Elvis Aaron Presley was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, and moved to Memphis as a teenager, absorbing the musical crossroads of Beale Street, church choirs, and radio broadcasts. He recorded at Sun Studio in 1954 with producer Sam Phillips, who sought a white singer who could deliver black rhythm-and-blues with authentic feel. 'That's All Right' announced a sound that was simultaneously familiar and shocking to segregated America.

National fame arrived through television appearances that showcased Presley's voice, charisma, and hip movements deemed provocative by guardians of public morality. RCA Victor bought out his Sun contract, and hits such as 'Heartbreak Hotel,' 'Hound Dog,' and 'Jailhouse Rock' dominated charts while he filmed a string of profitable movies. Military service in Germany from 1958 to 1960 interrupted but did not end his career; the 1968 television comeback special reasserted his relevance before Las Vegas residencies and arena tours defined his seventies.

Presley's later years mixed spectacular live performance with prescription drug dependence, weight gain, and isolation at Graceland. He died in Memphis in August 1977 at forty-two, prompting global mourning. Graceland became a pilgrimage site, and sales of his recordings continued to break records decades after his death, cementing his status as the best-selling solo artist in popular music history.

1. 1954

   Sun Studio Sessions

   Recorded 'That's All Right' with Scotty Moore and Bill Black at Sun Records.

2. 1956

   National Breakthrough

   Released 'Heartbreak Hotel' and appeared on national television to enormous audiences.

3. 1958

   Army Enlistment

   Drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany for two years.

4. 1968

   Comeback Special

   Aired the '68 Comeback Special, ending years of declining critical respect.

5. 1977

   Death at Graceland

   Found unresponsive at his Memphis home; cardiac arrhythmia cited as cause.