The King Comes Home

After a 7-year hiatus from performing, Elvis Presley staged a primetime comeback on NBC in 1968, re-introducing himself to the world in an all-black, all-leather ensemble designed by the same man who would later create the bedazzled jumpsuits that would become Elvis' trademark. Rolling Stone described the special's live segments as moments of "emotional grandeur and historical resonance," while another critic observed the magic of "watching a man who has lost himself find his way back home." But the magic would not last. Though Presley continued to perform well into the mid-70s, he also continued his struggle with drug addiction and weight gain. He died of a heart attack on Aug. 17, 1977 on the bathroom floor of his Graceland estate.

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