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Name: Elvis Aaron Presley
Born: 8 January 1935
Died: August 16, 1977
Parents: Vernon and Gladys Presley
Siblings: Twin brother Jessie Garon. Stillborn.
Wife: Priscilla Ann Presley (May 1, 1967 – October 9, 1973)
Children: Lisa Marie Presley (February 1, 1968)
Elvis Aaron Presley is born under modest circumstances in a tiny 2-room wooden house, a so-called “Shotgun Shack”, in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Elvis grows up as Vernon and Gladys Presley’s only child. They are poor, but do everything in their power to give their son a good upbringing.
His interest in music is awakened early, partly because the parents are diligent churchgoers, where the gospel choirs in particular capture the young Elvis’ interest.
At the age of ten, little Elvis signs up for a talent competition at the annual “Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show” held in Tupelo. He will have to stand on a chair to reach the microphone while singing “Old Shep”. It is played on the local WELO radio station, but unfortunately the recording does not exist as far as is known.
According to himself, Elvis is number five and, in addition to value tickets for use on trips to the market’s amusement park, also wins a kick from his mother because he tries the ‘dangerous’ rides.
Elvis Aaron Presley is born under modest circumstances in a tiny 2-room wooden house, a so-called “Shotgun Shack”, in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Elvis grows up as Vernon and Gladys Presley’s only child. They are poor, but do everything in their power to give their son a good upbringing.
His interest in music is awakened early, partly because the parents are diligent churchgoers, where the gospel choirs in particular capture the young Elvis’ interest.
At the age of ten, little Elvis signs up for a talent competition at the annual “Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show” held in Tupelo. He will have to stand on a chair to reach the microphone while singing “Old Shep”. It is played on the local WELO radio station, but unfortunately the recording does not exist as far as is known.
According to himself, Elvis is number five and, in addition to value tickets for use on trips to the market’s amusement park, also wins a kick from his mother because he tries the ‘dangerous’ rides.
When Elvis turns eleven, he wants a bicycle or a shotgun as a birthday present, but since his parents can’t afford it, he gets a guitar instead. It is purchased at the Tupelo Hardware Store.
As soon as Elvis gets the guitar he starts learning to play. He gets his inspiration from the church, the blues musicians who live in his neighborhood and from the country music he hears on the radio.
A young Elvis can be seen on the far right of the picture.
In 1948, the family moves to 370 Washington Street in Memphis, Tennessee, hoping to improve their living conditions.
However, the move to Memphis does not turn out to be what the family had hoped for. They still live under relatively tight conditions.
Elvis goes to Humes High School and is perceived by his peers as nice, but is nevertheless an outsider because of his hairstyle and clothing style, but also because of his burning interest in music.
He buys all his clothes on Beale Street, where most blacks also shop, and it is through them that he gets to know R&B music as the music that will influence him the most.
He performs at a music competition at school, gets the biggest applause and wins – something that encourages him to continue pursuing music.
In 1948, the family moves to 370 Washington Street in Memphis, Tennessee, hoping to improve their living conditions.
However, the move to Memphis does not turn out to be what the family had hoped for. They still live under relatively tight conditions.
Elvis goes to Humes High School and is perceived by his peers as nice, but is nevertheless an outsider because of his hairstyle and clothing style, but also because of his burning interest in music.
He buys all his clothes on Beale Street, where most blacks also shop, and it is through them that he gets to know R&B music as the music that will influence him the most.
He performs at a music competition at school, gets the biggest applause and wins – something that encourages him to continue pursuing music.
In 1953, Elvis leaves school and then several different jobs.
Among other things, he works as a truck driver.
He dreams of being able to support himself as a singer, and records a demo single at Sun Records in Memphis.
It costs him four dollars.
He gives the single to his mother.
In January 1954, Elvis returns to the studio to record another demo.
This time he meets the owner of the studio, Sam Phillips, who becomes sufficiently interested in the young man with the playful appearance to give him a chance.
Elvis is brought together with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, and together with them he records records and performs in small clubs.
In January 1954, Elvis returns to the studio to record another demo.
This time he meets the owner of the studio, Sam Phillips, who becomes sufficiently interested in the young man with the playful appearance to give him a chance.
Elvis is brought together with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, and together with them he records records and performs in small clubs.
Elvis recorded five singles for SUN Records and several of the tracks are considered rock classics today, such as “That’s All Right Mama”, “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, “Good Rockin’ Tonight” and “Baby Let’s Play House”.
When the fifth single, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget”, with “Mystery Train” on the B-side, suddenly rose to number one on the country chart in November 1955, it became clear what potential the young artist possessed, and RCA Victor quickly buys his record deal with SUN.
