Elvis Presley in pictures: the life and passing of a legend

The biopic about Elvis is making waves
Austin Butler and Tom Hanks
His biography, from young Elvis to Vegas Elvis
Elvis had a twin brother
The house where he was born
Inspiration in church
Trying to impress his music teacher
Lauderdale Courts
Popular musician at school
Graduated in 1953
First single at Sun Records
Truck driver
Another shot: 'That's All Right'
Beginning of fame
Dancing like they'd never seen it
Tennessee star
His manager: Tom Parker
New contract
From country to pop
Love Me Tender
Box office success
Fans
Hysteria
Enlistment
Days off
There, he met his future wife
Amphetamines
He donated his salary
'Elvis is Back!'
Elvis films
GI Blues - 1960
Flaming Star - 1960
Wild in the Country - (1961)
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
Frankie and Johnny (1966)
Clambake (1967)
Elvis NBC TV (1968)
Charro! (1969)
Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)
Wedding to Priscilla
Lisa Marie
Concerns about his health
Admitted to clinics
He never stopped performing
New albums
Permanent success
New love: Ginger Alden
Last show
The death of Elvis Presley
Farewell to an immense star
Posthumous works
Gospel revival
Named highest-paid by Forbes in the 2000s
Shows with his music to this day
The King is still alive
The biopic about Elvis is making waves

Elvis Presley was second to none. A complete artist who marked the history of music, film and fashion. He died young but left an extraordinary legacy of timeless songs and images of his fascinating stage presence.

Austin Butler and Tom Hanks

In 2022, his trajectory is told in cinemas through the film 'Elvis' Austin Butler plays the King of Rock, and Tom Hanks will play the singer's manager, 'Colonel' Tom Parker.

 

His biography, from young Elvis to Vegas Elvis

In this gallery, we have gathered pictures of several moments of Elvis Presley's life and many curiosities about him. Check it out!

Elvis had a twin brother

On 8th January 1935, Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi (United States). He had a twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, who was born 35 minutes earlier but did not survive.

The house where he was born

The house where Elvis was born was built by his father, Vernon Elvis, and is now open to visitors. They would live in Tupelo until Elvis was 13, and then they moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

Inspiration in church

Still in the city of Tupelo, the family attended an evangelical church. There, Elvis found his initial musical inspiration.

Trying to impress his music teacher

Elvis was shy at school, but he did not accept the music teacher's opinion about his lack of aptitude for singing. To prove her wrong, Elvis brought his guitar to school and sang "Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me".

Lauderdale Courts

Elvis Presley began studying guitar with a neighbor, and soon after, teamed up with three friends, including two future rockabilly pioneers, to form a musical collective. They often played in Lauderdale Courts (the housing complex where Elvis lived).

Popular musician at school

In the group's first year, Elvis attracted more attention than his peers. His hairstyle, flamboyant style, empathy, and talent made him most popular at school.

 

Graduated in 1953

When he finished school in 1953, he already had decided music was to be his life's work.

First single at Sun Records

In August 1953, Elvis rented the Memphis-based Sun Studio for a few minutes so he could make a record for his mother's birthday. The single had two tracks: 'My Happiness' and 'That's When Your Heartaches Begin.'

Truck driver

In 1954, on the Sun Records label, Elvis released a second album, but it had little success. The young singer was told he would not make it in the business, and he found a job as a truck driver at a transport company.

Another shot: 'That's All Right'

But he didn't give up on his dream. He auditioned to be the vocalist of some bands, without success, and he released a blues song, 'That's All Right', along with Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (bass). The latter did bring them some recognition from the people at Sun Studios.

Beginning of fame

The performance, completely unlike anything he had ever tried, earned him a record. In the days that followed, the trio recorded 'Blue Moon of Kentucky.' They used the same, distinctive style, which Sam Phillips dubbed "slapback."

Dancing like they'd never seen it

But it wasn't just the music itself that brought Elvis fame. He especially drove the audience crazy with his voice and way of dancing.

Tennessee star

He made his first television appearance on the KSLA-TV broadcast of Louisiana Hayride. From there, touring increased, as well as record releases, which made him a regional Tennessee star.

His manager: Tom Parker

Elvis Presley then signed a management contract with Bob Neill and Tom Parker, whom he considered the best manager in the music industry. Together, they furthered Elvis' career and maintained an extensive touring schedule.

New contract

On January 10, 1956, Elvis made his first recordings for RCA Victor in Nashville. In March of the same year, the contract with Neill was terminated and Parker took over the entire career of Elvis.

From country to pop

RCA Victor released the debut album, along with five previously unreleased Sun recordings. Among the seven tracks, there were two country tracks and one pop.

Love Me Tender

Thus, Elvis became more and more of a hype. The hit 'Love Me Tender' reached the top of the charts and became the theme and title of his first film.

Box office success

The film did not please the critics, but at the box office, it was a phenomenon.

Fans

During this time, Elvis undertook three brief tours. The fans' adoration for him was frightening. A Detroit newspaper said, "The problem with going to see Elvis Presley is that you risk getting killed."

