Elvis Presley
By: Hannah Deeley
Childhood
- January 8, 1935 Vernon and Gladys Presley give birth to twins. The first, Jesse Garon Presley, is born still born, while the second is Elvis Aaron Presley.
- Elvis was born and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi in a working class family. They had little money, but Elvis was raised in a happy and loving home. They move around in Tupelo duue to money issues. Elvis attends the Assembly of God Church with his family, where music is introduced into his life.
- At 10 years old, Elvis sings in a youth talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show where he sings in front of people for the first time on October 3, 1945
- On his 10th birthday his parents cannot afford the bicycle that he wishes for, and talks him into accepting a guitar. It was Elvis' first guitar.
- November 6, 1948 Elvis and his family pack up and move to Memphis, Tennessee, in search of a better life economically.
- Elvis and his parents lived in public housing or low rent homes in the poor neighborhoods of north Memphis. Vernon and Gladys go from job to job as Elvis attends Humes High School. Junior year Elvis began to gain self-confidence and appearance started to become distinctive, it demanded attention. Elvis continues to be known for singing with his guitar. On Beale Street he absorbs the black blues and gospel. He starts to wear his hair long and slick, and lets his sideburns grow. He is very different from the other kids. While at Humes, Elvis nervously sings for a talent show and wins, becoming increasingly popular.
- June 3, 1953 Elvis graduates Humes High School where Elvis starts work at a Machinists shop right away. That summer, Elvis drops by Sun Studio and makes a demo as a birthday present for his mother. Sam Phillips records Elvis singing and tells his assisstant, Marion Keisker, that he has something in him.
Love Interests
- Elvis met Dixie in January of 1954 during a Bible Study Class called Christ Ambassadors and when he saw Dixie at the Rainbow Rollerdome, he asked her out for a coke. They went to K's Diner, and she was so entranced with him she kissed him in the parking lot.
- The first time Dixie met Elvis' parents, Mrs. Presley requested to be alone with Dixie and interrogated her with a hundred questions. Mr. Presley didn't say a word, which was usual, but shocked Dixie.
- Dixie and Elvis spent almost every day together. Dixie knew Elvis on a personal level and claimed that she had never met anyone as sensitive as him. Elvis always sang to Dixie and Dixie claimed that when Elvis sang, he had a power over people, commanding their attention.
- As Elvis started going on tour, the Presley's were like her second family. However as Elvis became more famous, he called less and got caught up in the attention; he seemed to only come alive when other people were around.
- October, 1955 Elvis broke up with Dixie because he was always around drugs and alcohol and he believed his life wasn't a life for a Christian girl like her.
June Juanico
- Elvis met June in Biloxi for the first time and a second time at his front gate with the other fans, but dated her.
- June knew about the other women on the side and claimed to be okay with it, while Elvis complained that June kept her distance and was quite jealous. He wanted her to be with him all the time.
- June spoke of Elvis' spiritual side and even gave him Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet which he absolutely loved.
- Elvis often talked about marriage with June and how once his contract was up with the Colonel he would be free to marry and have kids. However, in public, he claimed that he had many girls that he dates regularly.
- Elvis once told June that he felt like a different person onstage and compared it to a surge of electricity going through you.
- Once when Elvis visited back from Hollywood bringing with him some friends, June became very angry with him. He kicked her out of the house because there wasn't enough room for his friends, family, and her.
- After going to Las Vegas, Elvis stopped calling June and for months didn't talk to her. Didn't even call her on her birthday. June took it as a hint and moved on, getting engaged to someone else later.
- Once on his way back from Hollywood to Memphis, Elvis sent a telegram to June for her to meet him at the station. She decided that she would get revenge, and showed up to rub that fact that she was engaged in his face.
Priscilla Bealieu
- Elvis met Priscilla at one of his parties that he held in the Army. She was only 14 while Elvis was 24. Much has been made of the fact that Priscilla was only 14 when they met, but Priscilla was mature for her age, and Elvis knew the implications of the situation. While Elvis was still in Germany, he and Priscilla were inseparable.
- When Elvis went back to the US, they stayed in contact through phone or mail. For years Priscilla would get very frustrated with the rumors and Elvis' denial of him seeing other women. Until one day, Elvis invited Priscilla to Los Angeles and she arrived in the US in June of 1962. They vacationed in Las Vegas and Elvis made Priscilla change her style and look, saying it is what he likes, and she accepted. At her return to Germany, Elvis persuaded her parents to let her move to America where, he would ensure Priscilla's education and respect.
- Once settled in Memohis, Priscilla spent her years at this collegiate Catholic school and lived with Elvis' grandmother at Graceland. However, she was very lonely waiting for Elvis while he was filming movies.
- In one of the movies he filmed Elvis became very attached to his love interest and the relationship was all over the tabloids. This deeply upset fed Priscilla as she kept asking for Elvis to visit her and he kept delaying. Priscilla couldn't take it anymore, but Elvis threatened to send her back to Germany and one day they got into a fight. She threw a vase and he started packing her bags, but later apologized.
- Then after 7 years since they first met Elvis proposed to Priscilla shortly before Christmas 1966 and were married on May 1, 1967 in Las Vegas.
- Less than two months after the wedding, Priscilla announced she was pregnant and gave birth to Lisa Marie on February 1, 1968. Elvis was a doting father, showering her with gifts, and rarely, if ever, disciplining her.
- In early 1972, Priscilla and Elvis separated, their divorce was finalized October 9, 1973. They remained friends, and even held hands during their divorce proceedings.
