Elvis Presley Elvis Presley was one of the most successful entertainers ever. Elvis Presley dominated popular music in the United States from the release of his first big record, Heartbreak Hotel, in 1956. His records (all 45 of them) sold more than a million copies each, his 33 motion pictures, and his appearances on television and in live concerts made the young singer into a one-man industry who by the middle of the 60s was the highest-paid performer in show business history. His death in 1977 in no way diminished his popularity with his fans. His records continued to sell, and his legend brought on a whole generation of imitators. Elvis Aron Presley was born on Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Miss