He came, he saw, he rocked: On October 1, 1958, Elvis Presley docked in the port of Bremerhaven aboard the USS General Randall to serve with the US military in Germany. From there, he traveled by train to the American base in Friedberg near Frankfurt, where fans and the press gave him a rousing welcome. With more than 50 million records sold, Elvis was already an international star.

On October 2, the "King" moved into Ray Barracks in Friedberg. His room was in building 3707. Elvis served his 18 months of military duty in an armored tank unit. Thanks to his superiors, however, Private Presley enjoyed a few perks and had only limited duties. The star quickly swapped his barracks for a hotel and later an apartment in the neighboring town of Bad Nauheim.

Elvis's grandmother, Minnie Mae, his father, Vernon, and two bodyguards accompanied him to Germany. They first lived in the Hotel Grunewald in Bad Nauheim before moving to Goethestrasse 14. Elvis's only refuge was in his room, where he frequently read German pop culture magazines, like Bravo. He was often besieged by fans, but patiently gave autographs and found a few kind words for everyone.

Day and night, teenage fans waited to catch a glimpse of the King. And those who waited long enough were rewarded: Elvis never denied anyone his much sought-after signature. In particular, the teenage girls were thoroughly enamored. His famous swivelling hips were all the rage and his schmaltzy crooning made many a female heart beat faster.

Angelika Springauf was one of the teenage fans encamped in front of Elvis' house in Bad Nauheim. Decades later, she proudly posed beside an old photo showing her standing next to Elvis. Even today, die-hard fans in the town nurse their memories of the rock 'n' roll legend.

When Bill Haley launched his European tour in Frankfurt in October 1958, Elvis paid him a visit in his dressing room. And, as always, the press was there. Haley and Presley are considered the fathers of rock 'n' roll. The older generation in Germany was suspicious of this new-fangled music from America, but the youngsters were enthralled by the new sound from across the pond.

During his stint in the US army in Germany, Elvis was more interested in hot cars and pretty women than the rigors of military duty. In this picture, Uschi Siebert, the 1958 beauty queen in the state of Hesse, presented Elvis with the keys to the BMW 507 sports car that race driver Hans-Joachim Stuck had steered to victory on several occasions.

In 1959, while in Germany, Elvis met his future wife. Priscilla Beaulieu was just 14 when her stepfather, an Air Force officer, was transfered to Bad Nauheim. Currie Grant, manager of the Eagle’s Club and a friend of the family, took Priscilla to parties at Elvis's domicile in the Goethestrasse. The wedding didn't happen until eight years later.

The popular soldier's farewell tune "Muss i denn zum Städtele hinaus" was at least 200 years old. But the song's triumphant march around the globe didn't come until Elvis sang his version, "Wooden Heart." The King sang it in English with a German refrain. It was heard for the first time in 1960 in the movie "G. I. Blues," a homage to Presley's tour of duty in Germany.

On March 2,1960, Presley's tour of duty in Bad Nauheim came to an end. He flew back home and never returned to Germany. But his presence is still felt today in the Hessian town with an Elvis monument, Elvis Square and Elvis "Walk of Fame." And, with the European Elvis Festival, residents of Bad Nauheim bring the King back to life in his "European home" year after year.

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1935, Elvis Presley began his career in Memphis, Tennessee. He is pictured here in 1954 while recording at the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, which also helped launch blues guitarist B.B. King's career. Quickly rising to fame, Presley's first hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," propelled him into stardom in 1956. He would go on to become known as the "king of rock and roll."

Presley put his career on hold while serving in the US military in Germany from 1958 to 1960. Stationed in the small town of Friedberg, Presley stayed in a hotel in nearby Bad Nauheim instead of living in the barracks. There, he lived with an entourage: his grandmother, father and two bodyguards. Today, hotel guests can sleep in the Elvis Room, which was preserved to commemorate the King's stay.

Although he was prohibited from performing during military service, the King still found time to make music. Germany was the birthplace of two chart-toppers: "One Night" and "A Fool Such as I." He also gave global fame to the popular German folk song, "Muss i denn zum Städtele hinaus," or in English, "Wooden Heart."

