From austere
beginnings in
Tupelo, Miss., on
Jan. 8, 1935,
Elvis Aron Presley became
one of the world's most
famous -- and beloved -- entertainers of all
time. His exquisite
voice combined with striking good looks and
animal magnetism drove
young women wild and caused consternation among their parents.
His debut recording for Sun Records -- a cover of Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right" paired with a hopped-up version of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" -- forever changed the landscape of popular music and an entire generation of Americans. The sparse, but driving, instrumentation provided by Presley's Blue Moon Boys defined the Rockabilly style and served as the template for rock `n' roll. Nearly every major performer who has followed Presley cites him as an influence including Bob Dylan, who once stated that his career goal was "to be bigger than Elvis."
In 1954, Presley captured the hearts and spirits of American teenagers and now, some 20 years after his death in 1977 at age 42, his legend continues to hold them hostage. Each year millions of fans make the pilgrimage to his antebellum Memphis mansion, Graceland, to savor the life of this entertainment icon.
Presley's chart statistics and record sales are staggering: 107 Top 40 singles, 18 No. 1 Records and 84 country chart singles with 11 going to the No. 1 spot. His record sales world-wide are reported to be in the billions and in 1992 alone, some 90 recordings by Presley received gold, platinum and multi-platinum certification by RIAA.
Elvis Presley launched his phenomenal career in the country music field. His early recordings were played by Country disc jockeys throughout the Southeast and Presley spent 18 months on Shreveport's Louisiana Hayride. His first No. 1 single was the 1955 release of "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," which spent five weeks atop the country charts. RCA acquired Presley's contract and in March 1956, he debuted on the pop charts with the No. 1 single "Heartbreak Hotel." That record held the top spot for eight weeks on the pop charts and an impressive 17 weeks on the country charts. A string of appearances on network television including those hosted by Tommy Dorsey, Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan gave the young singer national notoriety in a matter of weeks.
Realizing the young singer was potential box-office gold, Hollywood came calling on Presley in 1956. His early films such as Love Me Tender (1956), Jailhouse Rock (1957) and King Creole (1958), showed Presley had potential as a serious actor, but the majority of his films were merely vehicles for pop songs.
At the height of his popularity, Presley was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Germany. There he met his future wife, a teenage Priscilla Beaulieu, whom he married in 1967. Upon Presley's discharge in 1960, Hollywood cashed in on Presley's Army hitch by using it as the basis for his return to the silver screen with G.I. Blues.
Throughout the 1960s, Presley scarcely toured but maintained a strong presence on the charts and in films. His album How Great Thou Art netted Presley his first Grammy in 1967 for best sacred performance. Changing trends in popular music, in particular the work of British groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, had an impact on Presley's career, though. His sculpted hair, mutton-chop sideburns and once-stylish attire gave Presley a dated, un-hip look in comparison with the long-haired, casual style of the late 1960s. Furthermore, Presley exhibited a politically conservative side which was in sharp contrast to the mores of America's youth at the time.
Elvis bounced back in 1968 with his now legendary comeback television special, elvis, which showed Presley as a still-vibrant stage artist. He resumed touring shortly thereafter and for the remainder of his life, Presley was one of the top concert draws in America and abroad. In 1971 he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, in his Memphis home. In 1986. Presley was among the charter group of inductees into the Rock `n' Roll Hall of Fame. Regarded universally as the undisputed King of Rock `n' Roll, Presley's 1998 induction into the country music Hall of Fame ensures him a place among the royalty of that musical genre as well.
--CMT
