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He performed at his last concert in June 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana. After the concert, he returned home to his Memphis mansion, Graceland, to prepare for another tour.
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Elvis Aron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. (He later changed the spelling of his middle name to the biblical form of Aaron.) Presley was supposed to be a twin, but his brother, Jesse Garon (sometimes spelled Jessie) was stillborn.
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Presley received his first guitar as a gift from his mother on his 11th birthday in 1946 and had his first taste of musical success a few years later when he won a talent show at Humes High School in Memphis.
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After graduating in 1953, he worked a number of jobs while pursuing his musical dream. He cut his first demo record at what later became known as Sun Studio that year, and before long, Sam Phillips, the record label owner, decided to take the young performer under his wing.
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Presley soon began touring and recording, trying to catch his first big break. "That's All Right" was Presley's first single in 1954.
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In 1955, he began to develop a following with fans. Elvis signed with RCA Records, a deal worked out by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
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Presley was on a roll, scoring his first No. 1 single with "Heartbreak Hotel," as well as his first No. 1 album, Elvis Presley, and signing a movie contract with Paramount Pictures — all in 1956.
Soon, Presley was everywhere, working as a musician and actor. His first film, Love Me Tender (1956), was a box office hit. -
He received his draft notice in 1957 and was inducted into the Army the following March. He eventually served in Germany for about a year and a half. Shortly before Presley left for Europe, his beloved mother, Gladys, died. He was granted a leave and returned to Memphis for the funeral.
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After leaving the Army in 1960, Presley resumed his career and was soon back at the top of the charts with the soundtrack for his film GI Blues. He continued recording music and acting in such films as Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) and Viva Las Vegas (1964).
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While in Germany, his spirits were lifted slightly when he met a young teenager named Priscilla Beaulieu. The pair fell in love and married on May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Proving he was still the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", he recorded his first TV special in 1968, often referred to as the "68 Comeback." He wowed audiences with his performance, which showcased his talents as a singer and a guitarist.
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Around this time, Presley's personal life also seemed to be on an upswing. He and Priscilla had a child, Lisa Marie, in 1968. Unfortunately, this joyous time would not last, the couple divorced in 1973, and Priscilla received custody of Lisa. Presley was also wrestling with other personal problems, including a growing addiction to prescription drugs. His destructive lifestyle caught up with him that fall when he was hospitalized for drug-related health problems.
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On the morning of August 16, 1977, Presley died of heart failure, at the age of 42. It was later ruled that his death was related to his prescription drug use. Presley was buried on the Graceland property, near the gravesites of his mother, Gladys, father Vernon, and grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley.
