TIMELINE: The life and times of Elvis Presley

(Reuters) - Here is a short chronology on the life of Elvis Presley.

1935 - Elvis Aaron Presley is born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, the second of identical twins. His brother was stillborn. Elvis' middle name was also sometimes spelled as Aron.

1946 - Elvis buys his first guitar from the Tupelo Hardware store -- a $7.90 birthday present.

1953 - After moving to Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis graduates from Humes High school. He performs at a school talent contest and makes a demo acetate disc of "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin."

1954 - Elvis makes a demo acetate at Sam Phillips' Sun studio.

1955 - Elvis signs a management contract with Hank Snow Attractions, owned equally by Snow and Colonel Tom Parker, who negotiates the sale of Elvis' Sun contract to RCA.

1956 - Elvis' first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel," is released, becoming the first Elvis single to sell over 1 million copies, followed by his first album, "Elvis Presley," which goes to No. 1 on Billboard's pop album chart.

Elvis makes the first of three appearances on television's Ed Sullivan Show, attracting the highest ratings ever for any television variety show. His first movie, "Love Me Tender," opens in November.

1957 March - Elvis buys Graceland Mansion.

1958 March - He is drafted into the U.S. Army and posted to Germany.

1960 - Elvis is discharged from the army in March. He begins filming and recording for his first post-Army movie, his fifth film, "GI Blues," for Paramount.

1967 May - Elvis marries Priscilla Beaulieu in a private ceremony in Las Vegas. Their daughter, Lisa Marie, is born on February 1, 1968.

1968 - His recording career waning, Elvis appears on an NBC television special that becomes widely known as "The '68 Comeback Special."

1969 - Elvis returns to live performances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, setting attendance records and spinning off his first live album.

1970 - "Elvis, That's the Way It Is," a documentary of Elvis on tour and his 32nd film, opens. He begins wearing the famous jumpsuit and cape outfits on stage.

1972 - Elvis and Priscilla separate and she moves out. They divorce in 1973.

1973 - Elvis makes television and entertainment history with his "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii - Via Satellite." It is seen in about 40 countries by 1 billion to 1.5 billion people. The concert album hits No. 1 on the Billboard pop album chart -- his last No. 1 album on that chart.

1973 - Elvis is hospitalized in Memphis, battling health problems, including an increasing dependency upon prescription drugs. He is back in the hospital in early 1975 and April 1977.

1977 June 26 - Elvis makes his last concert appearance at Indianapolis.

1977 Aug 16 - Elvis Presley dies at Graceland, found on the floor of his bathroom by fiancee Ginger Alden.

Sources: Reuters/www.elvis.com