Born on 8 January 1935 in Tupelo, MS to Vernon and Gladys Presley, Elvis was raised throughout his young years in modest, if not deprived, circumstances.  Influenced by the popular music of the 1940's and 1950's, and combining it with the gospel and blues music native to his region, Elvis developed a musical style and signature of his own, which he combined with an electrifying stage presence.   Taking his talents on the road in the summer of 1954, he quickly rose to national attention.  In January of 1956 he recorded, on the RCA label, his first hit, "Heartbreak Hotel".  Within eight months he had completed his first movie: "Love Me Tender".  And one short month later he made his famous television appearance on the popular Ed Sullivan Show.

In January of 1958 Elvis and his new bodyguard, Alan "Hog Ears" Fortas, trekked to New Orleans, LA to commence filming of "King Creole", which was based on Harold Robins' work "A Stone for Danny Fisher".  While on location they were introduced to New Orleans notables Clay L. Shaw and David William Ferrie, both of whom would later play significant rôles in the JFK assassination.  Shortly after completion of the film Elvis was drafted and inducted into the U.S.Army  and sent to Fort Hood, TX for basic training.  During this period he met and befriended Joseph "Diamond Joe" Esposita and Charles "Slewfoot, Hodge, both of whom would later be employed as his bodyguards and who would participate in the JFK assassination.

On 14 August 1956 Elvis' mother, Gladys, died and was buried in Memphis, TN.  Elvis was crushed by this event, and returned to Fort Hood a shattered soul.  But soon afterwards he attended a USO party on base and met Ruth Hyde Paine, who would become a substitute mother and life-long friend.  Later in life he would ask her to befriend the needy Oswald family, and through her Lee Harvey Oswald would find employment at the Texas School Book Depository.

Elvis was transferred to Germany for active duty in September, and was joined by another bodyguard, Bobby Gene "The Dragon" West.  But upon arrival Elvis also came to know his chief nemesis, Maj. Gen. Edwin Anderson Walker of the Twenty Fourth Infantry Division.   Walker despised Elvis' fame, and was quoted as referring to Elvis as, "That hip swinging, hound dog face soldier".  Humiliated by the comment, Elvis developed a burning hate for Walker that he would carry into civilian life.

Discharged in May of 1960 with the rank of Sergeant, Elvis returned to the life of a performer, first appearing on the "Frank Sinatra's Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley" television special.  Returning to his home in Memphis, Elvis continued his climb to the pinnacle of the entertainment industry.  But his near psychotic hatred of Walker stayed with him.  In May of 1961 he met the irresistible Ann-Margret, who was also under contract to record for RCA.  But rather than seizing the opportunity to dally with one of America's most desirable women, Elvis spent their time together cursing Walker.  As a result the frustrated Ann-Margret recommended that he consider hiring a professional assassin.  This off-hand comment stayed with Elvis for the next two years.  Finally in January of 1963 he contacted Ann-Margret while he was on location filming "Fun In Acapulco" and asked for her assistance in finding a hired gun. She suggested contacting the recently repatriated Oswald, who was then living in Fort Worth, TX.  On his return flight from Mexico Elvis met with Oswald at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport and made the necessary arrangements.  They agreed that the murder would take place in April of that year. But Oswald botched the job, and an unforgiving Elvis wrote off his incompetent assassin.

Elvis and Ann-Margret met again in July of 1963 during location filming of "Viva Las Vegas". But this time it was Ann-Margret who had murder on her mind.  Recently informed by Howard Robard Hughes that the death of her spy-in-training, Marilyn Monroe, was a murder arranged by JFK, she both seduced and blackmailed Elvis into agreeing to assist in the assassination of the President, using her knowledge of the botched Walker murder as leverage.  Elvis had no choice but to agree, and selecting Esposita, Hodge, West, and Fortas as co-conspirators and deciding to use Oswald as his "fall guy", proceeded to plot the deed.

Elvis kept the details of the assassination to himself for his entire life. Only one person outside of the conspiratorial cabal ever heard the details.  On 21 December 1970 Elvis met with then President Richard Milhous Nixon, who was well known to have no love for the Kennedy clan.  During their meeting Elvis divulged his rôle in the Kennedy assassination.  Nixon kept Elvis' secret, and carried it with him to his grave.