Elvis Presley was the most successful American singer of all time.
Elvis, better-known as 'the King,' was discovered in the early 1950s, and started recording for
Sun Records
. He was not an immediate success for Sun, but his unique style of music won many admirers. Blending blues, country and Tin Pan Alley ballads, his music became known as 'rockabilly.'
Colonel Tom Parker, who usually managed country musicians, became Elvis' manager in 1955, and made him a star. Elvis became an icon for America's youth, and dominated the charts. When he was drafted into the army in 1958, a nation believed it had lost its favorite star. His return in 1960 proved this wrong. He continued hitting the charts and made more than thirty movies! He defied the critics with a final No. 1 hit, 'Suspicious Minds,' in 1969. Elvis died in 1977, but his legend lives on, and his following is as large as ever! He remains one of the largest influences on modern music.
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. Elvis Presley became one of the most influential cultural icons of a generation.He is commonly referred to as the "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" and epitomises the post-war pop generation.
Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. When he was 13, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13.
Elvis was relatively shy and as a youngster was not keen on performing in public. However, he received a guitar as a present and learnt to play and sing, not through musical training, but just through hearing and picking up music. As a teenager, he became more interested in music, listening to a huge range of contemporary American music. He also started to sport a distinctive look with sideburns and styled hair. This would later become a real Elvis trademark.
In 1953, he went to Sun recording studio - to record a song for his mother, but also perhaps to hope to being noticed. However, it didn't come to anything, he was also turned down for an audition to other groups. In April 1954, he took a job as a truck driver.
However, later on in the year, Sun boss, Sam Phillips invited Elvis to come in for a recording studio. Initially the recording session was unpromising, but towards the end as they were getting close to finish, Elvis started up his own number, and Phillips was immediately impressed by the verve, enthusaism and dynamism of the music. Phillips reckoned he was onto a winner. He felt Elvis had the sound of negro.
Elvis recorded hit 1946 blues number, Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right" and it was well received on local radio stations.
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