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'55 Singer Elvis Presley

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Elvis Presley (1935-1977)

The rise and fall of the King of rock 'n' roll.

/ 18 PHOTOS
Photo of Elvis Presley

Young King

Elvis Presley with mother Gladys and father Vernon in 1938. Vernon Presley was a sharecropper and truck driver, while Gladys was a sewing machine operator. The couple was married in 1933. Young Elvis Aaron Presley was born on Jan. 8, 1935.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Elvis Presley's debut RCA album. Photo taken on January 31, 1955

Debut album

Elvis Presley's debut RCA album. Photo taken on January 31, 1955

'55 Singer Elvis Presley

Shake it, baby

Presley performs during a concert in the mid 1950s. Presley's hip gyrations caused a storm of controversy during early TV appearances on Milton Berle and Steve Allen's talk shows.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Elvis Sings

Thrilling the masses

Presley sings and dances on stage before a predominantly female audience. The singer attracted hordes of teenage fans, which led one New York Daily News critic to write that pop music "has reached its lowest depths in the 'grunt and groin' antics of one Elvis Presley."

Photo of Elvis Presley

Silver-screen King

"Jailhouse Rock" was Presley's third Hollywood movie. He'd already made "Love Me Tender" and "Loving You." Presley made a total of 31 movies.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Photo of Elvis Presley

The military years

Presley received his draft notice on Dec. 20, 1957. He chose not to receive special treatment and was posted in Friedberg, Germany. He returned to the U.S. on March 2, 1960.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Elvis Presley In Blue Hawaii

A wave of success

Presley starred as Chad Gates in 1961's "Blue Hawaii." The film told the story of a soldier who'd recently gotten out of the army and was celebrating with his buddies in Hawaii. It featured Angela Lansbury in a supporting role.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Mr And Mrs Presley

Happy couple

Presley holds hands with his bride, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, on their wedding day, May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive
NIXON PRESLEY

Baffling meeting

President Richard Nixon meets with Presley on Dec. 21, 1970, in Washington, D.C. The meeting between two of the most improbable cultural icons of the 1970s lasted all of 30 minutes, but it has fascinated the nation for years.

BUD KROGH/WHITE HOUSE PHOTO
Photo of Elvis Presley

Little Lisa Marie

Lisa Marie Presley was born Feb. 1, 1968, to Elvis and Priscilla. Lisa Marie has been married four times -- Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage were two of her husbands. Lisa Marie inherited her father's estate when she was 30.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Elvis Presley performs onstage In Hawaii

Classic concert

Presley performs onstage at the International Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Jan. 14, 1973. The "Aloha from Hawaii" concert was broadcast via satellite and reached at least a billion viewers.

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives
Elvis Presley With Girlfriend Linda Thompson Arrive At Hotel After Concert - March 21, 1976

Life after Priscilla

Presley with girlfriend Linda Thompson at the Hilton Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thompson began a relationship with the recently separated Presley in 1972. She lived with him at Graceland for three and a half years.

Tom Wargacki / WireImage
Headlines After Elvis' Death

Shocking news

The front page of the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., delivers the news the day after Presley's death. The main headline reads "Death Captures Crown of Rock and Roll -- Elvis Dies Apparently After Heart Attack." Later it was found that drug use played a role in Presley's death.

Elvis Presley's Grave

Paying homage

An annual procession through the Graceland estate and past Presley's grave takes place every year on the anniversary of his death (Aug. 16, 1977). The largest gathering to date was in 2002 and estimated at 40,000 visitors.

Ron Galella / WireImage
Fans Gather In Memphis For Elvis Week

We'll leave the light on

Mark Omdahl of North Dakota, dressed as Elvis Presley, sings during a candlelight vigil on the 28th anniversary of Presley's death during Elvis Week 2005 at Graceland.

Carlo Allegri / Getty Images North America
Image:

35th anniversary

Fans from around the world take part in a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn., home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.

Mark Humphrey / AP
Image: 35th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley

Sing along

A group of Australian Elvis fans lines the driveway of Graceland on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 to pay tribute to Presley on the 35th anniversary of this death.

Lance Murphy / EPA
Image:

Paying respects

Fans pass by Elvis Presley's grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012.

Mark Humphrey / AP
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