Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley grew up in a working-class family whose fortunes were shaped by the Great Depression. His father, Vernon, moved between jobs, and his mother, Gladys, was a central presence in his life. The family attended an Assembly of God church, where the gospel music Presley heard on Sundays became one of his deepest musical influences. As a teenager in Memphis, he listened to country, blues, and rhythm and blues on the radio, and the city's musical mix became his education. He graduated from Humes High School in 1953. After brief jobs that included driving a truck for Crown Electric, he paid to make a private recording at Sun Studio and soon caught the attention of producer Sam Phillips.

In 1954, Presley recorded That's All Right with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black for Sun Records. The record mixed country and blues in a way that fit neither category cleanly, and it became a regional hit. His early Sun singles and live shows made him a local sensation, and by 1955 he had signed with RCA Victor, with Colonel Tom Parker as his manager. The 1956 single Heartbreak Hotel made him a national star. Televised appearances on programs hosted by Ed Sullivan, Milton Berle, and Steve Allen brought his hip-shaking performing style into millions of homes and provoked both excitement and criticism.

Presley's first album, Elvis Presley, and the singles Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel consolidated his popularity. He moved into films with Love Me Tender (1956), Loving You (1957), Jailhouse Rock (1957), and King Creole (1958), and he bought Graceland in Memphis in 1957. In 1958 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany until 1960; during that period his mother died, a loss that affected him deeply. After his discharge, he concentrated on a series of Hollywood musicals, including Blue Hawaii (1961) and Viva Las Vegas (1964), while his recording output shifted toward film soundtracks and ballads.

By the late 1960s, Presley's record sales and film career had declined. The 1968 NBC television special, later known as the Comeback Special, returned him to live performance in a stripped-down rock setting and drew a large audience. In 1969 he began a series of engagements at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, and recordings such as Suspicious Minds and In the Ghetto restored him to the pop charts. He married Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967; their daughter, Lisa Marie, was born in 1968, and the couple divorced in 1973. His later years were marked by demanding tours and health problems, including dependence on prescription drugs.

Presley died at Graceland in 1977. Graceland opened to the public in 1982 and became one of Memphis's most visited attractions. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and his recordings have remained in print and been reissued. His 1950s work, in particular, helped establish the sound, image, and commercial scale of rock and roll.

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, United States. In Cardology (Destiny Cards), January 8, 1935 corresponds to the Six of Spades, making the Six of Spades his Birth Card.

In numerology, the name adds another layer to the birth-date profile. The letters of a person’s name are used to explore inner motivation, personality, expression, and the qualities they bring into relationships and everyday life. Explore how his original name Elvis Aaron Presley influences his life and personality.