Elvis Presley: The King Who Changed Music Forever

 

HISTORY

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi,; had a stillborn identical twin. He is known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” was a groundbreaking American singer and actor. His energetic performances, provocative style, and mix of diverse musical influences made him a major cultural figure and sparked both success and controversy.

Elvis Presley grew up poor in Tupelo, Mississippi, and moved to Memphis as a teenager. After catching producer Sam Phillips’ attention, he recorded blues, country, and gospel music with Scotty Moore and Bill Black. His influences included the radio, his parents’ church, a Black Memphis church, and Beale Street blues clubs.

 

EARLY LIFE

• Songwriting: Never wrote songs; learned by ear with a photographic memory.
• Karate: Seventh-degree black belt, trained while in the Army.
• Graceland: Bought in 1957 for $102,500.
• Army service: Drafted in 1958, served as a private. Served six years, including two years of active duty and four years in the Army Reserves.
• Touring: Never toured Europe, only performed in Canada.
• Record sales: Sold over a billion records worldwide.
• Family: Had a daughter, Lisa Marie.
• Awards: Won three Grammy Awards for gospel music.
• Honors: Named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation in 1970 by the United States Jaycees.
• Top albums: Had 53 Top 40 albums on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
• New CD: “Elvis Presley Forever” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart in August 2015.
• Aloha from Hawaii: Watched by more people in 40 countries than the first moonwalk.
• Postal honors: Only artist with two U.S. Postal Service commemorative stamps (1993 & 2015); the 1993 stamp is the most popular U.S. commemorative stamp.
• Death: Passed away in 1977 at Graceland, Memphis.

 

INTERESTING FACTS

• Elvis Presley Dyed His Hair: Elvis Presley was born blonde but dyed his hair black to resemble his idols. As a teen, he used shoe polish when he couldn’t afford dye. Later, he used a mix of three shades for his iconic look.
• Elvis Had a Twin: Elvis Presley had a twin brother, Jesse Garon, who was stillborn on January 8, 1935. Though they never met, Elvis felt deeply connected to him, often visiting his grave. Some believe this bond fueled his drive for success and ability to connect with audiences.
• He Met His Future Wife While in the Army: Elvis met his future wife, Priscilla, in West Germany while serving in the Army. She was in ninth grade, and he was 24. After a brief break, they reunited in 1963, and she moved to the U.S. They married in Las Vegas in 1967.
•  He Had a Black Belt in Martial Arts: Elvis took up karate in Germany and earned his black belt in 1960. He continued training and achieved a 7th-degree black belt in 1973. Karate brought him spiritual peace and contentment.
• Five Halls of Fame Welcomed Him: Elvis, known as “The King,” was inducted into five Halls of Fame: Rock & Roll, Country Music, Gospel, Rockabilly, and R&B.
•  He Bought Graceland at Just 22 Years Old: At 22, Elvis bought Graceland for over $100,000 in 1957. The estate expanded from 10,200 to 17,500 square feet. Opened to the public in 1982, it became a historic site in 1991 and now attracts over 600,000 visitors yearly.
• He Was Burned in Effigy: At 22, Elvis bought Graceland in 1957.  His 1956 Ed Sullivan performance of “Hound Dog” was a hit, but backlash led to effigy burnings and censorship of his dance moves.
• Elvis Inhaled His Tooth Cap, Requiring Surgery: While filming Jailhouse Rock in 1957, Elvis hit his face on a pole, dislodging a tooth cap, which he accidentally inhaled. It lodged in his lung, requiring surgery. After a brief recovery, he returned to work.
• His Jumpsuits Were Flashy…and Heavy: In the 1970s, Elvis’ jumpsuits weighed 25-75 pounds, adorned with jewels and embroidery. His most iconic, the 1973 “American Eagle” suit, cost $65,000 and is now displayed at Graceland.
• He Couldn’t Read Music & Didn’t Write Songs: Elvis couldn’t read music and never wrote songs, though he recorded over 600. He was credited as a co-writer on some due to label demands.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Over 1 Billion Records Sold: One of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over a billion records sold worldwide.

• First Solo Artist to Have 18 No. 1 Hits on the Billboard Hot 100: Songs like Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, and Can’t Help Falling in Love topped the charts.

• Inducted into Five Halls of Fame: Rock & Roll, Country Music, Gospel, Rockabilly, and R&B Halls of Fame.

• Starred in 31 Films: Featured in hit movies like Jailhouse Rock, Viva Las Vegas, and Blue Hawaii, boosting his global fame.

• Historic ‘68 Comeback Special: His televised comeback performance reignited his career and is regarded as one of the greatest music specials ever.

• First Solo Artist to Have a Televised Concert Watched by Over 1 Billion People: His Aloha from Hawaii concert (1973) was broadcast live via satellite to over 40 countries.

• Served in the U.S. Army: Despite his fame, he was drafted in 1958 and served honorably for two years.

• Graceland Became a National Historic Landmark: His iconic home remains one of the most visited homes in the U.S., attracting over 600,000 tourists yearly.

• Influenced Generations of Artists: His music and style inspired countless musicians, including The Beatles, Johnny Cash, and Bruce Springsteen.