Elvis Aaron Presley note 1 ( January 8 of 1935 – August 16 of 1977 ) was one of the singers Americans most popular twentieth century considered a cultural icon and widely known under its name, Elvis. It often is referred to as “The King of Rock and Roll” or simply “The King”.
Born in Tupelo , Mississippi , but when I was 13, he moved with his family to Memphis , Tennessee , where in 1954 he began his career as the owner of Sun Records , Sam Phillips , he saw ways to increase African-American music . Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black , was one of the originators of rockabilly , a style of tempo driven by a constant fast pace which is a fusion of country music and rhythm and blues .
After reaching an agreement that was his attorney for nearly two decades, Colonel Tom Parker , the record company RCA Records won a contract to broadcast their music. The first single with this company, ” Heartbreak Hotel “, launched in January 1956, became a number one hit. Soon after his appearances in the media, became the leading figure in the popular sound of rock and roll , with a series of television shows and hits that reached the top of the charts. His energetic performances, especially African-American songs and style made him extremely uninhibited popular and controversial. Months later, in November of that year, held its debut with the film Love Me Tender .
Recruited for military service in 1958, he resumed his career two years later, becoming part of their material to achieve greater commercial success since. He gave few concerts, however, in the 60′s, led by Parker, proceeded to devote himself to making films for Hollywood and movie soundtracks , many of them derided by critics. In 1968, after seven years away from the stage, returned to live presentations on a television special that resulted in an extensive series of concerts in Las Vegas and several musical tours .
In 1973, she starred in the first live tele, global satellite 5 6 7 8 Aloha from Hawaii , seen by about 1,500 million people. Finally, over-consumption of prescription drugs your health seriously compromised, until in 1977 he died suddenly at the age of 42.
Presley is regarded as one of the most important figures in popular culture of the twentieth century . He had a versatile voice and an unusual success in many genres, including country, the pop , the ballads , the gospel and the blues . Also, it is the best selling solo in the history of popular music. 9 10 11 12 14 Nominated Grammy Awards , won three and received one in the category of artistic career at the age of 36 years, also appear in various music halls of fame
Children in Tupelo
Presley’s birthplace in 1935.
Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo , Mississippi . His parents were Vernon Elvis (at that time, 18 years old) and Gladys Love Presley (22 years old). 13 In his shotgun house with two bedrooms, built by his father before his birth, Jesse Garon Presley, his twin brother , was born dead 35 minutes before him. As an only child, he established a strong relationship with their parents, especially her mother. The family used to attend the Assembly of God , a church movement Protestant , where he found his first musical inspiration. 14
Presley’s ancestry is a mix of Western Europe: the side of his mother was Scottish and Irish , with some Norman-French , in addition, one of the great-grandmother Gladys was Cherokee . 15 Note 2 his father’s ancestors had originated Scottish and German . 18 19 Gladys was seen by relatives and friends as the dominant member of the small family. Vernon passed an eccentric work to another sample of his lack of ambition. 20 21 The family depended normally require the assistance of neighbors and the government. In 1938, they lost their home after finding it guilty of altering Vernon a check written by the owner of the land, a fact that it took eight months in prison for what Elvis and Gladys had to move home to live with relatives . 20
In September 1941, started first grade in East Tupelo Consolidated School, where his teachers saw him as a student “average”. 22 While in high school, she encouraged him to enter a singing competition after impressing his teacher for the morning prayers with a rendition of country style singer Red Foley ” Old Shep “. The competition, held at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show on October 3, 1945, was his first public appearance, dressed as a cowboy , a ten-year Presley stood on a chair to reach the microphone and sang ” Old Shep. ” The singer recalled having reached the fifth. 23 A few months later, he received his first guitar as a birthday present, but expected nothing else-a bicycle or a rifle. 24 25 The following year, he received elementary guitar classes taught by their uncles and the new pastor of the church family. Presley recalled: “I took the guitar and watched people and learned a little. But he had never sung in public, was very shy about it. ” 26
In Milam, primary school which began attending the sixth grade, was an outcast boy. The following year he began taking his guitar to school and to engage in daily touch and sing during lunch, however, the rest of high school boys used to tease him to consider a child “grungy” music playing hillbilly . His family lived in a neighborhood then African American. 27 As a big fan of the show Slim Mississippi in Tupelo radio station Welo , Presley was usually described as “crazy music” by Slim’s younger brother, fellow Presley, who used to take him to the station and who taught him some chords on the guitar techniques. 28 When his protégé turned 12, was scheduled two presentations Slim radiated . In the first, was overwhelmed by stage fright, but a week later made a successful presentation. 29
Adolescence in Memphis
In November 1948 the family moved to Memphis , Tennessee . After living for almost a year in boarding houses, were granted a two-bedroom apartment in public housing complex known as The Courts. 30 As a student at Humes High School, Presley got only note C grades in eighth grade. When his music teacher told him he had no aptitude for singing, the next day, he brought his guitar and sang a recent success ” Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me “in an attempt to prove otherwise. A colleague later assert that the teacher “agreed that Elvis was right and she did not appreciate her singing.” 31 used to be very shy to openly and occasionally touching was harassed by colleagues who saw him as a “baby Mom’s. ” 32 In 1950 he began practicing regularly with the guitar under the tutelage of Jesse Lee Denson, a neighbor and a half years older than him. They and three other boys, among whom were two future rockabilly pioneers, the brothers Dorsey and Johnny Burnette , formed a musical collective open frequently played around The Courts. 33 In September of that year, he began performing ads the Loew’s State Theater. 34
