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Elvis Presley's Milestones
Birth
Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Gladys Love and Vernon Presley. His twin brother Jesse Garon was stillborn 35 minutes earlier.
Family lost home
Family lost their home after Vernon was found guilty of altering a check and was jailed for eight months.
First public performance
At age 10, performed in a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, sang 'Old Shep' and placed fifth.
Received first guitar
Received his first guitar for his 11th birthday and began taking lessons from two uncles and a pastor.
Moved to Memphis
Family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis enrolled at L.C. Humes High School.
Humes talent show
Competed in Humes' Annual 'Minstrel' Show, singing 'Till I Waltz Again with You', which greatly boosted his reputation at school.
First recording at Sun
Made first recording at Memphis Recording Service (Sun Records), paying $3.98 to record 'My Happiness' and 'That's When Your Heartaches Begin' as a gift for his mother.
Second Sun recording
Cut second acetate at Sun Records with 'I'll Never Stand in Your Way' and 'It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You'.
That's All Right recorded
Recorded 'That's All Right' with Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (bass) at Sun Records, creating the sound Sam Phillips had been looking for.
Radio debut
Dewey Phillips played 'That's All Right' on his 'Red, Hot, and Blue' radio show on WHBQ, generating massive listener interest.
First live professional performance
Trio (Elvis, Scotty, Bill) played publicly for the first time at the Bon Air club in Memphis.
Overton Park Shell
Performed at Overton Park Shell in Memphis, with Slim Whitman headlining. Elvis's nervous leg shaking, which became his signature 'rubber legs' dance move, caused a sensation.
Grand Ole Opry debut
Made his only performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Reportedly told by Opry manager Jim Denny to go back to driving a truck; the audience reaction was lukewarm.
Louisiana Hayride debut
Made debut on Louisiana Hayride radio show in Shreveport, Louisiana, leading to regular Saturday night performances for a year.
Colonel Parker becomes involved
Colonel Tom Parker began to take an interest in Presley's career, initially as a special advisor with Bob Neal remaining as manager.
Signed with Colonel Parker
Elvis signed an exclusive management contract with Colonel Tom Parker, with Bob Neal officially phased out.
Signed with RCA Victor
RCA Victor acquired his contract from Sun Records for an unprecedented $40,000 ($35,000 to Sun, $5,000 to Elvis). This was the highest amount ever paid for a pop artist at the time.
Heartbreak Hotel recorded
Made first recordings for RCA Victor in Nashville, including the moody 'Heartbreak Hotel'.
First national TV appearance
Made first of six appearances on CBS's 'Stage Show', hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, beginning his national television career.
Debut album released
RCA Victor released his self-titled debut album, 'Elvis Presley', which became the first rock and roll album to top the Billboard chart and sell over a million copies.
Milton Berle Show
Made first of two appearances on NBC's 'The Milton Berle Show', performing on the deck of USS Hancock. His controversial hip-swiveling performance of 'Hound Dog' on the second appearance (June 5) caused a national outcry.
Heartbreak Hotel #1
'Heartbreak Hotel' became his first number-one pop hit on the Billboard charts, also topping the country chart.
Las Vegas debut
Began two-week residency at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. His performances were not well-received by the older, conservative audience.
Paramount contract
Signed a seven-year, three-picture deal with Paramount Pictures, beginning his film career.
Ed Sullivan Show
Made first of three appearances on CBS's 'The Ed Sullivan Show', hosted by Charles Laughton that night. Watched by an estimated 60 million viewers (an 82.6% share of the television audience). For his third appearance, he was famously filmed only from the waist up.
Love Me Tender film released
Released his first film 'Love Me Tender', a Civil War drama where he played a supporting role. The title song became a major hit.
Purchased Graceland
Bought Graceland, a mansion on a 13.8-acre estate in Memphis, for $102,500. It would become his primary residence and later a historic landmark.
Jailhouse Rock film released
Released 'Jailhouse Rock' film and soundtrack. The title song's production number is considered one of his most iconic performances and a precursor to music videos.