Hysteria

Several manifestations of vandalism took place at Elvis' performances. For example when students in Philadelphia threw eggs during the show. In Vancouver, the crowd destroyed the stage.

Enlistment

In early 1958, Elvis was drafted into the United States Army. His arrival was a major media event. Hundreds of people gathered, and when he got off the bus, photographers accompanied him to the fort.

Days off

During his breaks from military service, he devoted himself to his musical career. However, he continued as an officer and, after training, joined the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.

There, he met his future wife

In Germany, Elvis met Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. She was 14 years old at the time, and he was 24.

 

Amphetamines

It was also the place where he learned about the working of amphetamines, which enabled him to do anything. A beginning of drug use that would eventually lead to his downfall.

He donated his salary

Elvis was the richest private in the base. He donated his salary to charity, bought TV sets for the division and uniforms for everyone.

'Elvis is Back!'

In 1960, Elvis was discharged from the rank of sergeant, and his return home also drew crowds. Between recordings, he released the hit 'Elvis Is Back!', which, after just a few days, became number two on the charts.

Elvis films

Elvis' music career was in full swing and the element of Hollywood productions was intensified. During the 1960s, Elvis appeared in several film productions. Virtually all of them were box office successes.

GI Blues - 1960

In 1960, he starred in his first film, after leaving the army. It was military themed, very fitting. His co-star was Juliet Prowse.

Flaming Star - 1960

In this film, released in the same year, he played a descendant of a native American Indian. He shared the screen with Barbara Eden.

Wild in the Country - (1961)

The seventh Elvis Presley film was directed by Philip Dunne. In the plot, he plays Glenn Tyler, a young man who is always in trouble with his family. His co-star was Millie Perkins.

Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Viva Las Vegas (1964) was a film that won over critics and audiences for the quality of the soundtrack and the performances of Presley and Ann-Margret.

Frankie and Johnny (1966)

In 1966, he starred in the film 'Frankie and Johnny', a western in which he plays a riverboat player.

Clambake (1967)

In one of Elvis Presley's biggest blockbusters, he played the role of Scott Hayward, a young man who embarks on a ship in search of finding himself and faces a whole bunch of adventures.

Elvis NBC TV (1968)

The year 1968 marked the Elvis NBC TV special. It aired on December 3, to critical and public acclaim.

Charro! (1969)

In 'Charro!', a western from the year 1969, Elvis is Jess Wade, a kind of 'ex-anti-hero,' tormented by the members of his old gang. It's the only movie in which he doesn't sing.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)

This documentary, directed by Denis Sanders, portrays Presley's shows, rehearsals and backstage life at the Las Vegas Summer Festival in 1970, one of the most emblematic moments of the singer's career.

Wedding to Priscilla

Personally, he married the sweetheart from his army years: Priscilla Beaulieu. In 1967, they tied the knot in a brief ceremony in Las Vegas.

Lisa Marie

Nine months after the marriage, on February 1, 1968, the couple's only child was born: Lisa Marie.

Concerns about his health

Unfortunately, the marriage did not prosper, and the divorce arrived in 1973. From then on, the addictions and health of the rock legend began to go into serious decline.

Admitted to clinics

That year, he twice overdosed on barbiturates and spent three days unconscious. He was even hospitalized and in a coma, due to the effects of pethidine consumption.

He never stopped performing

Although weakened, in 1974, his schedule was the busiest of his entire career. Elvis Presley honored all commitments.

New albums

Between July 1973 and October 1976, the singer practically recorded six entire albums.

Permanent success

Five of those albums made it into the top 5 of the country chart, and three reached number 1. We are talking about 'Promised Land' (1975), 'From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee' (1976), and 'Moody Blue' (1977).

New love: Ginger Alden

After he and Priscilla split up in 1973, Elvis had a relationship with songwriter Linda Thompson. In 1976, he began dating Ginger Alden. Within two months of the relationship, he proposed to her and gave her an engagement ring.

Last show

The artist's last show was held in Indianapolis at the Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977.

The death of Elvis Presley

It was on August 16, 1977, that Elvis Presley passed away. The cause of his death still generates much debate and speculation. However, most versions of the story tend to agree that he had a cardiac arrhythmia.

Farewell to an immense star

The world stopped to mourn the death of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. His grave at the Graceland estate where he spent many of his later years, is visited by fans and curious tourists to this day.

Posthumous works

A series of Elvis' works were released posthumously. Between 1977 and 1981, six of his singles became top ten hits in the United States.

Gospel revival

In 2018, RCA/Legacy released 'Where No One Stands Alone', a new album focused on Elvis' love of gospel music.

Named highest-paid by Forbes in the 2000s

From 2005 to 2010, Elvis was named by Forbes the highest-paid deceased celebrity in the world. His income was around $60 million.

Shows with his music to this day

Elvis' ranking was boosted by the celebration of its 75th anniversary and the launch of Cirque du Soleil's 'Viva Elvis' show in Las Vegas.

 

The King is still alive

The King continues to live in our collective memory and our hearts, and productions like Cirque du Soleil or the movie 'Elvis' will probably not be the last.

(Image: Austin Butler as Elvis, 2022)

More for you