Elvis Presley Biography

Elvis Aron Presley
January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977
Born As: Elvis Aron Presley
Date of Birth: January 8, 1935
Birth Place: Tupelo, MS Date of Death: August 16, 1977

Elvis 50's-70's

Elvis Tupelo Home

Elvis charted more songs on Billboard's Hot 100 than any other artist. (149)

Elvis spent more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist. (80)

Elvis had the greatest number of consecutive #1 hits. (10)

Elvis is second only to the Beatles in total of #1 hits. (18)

You would never have guessed any of this back in 1953 when a young worker from the Parker
Machinists Shop wandered into Sun Records on his lunch hour to record two songs as a belated birthday present for his mother. Sam Phillips, the owner, wasn't impressed then or when the young Presley tried again in January of 1954

In July of 1954 Elvis was back in the studio singing "That's Alright Mama" and Phillips, finally
recognizing the potential, knew he had the breakthrough star he had been looking for. Specifically,
Phillips had found a white guy who had the sound and feel of the black R&B artists he had been
recording.
Elvis joined Sun Records and what would come to be called Sun's "Million Dollar Quartet" - the
foursome of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Presley.

Elvis first appeared on CBS' Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. Then on to The Steve Allen Show, where
he sang Hound Dog to a real dog. From his performance on Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theatre he
got the nickname Elvis the Pelvis - which worried the family minded Ed Sullivan. Thus, the now
famous "from the waist up only" appearances on the Sullivan show. It is estimated that one of these
Sullivan performances was viewed by 52 million people - one out of every three Americans.

Parker wanted to move Elvis away from Sun so he began some fancy negotiations. According to the
legend, Parker hawked the contract to Decca, Mercury, Columbia and Atlantic - pitting them
against one another to get progressively higher bids. Ultimately, RCA bought Elvis' contract for
$40,000, a huge sum for that time. Because he was under 21 and therefore, still a minor, Elvis'
father, Vernon had to sign the contract.
In February of 1956 Elvis recorded his first five songs for RCA. Among these was Heartbreak
Hotel, which quickly rose to the top of the charts to become Elvis' first Number 1 hit.
The second half of the decade was good to Elvis. Amazingly, eight of his lifetime Top Ten songs are
from the Fifties. This in spite of the fact that from 1958 thru 1959, Elvis was in the U.S. Army.

SONGS:

50s Elvis

1956

Heartbreak Hotel -- Mae Axton

Dont Be Cruel -- Otis Blackwell

Hound Dog -- Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller

Love Me Tender -- Vera Matson/Ken Darby

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You -- Mysels/Kosloff

Love Me -- Jerry Leiber/Mike Stolle

1957

Jailhouse Rock -- Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller

All Shook Up -- Presley/Otis Blackwell

Treat Me Nice -- Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller

Too Much -- Lee Rosenberg

Teddy Bear -- Kal Mann/Bernie Lowe

Loving You -- Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller 1958

Don't

I Beg You

Wear My Ring Around Your Neck

One Night With You

Hard Headed Woman

I Got Stung

1959

(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I

A Big Hunk of Love

I Need Your Love Tonight

1960

60s Elvis

1960 begins with a promotion for Elvis to Sergeant!

Elvis returns from Germany on March 2nd and is officially discharged from military service on March 5.

His first post-Army album, Elvis is Back is recorded in late March.

Having developed an interest in karate while in the Army, on March 21 Elvis receives his first degree black belt.

In late April 1960, Elvis begins work on his first post-army movie, his fifth film, GI Blues for Paramount, the first of nine to be produced (not consecutively) by Hal Wallis. The soundtrack album will be Elvis' most successful in terms of time on the Billboard charts.

May 8, 1960 brings ABC airing Frank Sinatra’s Welcome Home, Elvis edition of his variety show, for which Elvis was paid a staggering $125,000.

