presley released "Return to Sender". This song came from one of his movies and became one of his most popular songs.
In 1962, Elvis Presley released "She's Not You", which integrated the Jordanaires and exemplified a doo-wop sound.
In 1963, Elvis Presley had his last non-gospel top ten hit before "In the Ghetto", it was called "Bossa Nova Baby".
From 1964 to 1968, Elvis Presley had only one top-ten hit, "Crying in the Chapel" (1965), indicating a decline in commercial success during this period.
In 1964, Elvis Presley starred in the film "Viva Las Vegas", adding to his list of successful movies.
In August 1965, Elvis Presley and his friends had a four-hour get-together with the Beatles at his home in Bel Air, California.
In 1965, Elvis Presley released "Crying in the Chapel". This gospel number, recorded in 1960, became his only top-ten hit from 1964 to 1968.
In 1966, Elvis Presley expressed to his father his desire for the more traditional, biblical rendering of his middle name, "Aaron", to be used henceforth, especially on legal documents.
In 1966, Elvis Presley recorded "How Great Thou Art", showcasing his vocal ambitions and crafting an ad-hoc arrangement where he performed every part of the four-part vocal.
In 1966, Elvis Presley recorded tracks such as "Down in the Alley" and "Hi-Heel Sneakers", returning to a modern blues/R&B sound.
In 1966, Elvis Presley starred in the film 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style'. Julie Parrish, who appeared in the film, said that Presley disliked many of the songs in it.
Shortly before Christmas in 1966, Elvis Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu, more than seven years after they first met.
Between January 1967 and May 1968, Elvis Presley released eight singles, but only two charted in the top 40, with none higher than number 28.
In October 1967, the Clambake soundtrack LP registered record low sales for a new Elvis Presley album, signaling a problem recognized by RCA Victor executives.
In 1967, Elvis Presley won his first Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance for the gospel album 'How Great Thou Art'.
On February 1, 1968, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's only child, was born. This occurred during a period when he had grown deeply unhappy with his career.
Between January 1967 and May 1968, Elvis Presley released eight singles, but only two charted in the top 40, with none higher than number 28.
In November 1968, Elvis Presley released the soundtrack to the television special, signaling his comeback. Before this release, only one LP of new material by Presley was issued since June 1962.
On December 3, 1968, the Elvis special, later known as the '68 Comeback Special, aired on NBC. The show featured both lavish studio productions and live performances, marking Presley's first live performances since 1961.
In 1968, Elvis Presley performed "U.S. Male", bearing down on the lyrics with a tough yet gentle assurance reminiscent of his Sun records.
In 1968, Elvis Presley returned to the stage with the acclaimed NBC television comeback special "Elvis", which revitalized his career.
In January 1969, the single "If I Can Dream", written for the '68 Comeback Special, reached number 12. The soundtrack album also rose into the top ten.
In June 1969, Elvis Presley released 'From Elvis in Memphis', his first secular, non-soundtrack album in eight years, recorded during a dedicated period at American Sound Studio.
In 1969, Elvis Presley recorded the song "Rubberneckin'".
On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley met with U.S. President Richard Nixon at the White House to discuss combating drug culture and his belief that he could reach out to the hippies. He also requested a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge.
In 1970, Elvis Presley returned to the International Hotel in Las Vegas, performing two shows a night, and later performed six attendance-record-breaking shows at the Houston Astrodome. During the Las Vegas engagement, he received a murder threat.
On January 16, 1971, the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce named Elvis Presley one of its annual Ten Most Outstanding Young Men of the Nation.
In 1971, Elvis Presley had an affair with Joyce Bova that resulted in her pregnancy and subsequent abortion, unbeknownst to him at the time. He also frequently spoke about Joyce moving into Graceland with him.
On February 23, 1972, Elvis and Priscilla Presley separated after she disclosed her relationship with Mike Stone, a karate instructor Elvis had recommended to her.
In April 1972, MGM filmed Elvis Presley for 'Elvis on Tour' and released his gospel album 'He Touched Me', which would earn him his second Grammy Award.
In January 1973, Elvis Presley performed two benefit concerts for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in connection with the groundbreaking television special, Aloha from Hawaii. On January 14, 1973, Aloha from Hawaii aired live via satellite to audiences in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and U.S. servicemen in Southeast Asia. The accompanying double album released in February went to number one, selling over 5 million copies in the U.S.
On October 9, 1973, Elvis Presley's divorce from Priscilla was finalized. Despite the divorce, they remained close friends.
In December 1973, Elvis Presley had a recording session that produced eighteen songs, enough for almost two albums.
In 1973, Elvis Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, "Aloha from Hawaii".
Despite his failing health, in 1974, Elvis Presley undertook another intensive touring schedule, continuing his live performances.
In 1974, after a session in December 1973, Elvis Presley made no official studio recordings.
In March 1975, Elvis Presley returned to the recording studio.
On July 13, 1976, Elvis Presley's father, Vernon Presley, fired bodyguards Red West, Sonny West, and David Hebler, citing the need to cut back on expenses. Elvis was in Palm Springs at the time.
In November 1976, Elvis Presley began dating Ginger Alden.
In 1976, RCA sent a mobile recording unit to Graceland for two full-scale recording sessions, but the process had become a struggle for Elvis.
