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Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.

Elvis’ musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. In 1954, he began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time, he ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture.

He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36, and his being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Army.

His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.

Gold and Platinum Records Following is a list of the 150 Elvis albums, singles and extended-plays whose American sales, as of January 2005, have received gold, platinum or multi-platinum designations from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Sales requirements for gold and platinum status have changed through the years. This list of certifications is based upon current standards: 500,000 copies for a gold single or album, 1 million copies for a platinum single or album.

For the RIAA to award gold or platinum certifications, an artist's record company must submit sales figures and request the certifications. RCA Records continues to document Elvis' ongoing record sales and continues to research past sales and seek appropriate RIAA certifications. This listing will be updated whenever there is new information.

Further explanation of the status of Elvis' record sales and gold & platinum record award certifications is found in the Elvis FAQ section of our web site. For double or multiple disc albums/CD packages, each disc's sales are counted. For instance, a 5-disc box set goes gold after selling 100,000 sets as 5 discs X 100,000 sets sold = 500,000 discs sold.

ELVIS IS BACK! His World Concert Tour Continues As of October 2007, this touring production is on indefinite hiatus and no further tours are in the works for the time being. Should any new tours be booked at some point, the Current Tour page will be updated.) Elvis Presley In Concert (formerly known as Elvis-The Concert), the astounding production that reunites former Elvis bandmates live on stage with a state of the art video-projected Elvis, continues its historic and critically acclaimed world tour. This is, in effect, Elvis' first-ever world concert tour, which began in America in 1998. In his lifetime Elvis' only concerts outside the United States were five shows in three Canadian cities in 1957. A world tour was an unrequited dream for Elvis and his fans. Long after the superstar's death, the dream has come true.

Quotes By Elvis Aaron Presley

“Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ‘em all together, I guess.” -Elvis in 1956, talking about his way of moving on stage.

I ain't no saint, but I've tried never to do anything that would hurt my family or offend God...I figure all any kid needs is hope and the feeling he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world." -Elvis commenting to a reporter, 1950's..

“Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.” -Elvis often used this adaptation of a well-known quotation..

“When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie.

“I’ve never gotten over what they call stagefright. I go through it every show. I’m pretty concerned, I’m pretty much thinking about the show. I never get completely comfortable with it, and I don’t let the people around me get comfortable with it, in that I remind them that it’s a new crowd out there, it’s a new audience, and they haven’t seen us before.

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The news and articles have been collected from published information in the public domain and does not violate any copyrights. The reader should verify the accuracy of the information