Who is the real king of rock and roll? That is a question asked by many people,
especially fans of rock and roll. Elvis Presley was and is the king. He had amazing talent and kept
everyone listening. Elvis crossed money, social and cultural barriers with his music. He was
popular in and crossed over several music genres, creating his own style termed rockabilly. He
took rock music to a different level, making it all his own and became the undisputed king of rock
and roll spanning decades with music, movies, concerts, television appearances.
Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, January 8, 1935. He had a twin
brother who was still born. He was born and raised in a two room home built by his father. He
received a guitar
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In 1948, the Presleys moved to Memphis, Tennessee hoping to make a better life. Elvis
enrolled in L.C. Humes High School.
It was in Memphis that Elvis began going to all night gospel singings. He visited Beale
Street, famous for music and food, going to black music clubs, listening to the blues. He
incorporated soulful rhythm and blues into his music style. Eventually when he was signed by
RCA, they didnt even know how to market his style of music.
Elvis paid $4 to make his first two songs on a vinyl 45 record at Sun Records. He was
signed by Sun records in 1954. In 1955 his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956
Elvis was a household name. Elvis changed the face of rock and roll combining gospel, country
and rock, performing heart throbbing renditions of his music to mega crowds. His dancing,
clothes, long hair and side burns. His use of black music. He was widely popular with young, old,
black or white, though in the beginning his music and dancing was a bit controversial. Some of the
1950's mainstream America thought he was too sexual, his dance moves too radical, his hair too
long and his music too wild.
Elvis could not be stopped. Statistically his music, movies and money earned were
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His films grossed over a $150,000,000. In the mid 60's, his career lagged a little. He
quit performing live. His daughter Lisa Marie Presley was born on February 1, 1968. With the birth
of his daughter, he got a breath of fresh air and hope in his life. In December 1968, Elvis
appeared in a tv special. He wore black leather, long hair and side burns, and went back to his
early roots of music. The public loved it. "There is something magical about watching a man who
has lost himself find his way back home. He sang with the kind of power people no longer expect
of rock n roll singers." [(4) Brown. ] Elvis felt happy with the show because he chose the music,
the players and songs and he felt like he was free to just perform his music the way he wanted to.
In January of 1973, Elvis performed the famed Aloha from Hawaii concert. Elvis
appeared larger than life in a white rhinestone studded costume with an eagle motif to honor
America. His costumes changed as he aged and advanced in his career. During the wild 60's, he
began to wear flashy wild wardrobes with capes, exemplifying even more, his stately,