some important Elvis dates in a lifetime

Presley was larger than life

Here are some important Elvis dates in a lifetime of incredible celebrity:

Jan. 8, 1935: Elvis Presley is born in a two-room cabin in East Tupelo, Miss.

Summer 1953: Elvis stops at Memphis Recording Service to record two songs, "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin," as a birthday present for his mother.

Jan. 4, 1954: Elvis meets Sun Records owner Sam Phillips.

July 19, 1954: Sun Records releases "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Elvis, backed by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black.

July 20, 1954: Elvis makes his first public appearance, performing on a flatbed truck in Memphis.

Aug. 15, 1955: Elvis signs a management contract with "Colonel" Tom Parker. The relationship with Parker will continue till Presley's death.

Nov. 20, 1955: Presley's contract with Sun Records, including all previously released and recorded material, is sold to the New York-based RCA label for $35,000.

Jan. 27, 1956: Presley's debut single for RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel," is released. The first of his 17 No. 1 hits, it holds the top spot for eight weeks.

Jan. 28, 1956: Elvis makes his first appearance on network TV as a guest on "Stage Show," hosted by jazz bandleaders Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. Throughout 1956, Presley's biggest year, he will also appear on "The Milton Berle Show," "The Steve Allen Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Aug. 4, 1956: What many consider to be one of rock's greatest double-sided singles, "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog," is released. Both sides will share the top spot for 11 weeks.

Nov. 15, 1956: The film "Love Me Tender," which features Elvis in the first of 31 Hollywood movie roles, premieres at the New York Paramount.

Sept. 1, 1957: Jimi Hendrix goes to see Elvis perform at Sicks Stadium in Seattle.

Dec. 19, 1957: Presley is served with his draft notice while home at Graceland for the Christmas holidays. He is sworn in as a private in the U.S. Army on March 24, 1958, and later sent to basic training in Fort Hood, Texas. Shipped to Germany, he served in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Corps, from October 1, 1958, to March 1, 1960.

Aug. 27, 1965: The Beatles spend the evening talking and playing music with Elvis at his Bel Air home.

May 1, 1967: Elvis marries Priscilla Beaulieu, who he met during his tour of duty in Germany, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, is born exactly nine months later, on Feb. 1, 1968.

July 31, 1969: Presley performs his first live concert since March 25, 1961, opening a four-week engagement at the 1,500-capacity Showroom at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.

June 26, 1977: Elvis Presley delivers his last live performance, at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

Aug. 16, 1977: An unconscious Elvis is rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital around 3 p.m. Despite efforts to revive him, Presley is pronounced dead. At a press conference that evening, medical examiner Dr. Jerry Francisco indicates the cause of death appeared to be "cardiac arrhythmia," noting, "There was severe cardiovascular disease present."

Jan. 23, 1986: Elvis Presley is inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner. Julian and Sean Lennon are his presenters.

Source: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame