Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8th, 1935, and spent his early years in Tupelo, Mississippi.  Although he was white, his family enjoyed listening to black culture music. Elvis grew up in a poor family where his father struggled to maintain a job. Due to his father's eight-month imprisonment. Elvis and his mother lived with his grandmother for a while. As a child, Elvis was shy and had a close bond with his mother. At a young age, people noticed that Elvis had an excellent singing voice. When he was ten, he gave his first public singing performance and received his first guitar.  At the age of 13, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. 

Elvis when he was a baby, with his parents.

                  Graceland.com

Elvis went to Humes Middle and High School, where he failed his music class and was considered an outsider. He took his first guitar lessons with John Smith a new pastor at the church he attended. Elvis loved football and played it during high school. During Elvis's senior year of high school, he decided to join the talent show. He pulled out his guitar and started singing. Everyone was surprised because he had the voice of a black man and was white himself. Elvis had a great passion for playing the guitar and he would never go anywhere without it, not even to school. Despite having never received formal singing or guitar lessons and not being able to read music, he was able to learn songs by ear or simply by watching other people play.

Elvis's high school yearbook

           Graceland.com

In Memphis, Tennessee there was a recording studio owned by a man named Sam Phillips. Elvis first went to the studio in August of 1953 to record a song for his mother. The name of it was "My Happiness." Elvis went to Sun Records a lot over the next year hoping someone would discover him. At one point Sam Phillips suggested that he should get together with a few local musicians, guitarist Scotty Moore and bass player Bill Black, to record some songs. He played his first live show in 1954 at the Overton Park Shell and in 1956 his song “I forgot to remember to forget” was a number 1 hit. On March 19, 1957, Elvis purchased his new family home called Graceland. During the same year, he received his exception letter from the U.S. Army. One year later his mom tragically died of cardiac arrest at the age of 46 and this started the fallout of Elvis. In 1967 Elvis married Priscilla Wagner. One year later they welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. The couple later divorced in 1970.  

Elvis playing at Overton park. 

        Graceland.com

When Elvis was 40, in 1975, he was admitted to a hospital because he had a lot of physical issues. Later that year he played for 141 days straight. On August 16th, 1977, his girlfriend, Ginger Alden found him unresponsive on his bathroom floor. He was rushed to the hospital but it was too late. One of the greatest musicians had just died due to cardiac arrest at 3:30 pm. At his funeral, more than 3,116 bouquets of flowers were delivered marking the largest amount of flowers ever bought in 1 day.  Proving how much he meant to the world.

Elvis Presley faced numerous challenges throughout his life, but he used his music to spread joy. He performed a staggering 1,684 shows during his lifetime, with 837 of them being sold-out events. He recorded over 600 songs, including some of his most famous ones such as "Hound Dog," "Heartbreak Hotel," and "Jailhouse Rock," among many others. Rock," and many more.  Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley's daughter, also pursued a career in music, helping to keep alive her father's legacy. 

 Elvis Presley, also known as the "King of Rock and Roll," is a music icon who has left an enduring legacy. His contributions to the music industry and popular culture have earned him a place in the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. Even years after his death, Elvis Presley's music continues to inspire and entertain people of all ages. There are numerous Elvis memorials and attractions around the world where fans can pay their tribute and celebrate his life and achievements. Whether you're a big Elvis fan or just appreciate good music, there's no denying the impact that Elvis Presley has had on the world. 

An Elvis Memorial

                Glossary

By ear = By listening

Maintain = Keep

Close Bond = Close relationship

Formal = real/official

            Works Cited