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Where it all began - The King was born Elvis Aron Presley on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. Presley changed his middle name to the biblical "Aaron."

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Lone twin - Presley was supposed to have a twin brother, Jesse Garon, however he was sadly stillborn.

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The Presleys - The singer was born into a working-class family, who frequently moved from place to place. Elvis especially connected with his mother, Gladys, and her faith in God.

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Touched by God -

As a child, Presley went to the Assembly of God Church with his family. Gospel music would heavily influence the young musician.

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Faith in music - Elvis got his first guitar for his 11th birthday, given to him by his mother. A few years later he won his high school talent show, and started to pursue a career in music.

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First demo - The singer recorded his first demo at Sun Studio after graduating in 1953. Label owner Sam Phillips took Presley under his wing.

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'That's All Right' - Presley started to hit the road, and continued to record more music. 'That's All Right' was his first single, released in 1954.

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Causing a stir - Soon, he started to develop a major following, with fans drawn to the singer's striking music and dance moves.

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Signed artist - Under guidance from his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Presley signed to RCA Records in 1955.

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1956 - 1956 was a big year for the King. He got his first number one single with 'Heartbreak Hotel,' and his first number one album with 'Elvis Presley.' He also signed a contract with Paramount Pictures.

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Ed and Elvis - Presley's provocative dancing caused a stir in America, but the star was a frequent guest on shows like 'The Ed Sullivan Show.'

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Elvis fever - By the mid '50s Presley was quite prolific. He was on TV, radio, and in movies too. His first film, 'Love Me Tender,' was obviously a commercial success.

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Graceland - By 1957, Elvis had bought Graceland, spending over US$100,000 on the mansion in Memphis.

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Drafted into the army - The same year, the singer was drafted into the army, and was inducted the following year. He served in Germany for around 18 months.

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Farewell - Gladys Presley passed away just before Elvis left for Europe. He was granted leave from the army, and flew back to Memphis for her funeral.

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Meeting Priscilla - The singer returned to duty in Germany, where he met Priscilla Beaulieu, who was still a teenager at the time. They soon struck up a romance.

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Back to America - Presley left the army in 1960, and returned to the charts with the soundtrack for 'GI Blues,' a film in which he also starred. The singer went on to star in hit films like 'Blue Hawaii,' 'Girls! Girls! Girls!', and 'Viva Las Vegas.'

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Continued success - That said, not every Elvis film was super popular. However, they usually made a lot of money, and the soundtracks were often quite successful.

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Tying the knot - By 1967, Presley and Priscilla's relationship had blossomed, and they married that year.

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Welcome Lisa - The happy couple had a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, born in 1968.

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Ups and downs - However, Presley's spotlight was fading in the late '60s, with his films making less and less. He wowed audiences once again in 1968, with a unique TV special.

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Priscilla leaves with Lisa - Sadly, Presley's relationship with Priscilla had taken a hit, and the couple divorced in 1973. Priscilla took custody of Lisa Marie.

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Personal demons - Around this time the star was also struggling with personal problems, such as drug addiction.

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Hospitalized - Presley was also faced with a weight problem, and was hospitalized with health issues in 1973. He used a fake name for the hospital.

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The Vegas era - The King would remain a big name in Las Vegas, and drew huge crowds even in the throws of personal problems.

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The last concert - Presley's last concert was on June 26, 1977, at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Return to home - The singer regrouped in Graceland, preparing for his next tour. He passed away aged 42 on the morning of August 16, 1977, dying of heart failure related to his prescription drug use.

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Resting place - Elvis Presley was buried at Graceland, near the graves of his parents.

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The King's legacy -

Presley will be remembered as one of the most famous and influential musicians of all time. He helped popularize rock and roll, and is the second best-selling solo artist ever.

See also: The most popular American-made music biopics

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