Elvis Presley through the years

Elvis Presley's death on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42, shocked his legions of fans. His singing, sex appeal and charisma have mesmerized generations.

Elvis Presley shows his style in a photo that was used for his first RCA Victor album cover.

Elvis Presley tries on clothes at Lansky Brothers in Memphis, Tenn. Helping him is Bernard Lansky, whose family ran the shop. Presley bought clothes from the store throughout his career.

Elvis Presley was assigned to the Army's Third Armored Division, and sent to Friedberg, West Germany. Here he poses for photographs in a tank driver's seat. He served a two-year hitch on active duty and was discharged in March 1960.

For the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presleys death, in 2007, ABC News produced a two-hour TV special looking at how the King of Rock and Roll reinvented Las Vegas, and how it reinvented him.

Elvis Presley performs in his iconic white jumpsuit. The date and location are not known.

Elvis Presley's famous pompadour established a national trend in men's hair styles.

Elvis Presley sings romantic ballads on his third studio album, "Loving You," which was released in July 1957.

The "Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him," by Alanna Nash, was released in January 2010. The title plays off a Presley song "Baby, Let's Play House," released in 1955.

A poster for the Elvis Presley film "Girl Happy." The Presley romantic comedy with occasional singing by "The King," was released in 1965.

A poster for the Elvis Presley film, "Girls, Girls, Girls. Presley played a penniless Hawaiian fisherman who dreams about owning his own boat. The film released in 1962 was nominated for a Golden Globes award.

Elvis Presley stars as a chaperone who gets involved with a mobster's daughter in "Girl Happy." The romantic comedy was released in 1965.

With his father Vernon Presley, rocker and movie star Elvis Presley, 23, comforts his mother, Gladys, at the family's Memphis, Tenn., home in 1958 on the eve of Elvis' induction into the Army. Photographers had been invited in.

Elvis Presley, wearing his white jumpsuit, performs on May 23, 1977. He most frequently performed in the jumpsuit in Las Vegas shows.

Elvis Presley performing on June 22, 1973, at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.

Elvis Presley performs at Nassau Coliseum on June 22, 1973.

Elvis Presley performing live onstage at the "Aloha From Hawaii" concert in 1973.

Elvis Presley in 1970.

Elvis Presley shows President Richard Nixon his cuff links on Dec. 21, 1970, at the White House.

President Richard Nixon meeting with Elvis Presley on Dec. 21, 1970, at the White House. Ten days after this visit, Presley went to FBI headquarters, where Director J. Edgar Hoover made himself scarce. An aide had advised him that Presley was "not the type of individual whom the director would want to meet." Memos concerning Presley's visit have been posted on the FBI's webpage.

The film "Charro!" featured a bearded Elvis Presley in 1969.

Elvis Presley in a "most spectacular outfit" during his comeback performance at NBC in 1968.

Elvis Presley poses with wife, Priscilla, and daughter Lisa Marie at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 5, 1968. The baby was born Feb. 1, 1968, and weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

Elvis and Priscilla Presley with baby Lisa Marie leaving the hospital in 1968.

Singer Elvis Presley and his bride, the former Priscilla Beaulieu, are shown at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas after their wedding on May 1, 1967. Presley, 32, and Beaulieu, 21, both from Memphis, Tenn., met while he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army.

Elvis Presley and actress Ann-Margret in a publicity photo for the 1964 film "Viva Las Vegas."

Elvis Presley and actress Ann-Margret in a publicity photo for the 1964 film, "Viva Las Vegas."

Elvis Presley as a guitar-playing hillbilly in the 1963 film "Kissing Cousins."

Elvis and actress Joan Blackman in "Blue Hawaii," 1961.

An Elvis publicity still to promote his movie "Blue Hawaii" circa 1961 in Los Angeles.

Elvis Presley and Col. Tom Parker step off the train in Memphis, Tenn., in 1960, after Presley's discharge from a two-year stint in the Army.

Elvis Presley smiles after he is promoted to sergeant at the U.S. Army's headquarters in Grafenwoehr, Germany on Feb. 11, 1960.

The nation's new 50-star flag makes its film debut as a backdrop for a movie by Paramount Pictures. Far too large to be flown, the 21-by-42-foot silk flag with 14-inch stars and 18-inch-wide stripes was made for this scene starring Elvis Presley in Hal Wallis' "G.I. Blues" on July 4, 1960.

Elvis Presley in 1958, his Army year.

Elvis Presley with Dolores Hart, Jan Shepard, Liliane Montevecchi and Carolyn Jones in a still for the 1958 movie "King Creole."

In Memphis, on Feb. 23, 1958, Elvis Presley relaxes at home with his parents, Vernon and Gladys, on the eve of his induction into the Army.

Pfc. Elvis Presley waves to fans as he tries out a German BMW 507 sports car in Frankfurt, Germany, on Dec. 20, 1958.

Elvis Presley in 1958 while he was in the U.S. Army in Germany.

Elvis Presley in 1957, when he made two movies, "Loving You" and "Jailhouse Rock," and also recorded soundtracks for both.

Rock 'n' roll king Elvis Presley standing at the gates of his mansion Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1957.

Elvis Presley sings romantic ballads in "Loving You," 1957.

Elvis Presley performs on tour in the summer of 1957, with Scotty Moore on guitar and Bill Black on the stand-up bass. Moore was a pioneering rock guitarist who played on "Hound Dog" and other early Elvis hits.

A photo from the film "Jailhouse Rock" in which Elvis Presley plays a convict who becomes a rock star.

A publicity photo for the 1957 film "Jailhouse Rock," in which Elvis Presley plays a convict who becomes a rock star.

Elvis Presley and actress Debra Paget, his first leading lady in his debut film, "Love Me Tender," in 1956.

Elvis Presley signs autographs for fans backstage at his second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in Manhattan on Oct. 28, 1956.

Elvis Presley grabbing a wallet from manager Col. Tom Parker in gag publicity shot in 1956.

Elvis does his signature move -- swiveling his hips -- while performing with his band on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in Manhattan on Oct. 8, 1956.

Elvis Presley between takes at his first RCA Victor recording session in Nashville, Tenn., in January 1956.

Elvis Presley plays with his puppy Sweet Pea after a brief fistfight with two filling station attendants, one of whom received a black eye, on Oct. 18, 1956.

Singer and actor Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley in an undated photo.

An undated photo of Elvis Presley recording at Sun Records.