On July 3, 1960 Vernon Presley marries divorcee and mother of three sons, Davada (Dee) Stanley, an American whom he met in Germany.Although they live at Graceland briefly, they later move to a home nearby.

1961

March 25 of 1961 finds Elvis at the Bloch Arena at Pearl Harbor. His performance and support raises money and awareness which enables the USS Arizona Memorial to be completed the following year. This will be Elvis’ last live, non-movie performance until his 1968 television special.

Elvis will remain in Hawaii thru mid-April filming Blue Hawaii. When the soundtrack album debuts in October of 1961, it sells so well that it becomes second only to GI Blues as the biggest album of Elvis’ career on the Billboard charts.

1962

Late March to late April of 1962 finds Elvis working on Girls! Girls! Girls!, and late August and September bring filming on It Happened at the World’s Fair.

Priscilla Beaulieu had flown from West Germany to visit Elvis for Christmas 1962. And by early 1963 she will move there, finishing her senior year of high school in Memphis.

1963

Elvis works on his thirteenth film, another “formula” movie, Fun in Acapulco. in the late winter of 1963.

By July, Elvis has gone to Las Vegas to film one of his most popular films, Viva Las Vegas.

Elvis records and shoots for his fifteenth motion picture, Kissin’ Cousins in October of 1963.

1964

In early 1964 Elvis purchases the Potomac, former presidential yacht of Franklin Roosevelt, for $55,000. More about the boat.

In March of '64 Elvis begins filming for his sixteenth motion picture, Roustabout, and by summer he's working on Girl Happy.

In October of 1964 he's at work on Tickle Me. Shamefully, this movie will have no new songs, just unreleased non-movie songs previously recorded.

1965

Continuing the brutal schedule, by Spring of 1965 he's filming Harum Scarum. .And by May, work begins on his twentieth motion picture, to be released out of chronology as his twenty-first, Frankie and Johnny.

With his huge generosity always evident, in July Elvis donates $50,000 to the Motion Picture Relief Fund, reportedly the largest single donation the organization has ever received up to this date. Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Sinatra accepted the gift.

Back to the movies in August of 1965, this time it's Paradise, Hawaiian Style. The location shoot allows for a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, which Elvis' gifts had helped to build.

August 27, 1965. A big day. The Beatles visit with Elvis for several hours at his home in California and have an informal jam session.

1966

February of 1966 and he's at work on movie #22 - Spinout. By June thru September it's Double Trouble, which is filmed back to back with #24,Easy Come, Easy Go.

December of 1966. Elvis proposes to Priscilla! 'Bout time!

1967

In February of 1967, Elvis buys the Circle G, a 163-acre ranch in Mississippi, minutes across the Tennessee state line from Graceland. Here he, Priscilla and friends will indulge their love of horses. About Elvis' favorite horse, Ebony’s Double.

RCA releases Elvis’ second gospel album, How Great Thou Art, in March of 1967. It will win Elvis his first Grammy award.

February-April of '67 he's filming again. On #25 Clambake.

May 1, 1967. Just after 9:30AM Elvis married Priscilla in a small, private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. A press conference and breakfast reception follow. Then the couple honeymooned for a few days in Palm Springs.

May 29, 1967.Elvis and Priscilla dress in their wedding clothes and have a second wedding reception in the trophy room at Graceland to include their family and friends who were not in Las Vegas for the wedding.

During the summer of '67, Priscilla's pregnancy is announced.

Back at the salt mines...In summer its movie #26, Speedway, and in the fall, Stay Away, Joe.

1968

May 1, 1968, nine months to the day of their wedding, Priscilla gives birth to Lisa Marie Presley.

And in March it's #28, Live a Little, Love a Little. The Great Dane that appears is this movie is Elvis' real dog, named Brutus, although the dog's screen name was Albert!

June 27, 28, 29, and 30. Taping for an NBC television special, which will actually air on December 3, 1968. The true name was Elvis but it is commonly called the '68 Comeback Special.

