Elvis Aron Presley
My childhood
I was born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon and Gladys Presley. It was during the Great Depression in our country when many people were struggling to find work. My parents were very poor and did not have money to go to the hospital to deliver me and my twin brother. My mother didn't even know she was pregnant with two babies. It was a difficult birth and my twin brother Jesse Garon died during the delivery. They were not able to afford a grave stone for Jesse. During my life I often thought about Jesse and what life would have been like with a brother. In 1948 my family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. I was very close to my mother that died August 14, 1958.
How I Became Famous
My mother gave me my first guitar for my 11th birthday in 1954. That was the begging of my love for music and performing. In 1953 at the age of 18 I recorded my first song "My Happiness" for $3.98 at Sun Studios. I recorded "Heart Break Hotel" in 1955 for RCA Records after they bought my contract from Sam Phillips for forty thousand dollars, plus a five thousand dollar bonus. In 1956 I made my network television debut with the first of my six appearances on stage show a weekly variety program hosted by Tommy and jimmy Dorsey. This is the same year I was in my first movie "Love Me Tender." I made 31 movies during my lifetime. I bought Graceland for my family to share in 1957. I was also drafted into the U.S. Army this same year and served for 2 years.
My family
Eight years after I met Priscilla we were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 1, 1967. We had our only child Lisa Marie on February 1, 1968. Our marriage only lasted six years before we divorced October 9, 1973. I took the divorce very hard.
Major Accomplishments
I won several awards during my life including Grammys that earned me a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame. I also got the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, American Music Award of Merit, and many NME awards. I sold an estimated one billion record units worldwide, more than anyone in record history. I have had 150 different albums and singles that have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum. I was know as the "King of Rock and Roll."
Where Am I Now
Unfortunately I died an untimely death at the age of 42 on August 16, 1977. There is a lot of speculation as to how I died but it was ruled a heart attack. I had been very over weight, taking a lot of prescription drugs and had an enlarged heart. I was buried next to my mother at the cemetery but we were moved to Graceland after there was an attempt by someone trying to steal my body.