Elvis Presley's Incredible Life in Photos (2024)

1935: A Young Elvis

Elvis Aron Presley was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Gladys and Vernon Presley. He had an identical twin brother named Jesse Garon Presley, who was stillborn.

1940: Growing Up

Presley was born into a religious working class family. As a child, he moved frequently and was very close with his parents.

1946: A Major Influence

Presley's family attended the Assembly of God Church, which is where he was introduced to Gospel music. At 11 years old, he received his first guitar for his birthday and began making music. Later in life, the singer won three of his Grammys for Gospel tracks.

1953: Graduating High School

In 1953, Presley graduated from Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Here he is in his school's ROTC uniform. After graduating, he worked odd jobs to save enough money to record a demo.

1953: A Studio Contract

Presley caught the attention of Sun Studio owner Sam Phillips, who cut the young singer's first single "That's All Right." Presley signed with the studio and began touring around the country to boost his profile.

1954: Iconic Dance Moves

Presley gained a following on tour, but it wasn't just his music that caught the eye of teenagers, it was his dance moves. The singer's unique gyrating hips became a signature move.

1954: His First Single

A teenage Elvis holds a stack of 45s of his first commercial recording, "That's All Right, Mama." It only took two takes in the studio to get the song right.

1955: A Record Deal

With the help of Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, the singer's contract with Sun Studio was bought out by the major record label RCA Records for $35,000. RCA also bought the rights to Presley's previously recorded songs.

1955: Scotty Moore

Elvis performs with guitarist Scotty Moore, a member of his backing band, The Blue Moon Boys. Moore eventually became the singer's first manager in the early days of his career, and they remained close through the years. "Elvis loved Scotty dearly and treasured those amazing years together, both in the studio and on the road," Priscilla Presley shared in a statement following Moore's death in 2016.

Circa 1955: A Special Friendship

Liberace took Elvis under his wing and acted as a mentor to him. They bonded over their love of music and wanting to have unique identities in the industry. "Elvis admired the persona of Liberace, how he went out on a limb, [dared to be] different," Richard Zoglin, author of Elvis in Vegas: How the King Reinvented the Las Vegas Show, told PalmSpringLife.com.

1956: His Big Break

After signing with RCA, Presley's career took an upward turn. His new single "Heartbreak Hotel" climbed the charts and quickly took over the top spot.

1956: A National TV Debut

Presley's debut on national television was on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in 1956. Afterward, the singer became a regular appearing on various variety shows.

1956: The Million Dollar Quartet

Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash teamed up for a one-night studio session in 1956. Music's biggest names—later dubbed "The Million Dollar Quartet"—came together at Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.

1956: A Top Album

To capitalize on Presley's growing popularity, RCA released an album called Elvis Presley, which was made up of songs he had previously recorded with Sun Studios and new tracks. The album quickly rose to the number one spot on the charts.

1956: Headed to Hollywood

Thanks to his mainstream appeal, Presley snagged himself a three-year contract with Paramount Pictures in 1956. Soon he was embarking on a promising film career.

1956: A Film Debut

Presley made his on-screen debut in Love Me Tender, which was a hit at the box office. Presley's move into film was huge for his career and, by the end of the year, he was one of the most high-profile celebrities of the decade.

1956: His Famous Hair

In the mid-'50s, Elvis was often spotted with his signature comb. His natural hair color was sandy blonde, and he dyed it jet black. He used the same salon and stylist as other stars of the time, like Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, and Rock Hudson.

1957: Say Hello to Graceland

Presley returned to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee in 1957 and purchased his now famous mansion, Graceland.

1957: 'Jailhouse Rock'

One of Presley's most famous songs was "Jailhouse Rock," which he recorded for the 1957 film of the same title. Here, he poses for a promotional shoot for the movie.

1957: Becoming The King

Presley starred in three films by the end of 1957 and secured a devoted fanbase, which led to him being dubbed The King of Rock 'n' Roll by reporters. The nickname stuck and soon enough he simply became known as The King.

1957: Getting Drafted

At the height of his career, Presley was drafted into the military and served two years in the Korean War. When news that The King was drafted spread, fans were outraged, but he insisted on serving his country. He received deferment so that he could complete production on King Creole and entered the army as a private in 1958.

1958: Losing His Mother

Presley was incredibly close to his mother, Gladys, and took an emergency leave after basic training to visit her before she passed away in 1958.

1958: Life in the Military

The star sailed to Europe on the USS General Randall after joining the 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Division in Germany. He served with this division for 18 months before finishing his service requirement from a military base in Bad Nauheim.

1959: Meeting Priscilla

While living on the German army base, Presley met 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, who was living there with her parents. The two began a relationship, despite their 10-year age difference.

1960: Coming Home

In 1960, Presley was honorably discharged from the United States Army and returned home. After two years in service, the singer rose to the rank of Sargent and earned numerous medals. Here, his father Vernon admires his honors, while posing for a photo outside of Graceland.

1960: Returning to the Screen

After being discharged, Presley returned to Hollywood and continued to appear in box office hits. In 1960, he starred in the film G.I. Blues, for which he also recorded one of his most successful albums.

1960: Meeting Royalty

Even royalty was smitten with Elvis. In 1960, he took time out from shooting G.I. Blues to meet Princess Margrethe of Denmark, Princess Astrid of Norway, and Princess Margaretha of Sweden.

