Elvis Presley's Influence On American Culture

He was a legend and influenced the world of music leading to great changes in the United States. In 1948, Elvis Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his family. He was always interested in music and after high school he pursued them. “He began singing locally as The Hillbilly Cat, then signed with a local recording company, and then with RCA in 1955.” (“Biography”). His career got started this way and how he started to influence the United States. He was a legend and influenced the world of music. He was one of the most influential entertainers because he changed society with his music and performances. Elvis Presley changed the United States in many different ways through his music. He changed Rock and Roll and modernized blues, country,

He “Paved the way for men to express themselves through their clothes.” (King) Presley dressed in a way that most people didn’t wear colors like pink And black. This made it more acceptable for men to wear these colors. He helped refine fashion in the United States and influenced how pop stars dress today. I think that Elvis Presley had a unique style that was inspirational to others because he wore clothing items that others wouldn’t normally wear. People had a lot of different opinions about him from how he danced and what he did but he positively changed society.“The Memphis flash changed the way men dressed.” He created a recognizable image that changed culture across the United

He was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement through his actions, he donated money to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He challenged the cultural and ethical values of his time period. He brought different music genres together for a broader audience so people from everywhere would come to see him. In 1956 “Heartbreak Hotel” came out “He was breaking loose the chains of nice conservative music, for a larger audience.”(Bertrand.) This is important because this shows how he helped unite people through his music career. He was considered the “King of rock and roll.” Presley grew up in Memphis, Tennessee where segregation was just starting to end. This broke racial barriers because it brought people from different backgrounds together. He helped bring people together through what he did. “By following this pattern of combining black music with white, Elvis helped to open people's minds to other cultures.” (“Elvis' ) Additionally, Presley was the voice of the youth and expressed wanting freedom and individuality. His song “ I want to be free.] also showed wanting individuality. He attempted to break down racial barriers and influence the youth from what was considered safe. His combination of music genres was “Critical in helping to start a new counter-cultural