Elvis Presley worked.
Elvis Aaron Presley ( January 8 , 1935 -- August 16 , 1977 ) was an American singer-songwriter and actor . His music career began there in 1954 , when he recorded a song with producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records . Presley 's first RCA single , `` Heartbreak Hotel '' , was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States . In November 1956 , Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender .