NAME: Elvis Presley
BORN: 08/01/1935
BIRTH PLACE: Mississippi, USA
DIED: 16/08/1977


BIOGRAPHY

Elvis Aaron Presley grew up an only child in a poor family (a twin brother was stillborn). On his eleventh birthday, Elvis received his first guitar from his mother. Two years later, the Presleys moved to Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from High School in 1953, the eighteen-year-old Elvis began driving a delivery truck.

At the Memphis Recording Service, also the home of Sun Records, Sam Philips liked his style and he was teamed up with Scotty Moore and Bill Black as a trio. Their first songs became popular in 1954.

Presley hired Colonel Tom Parker as his manager, and they negotiated an agreement with RCA Records that would bring him stardom.

Elvis was drafted into the army at the height of his popularity, but two years later he was discharged after the death of his mother.

He was married to Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. They had a daughter, but after only eight years, Elvis and Priscilla were divorced.

Elvis' hits included 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Hound Dog', 'Love Me Tender', 'All Shook Up', 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'In the Ghetto'.

His music borrowed from black roll and roll, but also from country. It mixed these influences with white popular music, and gained a mainstream audience. His hip-shaking dance moves caused controversy and he became known as "Elvis, the Pelvis".

Elvis devoted much of the 1960's to making movies which were popular but critically unrecognised.

Elvis had the most Top Forty Hits, Top Ten Hits, and the most weeks at number one of all time.

In 1977 Elvis was found dead in the bathroom of his Graceland mansion. He had become addicted to drugs and was considerably overweight.

But rumours still persist that Elvis is alive, and many claim to have seen him over the years.
FILMOGRAPHY

Change of Habit (1969)
Trouble with Girls, The (1969)
Charro! (1969) Wade
Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
Speedway (1968)
Stay Away, Joe (1968)
Clambake (1967)
Double Trouble (1967)
Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
Spinout (1966)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
Frankie and Johnny (1966)
Harum Scarum (1965)
Tickle Me (1965)
Girl Happy (1965)
Roustabout (1964)
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Kissin' Cousins (1964)
Fun in Acapulco (1963)
It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
Kid Galahad (1962)
Follow That Dream (1962)
Blue Hawaii (1961)
Wild in the Country (1961)
Flaming Star (1960)
G.I. Blues (1960)
King Creole (1958)
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Loving You (1957)
Love Me Tender (1956)