Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley is the first rock superstar and legend, the man who changed the popular music of the XX century. Elvis, known as the King of Rock and Roll, was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. He grew up in a modest family: His parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley, were poor but loved music. In 1945, at the age of 10, Elvis participated in a contest with the song “Old Shep” at the fair, where he took second place. It was his first public appearance. In 1946 Elvis got his first guitar. In July 1953, Elvis came to the Sun Records studio in Memphis and recorded a double-sided record with the songs “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” as a gift to his mother, paying $3.98 for the recording.

In 1954, Presley signed a contract with Sun Records, where he recorded his first hits, such as “That’s All Right Mama.” His unique style, combining elements of country, blues and rhythm and blues, quickly gained popularity. In 1956, he released “Heartbreak Hotel”, which became a real hit and raised him to the top of the music charts. At the peak of his popularity in 1958, Elvis was sent to serve in Germany.

After returning from the army, in the 1960s Elvis continued to record successful albums and give concerts. However, in the late 1960s, his career began to fade due to changes in musical preferences.

In 1968, Presley returned to the stage with the legendary Comeback Special show, which revived his popularity. In the 1970s, he continued to perform, but his health deteriorated due to addictions and a stressful lifestyle.

Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977 at his home in Graceland, Tennessee. His legacy lives on: he became the first artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Elvis has left an indelible mark on the music industry and remains one of the most influential artists of all time.

20 Reasons Why Elvis Is Really the King of Rock and Roll

1. Elvis was white, but he sang like a black man. He finally erased racial boundaries in music. It has become synonymous with the word rock and roll, although there is no such genre in music, it is a collective concept.

2. Elvis’ musical genres include blues, gospel, rockabilly, country, funk, pop, etc. Despite the fact that he almost did not write songs himself, he got used to the images and performed the songs so honestly and sincerely that he made them his own.

3. Elvis’ repertoire includes more than 600 songs. The number of their cover versions is in the tens of thousands and cannot be counted.

4. Elvis had an outstanding voice by nature. His only musical education was singing in a church choir as a child.

5. Elvis not only sang superbly, but also behaved inimitably on stage, no one before him had made such movements during a musical act. It is believed that it was Elvis who “liberated the body.”

6. Elvis went from being a musician in a rockabilly trio (with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, and then DJ Fontana joined them) to the main figure in the TCB Band, a big band with more than two dozen members.

7. The Beatles, who are considered number 1 in the world, grew up listening to Elvis’s music and always dreamed of getting to know him, and one day this meeting took place.

The Beatles after meeting Elvis: journalists and photographers were not allowed

8. Michael Jackson, with an eye on Elvis, ordered to call himself the King of Pop Music. It worked. Moreover, he even married Presley’s daughter. Lisa-Maria has never experienced a lack of male attention.

9. More than 1 billion Elvis records have been sold worldwide.

10. Elvis is the embodiment of the American Dream. He grew up in a poor family, but later became very wealthy. The story of his success is incredible and to this day surprises and delights.

Elvis performs the song “If I Can Dream” at the Comeback Special ’68 show

11. Despite being famous, Elvis lived luxuriously, he was never greedy or obsessed with his wealth. Elvis was generous and gave expensive gifts to his friends, fans and female fans. He once said that he gives such gifts to show people that their life will not become happier from owning some things.

12. Elvis loved and respected his parents very much, especially he was close to his mother. As soon as he started making good money, he bought his mom a Cadillac and made sure that his parents, Vernon and Gladys, didn’t need anything.

Elvis with his parents: Gladys and Vernon Presley

13. Elvis was a deeply religious man, but his faith was not fanatical, but simple and natural.

14. He combined the image of a rebel with a law-abiding citizen. He never made harsh statements and did not shock the public with his obscene behavior. He belonged to the establishment and adhered to traditional values.

15. Elvis looked like a King and behaved the same way. He surrounded himself with numerous assistants, bodyguards and friends, they were his entourage and were ready to die for him, they were called the “Memphis Mafia.”

Elvis at a concert in Hawaii, 1970

16. Elvis was and remains a sex symbol, although he himself held puritanical views. He was handsome, liked by women, but was also respected by men, they paid tribute to him, and many wanted to imitate.

17. Elvis was a versatile and gifted personality – he was not only a singer and musician, but also an actor and athlete: he starred in more than 30 films and had a black belt in karate.

18. Elvis Graceland Estate is one of the main attractions of the USA, it is visited by 6 thousand people every day. Every year on his birthday and on the day of his death, grandiose crowded events are held there.

Elvis at his home in Graceland

19. The name of Elvis has become iconic, there are many legends about him, hundreds of songs, dozens of books and films are dedicated to him. He was and remains an unsurpassed cultural phenomenon.

20. Elvis’s death at 42 is a mystery. There are many versions of what Elvis died of, but also versions that he is still alive and faked his demise. From time to time there are witnesses who have seen him firsthand in different parts of the world.

And finally, millions of his loyal fans will confirm this to you: Elvis is the King!

Elvis at a concert in 1956

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