Elvis Served His Country For Two Years, But His Actions After The Army Show How He Was A True Hero

Elvis Presley’s groundbreaking career was famously interrupted in its prime by a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. But his service to others did not stop once he had left the military and returned to his day job. Here is a look at how the King of Rock ’n’ Roll kept on giving. And, in the process, he proved that as well as being a musical pioneer, he was a most generous star.

Humble beginnings

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in January 1935, Elvis Presley moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee, in his early teens. This was where the then-19-year-old first entered a recording studio in 1954 and began fusing country and R&B to popularize a sound known as rockabilly. After signing with RCA and manager Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis issued his first single, “Heartbreak Hotel,” in 1956.

Rapid stardom

Elvis rapidly became a massive phenomenon and the defining star of his generation. He scored numerous chart-toppers and became a regular face on both the small and big screens. But his early career was by no means without controversy. His provocative performances often incurred the wrath of America’s conservative audiences, as did his ability to transcend the color line.

Big-time early success

The man who quickly became known as The King sustained his incredible early success into the following decade. But nevertheless, many thought Elvis paid too much attention to the advice of manager Parker in focusing too much on soundtrack and acting work for various much-maligned B-movies. However, the singer returned to his former glories in 1968 with a legendary eponymous TV special.

Beyond commercially successful

Elvis remains one of the most important, revered and commercially successful artists ever to grace the music industry. His career sales total reportedly stands somewhere between 600 million and an astonishing one billion units. Singles-wise, the singer also holds the Billboard records for the most top-40 and top-100 hits, and the number of cumulative weeks spent at the number-one spot. In addition, he is also acknowledged to have had the highest number of top-200 albums on the Billboard charts.