Biography

Elvis Presley may be the single most important figure in American 20th century popular music. No one can argue with the fact that he was the musician most responsible for popularizing rock & roll on an international level. Viewed in cold sales figures, his impact was phenomenal. Dozens upon dozens of international smashes from the mid-'50s to the mid-'70s, as well as the steady sales of his catalogue and reissues since his death in 1977, may make him one of the highest-selling performer in history.

Elvis was born to a poor Mississippi family in the heart of Depression, Elvis had moved to Memphis by his teens, where he absorbed Southern popular music in the form of blues, country, bluegrass, and gospel. After graduating from high school, he became a truck driver. Some 1953 and 1954 demos, recorded at the emerging Sun label in Memphis helped stir interest on the part of Sun owner Sam Phillips. In 1954, Phillips, looking for a white singer with a black feel, teamed Presley with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. The trio played "That's All Right Mama," that became Elvis' first single.

In need of money to expand the Sun label, Sam Phillips sold Presley's contract to RCA in late 1955 for 35,000 dollars an astronomical sum at the time. Elvis' (and/or Colonel Parker's) aspirations were too big to be limited to records and live appearances. By late 1956, his first Hollywood movie, Love Me Tender, had been released. Shortly after a two year break where Elvis was recruited to the army he gave up on live performances altogether, to focus on his movies.

Parker had caused a major downfall in Elvis’s life and career, this downward spiral lead to his weight fluctuating wildly, his marriage broke up, he became dependent upon a variety of prescription drugs. Worst of all, he became isolated from the outside world except for professional purposes. On August 16, 1977, Presley was found dead in Graceland. The cause of death remains a subject of widespread discussion, although it’s likely that drugs played a part.

His legacy, kept alive by the hundreds of thousands of visitors who make the pilgrimage to Graceland annually. Elvis memorabilia and other forms of product are another industry in their own right. Dozens if not hundreds make a comfortable living by impersonating the King in live performance. Elvis Presley may be the single most important figure in American 20th century popular music. In death, as in life, Presley continues to be one of RCA's most consistent earners.

His Importance

Elvis is argueably the most important person in music history he single handedly made rock and roll popular. His music was popular all over the world. Elvis was the first white man to sing rockabilly and popularize black music to white folks. He had a very sexual presence on stage that caused some controversy but greatly helped his popularity among young folks.

Influence

Elvis himself was influenced largly from the area he grew up in, but he is more known for influencing others than being influenced himself. After elvis became popular any hillbilly who could play guitar was highered. He created a generation gap himself and introduced a category of music to a group of people who wouldn't listen to it before. The King was one of the largest influences in the history of music.