“I ain’t no saint, but I’ve tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God…I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to […] More
Elvis Presley style
“I ain’t no saint, but I’ve tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God…I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to […] More
From small-town childhood to the heights of stardom—and his eventual death on Aug. 16, 1977—see the evolution of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
The King of Rock and Roll never liked or trusted his father's second wife - and he proved to be a good judge of character
Tumblr Blog
Elvis with his parents outside their home, 1956.
The nation’s newspapers closely covered the death of Elvis Presley’s mother in 1958
Elvis and Gladys
Elvis Presley had nicknames for many of the women who passed through his life
Elvis, Vernon and Gladys Presley in front of their home in Audubon Drive, 1956.
Explore tanyas1976's 23 photos on Flickr!
For Elvis Presley, childhood and adolescence were difficult and often involved working to help the family with finances. He picked up music early from local gospel groups and picked up the guitar when he was only 11 years old. In Tupelo, Mississippi, shortly before dawn on January 8, 1935, in a two-room house built by her husband, Vernon Presley, and her brother-in-law, Gladys Presley gives birth to twin sons. The first, Jessie Garon, is born stillborn. The second, Elvis Aaron, is born alive and healthy. Elvis would be their only child. During the 1930s and 1940s, Elvis grows up within a close-knit, working class family, consisting of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, who all live near one another in Tupelo. There is little money, but Vernon and Gladys do their best to provide for their son, who is the center of their lives. They move from one house to another in Tupelo. Elvis attends the Assembly of God Church with his family, and the music and preaching register deeplywith Elvis Presley. Childhood influences include black blues-men in the neighborhood and country music radio programs enjoyed by his family. In October 1945, ten-year-old Elvis stands on a chair at a microphone and sings "Old Shep" in a youth talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, held in Tupelo. The talent show is broadcast over WELO Radio. Winning fifth prize, Elvis receives $5.00 in fair ride tickets. This is one of the first public musical performances for Elvis Presley as a child. Gladys, Elvis and Vernon Presley, 1937. Elvis Presley, 19437 Elvis Presley, 1939 Elvis and his cousin Kenny are riding a bull at a street carnival in Tupelo, ca. 1941. Elvis Presley, 1942 Elvis Presley, 1942 Tupelo childhood classmates at Lawhon Junior High School in 1943. Elvis Presley; Evon Farrar, now Mrs. Bobby Richey; James Farrar, Fourth District Justice of the Peace; (middle row) Guy Harris, captain with the Tupelo Police. (Photo courtesy of Guy Harris and Wanda Powell Heagy) Elvis Presley, 1943 Elvis Presley and his parents, 1943 Elvis Presley and a friend, 1945 Elvis Presley and his friends, 1945 Elvis Presley, 1945 Elvis Presley, 1946 Elvis Presley, 1947 Elvis Presley, 1947 Elvis Presley, 1947 Elvis Presley, 1948 Elvis Presley, 1948 Elvis Presley and Gladys, 1948. Elvis Presley, 1949
