Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often referred to mononymously as Elvis, was an American singer, actor and Sergeant in the United States Army. He came from humble beginnings and grew up to become one of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, led him to both great success and initial controversy. By the mid-1950s, he appeared on the radio, television and the silver screen. On August 16, 1977, at age 42, he died suddenly of heart failure, which was related to his drug addiction and unhealthy eating habits. Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world’s most popular music icons.

Many Americans make the pilgrimage to Graceland, Presley’s former estate in Memphis, to celebrate the man and his life. Having sold over 500 million records worldwide, Presley is recognized as the best-selling solo music artist of all time by Guinness World Records. He was commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, rhythm & blues, adult contemporary, and gospel.