Elvis Presley

From ArticleWorld

Elvis Presley was an American-born singer and actor who became the catalyst in the evolution of a new music genre: Rock & Roll. Elvis Aaron Presley’ was born on January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi.

Contents 1 Family Life 2 Music Career and Colonel Tom Parker 3 Relationships 4 Drug Abuse/Death

Family Life

His parents, Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Smith raised Elvis in a modest home and were active and dedicated members of Assemblies of God Pentecostal church. This environment facilitated uniqueness to Elvis’ music. He was very heavily influenced by gospel music and R & B. He moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13. He studied guitar and various music styles of the era. Memphis blues had a profound effect on him here. He became a wildly popular young performer and toured many venues in the southern states. He appeared on many local radio shows a well.

Music Career and Colonel Tom Parker

Elvis was officially discovered in 1955 by Colonel Tom Parker, co-owner of “Hank Snow Attractions.” Parker negotiated a deal with RCA records in November 1955 and a heavy marketing campaign followed. Col. Parker was soon approached by the film industry wanting to negotiate a movie deal for Elvis. In all, Elvis starred in 31 movies – all centered on his music performance. He hit a snag in the midst of his career when he was drafted into military service. Even though he only served 3 years, the “comeback” process was grueling. His music in subsequent years did not carry the same charisma it once did, nor did he achieve the same music output that he did prior to his military service. Yet, he was still quite popular among the masses. He could still boast sold out shows in all venues.

Relationships

Elvis was known for having several girlfriends – one of which became his wife. He married Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. However, Elvis continued to engage in plenty of one-night-stands and short-term relationships while he was married to Priscilla. Some of these short-term relationships included the likes of Ann Margaret and Nancy Sinatra.

Priscilla became pregnant not long after she and Elvis were married and gave birth to their daughter, Lisa Marie in February of 1968. Priscilla and Elvis were officially separated in February of 1972.

In 1976, he seemed to have found the love of his life in 21 year old Ginger Alden. They were engaged by January of 1977 and planned a Christmas wedding. This would not come to pass as Elvis was found in his bathroom in August 1977, dead of apparent heart failure.

Drug Abuse/Death

Priscilla reported that Elvis suffered from severe insomnia and took prescription drugs in an attempt to remedy the problem. He ended up in the habit of staying up all night and sleeping all day. When he was awake, he was barely functional. By the end of his life, he was taking heavy doses of sleep aids and then Dexedrine to wake up.

Elvis Presley was found on the floor of his bathroom suite by his fiancée, Ginger Alden, on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. The primary cause of death was ruled as a heart attack most likely brought on by severe drug abuse. An autopsy revealed the existence of 14 drugs in his system. While it is still tempting to dub his a self-destructive lifestyle, it is verified that he suffered from many health problems. He suffered from glaucoma, the aforementioned insomnia and even cancer. He is buried in Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee next to his mother, Gladys.