Return of the King

All hail the king of rock ‘n’ roll as the new Elvis movie is released. MARION McMULLEN looks at the life of a music legend

1940 Hound dog: Elvis went to Humes High School in Memphis and had no idea music stardom awaited. He once said: “I was training to be an electrician. I suppose I got wired the wrong way round somewhere along the line.”

1950 All shook up: Elvis earned his sergeant stripes in the US Army. “The next thing I knew, I was out of service and making movies again,” he said. “My first picture was called GI Blues, I thought I was still in the army.”

1971 It’s not unusual: Elvis and his wife Priscilla chat with Sir Tom Jones in Vegas. The singers became friends after meeting on the set of Elvis’ film Paradise, Hawaiian Style in 1965.

1968 Get out the blue suede shoes: The Elvis comeback TV special gave Elvis another career boost. He has sold more than a billion records worldwide over the years.

1963 Always on my mind: Colonel Tom Parker was the singer’s famous manager. The two men first met in 1955. Here he is seen visiting Elvis on the set of one of his films.

1937 A star is born: Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 to parents Vernon and Gladys and lived in a tworoomed house in Tupelo, Mississippi, before moving to Memphis. His twin brother Jessie was stillborn and Elvis grew up an only child.

1957 Return to sender: Elvis kept his roots in Memphis and made his home at the Graceland estate. He paid $102,500 for the property and passed away there in 1977. He was 42 years old.

1968 Love me tender: Elvis and his wife Priscilla welcomed their newborn daughter Lisa Marie into the world. She said: “Anytime I was in Memphis with my Dad and at the house, I was happy.”

1961 Top billing: Tuesday Weld starred with Elvis on Wild In The Country. He was only 21 when he made his first movie and appeared in 31 films during his career and made two concert documentaries.