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Table of Contents
Elvis Aaron Presley, or simply Elvis Presley, was most commonly known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. By the mid-1950s, he had progressed from humble beginnings to appearing on radio, television, and the silver screen. Even after his death, he remained one of the world’s most popular music icons.
See the fact file below for more information on Elvis Presley, or you can download our 21-page Elvis Presley worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Early Life
- He was supposed to have a twin brother named Jesse Garon, but he died during the birthing process on January 8, 1935.
- While attending an Assembly of God church with his parents, Vernon Elvis and Gladys Love, he developed an interest in music.
- Their family frequently relied on food assistance provided by others. His father changed jobs in the hopes of finding a better opportunity.
- They lost their home in 1938 when his father was convicted of forging a check issued by their landowner. While his father was in jail, he and his mother moved into their relatives.
- He started first grade at East Tupelo Consolidated in 1941. His teachers thought he was ordinary until he sang a rendition of Old Shep by Red Foley and they encouraged him to enter a singing contest.
- On October 3, 1945, he competed in his first contest at the Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, finishing fifth.
- He received his first guitar for his next birthday. It was followed by guitar lessons from his two uncles and the church’s pastor. He was able to learn to play the guitar, but he was too shy to sing in public.
- Milam was mostly alone in sixth grade at a new school, so he began bringing his guitar to school so he could play it during lunchtime. He was mocked for listening to hillbilly or country music.
- He listened to Tupelo radio station WELO. The younger brother of its host, Mississippi Slim, happened to be his classmate, so he was able to go to the station. Slim showed him more guitar chord techniques.
- Slim gave him two on-air performances when he was twelve years old. At first, he could not sing properly due to stage fright, but he overcame it the following week.
- Their family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, in late 1948. He entered L. C. Humes High School for eighth grade, where he got a C in music. He wanted to show his music teacher that he deserved a higher grade, so he brought his guitar to class the next day and sang The Stanley Brothers’ Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me. He even told his teacher that she just didn’t like his singing style, and his teacher agreed with him.
- With the help of Lee Denson, he began regularly practicing the guitar in 1950. They formed a loose musical collective with three other boys and frequently performed around the Courts. In September that year, he worked as an usher at Loew’s State Theater.
- During his junior year, his appearance with his grown sideburns and hair styled with rose oil and Vaseline began to stand out among his classmates.
- In his senior year, he used to dress in flashy clothes. In April 1953, he gained confidence and competed in Humes’ Annual “Minstrel” Show with Teresa Brewer’s Till I Waltz Again with You. It was a watershed moment in his early career and helped shape his reputation.
- He mostly played his guitar by ear because he couldn’t read music notes and had never had formal music lessons.
- He had already decided to pursue a music career by the time he graduated from high school in 1953.
First Recordings
- In late 1953, he recorded a two-sided acetate disc containing two songs for his mother’s birthday: My Happiness and That’s When Your Heartaches Begin. He chose to record it at Sun Records in the hopes of being discovered, even though a cheaper record-making service was nearby.
- He was discovered, and the Sun’s CEO, Sam Phillips, asked the receptionist to write down his name. The receptionist did so, adding to the note, “Good ballad singer. Hold.”
- He recorded another two songs for the second time at Sun Records in January 1954. However, he was never contacted by the recording company.
- He auditioned for the Songfellows, a local vocal quartet, but was rejected because, according to one of the group’s leaders, Jim Hamill, he lacked an ear for harmony at the time.
- In April, he started working as a truck driver for the Crown Electric company.
- He kept doing local gigs with his friend Ronnie Smith, who recommended he contact Eddie Bond. Bond was the leader of the professional band in which Smith was a member, and they were looking for a vocalist at the time. Bond turned him down after telling him he’d never be a singer.
Music Career
- In June, he was invited to Sun Records to perform Jimmy Sweeney’s Without You. He couldn’t do it well, but Phillips asked him to sing as many songs as possible. The Sun boss was searching for a white man with a sound and vibe of a Black person.
- In July, Phillips decided to invite guitarist Scotty Moore and upright bass player Bill Black to work with him for a recording session.