During his junior year in high school, began to stand out among their peers, in large part by his appearance: he grew sideburns and comb the hair with rose oil and Vaseline, molded into a hairstyle called a quiff , style became popular among the youth of that time. 35 In his spare time, she attended Bale Street, the heart of the Memphis blues scene and looked forward to the extravagant and ostentatious clothes in the windows of Lansky Brothers. In his final year at school he used them. 36 finally overcame his reluctance to play in the annual spectacle of singing Humes in April 1953. Singing and playing guitar, opened the latter to “Till I Waltz Again With You”, a recent success of Teresa Brewer . Presley said the presentation was greatly improved its reputation: “He was not popular at school. [...] I failed music – [the only stuff] that I failed in my entire life and then I get into this talent. [...] When I arrived at the scene heard people making noises, muttering and even more, because nobody knew that I sang. It was amazing how I became popular after that. ” 37
Presley, who had never received formal music lessons, studied and played by ear. Frequented record stores with gramophones and knew all the songs of Hank Snow , but also loved the songs of other country singers like Roy Acuff , Ernest Tubb , Ted Daff , Jimmie Rodgers , Jimmie Davis and Bob Wills . 38 39 singer gospel in the southern United States Jake Hess , one of his favorite artists was a significant influence on his style of singing ballads . 40 41 was regular public monthly All-Night Show Singings, where many groups of white gospel singers reflect the music influence spiritual African American. 42 also loved music black gospel singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe . 39 As some of his peers, he had to frequent the places where blues was played only at night designated for exclusively white audiences. 43 Certainly, listening to regional radio stations that transmitted “race recordings’ spiritual, blues and modern sound and recharged rhythm and blues . 44 Many of his songs would be inspired by local African-American musicians such as Arthur Crudup , and Rufus Thomas . 45 46 BB King recalled that Presley had known before they became popular when he frequented Beale Street. 47 When he graduated from high school in June 1953, he chose music as his future. 48 49
Early recordings (1953-55)
Sam Phillips and Sun Records
In August 1953, first entered the offices of Sun Records with the intention of paying a few minutes of time in the studio to record an acetate disc double sided , ” My Happiness “and” That’s When Your Heartaches Begin . ” Then, said the album would be a gift for your mother, or he was simply interested in “how it would sound” him, though in a nearby store had a service professional recording discs. The biographer Peter Guralnick says that the company chose Sun in the hopes of being discovered. When the receptionist asked Marion Keisker what kind of singer was, Presley replied: “Singing all kinds [of music].” When asked as to who was playing, said: “Do not sound like anyone.” After recording, the head of Sun, Sam Phillips, Keisker asked to write the name of the young, which he did with a personal comment: “Good ballad singer. Retain ‘. 50 Presley recorded a second acetate in January 1954 – ” I’ll Never Stand In Your Way “and” It Would not Be the Same Without You “- but nothing came from there. 51
Vinyl with the theme “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, recorded by Elvis in 1954 under the label Sun Records.
Not long after, he failed an audition to join a local vocal quartet called The Songfellows. After the incident, he told his father that he had no luck and told him: “I could not sing.” 52 Group member Jim Hamill said later that was not accepted because of hearing did not prove to have heard for harmonies . 53 In April, he began working for the Crown Electric Company as a truck driver. 53 His friend Ronnie Smith, after hitting a couple of gigs with him, suggested contacting Eddie Bond, head of the professional band in which Smith played, and needed a vocalist. Bond rejected after a trial, advising him to remain as a truck driver “and you will never succeed as a singer.” 54
Meanwhile, Phillips, I tried to find someone who could rescue the sound of black musicians to make it reach a wider audience. As Keisker said: “I remember Sam saying over and over again: ‘If I could find a target that had a black sound and a feeling black, could make billions of dollars.’” 55 In June, it acquired a demo of the ballad “Without You” which he thought would fit well with the young singer. Presley went through the study, but was unable to do justice. Despite this, Phillips asked him to sing all the songs we could. Phillips felt sufficiently impressed by what he heard, he invited two local musicians, guitarist Winfield “Scotty” Moore and bassist Bill Black to arrange something with Presley for a recording session. 56
The session, held in the afternoon of July 5, was entirely unsuccessful and lasted late into the night. When they were about to give up and go home, Presley took his guitar and played ” That’s All Right “, a blues in 1946 by Arthur Crudup. Moore recalls, “Suddenly, Elvis just started playing the song, jumping and doing crazy things, but then Bill picked up his bass and also began to play and be silly, until I started playing with them. I think Sam had the door of the cockpit open, stuck his head out [...] and said, “What are you doing?” and we said “I do not know.” “Well, back at first,” he said, “try to find a place to start, and try again. ‘” Phillips then began to burn, then realize that that was the sound he had been looking for. 57 Three days later, the popular DJ Dewey Phillips aired “That’s All Right” on his show Red, Hot, and Blue . 58 The Listeners began calling to find out who was the singer. The interest was such that Phillips repeatedly aired the issue during the last two hours of your program. In an interview to air, Phillips asked what school he attended in order to define its color, as many listeners assumed he was black. 59 In the coming days, the trio recorded a song of bluegrass , the subject of Bill Monroe ” Blue Moon of Kentucky “, again with a distinctive style and a makeshift echo effect that Sam Phillips had been arranged. He pressed a single with “That’s All Right” as side A and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on the back. 60
First live presentations and contract with RCA
Presley in a promotional photograph of Sun Records in 1954.
The trio played in public for the first time on July 17, 1954 at Bon Air Club, where Presley was still wearing his child-size guitar. 61 By the end of the month, appeared in the Overton Park Shell, opening for Slim Whitman . As a result of its strong response to the rhythm combined with their nervousness to play in front of such crowds began to shake their legs while singing: its wide cut trousers pronounced movements, causing the young women in the audience began to scream. 62 Moore recalls: “During the instrumental parts, bounced and moved the microphone while singing, the audience just went crazy.” 63 Black, a showman, rolled his bass, slamming so that Presley sounded like “a sound really wild, like a drum in the jungle or something [so]. ” 63 Shortly thereafter, Moore and Black left their old band to play regularly with Presley and DJ Bob Neal became his manager . From August to October, played frequently in the Eagle’s Nest Club, so he began to gain confidence on stage. 64 According to Moore: “His movements were a natural thing, but in turn was really aware of what caused this reaction. Do something once and then expand it really fast. ” 65 Presley performed what would be his only appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on October 2, after a respectful response from the public, the manager of Opry told Jim Denny Phillips singer is “not bad” but that did not fit with the program. 66 Two weeks later, he was hired at Louisiana Hayride , a rival of the Opry . The program, based in Shreveport was broadcast to 198 stations in 28 states. In the first segment, overcame another attack of nerves, which meant that for a moment was speechless, but in the second part, which was more energetic, resulting in a more enthusiastic response from the public. 67 The drummer Instead, DJ Fontana brought a new element, complemented Presley’s movements with accented strokes he had perfected in clubs striptease . 68 Shortly after the show, Hayride Presley hired for a year to sing on Saturday night. After selling his old guitar for eight dollars (and after seeing her in the trash shortly thereafter), bought a brand new Martin for $ 175 and began playing in new places like Houston ( Texas ) and Texarkana in ( Arkansas ). 69
By early 1955, Presley regular presentations Hayride , the constant touring and the good reception of his publications made him a regional star from Tennessee to West Texas. In January, Neal signed a formal management agreement with him and introduced him to Colonel Tom Parker, whom he considered the best promoter in the music business. Parker, born in Netherlands , but claimed to be of West Virginia, had obtained a commission of country singer turned Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis . After being successful manager of country star Eddy Arnold, at the time was working with the new number one singer, Hank Snow . Parker placed as the opening act for Presley on tour in February. 70 71 When they came to Odessa , Texas, a Roy Orbison 19 years saw Presley for the first time: “His energy was amazing, simply amazing instinct. [...] Just did not know what to do. There was no reference point to compare the culture. ” 38 Presley made his TV debut on March 3 in the transmission of KSLA-TV in Louisiana Hatride . Shortly thereafter, he failed an audition to join the Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts television network in the CBS . By August, Sun had released ten tracks credited to “Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill.” In the past, drummer joined the trio. Some of the songs, like “That’s All Right” is included in what a journalist from Memphis described by saying that “is expressed in the language R & B used in the field of jazz black”, others as “Blue Moon of Kentucky” were “rather in the field of country, but there was a curious combination of the two genders in both.” 72 This fusion of styles made it difficult for Presley’s music was broadcast on the radio. According to Neal, many disc jockeys refused to do it because it sounded very similar to a black artist and stations R & B, because “it sounded a lot like a [musician] hillbilly . ” 73 This merger became known as ” rockabilly “. At that time, Presley was known as “The King of Western Bop,” “Hillbilly Cat” and “The flash of Memphis.” 74
Presley renewed the management contract with Neal in August 1955 and simultaneously told Parker as his special adviser. 75 The group maintained a heavy touring schedule in the second half of the year. 76 Neal recalls, “It was almost frightening to wake up the reaction Elvis in adolescent boys. Many of them, by some type of jealousy, almost hated him. There were times in some towns in Texas where we had to get a bodyguard because there was always someone trying to beat him. Would come together and try to go around, or something like that. ” 77 The trio became a quartet when drummer Hayride , Fontana, joined as a full member. In mid-October, gave a few concerts, opening for Bill Haley , whose song ” Rock Around the Clock “was a number one hit last year. Haley noted that Presley had a natural instinct about the pace and advised him to sing less ballads. 78
In the Convention of Disc Jockeys country music early November, Presley was voted as the most promising male artist. 79 At that time there were many record companies showed interest in signing him. After three major labels will make offers of up to 25,000 dollars, Parker and Phillips signed a deal with RCA Victor on November 21 to purchase Presley’s contract with Sun over an unprecedented amount of 40,000 dollars. 80 note 3 Presley , who was 20 years, was still a minor, so his father signed the contract. 81 Parker agreed with the owners of Hill and Range Publishing, Jean and Julian Aberbach create two entities: Elvis Presley Music and Gladys Music, to collect all new material recorded by the singer. The composers were forced to give up one third of its copyright in exchange for Presley perform on. 82 Note 4 By December, RCA started to widely promote their new singer and before the end of this month relaunched many of the songs he recorded with Sun. 85
Explosion and commercial disputes (1956-58)
first national television appearance and debut album
On January 10, 1956, Presley made his first recordings for RCA in Nashville . 86 In order to extend the group of supporting musicians Presley (Moore, Black and Fontana), RCA hired the pianist Floyd Cramer , guitarist Chet Atkins and three background singers, including Gordon Stoker of the quartet Jordanaires , to fill the sound. 87 This session produced the unusual shifting, ” Heartbreak Hotel “, released as a single on January 27. 86 Parker finally brought Presley should appear in the national television and for this scheduled six presentations in two months in the program Stage Show on CBS . The program, filmed in New York , leaders of big bands and brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey were the presenters. After his first appearance on January 28, Presley stayed in town to record the new RCA’s New York studio. The sessions produced eight songs, including a rockabilly anthem version of Carl Perkins ‘ Blue Suede Shoes . ” In February, the issue of Presley ” I Forgot to Remember to Forget “, Sun released a recording of the previous August, reached the top of the list of country music Billboard . 88 Neal’s contract expired and the March 2, Parker became the singer’s manager. 89
RCA Victor released his album Elvis Presley March 23. Composed of five previously unreleased tracks on their way through Sun, the other seven tracks were of great variety. There were two issues including country and a happy pop song. The other would define centrally the sound pop rock and roll : “Blue Suede Shoes” – “An improvement over that of Perkins in almost all aspects,” according to critic Robert Hilburn, and three issues of R & B that were subjects of the repertoire in Presley live for a time, versions of songs by Little Richard , Ray Charles and The Drifters . Hilburn describes as these “were the most revealing of all. Unlike many white artists [...] that slipped on the sandy edges of the original versions of R & B songs of the decade of 1950, Presley gave them another way. Not only contributed to the tunes his own personality [in the] vocal but made guitar, not piano, as the main tool in the three cases. ” 90 It became the first rock and roll album to reach the summit of the list of Billboard , a position where he remained ten weeks. 86 Although Presley was an innovative as Moore or contemporary African-American performers Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry , cultural historian Gilbert B. Rodman argues that the cover of the album, “Elvis having a good time on stage with a guitar in his hands had a crucial role in transforming the guitar into the instrument [...] better capturing the style and spirit of this new music “. 91
Milton Berle Show and “Hound Dog”
Presley made the first of two appearances at the Milton Berle Show on NBC on April 3, 1956. His performance, on the deck of USS Hancock in San Diego , received applause from an audience of crew and passengers. 92 days later, a flight that would lead to Presley and his band to Nashville for a recording session left them extremely impressed, because one engine suffered an accident and the plane almost falls over Arkansas . 93 Twelve weeks after its original release, “Heartbreak Hotel” became the first number one pop hit Presley. In late April, began a series of presentations from two weeks in the New Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Strip . The shows had a very poor reception from guests and middle-aged conservative and a critic of Newsweek described him as “a jug of corn liquor at a party of champagne . ” 94 During this cycle, Presley, who had serious ambitions acting, signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures . 95 began a tour of the Midwest in mid-May and visited 15 cities. 96 had attended numerous concerts of Freddie Bell and the bellboys in Las Vegas and his version of ” Hound Dog “, a 1952 success of the blues singer Big Mama Thornton , impressed him deeply, to the point that the song was used for the closure of their presentations. 97 After a concert in La Crosse , Wisconsin , published an urgent message in The Journal of the diocese Catholic local to the Director of FBI J. Edgar Hoover , warning that “Presley is definitely a threat to U.S. security. [...] His actions and movements seek to revive the sexual passions of adolescents. [...] After the show, over a thousand teenagers tried to enter her dressing room. Indications of damage [...] Presley did in La Crosse are two high school girls [...] in which the abdomen and thighs was [his] autograph. ” 98
His second presentation at the Milton Berle Show was on June 5 in the study of Hollywood on NBC, during another busy tour. Berle persuaded him to leave his guitar in racks and also said, “Let them see you, son.” 99 During the presentation, Presley stopped its fast performance of “Hound Dog” with a wave of his hand and made a slow version significant with the same energetic and exaggerated body movements. 99 This represented a wave of controversy. 100 television critics were outraged: Jack Gould of The New York Times commented: “Mr. Presley has no discernible skill for singing. [...] His phrasing, if you can call it this way is similar to a stereotypical variations aria in the shower for a beginner. [...] One of its specialties is a marked movement of the body [...] that mimics primary form the repertoire of the Blonde Bombshells from the catwalks of cabaret. ” 101 Ben Gross of the New York newspaper Daily News opined that popular music has “bottomed out in the [movement] of Elvis Presley. [...] Elvis, who moves his pelvis [...] conducted a suggestive and vulgar display, tinged with the levels of savagery that should be [...] exclusive brothel. ” 102 Ed Sullivan , whose variety show was the most popular nationally judged it “inconsistent with the family audience.” 103 To his dismay, he was soon being called “Elvis the pelvis”, which considered “one of the most childish expressions I’ve heard ever coming from an adult. ” 104
Steve Allen Show and the first presentation Sullivan
The programs were so many spectators that Presley got a presentation scheduled for July 1 at the Steve Allen Show on NBC in New York. Allen, who was not a fan of rock and roll, introduced a “new Elvis” dressed in black bow and Levite. Presley sang “Hound Dog” in less than a minute, using a top hat. As described by TV historian Jake Austen , “Allen NAPs that Presley had no talent and it was absurd, [...] arranged for show his contrition.” 105 Allen, meanwhile, said later that he found Presley ‘strange , ungainly, with the same charisma provincial difficult to define that beauty and its charming and seductive extravagance “and simply showed the singer the” factory of comedy “routine in your program. 106 Presley would refer then to the interpretation made here as the most ridiculous in his career. 107 Later that night, also appeared in Hy Gardner Calling , another popular program. When the press asked him if he learned anything from the criticism, Presley replied: “No, I did not feel like I’m doing anything wrong. [...] I do not see how any kind of music would be a bad influence on people when it’s just music. [...] I mean, how can rock and roll music make someone rebelling against their parents? “. 102
The rivalry between the programs of Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan (pictured) Presley catapulted to stardom.
The next day, Presley recorded “Hound Dog” along with “Any Way You Want Me” and ” Do not Be Cruel . ” The Jordanaires recorded the harmony vocals, as they did on The Steve Allen Show , in addition, the group would work with Presley in the 1960′s. A few days later, the singer performed a free outdoor concert in Memphis, on which said: “Do you know? All those people in New York is not going to change anything. I’ll show you what the real Elvis tonight. ” 108 In August, a judge in Jacksonville , Florida , ordered Presley to moderate their actions. In his next performance was more modest, except when he made a suggestive motion with his finger to make fun of the order. 109 ‘s single “Hound Dog” and “Do not Be Cruel” reigned at the top of the charts for 11 weeks-a record that would not be exceeded for 36 years. 110 The recording sessions for Presley’s second album took place in Hollywood during the first week of September. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the authors of “Hound Dog” in turn created ” Love Me “. 110
The program Allen Presley, in his first appearance, defeated Ed Sullivan CBS. The presenter, despite his June trial, hired the singer for three presentations by an unprecedented sum of 50,000 dollars. 111 The first, on September 9, 1956, was seen by about 60 million viewers, a record of 82 , 6% of public television. 112 The actor Charles Laughton presented the Sullivan show and replaced while recovering from a car accident. 103 Presley figured that night in two segments of the CBS Television City in Hollywood. According to the legend of Elvis, I filmed from the waist up. Noting fragments Berle programs with Allen and his producer, Sullivan felt that Presley “was an object hanging below the groin of his pants, then, when you move your legs back and forth, you can see the relief on his cock. [...] I think it’s a bottle of Coca-Cola . [...] We simply can not pass this one Sunday night, this is a family show! “. 111 Sullivan publicly told TV Guide “As to their swings, the whole thing can be managed with [certain types of ] shots. ” 111 In fact, they showed it from head to toe in the first two blocks. Since the camera work was relatively quiet during his debut, with planes where his legs were cut when he danced, the studio audience reacted as usual: screaming. 113 114 The interpretation of the singer what would be his next single, the ballad ” Love Me Tender “request led to nearly a million copies of official pre-release form. 115 More than any other event, his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was what made him famous nationally in an unprecedented . 103
Accompanying his rise to fame, was a cultural shift taking place he helped to inspire and symbolize ended. The historian said Marty Jezer, embodying the “biggest pop madness from Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra [...] Presley rock and roll integrated into the mainstream of popular culture. [...] Because Presley created the artistic pattern, other artists followed. [...] [He], more than anyone, gave young people confidence in themselves as individuals and in some way united to [this] generation, the first in America to feel the power of a unified teen culture ” . 116
Reaction of the public debut
Public response at live concerts Presley began to become increasingly hectic. Moore recalls, “He would start with You is not nothin ‘but a Hound Dog (“you are just a hound “) and they just have a nervous breakdown. Always react in the same way, it was always a scandal. ” 117 In the two concerts he gave in September at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, fifty bodyguards were added to the police force to prevent disturbances to the public. 118 Elvis , Presley’s second album, was released in October and came quickly to the top. On the cultural impact and musical work Presley, from “That’s All Right” to Elvis , rock critic Dave Marsh said that “these recordings more than any others, contain the seeds of what rock and roll era, has been and most likely it will be. ” 119
Presley returned to the Sullivan program, presented this time by himself, on 28 October. After his performance, a group of people in Nashville and St. Louis burned a doll form. 103 His first film, Love Me Tender was released on November 21. Though not a huge amount of sales, the original title of the film, The Reno Brothers , was changed to emphasize his last number one single “Love Me Tender” had reached the top of sales charts in early that month. To take advantage of the popularity of Presley, four musical numbers were added to what was originally a paper that he acted alone. While not receive good reviews, did well at the box office. 95
On December 4, Presley went to Sun Records studios where Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis were recording and devoted himself to improvise with them. Although Phillips had no right to release any material recorded by Presley, made sure that the session will be recorded on the tapes. The results became the legend of the recordings of the ” Million Dollar Quartet “-was assumed for a long time that Johnny Cash had also played, but only appeared there on one occasion due to an invitation from Phillips. 120 The year ended with a cover story in the Wall Street Journal reporting that Presley merchandise had contributed $ 22 million and the declaration of Billboard that he had positioned more songs in the Top 100 than any other artist since the creation of lists. 121 122 In its first full year in CAR, one of the largest companies in the music industry, Presley had produced about 50% of sales of singles from the record. 115
Collaboration with Leiber and Stoller and recruitment announcement
Presley with Judy Tyler in a scene from Jailhouse Rock , 1957.
Presley made his third and final presentation at the Ed Sullivan show on January 6, 1957-this time, he was also filmed from the waist up. Some commentators claimed that Parker tried to give an appearance of censorship to generate more controversy in the press. 114 123 In any presentation, as described by the critic Greil Marcus, Presley “was not restricted. Forgetting the dull black clothes she had worn in the first two shows, opted for the extravagant costume Pasha . Since the makeup of their eyes, hair falling over his face to the overwhelmingly sexual texture of his mouth, was playing the role of Rodolfo Valentino in The Sheik , without all of your brakes. ” 103 At the end, to teach his vocal range and defy the wishes of Sullivan, Presley sang a gentle spiritual black-called ” Peace in the Valley “. Towards the end of the program, Sullivan said “a good boy, really decent.” 124 Two days later, the Memphis draft board announced that Presley would be classified as A1, that is, under optimal conditions for military service – and would probably be drafted in that year. 125
Each of the singles Presley released in the first half of 1957 were number one: ” Too Much , “” All Shook Up “and” (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear . ” At that time it was an international star and began to attract fans even where his music is not officially launched. Under the title “Presley recordings Soviet madness unleashed,” The New York Times reported that the editions of his music made in X-rays, copies discarded pirate – were reaching very high prices in Leningrad . 126 Between sessions and film footage recording, the singer also found time to build a mansion with 18 rooms and thirteen miles south of Memphis for him and his parents, Graceland . 127 Loving You , the soundtrack to his second film released in July was the third album number one followed by the singer. The title track to the title was written by Leiber and Stoller, who was hired to compose songs recorded six sessions for Jailhouse Rock , the next film Presley. The songwriting team produced the tracks and created strong working ties with the singer, so that even called “the spell of good luck.” 128 The title track was a hit number one, as well as the Jailhouse Rock EP . 128
Promotional poster for the film King Creole , directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Presley, in 1958.
Presley made three short tours during the year and continued to generate a crazy response from the public. 129 A newspaper in Detroit suggested that “the problem with going to see Elvis Presley is likely to kill you.” 130 A group of students of Villanova threw eggs at Philadelphia and Vancouver , getting the crowd to cause such a disturbance that ended up destroying the stage. 130 131 Frank Sinatra , famous for inspiring the girls swoon in the decade of 1940 , condemned this new musical phenomenon. In a magazine article described the rock and roll as “brutal, ugly, degenerate, full of vices. [...] Accommodates most negative and destructive reactions in young people. It is sung, played and written mostly by geese cretins. [...] I deplore this rotten smell aphrodisiac. ” 132 When asked for a response, Presley said: “I admire that man has the right to say whatever he wants. It has a great success and is a good actor, but I should not have said that. [...] [The rock and roll] is a trend [is] what he had to face when they began several years ago. ” 133
Leiber and Stoller returned to the studio to record Elvis’ Christmas Album . Towards the end of a session, wrote a song at the request of Presley: ” Santa Claus Is Back in Town “, a ballad full of innuendo. 134 Christmas This release extended the list of consecutive number one albums of the singer to return with four and Christmas time best selling album in history. 135 136 After the sessions, Moore and Black, who perceived modest weekly wages and not the massive financial success Presley, resigned. Although they were brought back and given a daily wage a few weeks later, it became clear that the band had not been part of the singer’s inner circle for a while. 137 On December 20, Presley received the announcement of their recruitment . He was granted a deferment to finish King Creole , which Paramount and producer Hal Wallis had already invested $ 350 000. A few weeks later, ” Do “, another source of Leiber and Stoller were transfomer at its tenth song on the top of sales charts, 21 months after” Heartbreak Hotel “to take him into first place for the first time . The sessions for the soundtrack began in Hollywood in mid-January. Leiber and Stoller contributed three songs, but this would be the last time so closely collaborate on with Presley. 138 Another study meeting on February 1 marked the other end: that was the last time I played with Presley Black, and who died in one thousand nine hundred sixty-five. 138
Military service and death of his mother (1958-60)
On March 24, 1958, Presley enlisted in the U.S. Army as a soldier at Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith, Arkansas . Captain Arlie Metheny , the information officer, was not prepared for the media attention caused by the arrival of the singer. Hundreds of people gathered to see the artist when he got off the bus, including some photographers were already installed in the base. 139 Presley announced that it expected to fulfill their military season, besides pointing out that he did not want to be treated differently from any another soldier, saying: “The army can do whatever he wants with me.” 140 Later, in Fort Hood , Texas, Lt. Col. Marjorie Schulten given carte blanche to the press by one day and the next day declared that Presley was beyond the reach of the media. 141
Shortly after Presley began his basic training at Fort Hood, was visited by Eddie Fadal, a businessman whom she had met when he was on tour in Texas. Fadal informed the media that Presley was convinced that her singing career had come to an end – “I was firmly convinced that” -. 142 Presley got a leave of absence from training for two weeks in early June, after which he visited five places in Nashville. Is done, he returned to his training in early August but her mother was diagnosed with hepatitis and their health status worsened. Given this, the singer got emergency leave to visit his mother, coming to Memphis on August 12. Two days later she died of heart failure at 46 years of age. Presley was devastated; 143 her relationship with her had generally been extremely close, even then, they communicated with each other in a language of babies and Presley called pet names. 3
Document proving Presley’s enlistment in the U.S. Army in March 1958.
