How Did Elvis Presley's Impact On American Culture

How Elvis Presley Impacted Rock ‘n Roll & American Culture

April Drye

MUS 210-220N

Spring 2015 The roots of rock ‘n roll date back to the late forties and early fifties. Rock ‘n roll was developed by incorporating a variety of different music styles such as rhythm and blues, gospel and country music. There have been many changes to the genre of music known as rock ‘n roll since it first began. Although there have been so many changes, one thing that has remained true to rock ‘n roll is the impact that Elvis Presley had on this genre of music. Whenever you think about the roots of rock ‘n roll, most people think about Elvis and incorporate him with the birth of rock ‘n roll. However, Elvis was not actually when or how it all began

When Elvis was a young boy, his family did not have much money but they did the best with what they had. His family attended the Assembly of God Church in Tupelo and this is where Elvis found his love for singing through gospel music. In 1946 when Elvis was only eleven years old, his parents bought him his first guitar for his birthday. Two years later when Elvis was thirteen, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Elvis spent much of his time with the black community listening to the bluesmen sing. After graduating high school in 1953, Elvis drove a truck for Crown Electric and had plans on becoming a truck driver. During the summer of 1953, Elvis recorded two songs at Memphis Recording Studio where anyone could pay a few dollars and record an acetate. Although Elvis was not happy with his sound, he returned to the recording

As discussed earlier, Elvis showed people that they could express themselves through performances by dancing and thrusting. However, Elvis also paved the way for new style and new form of physical expression. Whenever you see Elvis, he usually has on flashy outfits or costumes and his edgy rocker look that he is famous for. However, this was not the typical style for this era of time and this was another reason people despised Elvis. Elvis was unique and original in many of the ways that he performed and he tested many of the moral standards during this time. Older generations hated this about Elvis as much as they hated his vulgar and distasteful dance moves. Elvis became the face of teenage rebellion and paved the way for rock music to become the great genre that it is. In conclusion, there are many ways that Elvis changed rock ‘n roll as well as American culture forever. Elvis is still one of the most influential artists of all time even after so long. Elvis Presley is known as the “King” of rock ‘n roll and this is for many great reasons. Elvis was the first artist of his time to test the cultural boundaries surrounding him and become a truly unique and original artist. If not for Elvis, rock ‘n roll may not have become the great genre of music that it