Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley. Elvis had a twin brother, Jessi Garon, but he passed away not long after he was born. Elvis was the only child. Elvis had a close knit family consisting of his mama, daddy, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, who all lived near each other. Elvis’s parents made little money but he was still the center of his parents’ lives. Elvis and his parents moved from one house to another house in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis attended the Assembly of God Church with his parents. The music and preaching register into him deeply. Other things that influenced Elvis were black bluesmen and the country music radio program. October 3, 1945, when Elvis was 10 years old, he sang “Old Shep” at the Mississippi-Alabama youth talent contest in Tupelo. He won the fifth prize and received $5.00 in fair rides. In 1946, when Elvis was 12 years old, he wanted a bicycle but his parents could not afford one. Instead Elvis’ mother talks him into getting his first guitar. Gladys purchased the $12.95 guitar at Tupelo Hardware Company. On November 6, 1948, at Milam Junior High Elvis sings “Leaf on a Tree” while playing his guitar as a farewell for his school. In their 1936 Plymouth Elvis and his parents pack their belongings and move to Memphis, Tennessee, hoping for a better life economically. Since Elvis and his parents were close to their immediate family they too moved to Memphis. The Presley live in public housing in the poor neighborhoods of north Memphis. In 1948 Elvis attends L.C. Humes High School while his parents go from job to job. Elvis starts working different jobs to help his parents. Teenage Elvis is known for his singing and playing the guitar. Bale Street is where Elvis buys his clothes and absorbs gospel music and black blues. Elvis goes downtown to attend the all-night white and black gospel singings. Elvis was different from the other kids because he wore his hair long and slick and was a good-natured misfit. During the time at Humes High, Elvis sang in a student talent show. Elvis received more applause than any of the other students and wins the talent show. In March of 1958, Elvis was drafted into the U.S. Army where he gets his famous G.I. haircut while at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. After Elvis finishes basic training he receives his first recording session where he records “A Big Hunk O’ Love.” Later on in the year is when he meets 14 year-old Priscilla Ann. A few years go by with Elvis still in the army and on every leave he gets he is recording. Finally in January 1966, Elvis receives a movie contract where he appears in four movies singing and acting. In 1967, Elvis buys a 163-acre ranch in Mississippi for $437,000. Elvis and Priscilla move in the Graceland mansion where he spends all his time writing music. By this time in Elvis’ life he already has 5 top 100 tracks on the billboards. Elvis and Priscilla get married in a small private ceremony in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. For the next ten years Elvis has over 50 singles that make over a million dollars. Elvis’ songs inspired thousands of people and still do to this day. In 1976 Elvis was on tour singing in concerts every week. He loved being on the road writing songs and inspiring people all along his way. To many people he was known as the King of many different styles of music ranging from blue grass, gospel, and even a little rock and roll. Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, in his Graceland mansion of heart failure. His funeral was held on August 18 1977, where he was laid to rest at his beautiful Graceland home. Elvis’ album “Moody Blue” is released after his death and it sold more than two million copies.
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