One of His Best Performances

 

 

 

 

Elvis Presley

(January 8, 1935 ~ August 16, 1977)

 

 

 

Early Life

 

Elvis, a twin (the twin was stillborn), was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love. The family was very poor, but poured their hearts and souls into religion in order to get by. It was in church where Presley attained his love for music. His love for music came at an early age and he gave his first public performance when he was ten years old at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair. He got his first guitar at twelve years old and learned to play from his parents and pastor at church. That same year, he was invited to sing and play on a local radio station. 

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Career

 

Presley made his first demo in 1953 at the Sun Studio, and a year later released his first single. He joined RCA records a year later, where he released his first hit single on his “Elvis Presley” album. He continued to make chart-topping music adding crazy dance moves and mixing blues and gospel tunes in his music, making him a stand out. Presley not only had an aspriing music career, but he also was an aspiring actor. In 1956, he starred in his first movie, Love Me Tender. This movie was a hit and made way for Elvis to star in many more films, which also featured his songs. He ultimately starred in over 30 movies. Just as his career was on its way to success, Presley was drafted into the Army in 1957. He served a year in Germany until his mother died in 1958; he was allowed to leave and attend her funeral. Afterward, he went back into the Army, and served until 1970. He took this experience and created an album based on his time in the military.

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Personal Life

 

While in the military, Presley met Priscilla Beaulieu. A year after they wed, In 1968, the couple had a child together named Lisa Marie. However, the two divorced in 1973, partly due to Presley’s addiction to drugs, and Priscilla had sole custody of their child. Elvis never remarried or had other children.

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Death

 

 

Presley had drug abuse issues, and struggled with weight gain. With these factors at hand, Presley had health problems which ultimately led to heart failure and his death. He was found dead on a toilet in his home in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16, 1977. Fans were so shocked by his sudden death, that conspiracies formed claiming that he faked his death in order to live a normal life and protect his family from criminals. Nevertheless, Presley is gone, and will be remembered for all that he did in his short life.