Elvis Presley was a well-known American singer and actor. He is often called the “King of Rock and Roll” for his music and signature style. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians and significant cultural figures of the 20th century. In this article, we gathered Elvis Presley Facts for Kids, information about the life, music, and acting career of Elvis Presley.
Elvis Presley Facts for Kids
When and Where Was Elvis Presley Born?
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, United States. He was born with a stillborn twin brother, Jessie Garon.
Early Life And Childhood Of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley’s early life was hard. His parents Vernon and Gladys Presley were poor and worked hard to survive. His family often depended on neighbors and government food assistance. He had a very close relationship with his parents, especially his mother.
Elvis attended an Assembly of God church with his family, where he got his initial musical inspiration from gospel music. He also listened to the radio and was greatly inspired by the sounds of country, blues, and R&B music.
First Musical Performance
Elvis’s passion for music became apparent at a young age. At the age of just 10 years, he participated in a talent show at his elementary school. While he was very shy and feeling nervous, he sang “Old Shep” and mesmerized the audience.
Moving to Memphis
In 1948, Elvis Presley was only 13 years old when his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in search of a better life. There, he was enrolled in the Humes High School. In school, he was known for his shy behavior and passion for music.
Elvis Presley’s Rise To Fame And Music Career
The rise of Elvis Presley’s to fame started at the end of the 1950s. In 1954, when he was only 19 years old, he went to Sun Records in Memphis hoping to make a recording for his mother as a birthday gift. He did not realize that his visit could change the course of music history. His demo recording caught the attention of the Sun Records’ owner, Sam Phillips, who decided to give him a chance.
The First Hit Single “That’s All Right”
Elvis recorded his first single in July 1954, “That’s All Right”. It was a mix of blues and country music with a unique twist of rockabilly. When it was played on local radio stations, the amazing voice and energetic delivery of Elvis excited everyone.
RCA Records And The Birth Of Rock ‘n’ Roll
In 1955, Elvis got a big opportunity when the RCA Records company signed him up. It was like a new start in his career. His music reached more people and he became famous all over the country.
In 1956, his debut album was released that featured his popular tracks like “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Hound Dog”, and “Love Me Tender”. These songs not only raised him as a star but also helped to define the sound of Rock ‘n’ Roll for upcoming generations.
Chart-topping Hits
In 1957, Elvis released his album “Elvis’ Christmas Album”. It was a huge success and stayed at the top of the Billboard charts for four weeks. With sales of more than 20 million copies, this album became the most popular Christmas album ever.
In the same year, Elvis sang “Jailhouse Rock” for a movie with the same name. The song became a hit and reached No.1 on the charts. Even in 2021, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked this song 216th in the 500 best songs of all time.
Live Performances
Elvis was also famous for his live performances. He did live concerts at venues like Madison Square Garden, where every seat was filled with fans. He had an amazing way of making people excited and happy. When he performed, everyone in the audience felt like he was singing just for him.
TV Shows
In 1956, Elvis got a chance on TV. He appeared on a popular variety show named “Stage Show”, hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. He sang “Heartbreak Hotel”, which everyone loved and made him famous as a rising star across the country.
The Ed Sullivan Show
On September 9, 1956, Elvis appeared on a TV show “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Over 60 million people tuned in to watch him sing. At that time, he was only 21 years old.
He sang and performed on some of his popular songs like “Don’t Be Cruel”, “Hound Dog”, and “Love Me Tender”. However, some people did not like his dance performance and thought it was vulgar. In the next year, Elvis appeared two more times on the show. But at the last time, he was shown only from the waist up.
Elvis ‘68 Comeback Special
In 1968, Elvis made a big comeback with his legendary television special titled “Elvis”. The special aired on NBC and featured Elvis singing and performing different kinds of songs. It showed how good and versatile Elvis was at performing. He sang “If I Can Dream” and interacted with the audience in his playful and funny manner.
Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite
In 1973, Elvis did a concert titled “Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite”. It was broadcast live from the Honolulu International Center and was shown on TV all over the world. Around 1.5 billion viewers in over 40 countries watched it.
In the concert, Elvis wore fancy costumes and performed with lots of energy. This concert made history and strengthened his status as a global superstar.
Movies And Acting Career Of Elvis Presley
First Movie
Hollywood noticed the popularity of Elvis, so in 1956, he signed his first movie contract with Paramount Pictures, and made his acting debut in the movie “Love Me Tender”. He proved himself as a good actor and his first movie hit the box office.
