Elvis Presley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elvis Presley
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Presley in a publicity photograph for the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock
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Elvis Aron Presley
January 8, 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Died | August 16, 1977 (aged 42) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Graceland Memphis, Tennessee |
| Education | Humes High School |
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| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Lisa Marie Presley |
| Relatives | Riley Keough (granddaughter) |
| Awards | .svg){kind=small} Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumously; 2018) |
| Musical career | |
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| Years active | 1946–1977 |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 Army |
| Years of service | 1958–1960 |
| Rank |  Sergeant |
| Unit | Headquarters Company, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor Regiment, 3d Armored Division |
| Awards |  Good Conduct Medal |
Elvis Aaron Presley (born January 8, 1935 – died August 16, 1977), known simply as Elvis, was an American singer, musician, and actor. Many people consider him one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century. He is often called the "King of Rock and Roll" or just "the King."
Elvis became very successful because of his energetic way of singing and his exciting stage presence. He mixed different music styles to create his unique sound.
Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. When he was 13, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.
His music career started in Memphis in 1954. He recorded at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips. Phillips wanted to share the sound of African-American music with more people. Elvis, playing rhythm guitar, along with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, helped create rockabilly music. This was a mix of country music and rhythm and blues.
In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined the group. Soon after, RCA Victor bought Elvis's music contract. This deal was arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who managed Elvis for over 20 years.
Elvis's first song with RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel", came out in January 1956. It quickly became a number-one hit in the United States. With many successful TV appearances and popular songs, Elvis became the biggest star of the new rock and roll sound.
In November 1956, Elvis made his first movie, Love Me Tender.
He joined the military in 1958. Two years later, he started his music career again with some of his most popular songs. However, he did not perform many concerts. Instead, his manager, Colonel Parker, encouraged him to make Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums during the 1960s. Most of these films were not very popular.
In 1968, after seven years away from live shows, Elvis returned to the stage. He starred in a famous TV special called Elvis. This led to many concerts in Las Vegas and very successful tours.
In 1973, Elvis performed the first concert by a solo artist to be shown around the world. This was Aloha from Hawaii.
He won three Grammy Awards. At age 36, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been added to many music halls of fame, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Elvis holds several records. He has the most RIAA certified gold and platinum albums. He also has the most albums on the Billboard 200 chart. He has the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the UK Albums Chart and the most number-one songs on the UK Singles Chart.
In 2018, Elvis was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his death.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. His parents were Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Presley. He was born in a small, two-room house that his father had built. Elvis had an identical twin brother named Jesse Garon Presley, who was born 35 minutes before him but sadly did not survive.
Since he was an only child, Elvis was very close to both his parents. He had a special bond with his mother. His family went to an Assembly of God church, which was where he first found his love for music.
His father, Vernon, often worked different jobs. The family sometimes needed help from neighbors and government food programs.
In 1938, his family faced tough times, including losing their home. Elvis and his mother moved in with relatives for a while.
When he was 13, Elvis and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.
Elvis's Music Style
Musical Influences
Elvis's first musical inspiration came from gospel music. His mother remembered that when he was only two years old, he would run to the front of the church during services.
Even though he never had formal music lessons, Elvis had an amazing memory. He knew a lot about music by the time he started recording songs in 1954, when he was 19. People who met him later were surprised by how much he knew about blues music.
How His Music Changed
Music experts say Elvis was a key figure in creating rockabilly music.
When he moved to RCA, Elvis's rock and roll sound became different from rockabilly. His new music included group singing, louder electric guitars, and a tougher, more intense style.
In 1957, his first gospel record, Peace in the Valley, was released. It sold over a million copies and became the best-selling gospel record of its time. Elvis continued to record gospel music throughout his life.
After he returned from the military in 1960, Elvis kept performing rock and roll. However, his style became a bit softer.
During his famous '68 Comeback Special, Elvis performed many of his classic slow songs. But the show was mostly filled with powerful rock and roll. His music started to include more modern rock sounds, as well as soul and funk music. In the mid-1970s, many of his songs became popular on country radio, which was where he first became a star.
Personal Life
Elvis joined the military in 1958 and was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged from the military and returned to the United States in 1960.
In Germany, he met Priscilla Beaulieu. They got married in 1967. They had a daughter named Lisa Marie.
In 1973, Priscilla and Elvis got divorced.
Death
Elvis died on August 16, 1977, from a heart attack. He had not been well in his later years.
Elvis's funeral was held at Graceland on August 18. About 80,000 people lined the streets to see the procession. Elvis was buried next to his mother at Forest Hill Cemetery. Later, his body was moved to Graceland.
Interesting Facts About Elvis Presley
- Elvis has sold over one billion records worldwide.
- He used to color his hair darker with shoe polish.
- Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957 for himself and his family. It is one of the most famous houses in the world. It opened to the public as a museum in 1982.
- Elvis bought a jet plane and named it the "Lisa Marie" after his daughter.
- Elvis loved Karate. He earned his black belt in 1960.
- Elvis was a car collector. He also enjoyed giving cars as gifts to his friends. He especially loved Cadillacs and owned more than 100 of them during his lifetime.
- He made more than 30 movies.
- In his career, he recorded over 600 songs.
- He loved donuts and fried chicken.
- He did not like eating fish and preferred that people did not eat fish around him.
Images for kids
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A photo of Elvis's parents at the Historic Blue Moon Museum in Verona, Mississippi
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The "iconic cover" of Presley's 1956 debut album, an image crucial in codifying the guitar as the defining instrument of rock and roll
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Presley signing autographs in Minneapolis in 1956
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Ed Sullivan and Presley during rehearsals for his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, October 26, 1956
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Presley performing live at the Mississippi-Alabama Fairgrounds in Tupelo, September 26, 1956
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Presley and costar Judy Tyler in the trailer for Jailhouse Rock, released October 1957
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Presley being sworn into the Army on March 24, 1958 at Fort Chaffee
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Presley, wearing the 3d Armored Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, poses atop a tank at Ray Barracks
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Presley with Juliet Prowse in G.I. Blues
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The '68 Comeback Special produced "one of the most famous images" of Presley. Taken on June 29, 1968, it was adapted for the cover of Rolling Stone in July 1969.
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Presley meets U.S. President Richard Nixon in the White House Oval Office, December 21, 1970
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Presley came up with his outfit's eagle motif, as "something that would say 'America' to the world"
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Presley's gravestone at Graceland
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Presley with his longtime vocal backup group, the Jordanaires, March 1957
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Presley and Colonel Tom Parker, 1969
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A group of Elvis impersonators in 2005
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Presley's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6777 Hollywood Blvd
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See also
In Spanish: Elvis Presley para niños