While Elvis was stationed in Germany, he also met Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of a US military officer. She was just 14 years old at the time. The couple married years later at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas in 1967, although Elvis reportedly continued to enjoy the company of other women.

Elvis passed away at his residence, Graceland, on August 16, 1977. Graceland is the second-most-visited home historical residence in the US, after the White House. It's run by a multi-million dollar company called Elvis Presley Enterprises — making it unsurprising that Elvis regularly hits the top of Forbes' annual "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities" list.

His legacy is honored all over the world, including at the "European Elvis Festival" in Bad Nauheim, Germany. Elvis also has official fan clubs in at least 38 countries. And of course, "The King" graces stamps as well: Germany issued an Elvis stamp in 1988.

Legend has it that Elvis adopted the jumpsuit after he split his pants while performing on stage. Whatever the reason, the garment was an instant hit. B&K, a company in Charlestown, Indiana, creates Elvis jumpsuits based on the originals, such as for impersonator Dave Stovall (pictured). The company also created suits for the 2022 film "Elvis."

Elvis has inspired an entire industry of impersonators, as well as films like "Bye Bye, Birdie" (1967), based on his career. But who inspired the King? Elvis was known to enjoy the music of gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and once called actor James Dean (pictured) a "genius."

June 2022 saw the life story of Elvis Presley, played by Austin Butler (pictured), hit movie theaters. The film focuses on the complicated relationship with his shady manager, Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks). Director Baz Luhrmann set electrifying music and stage scenes; and Butler has been celebrated for his fantastic portrayal of "The King."

"Time is running out for us all," Freddy Mercury sings in "Time" (1986), a previously unreleased version of which came out in 2019. Accompanied by solo piano, producer Dave Clark found the unpublished gem in the archives 30 years after the record was made. But for Mercury, the march of time caught up with him: he died in 1991.

Following Shirley Bassey’s James Bond theme classic "Goldfinger" (1964) and Tina Turner’s "Golden Eye" (1995), 2012's "Skyfall" is another legendary Bond song that won singer Adele an Oscar. The dramatic ballad was written for the eponymous film starring Daniel Craig as Agent 007, with Adele singing of a person who, in the face of a great threat, falls from the sky but ultimately triumphs.

The ultimate sentimental torch song of the '90s, Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" captures the tumult of an ill-fated but passionate love aboard the Titanic. It was of course the theme song for James Cameron’s film "Titanic," based on the 1912 sinking of the ship upon which the lead characters Rose and Jack defy societal norms to pursue love till death did them apart.

The music video to the iconic single "Time After Time" begins with a scene in a camper van where Cindy Lauper is watching the heart-wrenching final scene of Richard Boleslawski’s 1936 film, "The Garden of Allah." Lauper recites the lines as the lovers bid each other farewell, echoing the sentiment of her own song in which a woman must leave her lover, but will be there for him "time after time."

Under stage name Yusuf Islam, Cat Stevens sings of a different kind of relationship in "Father and Son." The song is about a boy who wants to participate in the Russian Revolution against his father’s wishes. Stevens' ballad speaks to the universal struggles of father-son relationships, with Johnny Cash and Rosie Nix Adams covering the song under the title, "Father and Daughter."

Dedicated to John Lennon’s son, Julian, Paul McCartney wrote this for the then 5 year-old dealing with his parents' divorce after Lennon began a relationship with Yoko Ono. "Remember to let her into your heart," sang McCartney in 1968. "Then you can start to make it better." Originally titled "Hey Jules," the name was changed to "Jude" for confidentiality. It spent weeks at number one.

One of the first great pop ballads, "Love Me Tender" had a long history. It first emerged out of the American Civil War, the tune featuring in the 1866 patriotic song, "Aura Lee." Elvis Presley then added his own lyrics to the melody in the theme for the Civil War romantic drama, "Love Me Tender," the film in which Presley plays Clint Reno, the youngest of four sons who suffers a tragic end.