- The session was unsuccessful, and as they were about to leave, he took out his guitar and played That’s All Right by Arthur Crudup, a 1946 blues song. Moore and Bill joined him, and Phillips began recording as soon as they were able to produce the sound he desired.
- DJ Dewey Phillips played their recording on his radio show three days later. The listeners were so impressed that they began calling to find out who the singer was. DJ Phillips played the song over and over for the next two hours of his show.
- Phillips invited him to an on-air interview. He was asked about his high school to clarify his color because listeners assumed the singer was Black.
- The trio recorded Blue Moon of Kentucky by Bill Monroe over the next few days. That’s All Right and Blue Moon of Kentucky was released on a two-sided acetate disc.
- His official career began with the discovery, which was followed by live performances, contracts, and commercials.
- In the same year, he signed with RCA Records and released his No. 1 single Heartbreak Hotel under his first No. 1 album, Elvis Presley.
- In 1956, his first film, Love Me Tender, played in cinemas and became a box office hit. The following year, he was inducted into the US Army and sent to Germany, where he met Priscilla Beaulieu.
- In 1960, he returned from duty and continued his career in music and acting, starring in films including Blue Hawaii (1961), Girls!Girls!Girls! (1962), and Viva Las Vegas (1964).
- In the late 1960s, Presley began losing his box office appeal. He decided to record his first TV special in 1968 to prove that he was still the King of Rock n’ Roll.
- Despite his personal problems, Presley remained popular on his tours in Las Vegas and his last show in Indianapolis, Indiana, in June 1977.
Marriage with Priscilla Beaulieu
- He met Priscilla Beaulieu, who was fourteen at the time, in 1959. He courted her for over seven years before they married.
- Lisa Marie, their first and only child, was born on February 1, 1968.
- They both had affairs with other people, which led to their divorce in 1973.
- They shared custody of their daughter while he continued providing financial support for Priscilla and Lisa.
Death
- On August 16, 1977, he was scheduled to begin another tour out of Memphis. But Ginger Alden saw him lying on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion in the afternoon. He was taken to the hospital, but all attempts to revive him failed and he was announced dead around 3 pm, at age 42.
- The death was attributed to polypharmacy or taking more than five medications in one day, which resulted in cardiac arrest.
- The Graceland mansion was opened to the public in 1982 through the management of his aunt, Delta Biggs. After he died, Aunt Delta was the last person to live in the house until she died in 1993.
- Billy, his cousin, remembered being with him the day before he died. Billy expressed his desire for the rain to stop so that they could play racquetball. When he held out his hands, the rain miraculously stopped. He then told Billy, “If you have a little faith, you can stop anything.”
- President Jimmy Carter credited him with changing the face of American popular culture.
Elvis Presley Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Elvis Presley across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Elvis Presley worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Elvis Presley who was an American musician and actor who became the most popular cultural icon of rock n’ roll in the 20th century. Today, he is known as the King of Rock n’ Roll or simply the King.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Elvis Presley Facts
- The King of Rock n’ Roll
- Best of Presley
- Knowing Elvis
- Pop Culture Icons
- Other Side of Presley
- Rock n’ Roll 101
- Elvis Says
- The King
- Fill in the Track
- Presley Legacy
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Elvis with when he died?
But Ginger Alden saw him lying on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion in the afternoon.
How old was Elvis when he died and cause of death?
He was taken to the hospital, but all attempts to revive him failed and he was announced dead around 3 pm, at age 42. The death was attributed to polypharmacy or taking more than five medications in one day, which resulted in cardiac arrest.
How was Elvis discovered when he died?
On August 16, 1977, he was scheduled to begin another tour out of Memphis. But Ginger Alden saw him lying on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion in the afternoon.
Was Elvis Presley a twin?
He was supposed to have a twin brother named Jesse Garon, but he died during the birthing process on January 8, 1935.
What did Elvis do to his wife?
He met Priscilla Beaulieu, who was fourteen at the time, in 1959. He courted her for over seven years before they married. They both had affairs with other people, which led to their divorce in 1973.
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