![]() ![]() But perhaps his most important legacy is the enduring popularity of guitar-driven rock music. There are probably more tribute acts to Elvis Presley than any other music artist. He was 42 years old.ĭespite the fact Presley almost never actually wrote songs himself note (he is credited on several songs as a co-writer, but he did not contribute to them and his name was added by Colonel Parker as a condition for Elvis recording them however, there's a select few he actually helped write), he became one of the most successful and influential musicians in the 20th century. Presley suffered a heart attack and his body was found several hours later. He was reading in his bathroom that night before he had to begin another tour in Maine. On August 16, 1977, Presley died in Graceland, his mansion in Memphis. Thereafter, his health (and the quality of his concerts) deteriorated significantly due to his battle with prescription drug abuse. The last great moment of his career was Aloha from Hawaii in 1973, the world's first satellite-televised rock concert. On the back of this, he returned to being a rock star, releasing more albums and taking several successful tours in the US at the turn of The '70s. He then made a Career Resurrection in 1968 with his first live performance in seven years, on a massively-watched show called Elvis. note It was alleged that Presley never toured outside of the US and Canada as Parker, being an illegal immigrant, did not want to risk being exposed by applying for a passport when Presley played in Canada in 1957, US citizens at the time did not require a passport to enter Canada. They were generally poorly received, and as The British Invasion took hold, Presley started to look out of touch with the music scene. In the 1960s, Parker steered him away from touring and making records toward acting in films and selling soundtrack albums, which he hoped would prove more lucrative. ![]() In return, Parker took a great chunk of his earnings and dictated to Presley the direction of his career and image. Presley had a notorious manager, Colonel Tom Parker (born Andreas van Kuijk in The Netherlands), who had played an important role in his early breakthrough. Many future rock stars were directly inspired by him to take up music, including The Beatles, Roy Orbison, and Bruce Springsteen. He took a break from making music from 1958 to 1960 to serve in the US Army and then returned, more popular than ever. Moral Guardians were shocked by some of his dance moves, particularly his tendency to shake his hips. The 21-year-old Presley stood out with his energetic performances, distinctive singing voice, influence from black musicians, and his often-controversial sex appeal. In 1955 Phillips signed Presley to RCA Records, with whom he would remain for the rest of his career.ĭuring The '50s, several popular artists had combined Country and Blues influences to make Rock & Roll, but the genre really took off with Presley's breakthrough in 1956. These legendary early sessions can be enjoyed on the compilation album The Sun Sessions from 1976. (They were later joined by drummer DJ Fontana.) Elvis himself often played guitar. There he began his professional singing career, signing his first contract in 1954 with Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records, who teamed him with two other musicians, guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. Want to know just how legendary he is? Ask most any foreign national to name something about America, and they'll likely say "Elvis".īorn in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee in his teens. Elvis Aaron Presley (Janu– August 16, 1977) was one of the most influential and iconic American singers of the 20th century, selling over a billion records worldwide. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |