Elvis Presley
| Elvis Presley | |
|---|---|
Presley in a publicity photograph for the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock
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| Born |
Elvis Aron Presley January 8, 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | August 16, 1977 (aged 42) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Cardiovascular disease |
| Resting place |
Graceland Memphis, Tennessee 35°2′46″N 90°1′23″W / 35.04611°N 90.02306°W |
| Alma mater | Humes High School |
| Occupation | Singer, actor |
| Home town | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Spouse(s) | Priscilla Presley (m. 1967; div. 1973) |
| Children | Lisa Marie Presley |
| Website | elvis |
| Military career | |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1958–1960 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Company A, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Division |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1953–1977 |
| Labels | Sun, RCA (Victor), HMV |
| Associated acts | The Blue Moon Boys, The Jordanaires, The Imperials, Million Dollar Quartet |
| Signature | |
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Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", or simply "the King".
Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, when he recorded a song with producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was an early popularizer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who managed the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States. He was regarded as the leading figure of rock and roll after a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines that coincided with the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, made him enormously popular—and controversial.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. In 1958, he was drafted into military service. He resumed his recording career two years later, producing some of his most commercially successful work before devoting much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and their accompanying soundtrack albums, most of which were critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed televised comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley featured in the first globally broadcast concert via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii. Several years of prescription drug abuse severely damaged his health, and he died in 1977 at the age of 42.
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