“Heartbreak Hotel”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” and countless other hit songs have made the name Elvis one of the most beloved and recognizable in music and in pop culture in the 20th Century. The life and career of Elvis Presley has been watched by millions of people worldwide, with Elvis' unique music style, lifestyle and actions followed closely since he burst on the music scene in the 50's.
Born as Elvis Aaron Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was thirteen. While in Memphis, he began to learn to play the guitar, although he never took lessons or learned to read music, and took an interest in music of the day. In addition, he started to become the center of attention in school and began wearing slicked back hair and started to grow wide sideburns.
As a teen, Presley began to listen to the blues music in Memphis, and started to play the music that he heard. In his teens he started to play in some of the small local clubs and started to become a recognized figure in the Memphis music scene.
As an 18 year old, he recorded a record at Sun Records in Memphis. While they liked his singing, it did not result in a recording contract. However, a music executive named Sam Phillips was looking for a white musician who could sing with a Negro sound. He found his singer in Elvis Presley and signed him to a contract with Sun Records.
Soon Elvis started to record music and perform in live events. In addition he started to appear in southern television programs and appeared on local radio stations. The sound and energy that Elvis brought to the music world quickly got him noticed and in August 1955, Presley was signed by RCA Victor records. On January 1956, Presley recorded his first album for RCA, which included the song “Blue Suede Shoes”. The record became a hit and started to become a hit nationwide, leading to appearances on the Milton Berle, Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan television shows.
The Elvis Presley boom started and quickly led to a string of hit records, television appearances and movie roles. Plus, his live performances, with the hip moving and shaking started to create a stir with the girls in the audience.
Over the years Elvis made many hit records including “Hound Dog”, “Love Me Tender”, “All Shook Up” and “Jailhouse Rock”. In addition, he had several popular movies that included “Love Me Tender”, “King Creole” and “Blue Hawaii.”
Elvis started to become a household word and an icon. He quickly amassed a fortune and purchased Graceland, a mansion in Memphis that became his home. He continued to make popular music and appeared in sold out concerts worldwide. However, later in his career he started to have weight and substance abuse issues which led to many problems.
On August 16, 1977, Elvis was found dead at the age of 42. While the exact cause of death has been the subject of controversy, his reported drug use was the prime cause of his death.
While Elvis quickly became a star in the entertainment industry, the temptations of women, alcohol and drugs became too much to handle, causing his untimely death. Elvis however made his mark in the world and will remembered forever.
Here are a select list of resources on the life and career of Elvis Presley: