Difference between revisions of "Elvis Presley"
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Presley has had such a legacy that many entertainers have made careers emulating him in voice, looks, or both. They are called Elvis Tribute Artists, or informally Elvis Impersonators. They highlight in Las Vegas and other areas across the country and the world. | Presley has had such a legacy that many entertainers have made careers emulating him in voice, looks, or both. They are called Elvis Tribute Artists, or informally Elvis Impersonators. They highlight in Las Vegas and other areas across the country and the world. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 05:22, July 22, 2011
Elvis Aaron (or Aron) Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was a musician, actor, and performer born in a two room house on January 8, 1935, in East Tupelo, Mississippi to Gladys Love and Vernon Presley. Presley became an essential figure of rock n' roll and sang rock, as well as country, blues, and gospel. He has become an American cultral icon and major figure in American popular culture. Presley is known as "The King of Rock n' Roll" or simply "The King".
Presley died on August 16, 1977 due to drugs and poor eating habits in his home Graceland a day before he was supposed to go back on tour.
Presley has been inducted into four Hall of Fames and has been nominated for 14 Grammys.
Contents
Early Life
The Presley family lived near poverty in the early years of Presley's life. Presley and his parents lived in a small house in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Presley had an identical twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, who was delivered 35 minutes before him and was stillborn.
The Presley family moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, where the thirteen year old Elvis would become influenced by the gospel music of a Pentecostal church.
Early Career
After graduating from high school, in 1953 Elvis paid to record two songs meant to be a birthday gift to his mother. “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” would be his first steps towards becoming what many would say was the greatest entertainer of the century and “the King of Rock n’ Roll.”
In 1954 Sun Records would release “That’s All Right,” backed by “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” Within a few days it was a hit when Memphis radio station WHBQ began programming the record and Presley began a regular touring schedule outside of the Memphis area. His second single, “Good Rockin' Tonight,” with “I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine” was released in September, 1954 and a month later Elvis Presley made his first appearance on the “Louisiana Hayride” in Shreveport to the delight of a large audience. He was signed to a one-year contract for a weekly performance.
Elvis Presley moved from Sun Records to RCA where a few months later in 1956 his very first single “Heartbreak Hotel,” topped the charts at #1.
Career
A multiple Grammy award winner, in his first dozen years Elvis Presley had 100 hits on the Billboard charts and was the most famous entertainer in the world. On tour and on stage in Las Vegas he played more than a thousand sold out concerts and starred in enormously profitable films such as “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “King Creole.”
Elvis Presley’s “Aloha from Hawaii” concert in January 1973 was the first of its kind to be broadcast worldwide via satellite and was seen by at least one billion viewers worldwide. At age 42, Elvis Presley died at his home in Memphis on August 16, 1977. The cause of death was believed to be related to an overuse and overdose of prescription drugs.
In 1986 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1998 the Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2001 the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2007 Elvis Presley was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
The Elvis Presley estate earns over 40 million dollars every year, a record for a deceased entertainer and his Graceland Mansion where he is buried is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Religion
Presley was a devout Christian, having attended church before his rise to fame. He was accompanied by several different gospel singers during his career inclufing The Jordanaires, The Stamps, and the Imperials. He recorded several gospel albums including You'll Never Walk Alone.
Discography
Before the year ended Elvis had 16 records on the Hit Parade, four of them also reached #1:
- “I Want You I Need You I Love You,”
- “Don’t Be Cruel,”
- “Hound Dog”
- “Love Me Tender”
In 1957 Elvis had other hits that leaped to the top of the charts:
- “Too Much,”
- “All Shook Up,”
- “Teddy Bear”
- “Jailhouse Rock”
The following year saw two more #1 songs:
- “Don’t”
- “Hard Headed Woman”
While other songs were also million sellers:
- “I Beg Of You,"
- “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck,”
- “One Night”
- “I Got Stung,”
In 1959 Elvis had four additional hits:
- “A Fool Such As I,”
- “I Need Your Love Tonight,”
- “A Big Hunk of Love”
- “My Wish Came True”
In 1960 four more #1 hits were released:
- “Stuck On You,”
- “It’s Now Or Never,”
- “Are You Lonesome Tonight”
- “Surrender”
In 1961 Elvis also had a good year with hits:
- “I Feel So Bad,”
- “Little Sister,”
- “His Latest Flame”
- “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
In 1962 Elvis added:
- “Good Luck Charm,”
- “She’s Not You,”
- “Return to Sender”
In 1963 “You’re The Devil in Disguise” was released.
Before the 1960’s ended Elvis would have more hits:
- “Crying in the Chapel,”
- “Love Letters,”
- “If I Can Dream,”
- “In the Ghetto,”
- “Don’t Cry Daddy,”
- “Suspicious Minds”
In the 1970’s Elvis had the following hits:
- “The Wonder of You,”
- “Burning Love,”
- “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,”
- “Promised Land”
- “Way Down”
Filmography
- Love Me Tender (1956)
- Loving You (1957)
- Jailhouse Rock (1957)
- King Creole (1958)
- G.I. Blues (1960)
- Flaming Star (1960)
- Wild in the Country (1961)
- Blue Hawaii (1961)
- Follow That Dream (1962)
- Kid Galahad (1962)
- Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
- It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
- Fun in Acapulco (1963)
- Kissin' Cousins (1964)
- Viva Las Vegas (1964)
- Roustabout (1964)
- Girl Happy (1965)
- Tickle Me (1965)
- Harum Scarum (1965)
- Frankie and Johnny (1966)
- Paradise Hawaiian Style (1966)
- Spinout (1966)
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
- Double Trouble (1967)
- Clambake (1967)
- Stay Away, Joe (1968)
- Speedway (1968)
- Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
- Charro! (1969)
- The Trouble with Girls (1969)
- Change of Habit (1969)
- Elvis-That's the Way It Is (1970)
Elvis Impersonators
Presley has had such a legacy that many entertainers have made careers emulating him in voice, looks, or both. They are called Elvis Tribute Artists, or informally Elvis Impersonators. They highlight in Las Vegas and other areas across the country and the world.
