Elvis Presley

Born 8 January 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley moved with his family to Memphis at thirteen and recorded his first sides at Sun Records in 1954, beginning with Arthur Crudup's That's All Right. Produced by Sam Phillips, his early recordings fused country, blues, and rhythm and blues into a style that would catalyse rock and roll. His 1955 contract was acquired by RCA Victor for an unprecedented forty thousand dollars. Three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 and 1957 made him a national sensation. He died at Graceland on 16 August 1977, aged 42, having recorded eighteen number-one singles and starred in thirty-three films.