Summer of '68. Yup. #29, Charro!, and then in fall, #30, The Trouble with Girls.

1969

During January and February of 1969 Elvis records some of his best work ever. Returning to Memphis, his produces four hits which will be released in late '69 and early '70. They are In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, Don’t Cry, Daddy and Kentucky Rain.

In the spring of 1969, Elvis films Change of Habit, which will be his last acting role in a motion picture.

July 31 - August 28, 1969. The now famous four-week, fifty-seven show engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. His show is wildly successful. Elvis' first live album, Elvis in Person at the International Hotel is recorded during this engagement.

In September, RCA releases Suspicious Minds, which becomes Elvis' first number one single since Good Luck Charm in 1962.

1970

January-February of 1970 finds Elvis back at the International Hotel where he breaks his own attendance records. This achievement during Las Vegas' slow season!

February 27-March 1. Elvis gives six performances at the Houston Astrodome. Although plagued by acoustic problems, the shows are wildly popular, drawing 207,494 people.

July-September. Back to Las Vegas for a month long engagement at The International. During this time, a documentary Elvis - That's The Way It Is is filmed by veteran Denis Sanders. With footage of the shows, rehearsals and many candid moments, the documentray provides realistic access to Elvis, the man.

September 9-14. Elvis is on tour for the fist time since 1957. The Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix stop of the nine city tour is included in Elvis - That's The Way It Is.

November 1970. More touring. Eight cities this time.

December of 1970. In one of the oddest pairings ever - Elvis meets Richard Nixon at the White House.

1971

January 16, 1971.Elvis accepts accept the honor of being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (The Jaycees). He is very proud of this - and rightly so.

Elvis spends late January and early February in Las Vegas at another month-long engagement at the International Hotel.

May 1971 finds Elvis recording in Nashville, working on the album Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas.

In June of 1971 Elvis' two room birthplace in Tupelo is opened to the public. A stretch of Highway 51 South, which runs past Graceland, is renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard. (The new street signs won't appear until January of '72)

June 1971. More recording in Nashville, mostly for the gospel album He Touched Me, which will win Elvis his second Grammy Award.

July-August. A change of venue this time for a two-week engagement at the Sahara Hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

August 9 - September 6, 1971. Back to Las Vegas at the International Hotel, which has been renamed the Las Vegas Hilton International Hotel. Again, he breaks all his own attendance records. Elvis now has a 5 year contract with the Hilton to appear twice a year.

November 5-16, 1971. Elvis goes on a 12-city concert tour.

Late 1971. Priscilla moves out, taking Lisa Marie with her.

1972

January 26 - February 23, 1972. Back to the Hilton in Vegas.

During March and April of 1972, Elvis films on and off stage during his 15-city concert tour. This tour started in Buffalo NY and ended in Albuquerque NM. The footage is part of the documentary Elvis on Tour, which recoups it's production costs after only three days in theatres and grabs a Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary.

June 9-11, 1972. Entertainment history is made as Elvis, in advance, sells out all four engagements at Madison Square Garden. Among the 80,000 attendees were John Lennon, George Harrison, David Bowie, Bob Dylan and Art Garfunkel. His stirring rendition of "An American Trilogy" was a highlight. Surprisingly, this was Elvis' first live concert in New York City.

Priscilla files for divorce in July 1972. Elvis has begun seeing Linda Thompson, a relationship that will last until late 1976.

August 4-September 4. Back at the Hilton.

November 1972. Elvis ends a seven city tour in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1973

January 14, 1973. Elvis:Aloha from Hawaii is taped at Honolulu International Center Arena. It will be seen by nearly 1.5 billion people. The album will shoot to #1, Elvis' last album to do so.

January 26 - February 23, 1973. Back in Las Vegas at the Hilton.