Musical Movies
After the success of Elvis’ first movie, he starred in many more movies. Some of his movies were musicals where he sang and danced, just like his concerts. His popular movies include “Jailhouse Rock” (1957), and “Blue Hawaii” (1961).
Lots Of Movies And Box Office Success
Elvis Presley starred in 33 successful movies, 31 were featured films in which he worked as an actor, and 2 were concert documentary films released in theaters. His movies were a huge success and brought profit, especially the soundtracks sold well. He sold over one billion records internationally, which is more than any other artist.
Military Service Of Elvis Presley
On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley received a draft notice from the United States Army. He joined the Army despite being at the top of his music career. He got training at Fort Hood in Texas and then at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas.
Mother’s Death
In early August, hepatitis was diagnosed in his mother and her condition became worse rapidly. He took emergency leave to visit his mother, and arrived on 12 August in Memphis. Two days later, his mother died of heart failure. The mother’s death devastated Elvis because he was extremely close to his mother, even in adulthood.
Overseas Deployment
After the completion of training, Elvis was stationed in Germany as part of the 3rd Armored Division. In the Army, he served as a regular soldier, performed his duties, and took part in military exercises.
Impact On Career
Military service greatly impacted the music career of Elvis for about two years. However, he said that his time in the army helped to shape his personality.
Personal Life
When Was Elvis Presley Married?
Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu (now Priscilla Ann Presley) on May 1, 1967. They met in Germany seven years before their marriage. Elvis was 32 and Priscilla was 21 when they married. The wedding ceremony was brief, only eight minutes long, with 14 guests invited, held at Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas. Their marriage broke down on February 23, 1972.
How Many Children Did Elvis Presley Have?
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley had a daughter Lisa Marie Presley, born on February 1, 1968, nine months after their marriage.
Was Elvis Persley Addicted To Drugs?
Yes, Elvis Presley was addicted to prescribed drugs. He took prescribed medicines to cope with health issues, but over time, he became dependent on them. Some say that he also took drugs to manage the stress and pressure he suffered due to his lifestyle as a well-known musician. He might also take drugs to help with emotional issues. This led to a serious addiction that was difficult for him to overcome. Once he spent three days in a coma due to an overdose of barbiturate (depressant drugs). Drug addiction affected his health, and career, and ultimately contributed to his early death.
When Did Elvis Presley Died?
Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42 years.
What Caused Elvis Presley’s Death?
Heart failure caused the death of Elvis Presley. However, it was later described that his prescription drug abuse contributed to his death.
Upon his death, over 80,000 people had congregated at the house and funeral route to Forest Hill Cemetery. Elvis’ father Vernon allowed public viewing so that thousands of gathered fans got the chance to say their last goodbyes.
Was Lisa Marie At Elvis Presley’s Funeral?
Lisa Marie was only nine years old when Elvis Presley died. Before the funeral of Elvis, Lisa spent some moments with her father. Robert Kindall, the funeral director, recounted that Lisa wanted to give a gift (bracelet) to Elvis. The bracelet was put on her father’s arm, according to her wish. It was kept hidden from the sight in the coffin, and nobody knew about it.
Where Is Elvis Presley Buried?
Elvis Presley was buried near his mother at his Graceland mansion in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.
What Was Elvis Famous For?
Elvis Presley was famous for his music and is known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. He was also famous for his signature style and charismatic performance.
What Age Did Elvis Become Famous?
At the age of only 21 years, Elvis Presley became one of the most famous people in the world.
Achievements Of Elvis Presley
Among the most notable achievements of Elvis Presley include:
- 14 Grammy nominations, of which he won three, from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
- The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award he won at the age of only 36.
- In 1970, the United States Junior Chamber named him One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation.
- Earned gold, platinum, or multi-platinum awards for his American sales of 150 different albums and singles.
- Inducted into five music Halls of Fame: Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame (1986), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1998), the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001), the Rockabilly Music Hall of Fame (2007), and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame (2012).
Interesting Facts About Elvis Presley
The following are some of the interesting facts about Elvis Presley:
- Elvis Presley was shy at a young age, and fellows at school often bullied him as a mama’s boy.
- His famous jet-black hair color was not natural. He was born with blonde hair and used a mixture of three different shades to get his favorite look.
- In Germany, Elvis learned Karate martial arts and then got the rank of 7th-degree black belt in 1973.
- Elvis was only 22 years old when he bought the Graceland mansion for over $100,000.
- He sold more than one billion records throughout the world, which is more than any other artist.
