Today is Elvis Presley’s birthday. Though he died at the young age of 42, the King is alive in many hearts and minds. Even if it’s not possible to gift him a pair of his favorite shoes (Blue Suede Shoes), he can be remembered and honored through his songs.

Here are 10 Things you may or may not know about the King:

1. According to the Britannica website, Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi more than eight decades ago on January 8, 1935. He moved to Memphis when he was a teenager. he was discovered shortly after his move by music producer Sam Phillips.
2. He began his career as a truck driver, while studying to be an electrician, at night school. In 1954, he stopped working and started touring with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, who were local musicians like him.
3. He publicly received a polio vaccine on The Ed Sullivan Show to popularize vaccinations among teens and young adults. Many current public figures are following his example by televising or live streaming or taking pictures of getting inoculated with coronavirus vaccines to allay fears.
4. He was only 22, when he bought Graceland as a home for him, his parents and his grandparents. It cost $102,500. Such was his fame and popularity that he could buy this expensive property, despite an impoverished early life. Graceland is now a National Historical Landmark in Memphis, Tennessee and is visited by over 500,000 almost every year according to its website.
5. Elvis was drafted into military service for two years and served in Germany where he met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu. They got married in 1967 and got divorced after six years.
6. He was a black belt and always carried his karate certificate in his wallet.
7. He had a still born twin brother Jessie Garron.
8. He was called “The King” or “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Mystery Train was his greatest record ever.
9. He died of a heart attack, brought about by an overdose of prescription drugs, in the summer of 1977.
10. He sold over a billion records and was inducted into The Rock ‘n’ Roll, The Rockabilly, The R&B, The Country and The Gospel Halls of Fame

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