One of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century and a pioneer of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley came from meager beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi. He rose to the height of stardom in the mid 1950s and early 1960s as a successful musician and actor. In the course of his more than 20-year career, Presley would produce hundreds of hit songs, and star in more than 30 films.

Highly influenced by African-American musicians of his day, Presley combined the styles of R&B and country to deliver crowd-pleasing performances. But it was his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956 that fully introduced Presley's new style to America. Initially criticized by lawmakers and peers for gyrating his hips too suggestively as he sang, Presley's performance on Ed Sullivan was seen by approximately 60 million viewers—a record 82.6 percent of the television audience. Afterward, Presley became a celebrity on an unprecedented scale, and would soon be referred to as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll."

The eccentric style and grandiose concerts that defined the second half of his career—complete with Presley's elaborate rhinestone jumpsuits, sequined capes, and Vegas-style showmanship—not only became his trademark, but helped make him one of the most beloved and imitated artists of all time.

Presley died August 16, 1977, in his Memphis, Tennessee, home after a decades-long history of substance abuse. In 1982, his Graceland estate was officially opened to the public, becoming the second most-visited home in the United States, after the White House. Since then, Presley has been posthumously inducted into four music halls of fame: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (1997), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1998), and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001).