Elvis Presley's Incredible Life in Photos

Elvis Aron Presley was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Gladys and Vernon Presley. He had an identical twin brother named Jesse Garon Presley, who was stillborn.

Presley was born into a religious working class family. As a child, he moved frequently and was very close with his parents.

Presley's family attended the Assembly of God Church, which is where he was introduced to Gospel music. At 11 years old, he received his first guitar for his birthday and began making music. Later in life, the singer won three of his Grammys for Gospel tracks.

In 1953, Presley graduated from Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Here he is in his school's ROTC uniform. After graduating, he worked odd jobs to save enough money to record a demo.

Presley caught the attention of Sun Studio owner Sam Phillips, who cut the young singer's first single "That's All Right." Presley signed with the studio and began touring around the country to boost his profile.

Presley gained a following on tour, but it wasn't just his music that caught the eye of teenagers, it was his dance moves. The singer's unique gyrating hips became a signature move.

A teenage Elvis holds a stack of 45s of his first commercial recording, "That's All Right, Mama." It only took two takes in the studio to get the song right.

With the help of Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, the singer's contract with Sun Studio was bought out by the major record label RCA Records for $35,000. RCA also bought the rights to Presley's previously recorded songs.

Elvis performs with guitarist Scotty Moore, a member of his backing band, The Blue Moon Boys. Moore eventually became the singer's first manager in the early days of his career, and they remained close through the years. "Elvis loved Scotty dearly and treasured those amazing years together, both in the studio and on the road," Priscilla Presley shared in a statement following Moore's death in 2016.

To capitalize on Presley's growing popularity, RCA released an album called Elvis Presley, which was made up of songs he had previously recorded with Sun Studios and new tracks. The album quickly rose to the number one spot on the charts.

Thanks to his mainstream appeal, Presley snagged himself a three-year contract with Paramount Pictures in 1956. Soon he was embarking on a promising film career.

Presley made his on-screen debut in Love Me Tender, which was a hit at the box office. Presley's move into film was huge for his career and, by the end of the year, he was one of the most high-profile celebrities of the decade.

In the mid-'50s, Elvis was often spotted with his signature comb. His natural hair color was sandy blonde, and he dyed it jet black. He used the same salon and stylist as other stars of the time, like Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, and Rock Hudson.

Presley returned to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee in 1957 and purchased his now famous mansion, Graceland.

One of Presley's most famous songs was "Jailhouse Rock," which he recorded for the 1957 film of the same title. Here, he poses for a promotional shoot for the movie.