Elvis Presley Rise of a King

Elvis Presley Rise of a King

PHL 101

Elvis Presley was one of the most famous musicians that had such an influential role on the modern music we listen to today. Rolling Stone only rates Elvis number three in the top 100 greatest artists, Bob Dylan being # 2, and The Beatles ranking #1 on that list. I think this list grossly under values Elvis’ contribution to music. He wasn’t dubbed the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” for nothing.

Elvis started his career in music in 1954, although his career didn’t really take off for him till 1955 when he signed with RCA Records. RCA bought his contract from Sun Records, including his five singles and all his unreleased material. According to Elvis.com “Heart Break Hotel” was Elvis’ first climb to the top of the charts in 1956. ("Elvis Presley Biography." . N.p., n.d. Web. . .)

“"Heartbreak Hotel" b/w "I Was the One" is shipped by RCA and sells over 300,000 copies in its first three weeks on the market. It is soon to go to #1 on Billboard’s pop singles chart for eight weeks and hits #1 on the country chart and #5 on the R&B chart. It becomes the first Elvis single to sell over one million copies, thus earning Elvis his very first gold record award.”

As “Heart Break Hotel” climbs the charts they release Elvis’ last singles under Sun Records label “Mystery Train” and “I Forgot to Remember to Forget”. These became his first #1 hit on Billboard’s national country singles chart. Shortly after RCA released Elvis’ first album “Elvis Presley”, this album was #1 on Billboard’s pop album chart for 10 weeks. The album reached over $1 million in sales. This album earned him his first gold album award.

It is estimated that Elvis has sold over 1 billion record units worldwide, that is more than anyone in the record industry. Elvis is credited for more than 150 singles and albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). No fewer than 149 of Elvis’ songs...