Elvis Presley died in 1977, at the age of 42, but the King of Rock 'n Roll is still alive in the hearts of fans.



Thursday marks what would have been his 80th birthday, and while thousands gather outside the gates of his Memphis home to celebrate the occasion, as they do each and every year, the rest of us can celebrate by taking a shorter trip — down memory lane.

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Here are eight memorable Elvis moments worth getting all shook up about:

You can't handle the pelvis!

When viewers of "The Ed Sullivan Show" tuned in to see the rising star perform "Hound Dog" in 1956, they saw "Elvis the Pelvis" in action, with hip gyrations in full swing. But just one year later, legend has it that the powers that be behind the show decided those moves were too hot to handle, and only allowed him to be shot from the waist up.



Rockin' the big screen

Mastering the music charts just wasn't enough for the Elvis. He made his big screen debut in 1956's "Love Me Tender," and hit even bigger in '57 with "Jailhouse Rock." He made more than 30 films over the course of his career.



Elvis Presley's Graceland estate. Today

A home fit for a King

In 1957, Elvis acquired Graceland, an 18-room mansion that became synonymous with his luxury lifestyle. The grounds of the estate now serve as his final resting place, and the mansion is a museum that celebrates his life.



Lost locks. Today

G.I. blues

Elvis was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1958, but his rock-worthy locks weren't welcome. So, like so many other G.I.s, Elvis was issued the standard buzz cut — but in his case, it was dubbed "the haircut heard 'round the world."



Elvis with his bride, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, on their wedding day. Hulton Archive / Today

Burning love

Elvis met the woman who would be his queen, Priscilla Beaulieu, when she was just 14 years old. He was taken with the teen from the start, and seven years later, in 1967, they were married. The pair remained together until 1973.



Return of the King

After his film career went from red hot to a series of flops, Elvis needed something to put him back on the musical map, and a TV special called "Elvis" (but now better known as the "'68 Comeback Special") did just that. Decked out in black leather from head to toe, he took the stage before an intimate crowd and reminded everyone what made him such a sensation.



President Richard Nixon meeting with Elvis on Dec. 21, 1970. Today

The odd couple

Elvis and Richard Nixon had little in common — other than this photo (and a mutual distrust of hippies). The then-President of the United States posed alongside the biggest name in showbiz when, on a whim in 1970, Elvis arranged a meeting to see if he could add to his collection of law enforcement badges with a federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge. Nixon was happy to oblige.



Viva Las Vegas

The last great Elvis moment on the list wasn't so much a single moment and it was the launch of a movement. In 1969, hot off the heels of his comeback success, Elvis' longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker, set up a gig of a lifetime for his client — one that lasted almost until the end of Elvis' life. For seven years and over 700 sold-out shows, the King of Rock 'n' Roll became the King of Vegas as he performed at the International Hotel (which later became the Las Vegas Hilton).



18 photos Slideshow Elvis Presley (1935-1977) The rise and fall of the King of rock 'n' roll.

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