1960: Putting Fans First

Elvis's fanbase grew over time, and he always appreciated the love. Here, he chats with a few lucky supporters while shooting a movie. "Without my fans, I wouldn't be anything except maybe still a truck driver. They mean everything to me," he once said.

1961: 'Blue Hawaii'

Presley traveled to Hawaii to film Blue Hawaii in 1961. The movie was a hit and the accompanying album was his best-selling to day, selling 2 million copies in the first 12 months. One of his most successful singles "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" was recorded for the film. Afterward, the South Pacific state became a favorite vacation spot for him.

1962: Renewing His Contract

By 1962, RCA Records opted to renew their contract with Presley, signing him to a four-year contract.

1963: Priscilla Moves to Memphis

Two years after his discharge, Elvis invited Priscilla to join him in the United States. Now 17 years old, her parents allowed her to visit the star multiple times before the teenager moved to Memphis in 1963 to finish high school and live with the rock star at Graceland.

1963: Can't Help Falling in Love

Presley costarred in Viva Las Vegas with Ann-Margret in 1963, and the two began a year-long affair. The Hollywood leading lady claimed that the relationship ended in 1964, when Presley believed she leaked to the tabloids that they were secretly engaged.

1964: His Biggest Film Yet

Viva Las Vegas ended up being the rock star's highest-grossing film, while the soundtrack was a hit too, beating out Beatlemania’s "A Hard Day's Night." Presley also managed to negotiate a contract with MGM where he earned $1 million per film in 1964.

1965: The Gold Cadillac

Presley brought his iconic gold Cadillac on tour with him to promote his film Tickle Me. The custom-made car was outfitted with luxury features, including gold-trimmed seats and a gold-plated TV. The rock star bought the automobile from Southern Motors for $11,064.25 in 1959 and continued to add upgrades over the next few years.

1967: Getting Married

After proposing in December of 1966, Elvis and Priscilla were married in a Las Vegas ceremony on May 1, 1967. The couple, who had been living together for five years, claim they were not intimate with one another until their wedding night, despite implications from the press that said otherwise.

1968: Becoming a Dad

Nine months after their Las Vegas nuptials, Elvis and Priscilla welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, on February 1, 1968. Here, the couple are photographed in the hospital before bringing Lisa Marie home to Graceland.

1968: The 68 Comeback

After his film success started to decline and it became clear Presley was losing some of his box office charm, he returned to TV with a special in 1968. Many claim the singer recorded the special as a comeback and it became known as the 68 Comeback. Either way, the special worked and audiences were once again enamored with Presley—and his black leather suit.

1969: His Final Film

The singer decided to refocus his energy on music after 1969's Change of Habit. It ended up being the last film he starred in before his passing almost a decade later.

1970: Taking on Las Vegas

In 1970, Presley had on a one-month residence in Las Vegas, where he introduced people to his karate dance moves and his famous white and gold jumpsuit. The singer recorded the album On Stage from these shows.

1971: A Lifetime Achievement Award

In 1971, Presley was honored with the Grammy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, which is granted to artists who "during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording," according to grammy.com.

1973: A Divorce Is Granted

Elvis and Priscilla separated on February 23, 1972 and finalized their divorce on October 9, 1973, after reaching a shared custody plan for their daughter, Lisa Marie. The proceedings took a year to finalize, after Priscilla filed for divorce after having an affair with her Karate instructor. "I did not divorce him because I didn't love him. He was the love of my life, but I had to find out about the world," Priscilla told Entertainment Tonight in 2016.

1973: Finding Love Again

1973: An Urgent Hospitalization

In November 1973, Presley was hospitalized for pneumonia, pleurisy, hepatitis, and an enlarged colon. The rock star's many ailments were the result of his drug dependency. After his hospitalization, he continued to perform until he had to be hospitalized once again.

1973: 'Aloha From Hawaii'

Presley arrives in Honolulu, Hawaii for his internationally televised concert Aloha From Hawaii. The concert was broadcasted via live satellite, which was very savvy for the time and was a huge success.

1974: Doting Dad

Elvis and Priscilla were granted shared custody of their 4-year-old daughter following their divorce. After they split, Priscilla moved to Los Angeles, while Elvis's primary residence remained Graceland.

1977: His Final Concert

The King's last concert was in June 1977. Presley performed for a crowd in Indianapolis, Indiana, after which he went home to Graceland ahead of his next tour.

1977: A Tragic Loss

Presley was found dead in 1977, after suffering heart failure at the age of 42. His untimely death was linked to his years of prescription drug use.

1982: Graceland Opens to the Public

In 1982, Priscilla Presley continued The King's legacy by opening Graceland to the public. The decision took his fortune from $1 million at the time of his death to $100 million by 1993.

2019: A Lasting Legacy

Although it has been more than 40 years since Presley graced an audience, his legacy lives on. Graceland now boasts visitors of 500,000 or more a year. In 2019, Forbes called him one of the top-earning dead celebrities and estimated his estate, to which his daughter is the sole heir, with a value of $39 million.

2022: A Film Tribute

Actor Austin Butler thoroughly trained to embody Elvis's voice, style, and personality for 2022's biopic, Elvis. The film wowed Priscilla Presley, who called his performance "mesmerizing." She shared on Instagram: "I relived every moment in this film. It took me a few days to overcome the emotions as it did with Lisa."

Janaya WeckerLifestyle EditorJanaya is a Lifestyle Editor for Hearst Magazines.