On January 8, 1935, American musician, singer, and "King of Rock and Roll" Elvis Presley is born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Growing up in Tupelo and later Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis would develop a love of music; however, he was also quite shy about performing in front of others up until his last years in high school when he finally decided to pursue a career in music. It was also during this time that he would also be exposed to and develop an appreciation for a wide range of musical genres, including country, gospel, and blues, all of which would greatly influence his future career. Graduating from high school in 1953, Presley's musical career began in 1954 after his single "That's All Right" exploded in popularity on local radio stations. Over the next couple of years, Elvis would perform on radio shows broadcast across the region and recording multiple records before ultimately being signed by RCA in 1955 for $40,000. In 1956, Elvis would release his first album, make multiple television appearances (including his iconic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show), and debut in his first film in Love Me Tender. In 1958, Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army in 1958 at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, and was stationed in Germany as part of the 3rd Armored Division. Upon returning to the United States and being honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant in 1960, Elvis pursued a career in film. In 1968, he would once again shift gears in his career, bringing his focus back onto his musical career.

In 1967, Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu, with whom he would have a daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. However, the marriage gradually crumbled, especially following affairs between Elvis and other women came to light, resulting in the couple's divorce in 1973. Elvis himself also saw his own health deteriorating due to poor diet and an addiction to prescription drugs. By 1977, Presley suffered from numerous ailments including glaucoma, high blood pressure, and an enlarged colon. On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley died of a heart attack.

Elvis Presley left behind a lasting musical legacy as the "King of Rock and Roll," having helped usher in a new age in popular music and blending sounds from across the racial divide during a time of racial segregation in America. The rebellious nature of rock also served to foster a new counterculture movement spanning decades. Today, Elvis still retains the title of the best-selling solo artist of all time. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Elvis retains the distinction of holding the greatest number of gold albums (101) and platinum albums (57), the second greatest number of double platinum albums (26, second only to the Beatles with 27), and the greatest number of album certifications total (184). Since his death, Elvis has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.