Elvis

Yesenia Mendez

Mr.Kofford

World History

May 30, 2015

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was a big part of western society and culture during the 1950s. He combined many roots of music such as jazz, gospel, traditional African and country to create Rock N Roll. He was a singer and actor who sold over one billion records and made 33 movies, becoming the “King of Rock”. Although his career wasn’t as easy as it seems, his legacy will always live as long as Rock n Roll is alive.

Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. His mother also gave birth to his stillborn twin brother Jessie. When his father went away to prison, his mother tried her best to support them but they ended up moving with relatives, the first of many moves. Elvis was different from the other kids in school, and although he was involved in activities and taught himself how to play instruments, it still never got the kids to stop picking on him. Though, he didn’t have many friends he always had music, when he and his family moved to Lauderdale Courts in Memphis TN, he would play with some of the aspiring musicians there. Segregation was still strongly enforced during the south, yet he would listen to African-American artists and visit Beagle Street to watch black musicians play. He got most of his style from viewing other types of artists, no matter what their skin color, because it didn’t matter to him, it was all just music.

After high school Elvis was still trying to pursue his music career, so he had a day job and at night he performed at small clubs. It wasn’t long until a man named Sam Phillips recognized his unique talent. On June 6, 1954 Elvis received a call from Sun Records offering him a chance at fame. Just two months later, he signed a contract for four records and his stardom soon rose.

Elvis made appearances on radio shows such as “Grand Ole Opry” and “Louisiana Hayride”. He was so successful on the Hayride show they had him perform every...