It has been quite a year for the King. Baz Luhrmann's EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, built from long-lost 35mm and 8mm footage found in Warner Bros. archives, reached IMAX screens in February 2026, and in August Graceland opened a new exhibition, Elvis: The Fashion Icon, to launch Elvis Week.
Nearly fifty years after his death, Elvis Presley still sounds as fresh as the day he walked into Sun Studio. Here is his story, from Tupelo to Las Vegas, for every fan who has ever turned the volume up on "Suspicious Minds". Browse our Rock Music Clothing collection for more tribute designs.
Elvis Presley Fact File
| Full name | Elvis Aaron Presley (also spelled Aron) |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 8 January 1935 – 16 August 1977 (aged 42) |
| Birthplace | Tupelo, Mississippi, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Singer, actor |
| Years active | 1953–1977 (with a break for army service, 1958–1960) |
| Known for | Rock and roll, rockabilly, gospel, country, pop; 31 feature films |
| Nickname | The King of Rock and Roll |
Career History
| Years | Label | Key albums/singles |
|---|---|---|
| 1954–1955 | Sun Records | "That's All Right" (1954) |
| 1956–1958 | RCA Victor | "Heartbreak Hotel", Elvis Presley (1956), "All Shook Up", "Jailhouse Rock" |
| 1960–1967 | RCA Victor | Film soundtracks, How Great Thou Art |
| 1968–1969 | RCA Victor | NBC comeback special, From Elvis in Memphis, "Suspicious Minds" |
| 1970–1977 | RCA Victor | "Burning Love" (1972), Aloha from Hawaii (1973) |
RCA Victor bought Elvis's Sun contract in November 1955 for a then-unprecedented $40,000. "Heartbreak Hotel" became his first number-one pop hit, and "Suspicious Minds" was his last US pop number one. His estimated worldwide sales stand at around 500 million records.
The Sun Sessions and a Revolution
On 5 July 1954, a 19-year-old Elvis recorded "That's All Right" at Sun in Memphis, and the single was out within a fortnight. Mixing blues, country, gospel and R&B, he sounded like nobody else. After the move to RCA, his 1956 debut album Elvis Presley became the first rock and roll album to top the Billboard chart, staying there for ten weeks. That September he made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and the world was never quite the same.
Celebrate it with our Elvis Presley Men's Hoodie.
Hollywood and the Army Years
Elvis made his screen debut in Love Me Tender (1956) and went on to star in 31 feature films, finishing with Change of Habit in 1969. In March 1958, at the height of his fame, he was drafted into the US Army, serving until March 1960 and leaving as a sergeant. He returned to a run of films throughout the sixties.
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The Comeback and Vegas
Broadcast by NBC on 3 December 1968, the special simply titled Elvis drew 42 per cent of the viewing audience and reignited his career. The Memphis sessions that followed produced From Elvis in Memphis and "Suspicious Minds". In 1973, Aloha from Hawaii became the first concert by a solo artist broadcast around the world, and his Las Vegas shows are now the heart of EPiC.
Awards
Grammy Awards
- Best Sacred Performance, How Great Thou Art (1967)
- Best Inspirational Performance, He Touched Me (1972)
- Best Inspirational Performance, live "How Great Thou Art" (1974)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (1971), aged 36
Halls of Fame
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986)
- Rockabilly Hall of Fame (1997)
- Country Music Hall of Fame (1998)
- Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001)
National Honours
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2018, posthumous)
Away From the Spotlight
In March 1957 Elvis bought Graceland in Memphis for himself and his parents. He married Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas on 1 May 1967, and their daughter, Lisa Marie, was born on 1 February 1968. Graceland opened to the public on 7 June 1982 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
FAQs
How old was Elvis Presley when he died?
He was 42 when he died at Graceland on 16 August 1977. He would have been 91 today.
What is Elvis Presley's full name?
Elvis Aaron Presley, though his middle name also appears as Aron.
Where was Elvis Presley born?
In Tupelo, Mississippi, on 8 January 1935.
How many films did Elvis make?
He starred in 31 feature films, from Love Me Tender (1956) to Change of Habit (1969), plus concert documentaries.
How many Grammys did Elvis win?
Three competitive Grammys, all for gospel recordings, plus a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1971.
When did Graceland open to the public?
On 7 June 1982.
Shop the Elvis Presley Collection
Wear your love for the King with our Elvis tribute designs.
Explore more in our Rock Music Clothing and Music collections, or design your own with our Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: The Beatles: The Fab Four's Albums, Story and Legacy and Michael Jackson: The King of Pop, His Albums and His Legacy.
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