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From Tragedy To Triumph: 22 Of The

Biggest Moments In Elvis Presley's
Life
ENTERTAINMENT Published Aug 15, 2017
By Jess Catcher

On August 16, 1977, the world lost one of its most talented and
beloved individuals: Elvis Presley.

It's impossible to choose just one moment that defined the King
of Rock and Roll's life. From the sad start at his birth to the
hardships that accompanied his fame, the Presley family
endured. Elvis was clearly destined to shine just a little bit
brighter than the rest of the world around him.

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And I'm not just talking about the bedazzled attire he took to
wearing near the end of his life. Even in his younger days, Elvis
was known for standing out from the crowd, thanks to his
unique presence and sense of style.

From his small-town roots in Mississippi to the international

superstar he became, Elvis was one of a kind.

Take a look to remember all of the biggest moments — both

happy and sad — that helped shape Elvis into the amazing man
he became.

And be sure to SHARE the look back on Elvis Presley's life with
your friends on Facebook!

[H/T: Elvis, Graceland]

Getty / Hulton Archive / Stringer

1. January 8, 1935: Elvis Aaron Presley Is Born

Sadly, his twin brother Jesse Garon was delivered stillborn.
Elvis' parents, Gladys and Vernon, never had any more children.

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis found his love for music

at an early age while singing gospel at the Assembly of God
Church.

Wikimedia Commons / Thomas R Machnitzki

2. January 8, 1946: Elvis Gets His First Guitar

Vernon and Gladys provided the cheap acoustic guitar for their
musical son on his 11th birthday.

The instrument cost them $7.90 at the Tupelo Hardware Store.

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Wikimedia Commons

3. November 6, 1948: The Presleys Move To

Memphis
Elvis enrolled at Humes High School, where he got his first taste
of the spotlight performing at the annual talent show. He was
pleasantly surprised to earn the biggest applause and win the
whole thing.

Those who knew him at the time have described how he always
stood out from the rest with his long hair (for the time) and
vibrant outfits.

Wikimedia Commons / David Jones

4. Summer Of 1953: Elvis Performs For First

Time At Sun Records
Fresh out of high school, Elvis stopped by the Memphis
recording studio to sing “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your
Heartaches Begin" as a birthday present for his mom.

Sam Phillips recorded him and made note of his skill with
ballads.

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Wikimedia Commons

5. Summer 1954: His First Single Goes Wild

Sam Phillips teamed Elvis up with local musicians Scotty Moore
and Bill Black to cut a single called "That's All Right" with "Blue
Moon of Kentucky" on the flip side on July 5.

A few days later, a popular DJ put the tune on the air and his
switchboard lit up with callers begging for more. Elvis and his
musicians spent the rest of the summer and then the fall
performing at events in the area.

Wikimedia Commons / Arbresha12

6. Spring 1956: RCA Releases His First Album

In late 1955, Elvis signed on with a manager, the infamous
Colonel Tom Parker, who helped to negotiate a major record
deal with RCA.

Just a few days after his 21st birthday in 1956, Elvis went into the
studio to record his eponymous debut album. It was released in
March that year. In the meantime, he made appearances on
Stage Show and his popularity continued to grow.

In April, "Heartbreak Hotel" earned him his very first certified gold
record. This of course led to even more TV appearances,
including the infamous, controversial performance of "Hound
Dog" that showcased his gyrating hips.

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Wikimedia Commons / Marvin Israel

7. November 15, 1956: Elvis Stars In His First

Film
Set in the southern United States during the 1800s, Love Me
Tender became an instant hit at the box office following its
premiere at New York's Paramount Theater.

The film also features several musical performances by Elvis,

including the titular ballad.

Wikimedia Commons / Sun Records

8. December 4, 1956: Million Dollar Quartet

Records Their Impromptu Session
Elvis was joined by Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee
Lewis at Sun Studios, who just happened to be in the area at the
same time.

The musicians decided to sing a few ditties together and put

them on tape just for fun. The songs include a few seasonal
Christmas tunes and gospel staples.

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Wikimedia Commons / Joseph Novak

9. March 25, 1957: Elvis Buys Graceland

The freshly crowned King of Rock and Roll spent a modest
$102,500 on the now-iconic estate in Memphis.

Elvis moved in with his parents and paternal grandparents later

that summer, spending his first night there on June 26, 1957.

Wikimedia Commons / Vittoriano Rastelli

10. March 24, 1958: Elvis Is Drafted By The

Army
His loyal fans mourned the loss of his luscious locks as he
reported for duty: first at the Memphis Draft Board and then Fort
Chaffee, Arkansas, where he received the traditional Army buzz
cut.

Elvis then spent six months in basic training at Fort Hood, Texas,
before being stationed in Germany for 18 months.

Wikimedia Commons / Pastor Sam

11. August 8, 1958: Gladys Passes Away

Elvis was granted temporary leave from the Army when news of
his mother's bad health reached him. Gladys was diagnosed
with acute hepatitis, and her son was devastated when she
passed away after about a week in the hospital.

He returned to military duty following her funeral service on

August 15, but carried the heartbreak of her loss with him for the
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rest of his life.

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