Early Life
Presley moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee, as a teenager, where he absorbed gospel, blues and country music.
Career
He began recording at Sun Records in 1954 and signed with RCA Victor in 1955. Hits such as “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a national sensation, and he starred in a string of films beginning with Love Me Tender (1956). After serving in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960, he returned to recording, gave a celebrated 1968 television comeback special, and later performed extensively in Las Vegas.
Legacy
Presley died at his Graceland home in Memphis in 1977, at age 42. Graceland is now a museum, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its inaugural class of 1986.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24