Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was the iconic singer and actor who is known as ‘The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ or simply ‘the King’. He was born in Tupelo in Mississippi in a two-room shotgun house on 8th January 1935. They attended Assembly of God church and it is here that Presley chanced upon his musical abilities. Elvis first performed when he was ten in a local fair where he sang and won the fifth. He began to take guitar lessons soon from his uncle and before he entered teenage, Elvis’ had fully plunged himself to the world of music. The guitar was his constant companion. The family soon moved to Memphis where he got a better exposure to the black music.

The influence of the local Afro American composers to whom Presley listened to during his life in Memphis was to last lifelong. A remarkable thing about Presley is that he was not a trained musician. Music was inborn in this genius who had an ear for music and would retain the earlier influences. He became exposed to the black ‘gospel sings’ and ‘rhythm and blues’. Though still a shy kid even after graduation, Elvis began to set an altogether different path for himself that was apparent from his unconventional dressing style among other singers that involved flashy clothes, long hair and sideburns.
Presley’s first recording ‘That’s All Right’ was recorded at the Sun Records and was aired in the radio on 8th July 1954. It was played fourteen times on repeated requests from the listeners. People could not believe that it was a white man who rendered the song. Gradually Presley formed bands and began to give performances. Over time, the shy singer transformed himself to a wonderful performer who drew millions of people. It was difficult to assign him to any one category of musicians. He blended the black and white music. The range of his voice was of many genre including rock and roll, country, ballads, gospel, blues and pop thus earning the title ‘The King of Western Bop’. Elvis’ tie up with the RCA, the contract of which was signed in 1956 gave him a nationwide exposure.

The songs of Presley’s self-titled country song album that came out in March the same year became huge hits and all of them figured in top in the hit charts. It was RCA’s first million dollar selling album. Presley also took up acting by acting and penned a seven year deal with Paramount Pictures. ‘Love Me Tender’ was the first motion picture. Presley also appeared in a lot of television shows which got rave reviews and outdid many other top rated programmes. Presley’s impact on popular culture was immense as he personified the rebel teenage rock musician. Both the blacks and the whites went hysterical at his musical concerts. Presley’s mannerisms during the performance, especially the gyrations drew harsh criticisms. Presley also served the US Army for two years with the rank of a Sergeant. Presley won fourteen Grammy nominations of which he won three. Elvis Presley died at a relatively young age of forty six due to many factors including drug overuse and health problems. Elvis Presley was one of the most famous of solo performers of the twentieth century and would remain as a cultural symbol.
 
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