How Tupelo Made Elvis: A Timeline of Key Events

Never wait for tomorrow, what if tomorrow never comes?

Elvis Presley

JANUARY 8, 1935

Elvis knew that more positive tomorrows are not a given, you have to make them. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a two-room house built by his family, he grew up poor. While money was scarce, love and support were not. According to Tupelo historian Roy Turner, the small community that Elvis grew up in all supported each other however they could. “If one person had a radio, it was there for all to come over and listen to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. If one had a sewing machine all the ladies were welcome to use it. No one had a lot and no one felt better than the other in general.” The tight-knit nature of the community meant that the young Elvis was constantly surrounded by positivity and musical inspiration – from the sounds of his local church, to the Black bluesmen in his neighborhood, and the country music radio programs he enjoyed with his family.

1946

Shaped by the sounds of his community, Elvis’ love of music started young. By 1946, the ten-year-old would be singing “Old Shep” in a youth talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo. He won fifth prize and received $5.00 in fair ride tickets.

“WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, DON’T GO WITH THEM.” – ELVIS

In the same year, Elvis went to get a bicycle, but was enamored by a rifle which his mom wouldn’t buy for him. He became very upset and was handed a guitar to calm him. For a total of $7.75, Elvis has just received his very first guitar. This interesting turn of events all went down at Tupelo Hardware Company, which remains open to this day. Just like Gladys Presley, and her soon-to-be-famous son, people in Tupelo have a knack for making great things happen, no matter what life throws their way.

1948

Elvis plays his guitar and sings “Leaf on a Tree” for his Milam Junior High class in Tupelo as a farewell. Elvis and his parents move to Memphis, Tennessee.

“VALUES ARE LIKE FINGERPRINTS. NOBODY’S ARE THE SAME, BUT YOU LEAVE ’EM ALL OVER EVERYTHING YOU DO.” – ELVIS

1956

Eight years after leaving Tupelo, Elvis returns to his hometown as the top rock and roll singer in the country. At 21-years-old, he performs two “Homecoming” concerts at the Tupelo Fairgrounds. During his visit, he donated proceeds from his concerts to buy his former home and several more acres to turn it into a park for the children in East Tupelo. According to Roy Turner, Elvis was motivated to do this because “he was an East Tupelo kid. He knew we had nothing on the east side of town. We had to go to the west side for a park, to swim, movies, everything. And we were not welcomed by the west side kids. At 21, he wanted to make a change in the lives of others growing up as he did. I think that speaks volumes about the man.”

It's not how much you have that makes people look up to you, it's who you are.

1957

When Elvis returned again the following year to do a show on September 27, 1957, he donated approximately $14,000 for a youth rec center to be built in Tupelo. “No one prompted him to do these two acts of kindness,” explains Turner. “That was Elvis.” This generous habit of giving to others would become a well-known trait for the singer and something that can be traced back to growing up in Tupelo – where everyone helped each other.

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