Elvis Presley: The Rock and Roll Royalty

John Lennon once said, “If there hadn’t been an Elvis, there wouldn’t have been the Beatles.” Often regarded as the “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis Presley was a legendary American musician who became an influential cultural icon of the post-war generation. Famous for his pioneering music and rhythmic dance moves, he made a major contribution to the music scene. He was also known for his distinctive fashion sense and charismatic performances. Apart from being a gifted musician, he was a skilled dancer and actor who left a lasting impression on pop culture as a whole. It comes as no surprise that his influence and impact has endured over generations. Elvis Presley entered the music industry in 1954 with his debut single “That’s All Right (Mama)”, a version of the old blues track. By 1956, he had become an international icon, dominating the bestsellers charts. He gave the world famous songs like “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, “If I Can Dream”, “Jailhouse Rock”, amongst many others. By giving voice to an entire generation and owing to his ability as a performer to connect with his fans catapulted him to fame of epic proportions. This sadly was cut short by his untimely death on 16 August 1977 at his Graceland home due to a heart attack. He was only 42. From humble beginnings to meteoric rise to stardom to early death, let’s dive deep into Elvis Presley’s rock and roll journey through time.

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Early Days and Musical Influences

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on 8 January 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a religious working class family. He had an identical twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, who was delivered stillborn, making Elvis the only child of the Presleys. It is said that he was very close to his parents, especially his mother. He would later state that his mother, Gladys, would “never let me out of her sight”.

On his 11th birthday, his mother bought him his first guitar. Little did she know this would soon change the course of history. He learnt to play the guitar and start singing along without any formal training or lessons. His initial music inspiration came from the religious background of his parents. They frequented the Assembly of God Church which introduced him to gospel music. Later, Elvis would go on to win three Grammys in the gospel category.

Two years later, in 1948, to explore better work opportunities, the Presleys moved to Memphis, Tennessee. During his time there, he started hanging out at the iconic Beale Street, a melting pot of blues, jazz, rock and roll, and R&B musicians. This is where he was exposed to different styles of music and also started experimenting with his fashion and appearance. Later he would go on to sport hair slicked back with long sideburns and flashy clothing.

After graduating from high school in 1953, Elvis did odd jobs to save money for a song he wanted to record for his mother, and also hoping to get noticed. He went to Sun Records, operated by Sam Phillips, a key figure in the launch of Presley’s career. As the story goes, Elvis left the recording at one of his friend’s house, as the Presleys didn’t have a record player. Decades later, in 2015, the recording of “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” was auctioned and sold for $300, 000.

However, the recording didn’t produce any results for him at the time, and he went forward in his life to work as a truck driver. But, a year later in 1954, Phillips invited Elvis for a recording session, believing he had a unique voice that could entice the American ears. That’s when Elvis recorded a version of the blues number “That’s All Right (Mama)”, which was played endlessly on local radios. Soon after, Presley was signed with the studio and began touring the country.

This was only the beginning of the man, the legend, the phenomenon Elvis would go on to become.

Stardom, Controversies, and Personal Life

When Elvis first started touring, it wasn’t only his singing that caught the fancy of teenagers, but also his dance moves. People loved his hip-shaking dance and it became the signature style of Elvis. The crowd grooved along with him on his often energetic, enthusiastic performances. This only helped him connect more with his fans, building a profile for the performer in the making.

On 21 November 21 1955, at the age of twenty, his record contract with Sun was sold to RCA records. The deal was arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who’d go on to become Presley’s longtime manager. His first single with RCA, “Heartbreak Hotel”, released in 1956, topping multiple music charts in the United States and selling over one million copies. This was followed by his self-titled debut album, “Elvis Presley”, which stayed on No. 1 on the Billboard Top Ten Pop Albums for ten weeks straight. It was also the first album that sold a million copies in the genre.

The stage was finally set for Elvis. The man was practically everywhere: live performances, radio, television, movie theatres. He first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. The episode received the highest ratings ever for a television variety show, further accelerating his fame. The same year he made his debut on the big screen with “Love me Tender”, which was a hit amongst his fans but not so much with the critics.

Around this time, in 1957, Elvis purchased the Graceland mansion for him and his family to live. This mansion is what he would call home until his death. The next year, he was drafted into the US Army and served as a regular soldier for two years, refusing to enlist in Special Services, which had its privileges. This gained him the respect of fellow soldiers and people back in his country. While he was stationed in Germany, two life-changing events happened.

One night, his mother suddenly died of acute hepatitis and cirrhosis on 14 August 1958, aged 46. The devastated 23-year-old Elvis made it back home in time for her funeral. He would later state, “It broke my heart, she was always my best girl.”

The other notable event was when Elvis met a young girl in Bad Nauheim, Priscilla Beaulieu, and they fell in love. The couple would marry in 1967 after a seven-year courtship, and in 1968, give birth to their only child, Lisa Marie. Lisa, like her father, became a singer and died in 2023 of a cardiac arrest.

While fame and success seemed inseparable from Elvis, everything wasn’t as whimsical as it appeared. He was often a target of criticism. His dance moves on the stage, which people loved him for, were seen as provocative by many. He was even labelled a “sexibitionist”. Churches and parents were outraged by his style of music, which they considered rebellious and corrupting for the minds of young Americans. However, this only made him more popular amongst the young listeners.

Death and Legacy

Elvis Presley’s career was full of highs, except during a period in the mid 60s. His recording career was waning and he was being criticised for his formulaic films. However, he made a comeback with the television specials “Elvis” in 1968 and “Aloha from Hawaii” in 1973, the latter being his last No. 1 album on the Billboard Pop Album chart.

During this time his health was in decline, owing to his years of prescription drug misuse. He was in and out of hospital on multiple occasions. On 16 August 1977, Elvis died of a sudden heart attack. He is buried in his Graceland home, along with his parents, paternal grandmother, grandson, and daughter.

Elvis has etched a name for himself in the music world and popular culture. Not only was he a great performer and entertainer, but he also broke racial barriers with his music and style. He modernised and combined genres — rock and roll, gospel, blues, country — that brought together audiences of different racial backgrounds, creating a common ground and shared appreciation. Elvis bridged the musical divide and promoted cultural exchange, paving ways for black musicians in a white-dominated industry.

Former US President Jimmy Carter once said for Elvis, “His music and his personality… forever changed the face of American pop culture.” The global superstar remains celebrated even after his death. We saw a portrayal of him in the famous 1994 film Forrest Gump. Some of his songs are timeless classics that still resonate with the world. He remains an influential figure even in the present day.