Elvis Presley vintage photo.Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
It’s hard to believe it’s been 46 years sinceElvis Presleydied. The King was just 42 at the time of his death, though in that short time lived a life full of music, movies, service and plenty of interesting personal storylines.Here, on the anniversary of his death on Aug. 16, 1977, revisit some of Presley’s earliest photos from his prolific career.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 46 years sinceElvis Presleydied. The King was just 42 at the time of his death, though in that short time lived a life full of music, movies, service and plenty of interesting personal storylines.
Here, on the anniversary of his death on Aug. 16, 1977, revisit some of Presley’s earliest photos from his prolific career.
01of 20Let’s Have ‘A Little Less Conversation’GAB Archive/RedfernsHello? You want to see more photos of Elvis Presley in honor of the new filmElvis? Say no more!
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Let’s Have ‘A Little Less Conversation’
GAB Archive/Redferns
Hello? You want to see more photos of Elvis Presley in honor of the new filmElvis? Say no more!
02of 20The Boy from ‘Way Down’ SouthHulton Archive/GettyBorn in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon and Gladys Presley, Elvis was actually meant to be a twin, but his brother, Jesse, was stillborn. Elvis’s name would become synonymous with Tennessee, but he wouldn’t move to Memphis — where he got his start — until 1948.
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The Boy from ‘Way Down’ South
Hulton Archive/Getty
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon and Gladys Presley, Elvis was actually meant to be a twin, but his brother, Jesse, was stillborn. Elvis’s name would become synonymous with Tennessee, but he wouldn’t move to Memphis — where he got his start — until 1948.
03of 20The Singer’s ‘Always on My Mind’Michael Ochs Archives/GettyPresley got his first guitar as a birthday presentwhen he was just 11 years old.
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The Singer’s ‘Always on My Mind’
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Presley got his first guitar as a birthday presentwhen he was just 11 years old.
04of 20’Darling, So It Goes’Alan Band/Keystone Features/Getty.You might not believe it, but the man who is now one of the world’s most recognizable musiciansfailed his high school music class.
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‘Darling, So It Goes’
Alan Band/Keystone Features/Getty.
You might not believe it, but the man who is now one of the world’s most recognizable musiciansfailed his high school music class.
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You ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’
Bettmann/Getty
06of 20Singing ‘A Mess of Blues’Don Cravens/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/GettyThe handsome singer would go on to amass 114 Top 40 hits and win threeGrammy Awardsover the course of his career.
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Singing ‘A Mess of Blues’
Don Cravens/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty
The handsome singer would go on to amass 114 Top 40 hits and win threeGrammy Awardsover the course of his career.
07of 20Buying His Own ‘Heartbreak Hotel’Michael Ochs Archives/GettyAccording tothe estate’s website, Presley purchased Graceland in 1957 for just $102,500. Here’s a photo of him that year in front of the mansion that would become his iconic compound. He was just 22 years old.
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Buying His Own ‘Heartbreak Hotel’
According tothe estate’s website, Presley purchased Graceland in 1957 for just $102,500. Here’s a photo of him that year in front of the mansion that would become his iconic compound. He was just 22 years old.
08of 20Hunk of ‘Burning Love’Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/GettyFun fact: The King’s famous, jet-black hair is actually naturally blond. He started dying it black when he was in high school and kept up the color throughout his life.
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Hunk of ‘Burning Love’
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty
Fun fact: The King’s famous, jet-black hair is actually naturally blond. He started dying it black when he was in high school and kept up the color throughout his life.
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He’s ‘All Shook Up’
CBS Photo Archive/Getty
Before Shakira’s hips didn’t lie, Elvis’s pelvis was the only thing anyone could talk about.
Here, heperforms onTheEd Sullivan Showin 1956. Sullivan initially thought the singer’s dance moves were too inappropriate for family television, but changed his mind after seeing his competitor’s ratings. Elvis was then booked for three performances.
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And ‘Don’t’ Forget This Iconic Moment
Seymour Wally/NY Daily News Archive via Getty
CNNreported that the singer’s decision to get the vaccine on live television — particularly as a young, healthy celebrity — may have been a catalyst in getting younger adults to understand the importance of the shot.
11of 20Excuse Us, But ‘Are You Lonesome?‘Archive Photos/Getty"We don’t want a four-leaf clover," we just want young Elvis Presley to be our “Good Luck Charm.”
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Excuse Us, But ‘Are You Lonesome?’
Archive Photos/Getty
“We don’t want a four-leaf clover,” we just want young Elvis Presley to be our “Good Luck Charm.”
12of 20Jail Break? Nah, ‘Jailhouse Rock’FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via GettyThe King of Rock n’ Roll also reigned on the silver screen: he starred in 31 feature films. This still is from 1957’sJailhouse Rock.
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Jail Break? Nah, ‘Jailhouse Rock’
FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty
The King of Rock n’ Roll also reigned on the silver screen: he starred in 31 feature films. This still is from 1957’sJailhouse Rock.
13of 20Time to ‘Surrender’John Kobal Foundation/GettyHere, he plays boxer Walter Gulick in the 1962 filmKid Galahad.
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Time to ‘Surrender’
John Kobal Foundation/Getty
Here, he plays boxer Walter Gulick in the 1962 filmKid Galahad.
14of 20Someone’s got a ‘Suspicious Mind’GettyHere he is filmingKing Creole, the last movie he’d star in before being drafted into the Army in 1957.
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Someone’s got a ‘Suspicious Mind’
Getty
Here he is filmingKing Creole, the last movie he’d star in before being drafted into the Army in 1957.
15of 20The ‘G.I. Blues’GettyIn 1957, Presley was drafted into the U.S. Military. Then just 23, the superstar finished up filmingKing Creolebefore he was inducted into the Army as a private in March 1958. His first film upon his return was, fittingly,G.I. Blues.
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The ‘G.I. Blues’
In 1957, Presley was drafted into the U.S. Military. Then just 23, the superstar finished up filmingKing Creolebefore he was inducted into the Army as a private in March 1958. His first film upon his return was, fittingly,G.I. Blues.
16of 20’Stuck On’ PriscillaElvis and Priscilla Presley.Bettmann/GettyWhile stationed abroad in Germany in 1959, Presley met his future wife, Priscilla. The pair married in 1967.
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‘Stuck On’ Priscilla
Elvis and Priscilla Presley.Bettmann/Getty
While stationed abroad in Germany in 1959, Presley met his future wife, Priscilla. The pair married in 1967.
17of 20’The Wonder of You’Michael Ochs Archives/GettyOn top of all of that acting, Presley managed to record 57 records (some of them were soundtracks from his films) in his lifetime.
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‘The Wonder of You’
On top of all of that acting, Presley managed to record 57 records (some of them were soundtracks from his films) in his lifetime.
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‘(Let Him Be Your) Teddy Bear’
19of 20More Than Just a ‘Hound Dog’Michael Ochs Archives/GettyIf there’s one thing we’re not on the fence about, it’s the King’s undeniable mark on pop culture.
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More Than Just a ‘Hound Dog’
If there’s one thing we’re not on the fence about, it’s the King’s undeniable mark on pop culture.
20of 20Viva Las ElvisMichael Ochs Archives/GettyThough Presley tragically died on Aug. 16, 1977, at just 42 years old, hislegacy lives on.
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Viva Las Elvis
Though Presley tragically died on Aug. 16, 1977, at just 42 years old, hislegacy lives on.
source: people.com
