During his formative years, Elvis was primarily influenced by country and gospel music. Though he later earned the moniker "King of Rock 'n' Roll," Elvis enjoyed commercial success in other genres of music, including country, gospel, pop and even r&b.
Since earning his first hit single in 1956 with "Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis went on to sell well over a billion records globally. To recognize his musical success in the United States alone, the Recording Industry Association of America has given gold, platinum or multi-platinum certification to more than 150 of Elvis' singles and albums. At the age of 36, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement -- just one of the myriad of accolades he earned in his explosive career.
Elvis was signed in 1954 to Sun Records, which would eventually be acquired by RCA Records. His musical journey and subsequent legacy began two years later when his music, boyish handsome looks and charm, as well as humanitarian efforts, made him a runaway global success.
In addition to recording music, Elvis made a number of television appearances and also starred in several motion pictures. While he easily sold out shows seemingly everywhere he went, there was one venue from which he did not receive a warm welcome. Elvis performed on country music's most prestigious stage -- the Grand Ole Opry -- one time only. After that performance, he was never invited back. It is speculated that his hip gyrating was not appropriate for television audiences. In a separate television show appearance, his performance was only filmed from the waist up.