Elvis Presley: The King of Rock'n'Roll

January 8, 1935 two children are born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in Tupelo,

Mississippi. Sadly though the first born named Jessie Garon is born a stillborn, meaning born

dead. The second is born alive and healthier than ever and he is named Elvis Aaron.

Growing up Elvis had no siblings but on the bright side he grew up within a close-knit

family. There is little money in his family but like what a lot of parents do Vernon and Gladys do

all they can possibly do to provide for their son the light of their lives. Elvis wants a bicycle but

his parents cannot afford it, so his mother talks him into accepting a guitar instead which only

cost $12.95 at the Tupelo Hardware Company.

When Elvis was ten years old he won fifth place singing “Old Shep” in the youth talent

contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show held in Tupelo. A couple years later

Elvis plays his guitar and sings “Leaf on a Tree” for his Milam Junior High class in Tupelo as he

said goodbye to all his friends. After that Elvis and his Parents move to Memphis, Tennessee, in

the search of a new life economically.

Elvis and his parents live in public housing or low rent home in the poor neighborhoods

of north Memphis. Vernon and Gladys struggle going from job to job while their son Elvis

attends L.C. Humes High School. Elvis and his family start to attend the Assembly of God

Church. Elvis also helps himself and his parents by working various jobs. As Elvis enters his

teenage years he is still known for playing and singing with his guitar.

He starts buying his clothes on Beale Street and starts to like the black blues and

gospel he hears there. He regularly attends the all-night, white and black, gospel sings that are

downtown....

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...g soon. The day of his death was on

August 16, 1977, it was a little after midnight when Elvis returned to Graceland from a late night

visit to the dentist. He went to bed and like most old men he awoke and went to the restroom.

Sadly, the next morning he was found on his thrown (toilet) dead from doctors figured was heart

failure.

In a matter of hours people are crying all over the world from the sadness of Elvis

Presley’s death. His funeral was held on August 18, 1977, on that October 2nd

bodies were moved to Graceland.

Things that happened after Elvis died were that on June 7, 1982 Graceland opens to the

public. In 1984 Elvis record sales go through the roof by topping one billion worldwide, January

23, 1986 Elvis is inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame during the first induction dinner.

Works Cited

www.elvis.com

www.historychannel.com