Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He had a close relationship with his mother, but lived in poverty for much of his young life. Presley had trouble making friends during his childhood as a result of being so shy. After winning a singing contest at the age of ten and learning the basics of guitar playing in his early teens, Elvis began to frequent blues clubs in Memphis several years later, listening to black musicians like BB King and Furry Lewis.
Although Elvis was born a blonde haired child, from the age of 16 he began dying his hair black in an effort to look like his idlo, Tony Curtiss, and continued to dye his hair for the rest of his career. After his death Elvis's hairdresser dyed the King's roots before his body was released for public viewing.
In July of 1953, Elvis recorded several demo songs with Sun Records. When founder Sam Phillips heard the recording, he was impressed, and over the next few years Elvis had some local hits such as "Blue Moon of Kentucky." He also appeared on several radio shows.
It was Colonel Tom Parker, acquiring Presley’s contract in 1955, who would propel the singer’s popularity to unbelievable heights. Elvis appeared on several television shows, and the viewers couldn’t get enough. His appearance on the popular Ed Sullivan Show had over 80% of the viewing audience glued to their screens, and Elvis received an unheard of fifty thousand dollars for his appearance. Presley’s sexual moves were considered immoral at the time, and created a storm of controversy that would last for years. People of religion denounced him as a heathen, referred to his songs as devil music, and some radio stations refused to play his songs. Despite this, and perhaps in part because of it, white teenagers bought his music and attended his concerts in unprecedented numbers. Elvis Presley was the first to successfully introduce what was considered black music, to white America. The 1950s were an incredible decade for Elvis, filled with number one hits such as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," and "Jailhouse Rock."
Although his popularity during the 1960s was somewhat overshadowed by American’s growing obsession with The Beatles, Elvis continued to release hits such as Suspicious Minds and In the Ghetto, and play to sold-out audiences. During the 1970s he won three Grammy Awards in the category of gospel music, but his weight gain, personal troubles, and drug addiction reduced his popularity. He made his last concert appearance in 1977. Despite troubles in his later years, Elvis’s career was nothing short of extraordinary. He has had more multi-platinum albums than any performer, eighteen #1 hits, album sales totaling over one billion, and inductions into both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Hall of Fames.
Aside from his incredible music career, Elvis starred in dozens of films during the 1950s and 60s, including "Jailhouse Rock" and "Blue Hawaii." Although the films were not highly regarded by critics, they proved to be extremely popular with his fans.
Elvis married Priscilla Presley in 1967 and they remained together until 1973. During the course of their marriage they had one daughter, Lisa Marie, who was briefly married to Michael Jackson. After their divorce, Elvis was briefly involved with American actress and songwriter Linda Thompson who lived with him in Graceland for three and a half years. At the time of his death, he was engaged to actress and model Ginger Alden who discovered his body in their Graceland home.
After decades as an American icon, Presley was found dead on August 16, 1977 at the age of forty-two. Many like to theorize that the star may still be alive, but regardless of his short life, the man’s legend will live forever in Rock and Roll.
YUDDY
