Elvis Presley Rodzice

The Story of Elvis Presley's Parents: Gladys and Vernon

Early Life and Marriage

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, was born to Gladys Love Smith and Vernon Elvis Presley on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. Gladys, born on April 25, 1912, was the daughter of Robert Lee Smith and Doll Mansell Smith. She had a difficult childhood, marked by poverty and the early death of her mother. Vernon, born on April 10, 1916, was the son of Jesse D. Presley and Minnie Mae Hood Presley. He worked as a sharecropper and had a reputation for being a hard worker.

Gladys and Vernon met in 1933 at a church revival. They married on June 17, 1933, in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, marked by financial struggles and Vernon's occasional bouts of infidelity.

Elvis' Birth and Early Childhood

Elvis was born in a two-room house in Tupelo. The family lived in poverty, and Elvis often slept in a cardboard box. Despite their financial difficulties, Gladys and Vernon were devoted to their son and provided him with a loving and supportive environment.

Elvis' early childhood was geprägt by music. He sang in church and listened to country, gospel, and blues music on the radio. He also showed an early talent for playing the guitar. In 1948, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis would begin his musical career.

Later Years and Death

Gladys died of a heart attack on August 14, 1958, at the age of 46. Vernon was devastated by his wife's death and never remarried. He died of lung cancer on June 26, 1979, at the age of 63.

Elvis was deeply affected by the loss of his parents. He often spoke of them with love and admiration. In 1977, he purchased Graceland, the Memphis mansion where he lived with his parents, and turned it into a museum in their memory.