At the end of his training at Fort Hood, Presley joined the March. Armored Division in Friedberg , Germany, on October 1. 144 That was when he had his first encounter with the amphetamines by a sergeant, becoming “almost evangelical about benefits “that were mostly” greater force “and a noticeable weight loss. In fact, several of his friends in the division were condescending to him about his use. 145 Also during his military time, Presley began practicing karate , a discipline to which he kept a very seriously, incorporating it in their performances after vivo. 146 His colleagues at the military base desire met Presley in that it can remember as a soldier and ordinary, despite his fame, whose greatest attribute was his generosity while in full operation. It is known that the singer donated his Army pay to charity, in addition to buying televisions for the base and a number of additional uniforms for all. 147
While in Friedberg, he met Priscilla Beaulieu , who at that time was just 14 years old. Subsequently, both be married after a courtship of seven years and a half. 148 In his autobiography, Priscilla said that despite concerns that it could ruin his career, Presley Parker convinced that to win the respect of people was to serve his country as a regular soldier beyond entry into the Special Services, where he was able to do some musical performances and stay in touch with the public. 149 The media reports echoed the concerns of Presley for his career, but the RCA producer Steve Sholes and Freddy Bienstock of Hill and Range, had been carefully prepared for his absence of two years. With a considerable amount of unpublished material, both managed to maintain a steady flow of successful launches at the time. 150 are known from their entry into military service and subsequent approval, Presley had managed to enter 40 numbers in the top ten lists popularity, among which included ” Wear My Ring Around Your Neck “,” Hard Headed Woman “and” One Night “in 1958, and” (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I “and” A Big Hunk or ‘Love ‘in 1959. 151 RCA also managed to raise in this period four compilation albums of previous material recorded by the singer, highlighting Elvis’ Golden Records (1958), which managed to reach third in the list Japanese LP chart .
Focus on Film (1960-1967)
Elvis Is Back
Presley returned to the United States on March 2, 1960, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant within three days. 152 Due to the constant harassment he encountered in the train that took him from New Jersey to Tennessee almost everywhere in the way, Presley was the need to satisfy their followers by spontaneous appearances at certain scales of the train. 153 On the night of March 20 he entered the RCA’s Nashville studio to edit tracks to form a new album along with a single, ” Stuck on You “, which was launched immediately to become an instant hit. 154 In another session in Nashville held two weeks later emerged two of its single most successful ballads ” It’s Now or Never “and” Are You Lonesome Tonight ? “, along with the rest of the album Elvis Is Back! , showing several songs described by Greil Marcus as a complete “threat” of Chicago blues “led by acoustic guitar with super speakers Presley, the brilliant execution of Scotty Moore and sax work done by Boots Randolph . The interpretation of Elvis was not sexy, but pornographic. ” 155 In its entirety, the material “evoked the vision of an interpreter who could be all” in the words of music historian John Robertson, “a cute teen idol with a heart Gold, a stormy and dangerous lover, a singer of gutbucket blues , a sophisticated artist a nightclub, [a] raucous rocker. ” 156 Launched only a few days after the recording ended, the material was able to position itself in the second position of the Billboard 200 .
Presley returned to television on 12 May as a guest on the show The Frank Sinatra Timex Special -ironic for Frank Sinatra and he, given the obvious excoriation of Sinatra on the rock and roll. Also known as Welcome Home Elvis , the television special was recorded in late March, the only time all year that Presley made some interpretation to an audience. Parker unheard of securing payment of 125 000 USD for the eight minutes that remained Presley singing. Transmission drew a large audience. 157
The soundtrack GI Blues of Presley’s first film since his return topped the sales in October. Their first LP of material sacrum, His Hand in Mine , was released just two months later and managed to position itself in the position 13 of the pop chart U.S. and in third place in the same list on British territory, which are important gains if considers that an album is gospel . In February 1961, Presley performed two shows for a charity event in Memphis, on behalf of 24 regional associations. During a luncheon prior to the event, RCA presented him with a plaque certifying that the artist had managed to sell over 75 million copies worldwide. 158 At a session of 12 hours in Nashville in mid-March, came the Most of the singer’s next album, Something for Everybody . 159 According to John Robertson, said material exemplifies the Nashville sound , style and cosmopolitan restricted define country music in 1960. Besides offering an overview of the style that Presley would take at least the next five years, the album is largely “a pleasant and threatening pastiche of music that was once the estate of Elvis’. 160 Over time, become in his sixth LP to reach the top of the charts. March 25 was held in Hawaii another benefit concert to raise funds for a memorial of Pearl Harbor . That would be Presley’s last public appearance for seven years. 161
Lost in Hollywood
By then, Parker had already scheduled a busy schedule for Presley film, focusing specifically on low-budget musicals and basically standards in terms of its plot and structure. At first, Presley insisted to appear in serious films, but after two of his dramatic films – Flaming Star (1960) and Wild in the Country (1961) – did not get the expected revenues, decided to go for comedy. Among the 27 films in which he participated during the years 1960, just in case there are some exceptions. 162 Broadly speaking, his films were strongly criticized by the media, in one of the reviews, they are categorized as a “pantheon of bad taste” . 163 However, most of them managed to be a blockbuster. Hal Wallis , producer of nine of these, at some point said: “A film of Presley is the only sure thing in Hollywood there [referring to their good proceeds]. ” 164
Photo of Elvis as part of the promotional campaign of Jailhouse Rock in 1957.
