Elvis Aron Presley was born in a two room house on January 8,
1935, in East Tupelo, Mississippi. The Presley family lived near
poverty in the early years when upon moving to Memphis,
Tennessee in 1948, the thirteen year old Elvis would become
influenced by the gospel music of a Pentecostal church.

After graduating from high school, in 1953 Elvis paid to record
two songs meant to be a birthday gift to his mother. “My Happiness”
and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” would be his first steps
towards becoming what many would say was the greatest
entertainer of the century and “the King of Rock n’ Roll.”

In 1954 Sun Records would release “That’s All Right,” backed by
“Blue Moon of Kentucky.” Within a few days it was a hit when
Memphis radio station WHBQ began programming the record and
Presley began a regular touring schedule outside of the Memphis
area. His second single, “Good Rockin' Tonight,” with
“I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine” was released in September,
1954 and a month later Elvis Presley made his first appearance on
the “Louisiana Hayride” in Shreveport to the delight of a large
audience. He was signed to a one-year contract for
a weekly performance.

Elvis Presley moved from Sun Records to RCA where a few months
later in 1956 his very first single “Heartbreak Hotel,” topped the
charts at #1. Before the year ended Elvis had 16 records on the Hit
Parade, four of them “I Want You I Need You I Love You,”
“Don’t Be Cruel,” “Hound Dog” and “Love Me Tender” also
reached #1. In 1957 “Too Much,” “All Shook Up,” “Teddy Bear”
and “Jailhouse Rock” also leaped to the top of the charts.
The following year, “Don’t” and “Hard Headed Woman” hit the top
spot with “I Beg Of You,” “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck,”
“One Night” and “I Got Stung,” also million sellers. In 1959,
“A Fool Such As I,” “I Need Your Love Tonight,” “A Big Hunk of
Love” and “My Wish Came True” continued the hit streak for Elvis.

In 1960 three more #1 hits, Stuck On You,” “It’s Now Or Never,”
“Are You Lonesome Tonight” and “Surrender.” In 1961,
“I Feel So Bad,” “Little Sister,” “His Latest Flame” and
“Can’t Help Falling In Love.” It was “Good Luck Charm,”
“She’s Not You,” and “Return to Sender” in 1962 “The King”
also hit with “You’re The Devil in Disguise.

Before the 60’s ended Elvis would hit with “Crying in the Chapel,”
“Love Letters,” “If I Can Dream,” “In the Ghetto,”
“Don’t Cry Daddy,” and another chart topper, “Suspicious Minds.”
In the 1970’s “The Wonder of You,” “Burning Love,”
“You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” “Promised Land”
and “Way Down” each charted.

A multiple Grammy award winner, in his first dozen years Elvis
Presley had 100 hits on the Billboard charts and was the most
famous entertainer in the world. On tour and on stage in Las Vegas
he played more than a thousand sold out concerts and starred in
enormously profitable films such as “Love Me Tender,”
“Jailhouse Rock” and “King Creole.”

Elvis Presley’s “Aloha from Hawaii” concert in January 1973
was the first of its kind to be broadcast worldwide via
satellite and was seen by at least one billion viewers worldwide.

At age 42, Elvis Presley died at his home in Memphis
on August 16, 1977.

In 1986 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,
in 1998 the Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2001
the Gospel Music Hall of Fame

The Elvis Presley estate earns over 40 million dollars every year,
a record for a deceased entertainer and his Graceland Mansion
where he is buried is designated as a National Historic Landmark.

In 2007 Elvis Presley was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Visit the Elvis Presley website here.