Elvis Presley: The King's life and career in pictures

A screaming crowd of thousands of teenagers welcomes a guitar-thumping Elvis Presley back to the town where he was born, Tupelo, Miss., during the Mississippi-Alabama State Fair on Aug. 26, 1956.

Elvis Presley is kissed on the cheek by Maid of Cotton Patricia Cowden and Memphis Cotton Carnival Queen Clare Mallory just before the rock 'n' roll singer walked on stage before a packed Ellis Auditorium audience on May 15, 1956.

More than 7,000 people jammed Ellis Auditorium on the night of May 15, 1956, to stomp, shudder, shriek and sigh as a young Elvis Presley writhed his way through a rock 'n' roll repertoire.

Clutching an Elvis Presley "Love Me Tender" watch, Sue Manker was all aflutter when the rock 'n' roll king kissed her Nov. 30, 1956 at Crump Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Elvis Presley, right, looks on during a recording session June 10, 1958, at the RCA recording studio in Nashville.

Elvis Presley is cheered on by fans upon his arrival at Friedberg, to do his military service in Germany in 1959. Elvis spent two years in Germany while in the US Army.

Elvis Presley poses in front of his home with his Rolls Royce in October 1960. Back home after a stint of movie making in Hollywood, Elvis proudly posed with the latest mark of his fame - a brand new black Standard Salon Silver Cloud II Rolls Royce worth around $18,000.

Elvis Presley and young actress Tuesday Weld take a rest during the shooting of the film "Wild in the Country", in 1961.

Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret in a publicity portrait for the 1964 film "Viva Las Vegas."

Elvis fiddles with an electric bass inside Graceland on March 7, 1965 in the first issue of Mid-South, the now-defunct Sunday magazine of The Commercial Appeal. Elvis had misgivings about allowing pictures to be made inside his home. "It's not that I don't want pictures," he said. "You know what I mean. Some people might think I am looking for publicity or trying to exploit my home. I certainly don't want anyone to think that."

Elvis Presley is reflected in the roof of his automobile as he looks into the camera after attending a luncheon Jan. 16, 1971 at what was then the Holiday Inn Rivermont in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Elvis Presley and wife, Priscilla stand as he is introduced at a luncheon at the Holiday Inn Rivermont on Jan. 16, 1971. Presley was being honored by the Jaycees of America as one of the Outstanding Young Men In America.

Elvis Presley playing touch football at the Dave Wells Community Center December 27, 1956. Several hundred people watched the singer pass, kick and run a touchdown. Elvis's first movie, "Love Me Tender", in which he performed several songs, had premiered November 15th in New York City. The movie opened Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 21, 1956) at Loew's State Theatre in Memphis. On Sunday January 6, 1957, Elvis would make his third and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In between the football game and the Sullivan appearance, he reported for his pre-induction Army physical January 4th.

Elvis Presley was outfitted with all of his military gear at Ft Chaffee, Ark. Elvis was inducted March 24, 1958 at Memphis and spent several days at Ft. Chaffee before moving on to Ft. Hood Texas on the 28th, where he would undergo six months training. He would return to his hometown March 7, 1960 after completing his tour of duty.

He was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, and became a legend in his own time. More than 7,000 people jammed Ellis Auditorium on the night of May 15, 1956, to stomp, shudder, shriek and sigh as a young Elvis Presley writhed his way through a rock and roll repertoire. Presley was the blockbuster of Bob Neal's Cotton Picking Jamboree, a feature of Cotton Carnival opening night in Memphis on May 15, 1958.

Elvis Presley preforms at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis on Feb. 25, 1961.

Elvis Presley performed at the state fair Coliseum in Indianapolis on April 16, 1972.

Elvis Presley signs autographs outside WKNO in Memphis in October of 1957.

A young Elvis Presley with Bernard Lansky, the Memphis retailer who helped a young Presley establish his clothing style.

Elvis Presley tries on clothes in December 1962 at Lansky's Men's Store in Memphis. Bernard Lansky, whose family operated the shop on Beale Street, helps him. Presley purchased clothes at Lansky's throughout his career. The old Lansky building later became the first nightclub-restaurant opened by the Presley estate.

Elvis Presley inside Graceland. March 7, 1965 in the first issue of Mid-South, the now-defunct Sunday magazine of The Commercial Appeal. Elvis had misgivings about allowing pictures to be made inside his home. "It's not that I don't want pictures," he said. "You know what I mean. Some people might think I am looking for publicity or trying to exploit my home. I certainly don't want anyone to think that."

Elvis and Priscilla Presley with Lisa Marie at Baptist Hospital. Born Feb. 1, 1968, the baby weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

Elvis Presley, center, and Ann Ellington, the Tennessee governor's daughter, get crushed by his fans as Tennessee state troopers help the couple get to their ride after they visited the state Capitol in Nashville on March 8, 1961.

Elvis Presley and Mary Kathleen Selph ride a motorcycle at the corner of South Parkway and Elvis Presley Blvd. in Memphis, Tennessee on June 30, 1972.