Elvis' Biography

Biography

Elvis and his parents, Gladys and Vernon

Elvis Aaron Presley was born to Gladys Love and Vernon Elvis Presley in a shack built by his father, in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8th, 1935.
His twin brother Jesse Garon Presley was stillborn. He was 30 minutes older than Elvis.

While in elementary school, Elvis, considered a well-mannered and quiet child, was often heard singing the gospel songs he heard in a church near his home and during service he would run down the aisle to be near the choir.

At age 10, Elvis entered a talent contest on "Children's Day" at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and made his first public appearence as a singer. He sang Old Shep and won second place.

In 1952, Elvis became a somewhat difficult student and began failing exams and missing school. He spent more time around the Memphis music scene.

Soon after graduating High School, Elvis went to a recording service and made an acetate record. A few months later he returned to the studio and recorded two more songs.

In 1954, during a recording session at the studio, Elvis was nervous and the producers weren't too satisfied with his perfomance, so Elvis picked up a guitar and tried to relax. He played a tune called That's All Right (Mama). They found the sound they were looking for. Elvis had cut his first hit which eventually sold 20,000 copies.

Success was beginning. Elvis continued recording - one hit after another -, making public appearances, doing radio interviews, and driving women crazy. His first album was released on March 13, 1956, the very same year he began shooting his first movie.

A year later Elvis purchased Graceland for $100,000, where he spent the rest of his life.

On January of 1958, Elvis was drafted by the Armed Forces. While in the ARMY, he discovered his fascination with the martial arts which remained with him for the rest of his life. During his service, Elvis's mother Gladys became ill and he took an emergency leave to spend the last days of her life with her. She passed away on August, 14th. On September 12th, Elvis was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in West Germany.

At the age of 24, Elvis met his future wife, Priscilla Ann Beaulieu, the step-daughter of an Air Force Captain.

In March of 1960, Elvis was given honorable discharge from The Armed Forces and returned to Graceland. His final paycheck, after taxes was for $9.81.

On Christmas day, 1966, Elvis announced to his family and friends his engagement to Priscilla. They were married in a private ceremony in Las Vegas on May 1st, 1967. On February 1st, 1968, their daughter Lisa Marie was born.

After making movies for 10 years without a public appereance as a performer, Elvis was nervous at the June, 1968 Comeback Special. He did two one-hour sessions in front of a live audience, which got a strong response. In 1969, Elvis was back on the road.

On December of 1970, Elvis received a Federal Narcotics agent badge.

By 1972, Elvis' and Priscilla's marriage began to fall apart. Elvis spent his 37th birthday announcing Priscilla's decision to move into her own place in Los Angeles. On August 18th, 1972, Elvis filed for divorce which was finalized on October 9th, 1973.

On June 26th, 1977, Elvis made his last performance.

On August 16th, Elvis' girlfriend Ginger found his lifeless body lying on the bathroom floor in Graceland. The official cause of Elvis' death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). It was later revealed that as many as ten highly addictive substances were present in quantity in Elvis' bloodstream when he died and that his death was likely caused by overdose.

Over 75,000 people waited outside the gates, on August 17th. Three and a half hours later, only 20,000 of those people actually viewed the body, leaving more than 3,000 floral arrangements behind. The rest left quietly in their grief and disappointment.

Home

Elvis and Elvis Presley are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.