Eighty-one years ago today, in the city of Tupelo, Mississippi, a baby was born who would one day grow up to be Elvis Presley, a man many called “The King of Rock and Roll.”
If you’re anything like me, you can’t help but remember the King with nostalgia on his birthday. He may have passed on a long while back, but his music and his reputation will live on for decades to come!
These days, just about everyone cherishes their own favorite memory of Elvis’ tenure as the undisputed ruler of the pop world. Whether you remember him for his signature swingy dance moves, or for his musical movies like Viva Las Vegas, Elvis definitely left a legacy behind him!
Over the course of his career, Presley garnered fame as a musical legend, an accomplished actor, a brave veteran, and as a husband and father. He overcome a tough childhood to become one of the biggest households names in pop culture history!
Are you a big fan of the King? Let us know your favorite Elvis memories in the comments below!
Though Elvis was born in Mississippi, his family moved to Memphis when he was a teenager.
He already had an aptitude for music, and he soaked up the blues and gospel culture of the city, and started cultivating the rockabilly sound that made him famous.
At 18, he walked into Sun Records to pay to make a demo. His record didn't attract much attention at the time, and he became a truck driver to make ends meet.
But a year later, his recording paid off, when he was noticed by the label and signed to Sun Records.
By the mid-'50s, Elvis was playing live all over Memphis, and beginning to attract attention for his distinctive vocals and his provocative dancing, which was considered scandalous at the time.
In 1956, his first label record was released, and it quickly rose to the top of the charts, the first rock and roll album ever to do so.
Soon, he was booking coveted late-night gigs on shows like The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, where he played early hits like "Hound Dog" and "Blue Suede Shoes."
These late-night slots truly brought him into the limelight, and made Elvis a superstar.
After these bookings, his shows started to attract massive crowds at shows where fans would faint, scream, and riot over his music.
Soon, Elvis had parlayed his wildly successful music career into a new role: movie star.
He starred in a number of films over the next decade, most of which were designed specifically to highlight his musical talents.
He's pictured above in 1957, with his costar Judy Tyler in Jailhouse Rock.
But in 1958, Elvis put his entertainment career on hold and drew national acclaim when he received his draft notice for the United States Army.
As a celebrity, he probably could have avoided duty, but he chose to join up, a move which impressed every American familiar with his name.
Above, he's pictured with his parents before heading to basic training.
In 1960, after being promoted to sergeant and meeting his future wife, Priscilla, he returned from West Germany.
He continued to actively pursue a film career, racking up success after success. He and Priscilla settled down, and the pair started a family.
But the pop star was still struggling with some of the challenges of fame.
In 1970, Elvis went back on tour, performing all over America and wowing crowds everywhere.
He met President Nixon, who thanked him for his service, and cemented his status as an American icon.
Though his marriage and career would wind down over the next few years, leading up to his death in 1977, Elvis will always retain his place as one of the most important figures in pop culture.
He changed the entire landscape of American music, and influenced countless musicians who came after him.
Today, on his 81st birthday, we can all join together to celebrate a true icon!
Were you interested to learn all about Elvis' life? Then check out the video below of him performing "Hound Dog," and don't forgot to SHARE this story on Facebook!
