Elvis Presley Timeline

Elvis Presley 28

1935 Elvis Presley born in Tupelo Elvis Aaron Presley is born in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi. His identical twin Jesse Garon is stillborn.
1948 Elvis Presley's family moves to Memphis The Presleys leave Tupelo for Memphis, Tennessee, where they live in public housing.
1953 Elvis Presley graduates from Humes High School Elvis graduates from Humes High School in Memphis and starts work as a truck driver.
1954 Elvis Presley releases his first single That's All Right launches his recording career at Sun Records Sun Records in Memphis released Elvis Presley's debut single, That's All Right, pairing blues and country influences into an early rockabilly sound. The record introduced Presley to a regional audience and set the template for his rise to national fame. It is widely cited as a foundational moment in rock and roll's emergence.
1955 Elvis Presley signs with RCA Victor Colonel Tom Parker negotiates the purchase of Elvis's contract from Sun Records by RCA Victor for 35,000 dollars, a record sum at the time.
1956 Elvis Presley releases Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley's breakthrough single tops the charts Elvis Presley released "Heartbreak Hotel", his first single for RCA Victor. The song reached number one on the Billboard chart and became his first million-selling record. It helped establish rock and roll as a dominant force in popular music.
1956 Elvis Presley's first Ed Sullivan Show appearance Some 60 million viewers, over 80 percent of the TV audience, watch Elvis on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1956 Elvis Presley's film debut, Love Me Tender Love Me Tender premieres in New York, the first of 31 feature films Elvis would make.
1957 Elvis Presley buys Graceland Elvis buys the Graceland mansion in Memphis, his home for the rest of his life.
1957 Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock premieres Jailhouse Rock premieres in Memphis. Its title-song dance sequence becomes one of the most famous scenes of his career.
1958 Elvis Presley inducted into the US Army At the height of his fame Elvis is drafted and serves as a regular soldier, mostly in West Germany.
1958 Elvis Presley's mother Gladys dies Gladys Presley dies aged 46 in Memphis, a loss that deeply affects Elvis.
1959 Elvis Presley meets Priscilla Beaulieu While stationed in Germany, Elvis meets 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of an American officer.
1960 Elvis Presley discharged from the Army Elvis leaves the Army as a sergeant and returns to recording and film work.
1961 Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii released Blue Hawaii becomes one of his most successful films, and its soundtrack album tops the charts for 20 weeks.
1964 Elvis Presley's Viva Las Vegas released Viva Las Vegas, co-starring Ann-Margret, becomes his highest-grossing film.
1967 Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Elvis and Priscilla marry at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.
1968 – 2023 Lisa Marie Presley (1968-2023) Died 12 January 2023, aged 54 American singer-songwriter and the only child of Elvis Presley.
1968 Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special airs The NBC special, with Elvis in black leather, revives his career as a live performer after years of film work.
1969 Elvis Presley opens in Las Vegas Elvis starts a run of shows at the International Hotel, the beginning of years of sold-out Las Vegas engagements.
1970 Elvis Presley meets Richard Nixon Elvis visits the White House and asks President Nixon for a federal narcotics badge. The photo of the meeting becomes one of the most requested in the National Archives.
1973 Elvis Presley's Aloha from Hawaii concert broadcast First concert by a solo artist broadcast live globally via satellite Elvis Presley performed a concert in Honolulu that was broadcast live by satellite to television audiences across Asia and Oceania, and later worldwide. It was one of the most watched broadcasts by an individual entertainer in television history.
1973 Elvis and Priscilla Presley divorce Elvis and Priscilla divorce after six years of marriage and agree to share custody of Lisa Marie.
1977 Elvis Presley's last concert Elvis gives his final concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
1977 Elvis Presley dies The King of Rock and Roll, age 42 Elvis Presley was found dead at his Graceland home in Memphis on August 16, 1977, aged 42. His death was attributed to cardiac arrhythmia. An estimated 75,000 fans lined the streets of Memphis for his funeral procession.
1982 Graceland opens to the public Graceland opens as a museum and becomes one of the most visited private homes in the United States.
1986 Elvis Presley inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Elvis is among the first class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2018 Elvis Presley awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Elvis receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.