Elvis Presley was a musician and a peformer, along with having some very recognizable songs and gyrations

Read about the King of Rock and Roll, his life, his loves and his music.

Marilyn Monroe. Elvis Presley. Michael Jackson. Love 'em or hate 'em, there are a few artists that have broken out of the bounds of their particular media and have achieved cultural icon status. Elvis Presley definitely fits this description; but who was Elvis Presley?

Musician

Whether you call him simply Elvis or The King of Rock and Roll, there will be little doubt about whom you are talking. Elvis Presley was a musician and performer. His style of music was called rockabilly, a combination of country, rhythm and blues and a driving backbeat. His music crossed not only genres but also the racial divide. Some white radio stations refused to play his music, calling it too black. Other black radio stations had no interest in playing their music as performed by a white boy. In spite of this, Elvis Presley rose to fame and is considered one of the greatest musicians of all time.

Elvis recorded in almost every genre: rock, country, gospel, blues, and pop. Doubtless you could name some of his most famous songs: Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel. His music was controversial not only for breaking the barrier between black and white music, but because of his obvious sexuality while performing. This led to his famous performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in September 1956, when Sullivan requested that Elvis be filmed only above the waist. He was afraid Elvis' gyrating hips would offend his family-oriented audience.

Actor

Elvis didn't just make hit record after hit record; he also starred in 33 films. His movies were never hailed by the critics, but they were fan favorites. A huge movie buff, Elvis always wanted a career as a serious actor, but his talent didn't match up to his ambition. His movies were formula-driven musicals, fun to watch but not exactly great art. They did give us some of his greatest songs, however, such as Can't Help Falling in Love and Viva Las Vegas. Most of his films were released during the 1960s, and earned almost $130 million.

Personal life

Elvis was born on January 8, 1935, the son of Vernon and Gladys Presley. His father was in trouble with the law; his mother was an alcoholic. The family barely made ends meet financially. They were active in the Assembly of God Church, and faith remained an important part of Elvis' life and his music.

Elvis was extremely close to his mother and he was often called a mama's boy. After graduation from high school, he worked as a truck driver until his music career took off.

In 1957, at the height of his career, Elvis was drafted into the army, and served until his honorable discharge in 1960. He gained the respect of his fellow soldiers by refusing to join Special Services, which allowed famous draftees special privileges. His stint in the army introduced Elvis to two things that would remain influences throughout his life: karate and amphetamines. He also met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, while stationed in Germany. She was 14 at the time. She lived with him during the 1960s, and they were finally married on May 1, 1967. Their daughter, Lisa Marie, was born nine months later.

Their marriage was difficult, with both Elvis and Priscilla having affairs. They divorced in 1973 and shared custody of Lisa Marie.

Decline and death

Elvis career began to go downhill in the 1970s. Part of this was due to a change in culture. Teens were into the hippy scene and musicians like Janis Joplin and The Doors. Elvis' self-destructive tendencies also led to his downfall. He became obese and unhealthy from binge eating and abusing prescription drugs.

During his lat year, Elvis was almost bed-ridden. He became self-conscious about his weight and anxious when on stage. He was paranoid and isolated himself from almost everyone.

His final performance was on June 26, 1977. He was supposed to begin a new tour on August 17 of that year, but was found dead in his bathroom the day before. There is some disagreement about whether his death was an accidental overdose or a heart attack, although most officials agree that any heart problem was made worse by his drug use.

Elvis' funeral was a national event with extensive media coverage. His ex-wife Priscilla attended the funeral, and President Jimmy Carter even made a statement.

Elvis had his critics, especially in his later years, but most people agree that he had an extraordinary voice and a huge stage presence. His music influenced other greats, like The Beatles, Rod Stewart and Cher. He has 14 Grammy nominations, and won three times. He has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has had his own postage stamp, and his estate at Graceland has been declared a National Historic Landmark.