Elvis Aaron Presley[a] (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), known by his mononymous name, Elvis, was a prominent American singer and actor. Recognized as the “King of Rock and Roll,” he stands as a pivotal cultural icon of the 20th century.
Presley’s dynamic renditions of songs and his boldly expressive performance style, which sometimes pushed societal boundaries, emerged during a transformative era in race relations, earning him both acclaim and initial controversy.
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis relocated with his family to Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 13. His journey into the world of music began in 1954 when he began recording at Sun Records under the guidance of producer Sam Phillips. Phillips aimed to bring the sounds of African-American music to a broader audience. Presley, with his rhythm acoustic guitar skills, joined forces with lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black to pioneer rockabilly, an energetic fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J.
Fontana completed the quartet, and RCA Victor acquired Presley’s contract in a deal orchestrated by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage him for over two decades. Presley’s inaugural RCA single, “Heartbreak Hotel,” hit the airwaves in January 1956 and quickly soared to the top of the charts in the United States. RCA would go on to sell ten million Presley singles within a year. His succession of impactful network television appearances and chart-topping records established Presley as the preeminent figure in the burgeoning world of rock and roll. Yet, his distinctive style and advocacy for African-American musical influences earned him the reputation of a controversial figure who challenged the cultural norms of white American youth during that time.
November 1956 saw Presley make his silver screen debut in “Love Me Tender.” Drafted into military service in 1958, he resumed his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work.
Concerts were a rarity in Presley’s schedule, as guided by Colonel Parker, he dedicated a substantial part of the 1960s to producing Hollywood films and accompanying soundtrack albums, many of which faced critical skepticism. Some of his most iconic movies included “Jailhouse Rock” (1957), “Blue Hawaii” (1961), and “Viva Las Vegas” (1964). In 1968, following a seven-year hiatus from live performances, Presley made a triumphant return to the stage with the acclaimed television comeback special, “Elvis.” This marked the beginning of an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a series of highly lucrative tours. In 1973, Presley achieved the historic feat of being the first solo artist to have a concert broadcast worldwide, titled “Aloha from Hawaii.” Unfortunately, his health had suffered greatly due to years of prescription drug abuse and unhealthy eating habits, leading to his sudden passing in 1977 at the age of 42, at his Graceland estate.