How Did Elvis Presley Influence African American Culture

In 1935, a man named Elivs Aaron Presley was born. This man would later become known as “The King of Rock and Roll” and simply “The King” to millions of people. Elvis Presley had a significant impact on racial segragation through his music and helping a new generation find themselves. He first started in pop music, slowly sliding his way into millions of hearts and helping shape our nation one note at a time. A majority of Presleys music was based off of African American music, in his songs we see him combing both white culture and African American culture. As a teenager the Presley family moved to Mempis, when within weeks Sun Records had contacted Elivs Presley and his family reaching out for a contract deal. Soon the songs Presley would

Presleys management would soon be turned over to one Colonel Tom Parker, a sort of country music hustler who helped bring names like Hank Snow into the world. From 1956 on throughout 1957 Presley had full control over the best-sellers chart. Usering the age of rock and roll, self reflection, and opening the doors for both African American and white artists. Presley had some controversy however, also being nicknamed “Elvis the Pelvis” for his suggestive style of dancing and music that was being produced. a string of gold records including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” Presley had become a national icon, and the world’s first bona fide rock-and-roll star, by the end of 1956. As the Beatles’ John Lennon once famously remarked: “Before Elvis, there was nothing.” The following year, at the peak of his career, Presley received his draft notice for a two-year stint in the army. Upon fans hearing the news of the draft notice fans would write millions of letters begging Elvis to be spared, all letters ended hopelessly. He received one deferment–during which he finished working on his movie King Creole–before being sworn in as an army private in Memphis on March 24,

Those who regarded him as commercial hype without talent expected him to fade away. Instead, he continued to have hits from recordings stockpiled just before he entered the army. Upon his return to the States, he picked up pretty much where he had left off, churning out a series of more than 30 movies Presley was no longer a controversial figure: he had become one more predictable mass entertainer, a personage of virtually no interest to the rock audience that had expanded so much with the advent of the new sounds of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. It is difficult to argue that Presley didn’t contribute if not lead the rise of these artists and help contribute to the reawakening of mixed culture music. Although several people have made music mixing African American and white culture, Elvis had the most success and confidence. Some people had thought of Elvis as a fraud or even a copycat. He called his style his own yet it already existed, along with him not writing his own songs. In spite of that, many people took an interest leading him to be the movie star and adored person we followed suit