On January 8, 1935, Vernon and Gladys Presley had two children in Tupelo, Mississippi. Unfortunately, however, the eldest daughter named Jessie Garon was stillborn, that is, stillborn. The second was born alive and healthier than ever and is named Elvis Aaron. Growing up Elvis didn't have any siblings, but on the bright side, he grew up in a close-knit family. There is little money in his family but, as many parents do, Vernon and Gladys do everything they can do to provide their son with the light of their life. Elvis wants a bicycle but his parents can't afford it, so his mother convinces him to accept a guitar that costs only $12.95 at the Tupelo Hardware Company. When Elvis was ten years old he won fifth place singing "Old Shep" in the talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Dairy Fair and Show held in Tupelo. A couple of years later, Elvis plays his guitar and sings "Leaf on a Tree" for his class at Milam Junior High in Tupelo while greeting all his friends. Elvis and his parents later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, seeking a new life financially. Elvis and his parents live in public housing or low-rent homes in the poor neighborhoods of north Memphis. Vernon and Gladys struggle to transition from job to job while their son Elvis attends LC Humes High School. Elvis and his family begin attending the GodChurch Assembly. Elvis also helps himself and his parents by doing various jobs. As Elvis enters adolescence he is still known for playing and singing with his guitar. He begins buying his clothes on Beale Street and begins to appreciate the black blues and gospel he hears there. He regularly attends the all-night gospel chants, black and white, downtown... mid-paper... early. The day of his death occurred on August 16, 1977, shortly after midnight when Elvis returned to Graceland from a late night visit to the dentist. He went to bed and, like most elderly people, woke up and went to the bathroom. Unfortunately, the next morning he was found dead on his toilet, doctors thought it was from heart failure. Within hours, people around the world were crying. from the sadness of Elvis Presley's death. His funeral was held on August 18, 1977, and his remains were transferred to Graceland on October 2. The things that happened after Elvis' death were that on June 7, 1982, Graceland opened to the public. In 1984, sales of Elvis records skyrocketed, exceeding one billion worldwide. On January 23, 1986, Elvis was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame during the first induction dinner. Works Cited www.elvis.com www.historychannel.com