AUGUST 16, 1977
American singer Elvis Presley, known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” died of a heart attack brought on largely by drug abuse. He was just 42.
In the last two years of his life, the superstar performer made erratic stage appearances and lived as a near recluse.
At the end of the 1960s, rock and roll had undergone dramatic changes, and Elvis was no longer seen as relevant by American youth.
A 1968 television special won back many of his fans, but hits were harder to come by. His final Top 10 hit “Burning Love” was in 1972.
By the mid-1970s, Elvis was in declining physical and mental health.
He divorced his wife Priscilla in 1973 and developed a dangerous dependence on prescription drugs. He was also addicted to junk food and had gained considerable weight.
On the afternoon of August 16, 1977, he was found unconscious in his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.
He was discovered by his then-fiancée, Ginger Alden, who found him unconscious in their master bathroom.
Elvis was quickly rushed by ambulance to Baptist
Memorial Hospital, where he was ultimately declared dead at 3.30pm following unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him.
The music icon was buried in the grounds of Graceland,
which continues to attract fans and has been turned into a highly successful tourist
attraction.