Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8th of 1935. He is one of the most famous singers in the history of popular music. He was extremely influential on many of the artists/bands who would push rock music into new territory in the 1960s (including The Beatles.)

Presley released his first single on July 19, 1954 at just 19 years old: “That’s All Right.” It didn’t make the charts at the time but it went on to become a very well known song and it was very influential. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #112 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. It had been written by Arthur Crudup in 1946.

Presley had some success on the country & western charts in 1955 (“I forgot to remember to forget” hit #1 on the country charts) but he didn’t hit the pop charts until 1956′s “Heartbreak Hotel” which was his first #1 single. He had actually released over 20 singles prior to that.

By 1962 he had amassed a total of 16 #1 US singles. In 1969 he added an 17th (“Suspicious Minds.”) Only The Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (18) have had more #1 US singles than Presley.

Presley died on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42 from a drug overdose (14 different drugs were found in his body.)

Elvis performing “That’s All Right Mama” for his 1968 “Comeback Concert”

The original version of “That’s All Right Mama” by Arthur Crudup: