Elvis Presley (1935–1977) was an American singer and Actor. He is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, and was dubbed as the “King of Rock and Roll.”
Born in Tupelo Mississippi, his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13-years-old. His music career began in the very same city in 1954 when he recorded a record for Sun Records. He was an early popularizer of rockabilly: an uptempo fusion of country and R&B. Soon after recording his first record, RCA Victor acquired his contract, and when them he recorded “Heart Break Hotel” in 1956. The record became a number one hit, and he soon became regarded as a leading figure of Rock & Roll through his provocative performance style and combined influences of music across color lines. This combination made him extremely popular and controversial. In 1958 he was drafted into military service, putting his recording career on hold for two years. After his stint in the army, he continued recording and produced some of his most commercially successful work. In the 60’s he devoted his career to the film world, creating films and the corresponding soundtrack. These were not well received critically, and after a seven-year hiatus, he returned to preforming live music leading to a string of highly successful tours. He died in 1977 after years of prescription drug abuse at the age 42.
Elvis Presley is considered one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of all time. Gaining commercial success in several genres, he is the best selling solo artists in recorded music history having sold over 600 million records world wide. His rise to fame became the catalyst for the cultural revolution of rock and roll.
Sources for images:
-Pop Matters
-Blog Spot
-Elvis Presley
-Media Cache
