ELVIS PRESLEY

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ELVIS PRESLEY
THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL
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ELVIS AARON PRESLEY1/8/1935-8/16/1977

• Born in a two-room shotgun house built by his
  father.
• Twin brother, Jesse Garon, was stillborn.
• Was an only child and was unusually close to his
  mother.
• Family lived just above the poverty line.
• Family attended the Assembly of God church.

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• Father-Vernon Elvis Presley had many low-paying
  jobs, including a share-cropper and truck driver.
• Mother-Gladys Love Smith Presley worked as a
  sewing machinist.
• In 1938, Vernon was jailed for an 8 check
  forgery. This eight month incarceration caused
  the family to lose their house and they moved in
  with family.

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Gladys, Elvis, and Vernon Presley in 1937
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• In September 1942, Presley entered first grade at
  Lawhorn School in Tupelo. He was considered a
  "well-mannered and quiet child", but sometimes
  classmates threw "things at himrotten fruit and
  stuffbecause he was different... he stuttered
  and he was a mama's boy.
• On October 3, 1945, at age ten, he made his first
  public performance in a singing contest at the
  Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show at the
  suggestion of his teacher Mrs. J.C. Grimes.
  Dressed as a cowboy, the young Presley had to
  stand on a chair to reach the microphone and sang
  "Old Shep." He came in fifth, winning 5 and a
  free ticket to all the Fair rides.

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• In 1946, for his eleventh birthday, Presley
  received his first guitar. He wanted a bicycle or
  rifle for his birthday, but his parents could
  only afford a guitar.
• After graduation, Presley was still rather shy, a
  "kid who had spent scarcely a night away from
  home". He got a job driving a truck for the Crown
  Electric Company.

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• Went to a studio to record a song for his
  mothers birthday. A record producer heard the
  recording and wanted to know who the singer was.
  He was offered a recording session.
• Thats All Right (Mama) was played on the radio
  and when people called in to see who the artist
  was, the DJ told them Elvis Preston because he
  couldnt pronounce Presley. People just assumed
  that Elvis was black, because of his style of
  singing.

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This is the cover of Elvis very first album.
The photo was taken January 31, 1955. The album
was released in March and went to the top of the
pop chart for 10 weeks.
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• His parents moved home to Memphis, Elvis stayed
  briefly. With increased concerns over privacy and
  security, Graceland was bought and renovated in
  1957, a mansion with several acres of land. This
  was Presley's primary residence until his death.

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• In 1957, Elvis received his draft notice. He was
  allowed to finish filming a movie King Creole
  that he was working on.
• One March 24, 1958, Elvis was inducted as US Army
  private 53310761.
• He went to basic training at Fort Hood, TX and
  was then stationed in Friedberg, Germany from
  October 1958 to March 1960.
• While in Germany, he met his future wife,
  Pricilla at a party.

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Elvis when he arrived in Germany
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• In August 1958, Elvis mother was diagnosed with
  hepatitis. He was granted emergency leave to see
  her. Two days after he got home she passed away.
  He was very distraught, having been so close to
  her.
• He returned to the US in March of 1960 and was
  honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant.

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• Elvis married Priscilla on May 1, 1967 at the
  Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
• Their only child, Lisa Marie, was born 9 months
  to the day after the wedding, on February 1, 1968.

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• Elvis and Priscilla ended up divorcing in October
  1973. They shared custody of their daughter.
• After his divorce, Presley became increasingly
  unwell, with prescription drugs affecting his
  health, mood and his stage act. His diet had
  always been unhealthy, and he now had significant
  weight problems.
• Despite his obvious problems, shows in Omaha,
  Nebraska and Rapid City, South Dakota were
  recorded for an album and a CBS-TV special Elvis
  In Concert.

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• Another tour was scheduled to begin August 17,
  1977, but at Graceland the day before, Presley
  was found on his bathroom floor by fiancée,
  Ginger Alden.
• In two lab reports filed two months later, each
  indicated "a strong belief that the primary cause
  of death was polypharmacy," with one report
  "indicating the detection of fourteen drugs in
  Elvis' system, ten in significant quantity."

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President Jimmy Carter issued a statement after
Elvis death

• Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a
  part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable.
  More than 20 years ago, he burst upon the scene
  with an impact that was unprecedented and will
  probably never be equaled. His music and his
  personality, fusing the styles of white country
  and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed
  the face of American popular culture. His
  following was immense, and he was a symbol to
  people the world over of the vitality,
  rebelliousness, and good humor of his country.

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Elvis in 1958 before being drafted.
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Elvis and President Richard Nixon in 1970
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Ms. Todds favorite picture of Elvis
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Elvis in Rapid City, SD the year he died