Elvis Presley was born in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. The only living child of working-class parents, young Elvis grew up in Tupelo where he first began performing publicly and playing guitar before his family moved to Memphis in 1948. A few years later, in the early 1950s, he would start recording the songs that would eventually make him famous and earn him the nickname the King of Rock βnβ Roll.
Elvis was on the road to massive success. But an early tragedy continued to haunt the life of the King.
Did Elvis Presley have an identical twin brother that was stillborn?
On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aron (later spelled Aaron) Presley was born at his parentsβ two-room house in East Tupelo, Mississippi, about 35 minutes after his identical twin brother, Jesse Garon, who was stillborn. The next day, Jesse was buried in an unmarked grave in nearby Priceville Cemetery.
Did Elvis Presley Have Brothers or Sisters?
Elvis Presley had an identical twin brother. He died at birth. Elvis had no other biological siblings, but he did have three stepbrothers when his father remarried after Elvis’ mother died.
A year after Elvis’s mother died, his father was remarried to a woman named Davada “Dee” Stanley in 1960. Dee had three sons from her first marriage, Bill, David, and Rick Stanley. That marriage ended in divorce in November 1977.
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Elvis was considerably older than the three Stanley boys and became something of a father figure to his stepbrothers. In later years, Bill, David, and Rick Stanley became part of the “Memphis Mafia,” acting as aides and confidants to Elvis.
In 2016, David Stanley published a memoir, “My Brother Elvis: The Final Years” that describes his time growing up with Elvis in Graceland, serving as the singer’s bodyguard, and goes into great detail into David’s account of Elvis’ drug usage and death. Other books published include “Elvis, We Love You Tender” and “The Elvis Encyclopedia.”
Another one of the stepbrothers, Rick Stanley, is a former drug addict and traveling evangelist minister. Bill Stanley, the eldest stepbrother, was working on a documentary about his time with Elvis called A Ride To Remember in 2010, but it appears to never have been released.
Information About Elvis’ Family
Elvis’ family life was turbulent during his early years, largely due to the poverty and financial circumstances of his parents. Elvis grew up in a close-knit, working-class family, consisting of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, who all live near one another in Tupelo. There was little money, but Vernon and Gladys did their best to provide for their son and made him the center of their lives.
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The Presleys went to church and loved singing gospel music together around the family piano. They were members of the Assembly of God Church.
Elvis remained close with both of his parents that he brought them along for the ride when he became a superstar. Vernon and Gladys Presley moved in with Elvis when he purchased Graceland in 1957. Vernon managed his son’s business affairs in an office behind the mansion.
FAQ
What happened to Elvis Presley’s twin brother?
While Elvis was the only surviving child in his family, he had an identical twin brother who died at birth. Jesse Garon Presley (sometimes spelled Jessie) was stillborn 35 minutes before his mother delivered Gladys Elvis.
How many siblings does Elvis Presley have?
Elvis had no other biological siblings, but he did have three stepbrothers when his father remarried after Elvis’ mother died.
Was Elvis Presley bisexual?
Elvis Presley’s sexuality has been the source of much speculation over the years. The singer Δ±n spite of being married, there have been claims that Elvis slept with men as well as women during his lifetime.
