Elvis Presley

American singer and actor

Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-1977) was an American singer and actor. Presley is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century. He is especially renowned as early pioneer of rock-and-roll music and considered to be the genre's greatest performer.
"The King of rock and roll" was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Singing came naturally to Elvis. He sang in a choir at the local Assembly of God meetinghouse and later performed at revivals and camp meetings. In 1949 the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, shortly before Elvis entered high school. Following graduation he found work driving a truck for an electric company.

Sun Records

In a Tennessee studio Presley recorded a song as a birthday gift for his mother in 1953. The studio manager was impressed by his unique vocal style and studio owner Sam Philips asked him to make some more records for his label Sun Records.

Greatest successes

His greatest successes came with RCA. For this label Presley recorded songs like "Heartbreak Hotel" (1956), "Hound Dog" (1956) and "All Shook Up" (1957).

Motion pictures

In 1956 Elvis made his appearance in motion pictures too. "Love Me Tender" (1956) and "Jailhouse Rock" (1957) were very successful. At the height of his success Presley had to serve for the American army in Germany. Shortly after his return to the United States in 1960, Elvis quitted playing concerts and immersed himself entirely in making movies.

Priscilla

In 1967 Elvis married Priscilla and returned to touring. The tour was kicked off with an NBC special Christmas broadcast. During these concerts Elvis played with his original band and reached a peak in 1972 when his last top-ten single " Burning Love" was released.
His marriage broke up and Elvis began secluding himself for long periods at his house at Graceland. Presley got fat and used drugs and pharmaceuticals.

Graceland

On August 16, 1977, "The King" passed-out on the seat of his toilet at Graceland. An hour later he was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.