Elvis Presley died on 16 August 1977 in Memphis, aged 42. An American singer and actor, Presley rose to fame in the mid-1950s after recording for Sun Records in Memphis, and became a star with hits like Heartbreak Hotel and Hound Dog. Often called the King of Rock and Roll, he combined country, gospel and rhythm and blues, and his performances and style made him a cultural phenomenon. He starred in many films, served in the US Army in the late 1950s and returned to live performance with a television special in 1968 and long engagements in Las Vegas. He died at Graceland, his home in Memphis, at the age of forty-two, and remains one of the best-selling solo artists in history.
Before and after
- 18 June 1977Birth of Kaja Kallas
- 19 June 1977Release of The Rescuers
- 2 July 1977Death of Vladimir Nabokov
- from 23 July 1977 to 23 March 1978Ogaden War
- 16 August 1977Death of Elvis Presley
- 17 August 1977Birth of Thierry Henry
- 20 August 1977Launch of Voyager 2
- 5 September 1977Launch of Voyager 1
- 15 September 1977Birth of Tom Hardy
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1946First edition of Cannes Film Festival
- c. 1950sRise of pop art
- 1955Publication of Guinness World Records
- from 25 August 1966 to 11 September 2001Construction of World Trade Center
- from 31 March 1997 to 11 November 2022Premiere of Teletubbies
- 2003Construction of Three Gorges Dam
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.