Sam Phillips sells the contract for $35,000, which of course looks like an extremely bad deal afterwards, but at the time it is almost an astronomical sum.
Two days after his 21st birthday, on January 10, 1956, Elvis recorded for the first time with RCA.
Among the tracks is “Heartbreak Hotel”, which will be released as a single two weeks later. In three weeks it has sold 300,000 copies! It stayed at number one on Billboard’s pop chart for eight weeks, and also reached number one on the country chart and number five on the R&B chart.
In March, Elvis’ first album, “Elvis Presley”, will be released. It went to number one on Billboard’s pop album chart, and the first of Elvis’ records to sell gold, meaning over 500,000 copies!
Two days after his 21st birthday, on January 10, 1956, Elvis recorded for the first time with RCA.
Among the tracks is “Heartbreak Hotel”, which will be released as a single two weeks later. In three weeks it has sold 300,000 copies! It stayed at number one on Billboard’s pop chart for eight weeks, and also reached number one on the country chart and number five on the R&B chart.
In March, Elvis’ first album, “Elvis Presley”, will be released. It went to number one on Billboard’s pop album chart, and the first of Elvis’ records to sell gold, meaning over 500,000 copies!
Elvis appears in several TV shows, and although the American teenagers love him, he arouses indignation among parents and journalists, who certainly do not like his too challenging movements and the too obvious ‘negroid influences’ in his music.
Things go completely wrong in June 1956, when Elvis appears on The Milton Berle Show. Elvis plays “Hound Dog”, and his performance is sharply criticized. The guardians of morality do not consider Elvis’ hip twisting to be suitable TV entertainment, and the result will be that for a number of years to come, Elvis will only be shown from the hip up.
In November 1956, Elvis’ first feature film, “Love Me Tender”, premiered. It becomes a huge box office success, and Elvis reaps the benefits of his acting talent.
The vast majority of the films Elvis is in get, right after the premiere, a good position on the cinema lists, but quickly go out of business again.
Elvis’ name alone guarantees the films a certain amount of attention, but the quality is very fluctuating, and therefore cannot maintain the audience’s interest for a long time. Elvis is frustrated by the many bad scripts for low-budget films he is offered, as his ambitions as an actor are far higher than what Hollywood has in mind, and he never really gets the chance to show his true acting talent.
Elvis recorded a total of 31 feature films and 2 documentaries.
In November 1956, Elvis’ first feature film, “Love Me Tender”, premiered. It becomes a huge box office success, and Elvis reaps the benefits of his acting talent.
The vast majority of the films Elvis is in get, right after the premiere, a good position on the cinema lists, but quickly go out of business again.
Elvis’ name alone guarantees the films a certain amount of attention, but the quality is very fluctuating, and therefore cannot maintain the audience’s interest for a long time. Elvis is frustrated by the many bad scripts for low-budget films he is offered, as his ambitions as an actor are far higher than what Hollywood has in mind, and he never really gets the chance to show his true acting talent.
Elvis recorded a total of 31 feature films and 2 documentaries.
In 1968, Elvis is preparing a Christmas special to be broadcast on TV. It is made in collaboration with the sewing machine company Singer.
“Singer presents… Elvis” will be shown on 3 December 1968 and to that extent will be a comeback for Elvis. So much so that the show will henceforth be known as the “’68 Comeback Special”. The show garners praise from critics and the audience, which Elvis has in the palm of his hand from the start of the show.
Elvis’ natural talent, charisma, sensuality and stage presence have not been damaged by the years in Hollywood – it has just been hidden away.
It turns out that he is not just as good as he was at the start of his career – but actually far better! At 33, looking better than ever, he sings and moves through the show with style and confidence to match – even if backstage he’s excruciatingly nervous.
After his comeback, Elvis goes on tour around the USA, and plays an awe-inspiring number of concerts at, among others, International Hotel in Las Vegas.
Elvis is put through a very tough program consisting of studio recordings and converter, and it wears on his health.
In the last years of his life, Elvis was hospitalized several times.
After his comeback, Elvis goes on tour around the USA, and plays an awe-inspiring number of concerts at, among others, International Hotel in Las Vegas.
Elvis is put through a very tough program consisting of studio recordings and converter, and it wears on his health.
In the last years of his life, Elvis was hospitalized several times.
On 16 August 1977 around 00:30 Elvis returns home to Graceland just after midnight. He has been to the dentist.
At 4 in the morning, Elvis plays racquetball (a type of American squash) with friends before sitting down at the piano and singing “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “Unchained Melody”. These will be the last songs Elvis sings, after which he retires to rest.
A few hours later he dies of a heart attack.
The ambulance comes, but too late. At 15:30 the King of Rock’n’Roll is declared dead, and at 16:00 the world press can reveal the sad news…