On June 6, 1977, Elvis Presley's last single issued during his lifetime, "Way Down", was released.
On June 26, 1977, Elvis Presley held his final concert in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena.
During the early morning hours of August 8, 1977, Elvis Presley made his last public appearance, renting the entire Libertyland amusement park in Memphis for himself and a small group.
In August 1977, Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate at the age of 42.
August 16, 1977, marks the death of Elvis Presley, the 'King of Rock and Roll'. He passed away at his Graceland estate at the age of 42.
Between 1977 and 1981, six of Elvis Presley's posthumously released singles were top-ten country hits.
By early 1977, Elvis Presley's health and performances had declined significantly. He struggled through abbreviated concerts, often forgetting lyrics and facing cancellations due to his condition.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter remarked on Elvis Presley's legacy, stating that his fusion of white country and black rhythm and blues permanently changed American popular culture. Presley's fame also expanded greatly with mass communication.
In the first eight months of 1977 alone, Elvis Presley's main physician, George C. Nichopoulos, had prescribed more than 10,000 doses of sedatives, amphetamines, and narcotics: all in Elvis' name.
Since 1977, there have been numerous alleged sightings of Elvis Presley, fueling conspiracy theories that he faked his death. Fans maintain shrines and gather at Graceland on his death anniversary, elevating him to a cultic figure.
In 1979, forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht reviewed Elvis Presley's autopsy reports and concluded that a combination of depressants had resulted in Presley's accidental death.
Between 1977 and 1981, six of Elvis Presley's posthumously released singles were top-ten country hits.
In 1981, a trial of Elvis Presley's main physician, George C. Nichopoulos, exonerated him of criminal liability for over-prescription of drugs.
In 1982, Graceland was opened to the public, attracting over half a million visitors annually.
In 1984, Elvis Presley received the W. C. Handy Award from the Blues Foundation and the Academy of Country Music's first Golden Hat Award.
In 1986, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1987, Elvis Presley received the American Music Awards' Award of Merit.
In 1994, the Elvis Presley autopsy report was reopened, and Joseph Davis declared that the data did not support a death from drugs, pointing instead to a sudden heart attack.
In 1998, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2001, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
In 2002, a Junkie XL remix of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" (credited as "Elvis Vs JXL") was used in a Nike advertising campaign during the FIFA World Cup. It topped charts internationally and was included in a compilation album, ELV1S.
In 2003, a remix of Elvis Presley's 1969 recording "Rubberneckin'" topped the U.S. sales chart.
In 2005, Forbes magazine named Elvis Presley the top-earning deceased celebrity for the fifth consecutive year, with a gross income of $45 million.
In 2005, three reissued singles by Elvis Presley—"Jailhouse Rock", "One Night"/"I Got Stung", and "It's Now or Never"—reached number one in the UK as part of a campaign to re-release his previous chart-topping UK singles.
In 2006, Elvis Presley was ranked second among top-earning deceased celebrities.
In 2006, Graceland was declared a National Historic Landmark.
In 2007, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In 2009, Elvis Presley was ranked fourth among top-earning deceased celebrities.
In November 2010, Viva Elvis: The Album, which sets Elvis Presley's voice to newly recorded instrumental tracks, was released, coinciding with the celebration of his 75th birthday and the launch of Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis show in Las Vegas.
As of mid-2011, Elvis Presley was the second-highest-earning deceased celebrity, with an estimated 15,000 licensed Presley products.
In 2012, Elvis Presley was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
In 2012, the spider 'Paradonea presleyi' was named in honor of Elvis Presley.
In 2015, the album 'If I Can Dream', setting Elvis Presley's vocals against music by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, reached number one in the UK.
In 2016, the album 'The Wonder of You', setting Elvis Presley's vocals against music by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, reached number one in the UK, extending his record for the longest span between number-one albums.
Six years later, in 2016, Elvis Presley ranked fourth among top-earning deceased celebrities, with earnings of $35 million, up $8 million from the prior year due to the opening of Elvis Presley's Memphis and The Guest House at Graceland.
In 2018, Elvis Presley was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his significant cultural contributions.
In 2018, RCA/Legacy released Elvis Presley – Where No One Stands Alone, a new album focused on Presley's love of gospel music and featuring newly recorded instrumentation along with vocals from singers who had performed with Elvis. It included a duet with Lisa Marie Presley on the album's title track.
In 2018, the film Bohemian Rhapsody was released.
As of August 2022, Baz Luhrmann's film Elvis had grossed $261.8 million worldwide on an $85 million budget.
In 2022, Baz Luhrmann's biographical film Elvis, starring Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Parker, was released.
In January 2023, Elvis Presley's 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar was sold at an auction for $260,000.
As of 2023, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) credits Elvis Presley with 146.5 million certified album sales in the US, third all time behind The Beatles and Garth Brooks. He holds the records for most gold albums (101), most platinum albums (57), and his total of 197 album certification awards.
In 1969, the London Palladium offered Parker US$28,000, equivalent to $240,000 in 2024, for a one-week engagement.
In 1970, Elvis Presley was threatened with murder unless US$50,000 (equivalent to $405,000 in 2024) was paid.
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