March 1973. Colonel Parker sells RCA the singer’s royalty rights on Elvis’ entire recording catalog up to that point. 700 songs for five million dollars. A good deal for the Colonel, but bad for Elvis and his heirs who could have enjoyed a lifetime income off those songs.

Late April. Another eight city tour.

May 4-16 Elvis appears at the Sahara Hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. From June 20 - July 3, 1973 - More touring. Then August 6 - September 3, 1973 he's back at the Hilton.

October 9, 1973. Elvis and Priscilla appear in court and their divorce is granted. Although she has custody of Lisa Marie, Elvis will remain close to both mother and daughter.

Immediately after the divorce and for two weeks in late October Elvis will be hospitalized in Memphis. He will be treated for medical problems either stemming from or exacerbated by his heavy drug use.

1974

January 26-February 9, 1974. Elvis is back at the Hilton.

Elvis tours for most of March including an attendance breaking repeat performance at the Houston Astrodome. He'll appear in Memphis for the first time since 1961. Another live album is produced, Elvis Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis from the two day, four show engagement. Included is a live performance of How Great Thou Art that will go on to win Elvis his third Grammy award. Suprisingly, all of Elvis' Grammys are for gospel songs.

From May 16-26, he's at Sahara in Lake Tahoe

August 19 - September 2, 1974. While back at the Hilton he receives an offer which could have been a pivotal moment. Barbra Streisand and her hairdresser/boyfriend/producer Jon Peters offer Elvis the lead role in her remake of A Star is Born. This would have given Elvis his long awaited chance at serious acting. He is bored on the road and needs a new challenge. Regretably, this never comes to fruition.

Elvis appears at the Sahara-Tahoe October 11-14.

1975

January 29 - February 14, 1975. Sadly, Elvis must be hospitalized again for drug related medical problems. His health has begun to decline.

From March 18 - April 1, 1975, he is again at the Hilton and then tours thru til the end of July.

August 18 he begins an engagement at the Hilton which is cut short on the 20th as Elvis returns to a hospital in Memphis until Spetember 5.

A bright spot! The renovation of a Convair 880 jet is completed and Elvis can take his first flight on the shiny Lisa Marie!

December 2-15, 1975. Elvis must return to the Hilton to make up for the cancelled performances.

December 25, 1975. Elvis performs a special New Year’s Eve concert in Pontiac, Michigan and sets a single performance attendance record of 62,500.

1976

In February of 1976 RCA will haul all manner of mobile recording equipment to Graceland. The week of recording in the den will produce an album From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee A wonderful boost, this album will go to #1 on country charts.

From March until October, on and off, Elvis will be touring.

Early in November 1976 Elvis and Linda Thompson, his girlfriend since 1972 will split. By the end of the month Elvis is with Ginger Alden, who will be with him until his death.

December 2-12, 1976. Elvis will make his last appearance at the Hilton.

December 31, 1976. A special New Year's Eve performance in Pittsburgh PA.

1977

Elvis tours in the early part of 1977 but from April 1-5, he is again hospitalized and some shows have to be cancelled.

June 19, 20, 21. Concerts are recorded by RCA and videotaped by CBS for the upcoming special Elvis in Concert. The footage shows quite clearly Elvis' deteriorating condition. The special will not be shown until after his death on October 3.

June 26. The concert at Indianapolis, Indiana’s Market Square Arena will be Elvis' last.

July 1977. Three former bodyguards publish Elvis:What Happened? which details Elvis' drug use for the first time in public.

August 16, 1977. Elvis Presley died at home at Graceland. While it is true that there were drugs in his system, it wasn't an overdose. His heart failed him.

August 18, 1977. Elvis is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis.

October 1977. The bodies of Elvis and his mother are moved to Graceland.

June 26, 1979. Vernon Presley joined his son and wife in death.

"Til we meet you again, may God bless you. Adios." -Said in 1977 at the end of a concert during his last tour.

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Elvis Has Left The Building, but was witness to the tragedy of September 11, 2001

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