Elvis Presley’s career was fraught with obstacles. His story traces the difficult path that led him to the title of "King of Rock ‘n’ Roll."

The music industry was changed forever on January 8, 1935, when Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Gladys Love and Vernon Presley. A lesser-known fact about that day is that Elvis wasn’t alone when he took his first breath; he was actually a twin and had a brother named Jesse Garon. Unfortunately, his twin brother was born 35 minutes before him and had already been declared stillborn.

Even though Elvis’s family was filled with love and he had grown much closer to his parents—especially his mother—they still struggled to make ends meet. His father was unable to provide for the family on a regular basis, which forced him to take on a string of odd jobs: he worked as a farmer, a truck driver, and a painter.

Even though Vernon Presley was a good person, sometimes people make bad choices for good reasons. In 1938, he was found guilty of forging a check he had given to Orville Bean, his boss. Although this may seem like a minor offense, the consequences were enormous. Not only did the family lose their home, but Vernon ended up spending eight months behind bars.

Elvis, however, did not let his family problems keep him from devoting himself to music. Although he had initially developed a passion for music through the church, it was his motivation and energy that drove him to devote himself fully to it.  In 1941, at just ten years old, he gave his very first concert at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair singing contest. He may have only placed fifth, but that was no indication of the future success we all know so well.

Even though you probably remember Elvis as a rock star, that’s not how he started out. At first, he was a rather shy and reserved artist, and the fact that he was often teased by his classmates for being a bit of an outsider certainly didn’t help. And, ironically, even his high school teachers failed to recognize his talent. It’s said that Elvis once failed a music class—even though that was precisely what would soon make him a legend.

But during his final years of high school, Elvis learned to accept himself for who he was. Whether it was growing out his iconic sideburns or wearing more flashy clothes, his reputation took a turn for the better when he performed at his school’s annual talent show. He blew his classmates away with his incredible cover of Teresa Brewer’s “Till I Waltz Again With You.” When people realized he could actually sing, he went from being the school outcast to the most popular guy around.

Elvis’s talents, however, did not come out of nowhere. He was heavily influenced by African American artists such as Arthur Crudup and B.B. King, as well as by many country artists like Jimmie Rodgers. He spent all his free time visiting record stores, listening to music, and hanging out on Beale Street. By this point, Elvis already knew that music would be a part of his life forever.

However, this talented artist’s musical career did not get off to a smooth start. Before his legendary partnership with Sun Records in Memphis, Elvis made numerous unsuccessful attempts to break into the industry. It wasn’t until he performed Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right” during an impromptu session with his fellow musicians Scotty Moore and Bill Black that he found his voice. As soon as the song aired on the radio for the very first time, the rest is history.

Accompanied by guitarist Moore and bassist Black, the trio was invited to perform in concert on several occasions. But it was at the Overton Park Shell that Elvis created that signature move that would go down in history forever. Known as “Rubber Legs,” it was his nervous energy as he danced to the beat of the music that gave rise to this strange yet iconic dance move that would capture the hearts of all Americans for many years to come.

As his musical career gained momentum thanks to several highly acclaimed concerts, it became increasingly difficult to pinpoint which genre he belonged to. While some of his hits had a jazzier feel, others leaned more toward country. Ultimately, Elvis became a pioneer of rockabilly, billing himself as “The King of Western Bop” and “The Hillbilly Cat.”

It was in 1955 that Elvis met his third and final manager, Colonel Tom Parker. While all the major record labels were vying to sign this incredible singer, Parker and Sam Phillips ultimately struck a $40,000 deal with RCA Victor. This agreement made history: no artist had ever been paid that much before.

In the years that followed, under the RCA Victor label, hit singles such as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Hound Dog” would be released. At this point, Parker managed to get Elvis on national television, which sent his popularity soaring. When his self-titled debut album was finally released on March 23, 1956, his name was forever etched in history as that of the first artist to reach the top of the Billboard charts with a rock ’n’ roll album.

As Elvis grew accustomed to fame, he no longer devoted himself solely to music; he also took a keen interest in film. Eager to act in movies, he signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. Most people don’t realize that Elvis was also an actor, but he starred in numerous films such as Loving You, King Creole, and Blue Hawaii. Although he was considered very talented on screen, his immense musical persona overshadowed his acting performances.

Can we really say the name “Elvis” without thinking of Graceland? On March 9, 1957, at just 22 years old, Elvis bought Graceland, his iconic mansion, for about $100,000. Although he didn’t move in until June of that same year, his parents and grandparents moved in with him. This clearly showed that family had always been very important to Elvis, no matter how famous he became.

Like many other able-bodied young men in the country, Elvis was drafted on December 20, 1957. Already extremely popular, the news spread like wildfire and was widely reported by the media. He was assigned to the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division. Wanting to be treated like everyone else despite his status as a rock star, he worked hard during his service and was even promoted to sergeant.

During his military service, Elvis discovered karate, which would become his lifelong passion. His first instructor was a German named Juergen Seydel, and from then on, he devoted himself to the sport until he earned an 8th-dan black belt. Elvis was so passionate about karate that he even opened his own school, the Tennessee Karate Institute, in Memphis in 1974!

As a public figure, Elvis’s love life was often scrutinized by the public. While the rock star had several relationships throughout his life, it was his relationship with Priscilla Beaulieu that was the most significant. She would become the only woman he ever married, and she would be the mother of his only child, Lisa Marie Presley. Although the couple separated in 1973 after six years of marriage, Priscilla continued to speak highly of her husband and his legacy for years, right up until her death.

After enduring years of pressure from his fame, Elvis’s divorce from Priscilla seemed to send him into a downward spiral. The once-vibrant and energetic rock star saw his health deteriorate due to his growing addictions and substance abuse. While he continued to perform on stage and give numerous concerts, his health declined, leaving him overweight, listless, and unkempt in the final years of his life.

August 16, 1977, is a sad day in U.S. history. At just 42 years old, Elvis Presley died of a heart attack caused by his worsening health problems. It was his girlfriend, Ginger Alden, who found him unconscious on the floor of his bathroom. His death deeply moved the entire nation, and even President Jimmy Carter paid tribute to this eternal American treasure.

Although Elvis Presley is a name known around the world, he actually never performed outside of North America. Even though he wanted to tour abroad, that plan unfortunately never came to fruition. He performed in a few cities in Canada, but that was the extent of his international appearances. He remains an artist of breathtaking talent whom, unfortunately, only Americans were able to discover during his incredible lifetime.