Elvis Presley
Associated Press
North side of the 7100 block of Marshfield Way
Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Born Jan. 8, 1935 in Tupelo, MS
Died Aug. 16, 1977 of cardiac arrhythmia in Memphis, TN

John Lennon famously said, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”

Of course, there was plenty before the Tupelo, Miss., kid with the twitching hips exploded in 1956. But the way Elvis Presley effortlessly blenderized the blues, country, folk, gospel and R&B sounds he’d grown up with was so electrifyingly unique that millions of teenagers like Lennon certainly felt like none of it mattered.

Presley may not have written such indelible hits as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock,” and he wasn’t celebrated for his abilities as an instrumentalist like such peers as Chuck Berry and Little Richard, but he virtually invented the pop-culture role of rock star.

In a career spanning nearly a quarter century, Presley left behind more than 700 songs, 31 feature films and a track record as a concert performer and Las Vegas showroom draw that in many ways remains unequaled.

More than three decades after his death at age 42, he still holds the records as the artist with the most chart hits (165), the most Top 40 hits (104), the most weeks at the No. 1 position, and the most gold and platinum record awards.

Over the decades, many have challenged his crown, but Elvis remains the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

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    Six thoughts about Elvis Presley

    The best singer...

    — Pablo
    March 12, 2010 at 6:41 p.m.

    Just to point out that Presley did not die from cardiac arrhythmia; that's a condition you diagnose in the living - not during an autopsy. The medical examiner who made this claim did so during a press conference that was held before the autopsy was complete and before all test results were known. In 1994 it was concluded that Presley had a heart attack and that this was linked to his poor health and prolonged abuse of prescription drugs. See Wikipedia's Featured Article on Presley.

    — Rik W
    July 11, 2010 at 9:50 a.m.

    i went to school with billy poore he became friends with elviswhat happen to billy poore?

    — bob oswald
    July 13, 2010 at 3:09 p.m.

    I grew up in Memphis. I was a teenager when Elvis started singing. I lived in East Mempphis in Colonial Acres subdivision. I was living there when Elvis bought the house on Audubon Drive in east Memphis. It was a great time to be a teenager. I will never forget meeting Elvis and talking with through the gates on Audubon Drive. Thank you. William A barber Jr.

    — William Barber
    July 13, 2010 at 3:50 p.m.

    When I was a small child my mother used to play Elvis and would lay on the floor with all his albums lined up against the wall...My mother loved him! I had my first crush, he was DREAMY!

    When I was five my mother took me to see him in concert.
    To this day,those are my most cherished memories...
    Elvis lives on in my heart everyday...

    — Michelle Frazier
    October 8, 2010 at 10:20 a.m.

    Elvis Presley most definetly deserves the walk of fame. He was & always will be the King, I also think that Elvis & Ann Margaret made a great couple, it' sad that they didn't marry each other maybe he would still be with us today, she understood the music business, &making movies, I personally think that some how that would have made a difference, there seemed to be a strong connection between them.

    — Jo Anna Black
    May 10, 2011 at 7:08 a.m.

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