Elvis's Childhood

Elvis enrolled in L. C. Humes High School. Humes High had 1,600 students—more people than in the entire town of Tupelo. Many of the kids came from poor, white families, like Elvis's. He was an average student who was quiet and obedient and made average grades. Elvis enjoyed English, metal and wood shop, and playing football. He also volunteered at the local library and was in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), a part of the U.S. Army.

He failed music—“the only thing I ever failed,” Elvis said later. His music teacher told him he couldn't sing. He told her that she couldn't appreciate the kind of music that he could sing. The next day, he brought his guitar to class and sang “Keep Them Icy Cold Fingers Off of Me,” which was a popular country hit. The teacher said, “You're right. I don't appreciate your style of music.”