AMERICAN FIGURE PRESENTATION -ELVIS AARON PRESLEY

Hello everyone,my name is Lenke .
My American Figure is ELVIS AARON PRESLEY, was born on January 8,1935 in East-Tupelo,Mississippi . His twin brother Jesse Garon Presley arrived at the same time but was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child of Gladys and Vernon Presley. Raised by loving,working- class parents,Presley’s family had little money and they moved around a lot.He was deeply devoted to his parents, especially his mother Gladys and was raised to have a strong faith in God.Gladys insisted that Elvis learned good manners and show respect to his elders-a training that stayed with him for the rest of his life. Elvis developed his singing talents at the famiy's Pentecostal church, and by the age of ten managed to win second prize at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair . This accomplishment motivated his parents to buy him an acoustic guitar.As a young boy he enjoyed black R&B, jazz ,and soul music,as well as gospel music and country’n western.His family had no money to pay for lessons so he taught himself to play the piano and learnt the guitar from family friends.He had a memory for words and music and was able to sing or play a song after hearing it once or twice.. When Elvis was 13, he and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee.After graduating from Humes High School in Memphis,Elvis took odd jobs working as a movie theater usher and a truck driver.
I choose Elvis because he is my husband’s idol,and became mine too,during my researches for today’s presentation.
Elvis Presley was the first real rock and roll star. Elvis made his film debut in 1956”Love Me Tender” and 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 albulm and singles,far more than any other artist.The united States Junior Chamber of Commerce named Elvis One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970,one of Elvis proudest moments.
Meets 14-years old Priscilla Beaulieu in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army.Four years later,Priscilla moves into Graceland and finishes her senior year of high scool in Memphis.In 1967 they get married and had a daughter ,Lisa Marie, together the next year.He was the happiest man in the world.After few years Presley’s marriage was falling apart ,the couple diverced in 1973,and Priscilla received custody of Lisa Marie.
First surprising fact was more people watched Elvis in the movie: “Aloha from Hawaii (live Via Satelllite TV special) than watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.
The second interesting fact : Elvis was famous for giving away Cadillacs,cash and jewelry,often on the spur of the moment.Most of his philanthropic endeavors received no publicity at all.Throughout his adult life,for friends,for family,and for total strangers, he quietly paid hospital bills,bought homes ,supported families ,paid off debts,and much more.For example in 1975 he purchased a poor black East Memphis woman an electric wheel chair and picked her up and personally sat her in it.The woman’s teenage daughter told Elvis she likes his car.He gave it to her and even gave her boyfriend a job.
Elvis Aaron Presley died of heart failure at his Memphis home ,Graceland, on August 16,1977.He was only 42 years old.
Graceland was Elvis’ beloved home.Since his death,it becomes the Nr.1 tourist attraction in Memphis and the second most visited home in the United States right behind the White House.
The King of Rock ‘N Roll said:” 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. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times. I learned very early in life that: “ Whithout a song, the day would never end ; without a song,a man ain’t got a friend ; without a song, the road would never bend-without a song.So I keep singing a song.”
Elvis helped usher in a new sound in music by successfully crossing genres and still remains one of the best-selling artists of all time. He is honored as icon of popular culture and referred to as the “ King of Rock’n’Roll.