Beginning of Career
- June 6, 1954 Marion Keiker persuades Sam Phillips to call Elvis into the studio to try singing songs Sam hopes to put out on a record. Sam asks Elvis what he likes to sing, and Sam teams him up wih local musicians Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (bass). Elvis mets Scotty and Bill, but nothing click until they start messing around with "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky", which become the first of 5 singles of early Elvis songs by the Sun label.
- Summer of 1954, Elvis, Scotty and Bill start performing together with Scotty as the manager. Elvis continues to workat an electric company. Elvis' and his group appear at the Grand Ole Opry for the first and last time. And in October they quit their day jobs as they become more popular.
- October 16,1954 they appear for the first time on the Louisiana Hayride, a live Saturday night country music radio show. This leads to regular appearances and Elvis' popularity grows. And on January 1, 1955, Elvis signs a contract with Bob Neal who becomes his manager. During the Hayride, Elvis meets Colonel Tom Parker, a promoter and manager connected with various acts.
- November 20, 1955 Elvis signs his first contract with RCA records as Colonel Parker becomes his new manager, replacing Bob Neal
- January 28, 1956 Elvis appears with Scotty, Bill and DJ on "Stage Show". Elvis' first network television appearance.
- Marh 25, 1956 Elvis arrives in Los Angelos to begin a 2-part screen test for Paramount Studios in Hollywood. He lip syncs "Blue Suede Shoes" and performs a scene fromm the play "Rainmaker". Elvis starts to appear on more TV shows such as "The Milton Berle Show". As Elvis does more tours and appearances his fame rises, and he causes hysteria wherever he goes.
- August 1956, Elvis begins shooting his first movie, "Love Me Tender", with this he makes his first of three appearances on the "Ed Sullivan Show".
- January 1957, Elvis begins production of second movie "Loving You" and begins dying his hair black. In March, Elvis buys the Graceland Mansion for his family and in April tours outside of the US in Canada for the first time.
- November 1957, Elvis performs shows in Hawaii for the first ttime. This would also be his last public appearance before entering the war.
Army Life
- December 1957, Elvis receives his draft notice and in March of 1958, Elvis begins the induction process. He get the buzzcut and is sent to Fort Hood, Texas for training. While in training Elvis' parents move into a temporary trailor to stay near Elvis.
- Auguust 8, 1958, Gladys Presley becomes very ill and Elvis is granted temporary leave as his mother is in the hospital. A few hours after Elvis goes home to Graceland to rest, she dies at age 46. Elvis returns to Fort Hood in late August.
- September 1958, Elvis sails to Germany, stationed in Friedberg for 18 months, maintaing an off base residence with his father. While in the army, Elvis holds many parties where he meets Priscilla at age 14 to his age 24. On his secondary leave Elvis travels to Paris to learn Japanese karate
- January 20, 1960 Elvis is promoted to sergeant and recieves his full sergeants stripes. Elvis finally leaves the Army in March and boards a train for Memphis where many fans gathered everywhere.
Influential People
Gladys Presley
- Elvis was unusually close to his mother, calling her nicknames and using baby talk around eachother.
- Elvis viewed growin up as his mother never letting him out of her sight.
- Gladys was the one who really worked in the family, working any job to keep her family supported
- As Elvis grew up he talked to his mother about everything and viewed his mother's opinion with the highest of regards
- Gladys always kept record of Elvis' success and had a scrapbook full of articles and pictures of Elvis.
- Elvis was completely devastated with her loss
Sam Phillips
- Evis accredits Sam for helping him make his big breaks
- Sam viewed Elvis as the version of himself that he rarely showed
- Elvis looked up to Sam and was never nervous when Sam was at his performances
- Even after leaving Sun Records, Elvis held on to many techniques that Sam had taught him about performing and recording that he took with him tto RCA
- Phillips taught Elvis the importance of emotion and reaching the audience
Colonel Tom Parker
- Parker helped Elvis become a national success and helped the growing musician in his confidence and his look.
- Being Elvis' manager, Parker controlled the tours, movies, and interviews that Elvis participated in.
- Elvis praises Parker for making Elvis the success that was.
Political Cartoon #1
Political Cartoon #2
Motivation
Time Period
Defining Quote
Elvis was different and a lot of people criticized him for it, but in the end he became very popular and proved them wrong. In the beginning when Elvis was just finding his look, many of his classmates bullied him for his hair and clothes. This quote is from personal experience and re[resents the beginning of his life and his career.
Historography
Love Me Tender
Context
1950s
US was world's strongest military power, economy was booming
Baby boomers era
Suburban boom
Civil Rights movement especially African Americans but many whites fought hard for segregation
Red Scare
The Cold War
Adapted from a sentimental Civil War ballad
Prominent Themes
Hope
Love
Happiness
Reflection of time period
Love Me Tender expresses the hope and happiness of the time period. The US had finished WWII and people believed that they were in a time of peace and prosperity. This song portrays the love and happiness of the country as we were entering an era of wealth.
Perception in a different time period
- I believe this song would have been just as popular in the 1860s. America was going through the civil war and people needed hope and joy to remember what they were fighting for. This ballad would be a reminder of the loved ones waiting for them and the peace that was yet to come.
American Experience
Work Cited
"1966 -1969." Elvis Christmas Special. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016. <http://www.graceland.com/elvis/biography/1966_1969.aspx>.
"Elvis Presley Biography." Elvis Australia. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://biography.elvis.com.au>.
"ElvisPhotos.com - Official Elvis Presley Stock Photography Gallery of Elvis Pictures." ElvisPhotos.com - Official Elvis Presley Stock Photography Gallery of Elvis Pictures. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016. <http://elvisphotos.com/gallery/>.
Guralnick, Peter. Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley. Boston: Little, Brown, 1994. Print.
History.com Staff. "The 1950s." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2010. Web. 06 Apr. 2016. <http://www.history.com/topics/1950s>.