Death of his beloved mother

Definitely the most important woman in Elvis's life was his mother.She definitely was the most influential who encouraged Elvis to show his talent. He had an incredible strong relationship with Gladys. She cherished him very much, sometimes too much. With his first check, he gave his mother a pink Cadillac, but Gladys feared that fame might destroy his son, and she was against him becoming famous...Only six after entering the army, his dear mother died of a heart attack caused by hepatits. Elvis was asleep when his father called him, and told him that his mother past away. Gladys died on August 14th 1958. Elvis was devastated. He rushed in hospital and when he entered in his mother's hospital room, he cried and prayed over his mother's lifeless body. Days after his death, he would just walk around, not talking to anyone. Her death was definitely the greatest impact in his life. He was never the same Elvis after her death.

photos via: Google photos

Welcome to Graceland mansion!

Every king has his castle! So it was with Elvis. He purchased his castle in 1957, and moved there with his mother Gladys and father Vernon.

Graceland is a large white-columned mansion estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. It was built in 1939. In early 1957, Elvis bought Graceland for $102,000 from Ruth Moore. He was 22 years old at the time. Graceland was Elvis' final home in Memphis and it is where he died in 1977. Elvis lived there for 20 years with his daughter Lisa Marie, wife Priscilla since 1963 until they divorced in 1972 and his father. Elvis also lived there with his girlfriend Linda Thomson in 1973. Elvis died on August 16th 1977 in his bathroom upstairs on Graceland. His ex-wife, Priscilla, opened Graceland to the public as a museum in 1982. Lisa Marie inherited Graceland when she was 25 years old. Today, Graceland is a museum, but family Presley comes back to Graceland to celebrate Christmas.

Photos by: Photobucket

Everybody loved him tender

For twenty-one year old Elvis, 1956 was a year like no other. By January he was a national sensation and by December of the same year, he was an international phenomenon. He was at the beginning of his remarkable career. He recorded his first two albums for RCA, on which were his biggest hits as Heartbreak hotel and Blue Suede Shoes. He appeared 11 times on national television, signed a seven- year contract with Paramount Pictures, and stared in his first movie Love me tender.

In August, he started to shoot his debut movie "Love me tender" with co-star Debra Paget.

Before success as a singer, Elvis had shown interest in becoming an actor. His screen idols were James Dean, Marlon Brando and Tony Curtis.When he first met his future manager, Colonel Tom Parker, he expressed an interest in the movies and his desire to be an actor. His wish came true, with this upcoming movie. As a movie itself, a song "Love me tender", which Elvis preforms in a movie, became a huge hit. That was only an introduction of what is going to happen in his career later in life.

Achieving his dreams in 1955

By 1955 Elvis achieved his dream of being a professional singer even though

he was still mostly uncategorizable and already engendering controversy

 for his wild onstage movements and unbelievable charisma.
 

1955 was the year Elvis hit the road, creating his overnight sensation by rocking out at seemingly every state, high school, and military base from Dallas to Cleveland. Success came quickly, of course, but it came with riots, new love affairs, questionable business practices, the death of an icon, and Cadillac's literally on fire from overuse! But the records show that Elvis' path to stardom, while quick, was not without a ton of work on his part -- having found a musical home at Sun and a touring band that understood his mix of country, blues, R&B, and pop, Presley spent almost every single day of the year working it, touring from New Mexico to Cleveland to the Florida Everglades and performing anywhere that would have him.

          



First records in 1953

 In 1953, during the lunch break Elvis did something that will change his life.

In 1953, Elvis went to the record studio called "Sun records" to record two song for his mother's birthday "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin". He paid around 4$ for it. When he was asked by receptionist Marion Keisker what kind of singer he is, he answered  that he sings all kinds, and when she asked him whom he sound like, Elvis answered that he sounds like nobody. Sun Record's boss Sam Phillips noted down his name and Elvis came back to record in 1954- "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" and "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You", but unfortunately nothing came out of it.

Elvis in High School

In November of 1948, the whole Presley family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Elvis will live for the rest of his life.

He enrolled in to the Humes High School, but surprisingly he had only C from music! Not really good for a future King, right? But, then again he would bring his baby on classes with him. Guitar, of course! He would prove that he had the voice. In early 1950s he started to practice guitar regularly. During his Junior Year he started to stand out more. Most because he grew out his sideburns, and he started to style his hair with rose oil and Vaseline.

In 1953 Elvis entered the talent show. Playing the guitar and singing "Till I Waltz with You Again" he opened the show. Here is how Elvis described that event: ""I wasn't popular in school ... I failed music—only thing I ever failed. And then they entered me in this talent show ... when I came onstage I heard people kind of rumbling and whispering and so forth, 'cause nobody knew I even sang. It was amazing how popular I became after that."

 

By the time he graduated High School in June 1953, Elvis already knew that music is his life.

Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie Presley singing Don't cry daddy

 

This is a little video that I did with some beautiful footage 

of Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie. Hope you'll enjoy it!   

January 8th 1935 The King is born!

Somewhere at the end of June of 1934, Gladys Presley was sure that

she was pregnant.In the 5th month of pregnancy she knew she was having twins...

she could feel two babies moving, she was unusually large and she had a family

                  history of twins.                                  

Elvis's birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi  was built by his father Vernon Presley with 180$ that he borrowed. Gladys and Vernon moved in the house in December of 1934.

In the early morning of January 8th 1935, second baby Elvis Aaron Presley was born. The first baby, Jesse Garon was unfortunately a stillborn and left Elvis growing up as an only child. Shortly after giving birth, Gladys was near to death and she and Elvis had to go in hospital soon. After coming from hospital Gladys was extremely protective over her newborn son, fearing that something bad will happen to him. That's the reason why Elvis was so attached to his mother over the years, until the day she died.

Who was Elvis Presley?

Who was Elvis Aaron Presley?

Why is he so popular 33 years after his death?

Why is he called The King of Rock and Roll Music?

    Find out why is he one of the greatest entertainers of our time...

Before Elvis, primarily black musicians were trying to form a new form of music on stage, but without much success. In 1950s, a good- looking man called Elvis Presley brought sense of showmanship, he brought sex and dance on stage. And while the teenagers were absolutely amazed, parents were shocked. In 1956 he recorded his real big hits such as "Heartbreak Hotel", "That's all right little mama" and "Hound dog".

Elvis preforming "Hound Dog"

 Elvis smiling

In his 20 years long career, he published 97 records, he spent more than 996 weeks on top music charts, he had over 110 top, 40 hit singles, including 18 number one songs.. During his lifetime he sold more than 600 million records, and to date more than one billion.So why is Elvis Presley The King of Rock and Roll music? Because, he practically invented Rock& Roll, because he had such a strong bond with his public that no other entertainer could have, he achieved The American dream. From humble beginnings to the most amazing career in history of music. No one has ever come closer to this amazing record of success and critical acclaim than Elvis Presley.