Drafted into Army
Inducted into the United States Army at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, as US 53310761, creating a major media event and temporarily halting his career.
King Creole film released
Released 'King Creole', often considered his best film and his personal favorite, marking the end of his early, more critically acclaimed film roles before his army service.
Mother's death
His beloved mother Gladys Love Presley died of heart failure at age 46. Elvis was granted emergency leave to attend her funeral and was devastated by the loss.
Stationed in Germany
Assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, West Germany, serving as an armor intelligence specialist and driver for his company commander.
Met Priscilla Beaulieu
Met 14-year-old Priscilla Ann Beaulieu at a party at his home in Bad Nauheim, Germany. She was the stepdaughter of an Air Force Captain stationed nearby.
Promoted to Sergeant
Promoted to acting sergeant (Sgt E-5) in the U.S. Army.
Discharged from Army
Honorably discharged from active duty in the Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and returned to civilian life and his music career.
Frank Sinatra special
Appeared on 'The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis' TV special, marking his official return to entertainment. He was paid $125,000 for his appearance.
It's Now or Never released
Released 'It's Now or Never' (based on 'O Sole Mio'), which became one of his biggest international hits, selling over 20 million copies.
Film career focus
Focused primarily on formulaic Hollywood musical comedies, making 27 movies during the 1960s and largely abandoning serious recording and live performances.
Pearl Harbor Benefit Concert
Performed a benefit concert at Bloch Arena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, raising over $64,000 for the USS Arizona Memorial. It was his last live public performance for over seven years.
Blue Hawaii film released
Released 'Blue Hawaii' film, which became one of his most commercially successful movies. Its soundtrack album spent 20 weeks at number one.
Priscilla moved to Graceland
Priscilla Beaulieu moved to Graceland to live with Elvis, with her parents' permission, under the condition she finish high school in Memphis.
Met The Beatles
Met The Beatles for the first and only time at his home in Bel Air, California. They jammed together but no recordings were made.
Married Priscilla
Married Priscilla Beaulieu in a private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas after an eight-year courtship.
Lisa Marie born
Daughter Lisa Marie Presley was born in Memphis, his only child.
'68 Comeback Special
Starred in the NBC television special 'Elvis' (often referred to as the '68 Comeback Special'). His dynamic live performances in a black leather suit revitalized his career and image.
Vegas comeback at International Hotel
Began a four-week, 57-show engagement at the newly opened International Hotel in Las Vegas, marking his triumphant return to live concert performances after an eight-year hiatus.
Suspicious Minds released
Released 'Suspicious Minds', recorded during his Memphis sessions. It became his 18th and final number-one single in the U.S. during his lifetime.
Madison Square Garden
Performed four sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the first artist to ever sell out the venue for four consecutive shows. An album 'Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden' was released.
Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite
Performed the 'Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite' concert at the Honolulu International Center. It was broadcast live to over 40 countries in Asia and Oceania, and later to Europe and the Americas, reaching an estimated 1 to 1.5 billion viewers worldwide, a television first.
Health decline intensifies
Health began a more serious decline, marked by increasing prescription drug abuse, weight gain, and erratic behavior. Hospitalized multiple times.
Divorced Priscilla
Divorce from Priscilla was finalized in Santa Monica, California. They remained close friends and co-parents to Lisa Marie.
Bodyguards fired / 'Elvis: What Happened?' book
Vernon Presley fired longtime bodyguards Red West, Sonny West, and David Hebler. They subsequently co-authored the tell-all book 'Elvis: What Happened?', published in July 1977, detailing his drug abuse, which reportedly devastated Elvis.
Met Ginger Alden
Began dating Ginger Alden after his relationship with Linda Thompson ended. He proposed to her in January 1977.
Last Las Vegas Engagement
Performed his final engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton (formerly the International Hotel).
Final concert
Performed his final concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Death at Graceland
Found unresponsive by Ginger Alden on the bathroom floor at Graceland. Pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital at 2:56 PM due to cardiac arrhythmia, at age 42. Prescription drug abuse was a contributing factor.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first induction ceremony.
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.