Elvis Presley: The King of Rock n' Roll

 

Elvis Presley

 

"Elvis Presley had the ability to touch others' lives as few human beings ever could." ­ Maria Borie. I chose Elvis Presley as my "Representative American" because of his great impact on pop-culture in the fifties, and the influence he had on society. Born Elvis Aaron Presley on January 8th, 1935, Elvis was a natural-born singer. He had his big break in 1954, when he recorded "That's All Right, Mama," and "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Listeners were dazed by this "black sound inside a white boy;" they had an overwhelming enthusiasm for his style, scandalous dance moves, and music that signaled the start of rock and roll. Who knew that a 19-year-old Memphis truck driver would become "The King of Rock and Roll."

Elvis' musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. Elvis introduced a new kind of music in the fifties. Television viewers had never seen anything like Elvis when he guest starred on the "Ed Sullivan Show," the hip-swinging singer gyrating on the stage. "Elvis the Pelvis" was only shown from the waist up for the second half of the show. After this performance in 1956, he became an international sensation, with a unique, fresh, sound and style that combined his diverse musical influences and challenged the social and racial barriers of the fifties. Teenagers embraced his rebelliousness, turning into 'rebels' themselves.

His performances drove young girls wild; Elvis was the biggest idol of this time. He caused a great deal of controversy, because he was white, singing R&B songs, in a time when most singers were black. He proved many who didn't believe in him wrong, starring in 33 films, selling over one billion records, having the greatest number of consecutive number one hits, and spending more weeks at the top charts than any other artist, even today. Some of his songs and movies show what life was like for him as a star in the fifties, and the way he sang and danced really represented this era. Joining the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1959 only made fans realize even more, what a genuine, good person Elvis was, and even caused young men to want to join the Army.

His talent, good looks, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the human kindness he showed throughout his life. Known worldwide as "The King," he is looked upon was one of the most important figures of the twentieth century popular culture. He changed music, as people knew it, and had a huge impact on the lives of many. Elvis lived a life of stardom unknown before or since by any single artist. Beyond the fifties, people would never have the intimate, close feeling that Elvis induced, as it would be the last time they felt they could touch "The King." The road would wind into a sad and tragic end, leaving fans devastated over his death at age 42 in his Memphis home, known as Graceland, in 1977. He died from a drug overdose after his divorce from his wife Priscilla Presley. People will never forget him, and his music still lives on, but there will never be another Elvis Presley.

http://web.li.gatech.edu/~rdrury/300/writing/300sp2_01/elvis_presly.htm

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