Singer, actor. Born Elvis Aron Presley, on January 8, 1935,
in Tupelo, Mississippi. An only child (a twin
brother,
Jesse Garon,
was stillborn), Presley was raised by his parents, Gladys and Vernon,
in a poor and extremely religious home.
In 1973, following his divorce from his wife Priscilla Beaulieu Presley,
he became increasingly drug-dependent and overweight, and he spent
h
is last years living reclusively at his Memphis home, known as
Graceland.
Presley?s death in 1977, at age 42, shocked his many admirers,
who have never given up on the music, mementos, and memory
of the man
they regard as ?The King of Rock & Roll.?
During his
career
Presley had 94 gold singles, three gold EPs,
and over 40 gold albums. His movies grossed over $180 million
and millions more were made by the merchandising of Elvis products. In his lifetime, Elvis
only won 3 Grammys.
Best Sacred Performance 1967 for How Great Thou Art album.
Best Inspirational Performance 1972 for He Touched Me album.
Best Inspirational Performance Song 1974 for How
Great Thou Art
for Recorded Live in Memphis
album.
In 1993, Elvis posthumously won Best Rock Song for Hound Dog &
Don't Be Cruel - 35 years after the fact...
John Lennon once said, "Before
Elvis,
there was nothing.