Of the films starring the singer at this time, fifteen were accompanied by soundtracks while five were sold along with their respective soundtracks EP format. The speed between the dates of production and release of films, often acted in three films a year, ended up hurting your career. According to Jerry Leiber, the concept of soundtracks and was well known since before Presley left the army, “three ballads, a [number] medium tempo , up tempo dance hit and a type blues . ” 165 As advanced the decade, the quality of the items included in each soundtrack was “gradually decreasing”. 166 Julie Parrish , who appeared in Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966), said he hated some of the songs chosen for their films. 167 Gordon Stoker, The Jordanaires, describes the following about the idea of discarding the concept Presley: “The material was so bad that he felt like he could not sing.” 168 Most albums of this type contained one or two songs written by Notable figures such as the duo formed by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman . But overall, according to biographer Jerry Hopkins , the figures indicated as having been “written by men who never really understood Elvis or rock and roll.” 169 Despite the quality of the songs, it was noted that Presley had played those parts, although with some compromise. 170 However, others like the critic Dave Marsh Presley also got off the subject. In his review, Marsh explained: “Presley is trying, probably the most knowledgeable in the material as’ No Room to Rumba in a Sports Car ‘and’ Rock-a-Hula Baby . ‘” 119
In the first half of the decade, three of the soundtracks of Presley reached the top spot in the charts, and a few of his most popular songs came from his films such as ” Can not Help Falling in Love ” (1961) and ” Return to Sender “(1962). (” Viva Las Vegas “, the theme for the movie of the same name in 1964 was a minor hit when thrown on the B side, becoming really popular later). However, as happened with the artistic quality, the commercial success began to deteriorate over time. Over a span of nearly five years ranging from 1964 to 1968 – only Presley got one of their singles reached the top ten of lists: ” Crying in the Chapel “(1965), a gospel theme recorded in 1960. As for material related to soundtracks, including the launch of Pot Luck in June 1962 and the release of the soundtrack for the television special which marked his return in November 1968, only one LP of unreleased material was released : gospel album How Great Thou Art (1967). This gave the singer his first Grammy in the category of “Best Performance sacred.” As described Marsh, Presley was “undoubtedly the greatest white gospel music artist of his time [and] really the ultimate rock & roll artist who turned to gospel a vital component of his musical personality and their songs “. 171
Shortly before the 1966 holiday season, more than seven years since their first meeting, Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu. Both were married on May 1, 1967, in a brief ceremony in his suite at the Hotel Aladdin in Las Vegas. 172 The flow of standard films and soundtracks produced in a single assembly continued. It was not until October 1967 when the LP for the film Clambake a new record low sales for the artist’s material, when RCA executives began to worry about. “By then, of course, the damage was done,” as noted historians after Connie Kirchberg and Marc Hendrickx. In his note, added: “Elvis was seen as a joke by serious lovers of music, and listed as an artist was not successful by all but his most loyal followers.” 173
See also Appendix: Filmography of Elvis Presley
Return (1968-1973)
Elvis : the return of 1968 Special
Presley’s only daughter, Lisa Marie , was born on February 1, 1968, during a period in which the singer began to feel extremely unhappy with his career. 174 Of the eight singles that launched between January 1967 and May 1968 only two were on the top 40 , and none of them managed to position itself above the site number 28. 175 His next soundtrack, Speedway , the site would list 82 of Billboard . At that time, Parker became Presley programmers to make appearances on television, half of which was absent from the Sinatra Timex Show in 1960. In the end, struck a deal with NBC in which the company agreed to fund a live singer in addition to transmitting a Christmas special. 176
Recorded in late June, especially known simply as Elvis – aired on December 3, 1968. Later called the “special back in 1968″, the program showed Presley singing with a band before a small audience, becoming the first artist’s live performances since 1961. In the live segments, Presley wore a tight black leather suit, and played guitar and sang several songs in a style similar to that of uninhibited their first interpretations of rock and roll. The director and co-producer Steve Binder had worked long enough to make the singer feel comfortable and at the same time produce a program that was different when Parker carols originally planned. 177 The show , which became the most watched NBC that season, managed to attract 42% of the total audience. 178 Jon Landau , issue of Eye , said: “There is a kind of magic when you look at a man who has lost himself and finds his way back home. She sang with the kind of power people no longer expect from rock stars ‘n’ roll. He moved his body with a lack of pretension and effort that must have made Jim Morrison green with envy is put. ” 179 Dave Marsh saw the special as an “emotional grandeur and historical resonance.” 180
By January 1969, the single ” If I Can Dream “written for the special, reached number 12 in the charts. The sound track in turn entered the top ten . According to Jerry Schilling , the 1968 special return Presley reminded of what “he had not been able to do for years, finally being able to choose the people, to choose what to sing and not be told I should be on the soundtrack. [...] I was out of prison, man. ” 178 Binder said then about Presley’s reaction on the special: “I started the program Elvis 60 minutes and said in the showroom, ‘Steve, is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I give you my word that I never sing a song that does not create. ‘” 178
From Elvis In Memphis and the International Hotel
Fueled by the success of the special return Presley underwent a prolific series of recording sessions at American Sound Studio , which eventually led to the creation of the acclaimed album From Elvis in Memphis . Launched in June 1969 became the first secular album in some uninspired film and emerged from a period in the recording studios in eight years, at least. Dave Marsh described the compilation as “a masterpiece in which Presley immediately understands pop music trends that seemed to have disappeared during the years he got involved in film. Sings country, soul and rock with real conviction and a stunning achievement. ” 181 The album entered the single ” In the Ghetto “released in April and reached third place in the pop chart success, the first top ten gospel not Presley from “Bossa Nova Baby” in 1963 -. The previous one, was followed by other hits from their sessions at American Sound ” Suspicious Minds , “” Do not Cry Daddy “and” Kentucky Rain . ”
Elvis Photography in 1970.
At that time, Presley resumed his interest in returning to appear live on a regular basis. Following the success of the 1968 special, bids were not long in various regions of the world. Highlighted including the London Palladium offered to 28 000 USD for a one-week contract, to which Parker replied, “That sounds good to me now how much they can get for Elvis?”. 182 In May, the newly opened International Hotel in Las Vegas, a creditor of the largest showroom in the city, announced it had hired Presley. Indeed, they agreed with him where he would conduct 57 presentations in four weeks, beginning on July 31 that year. Moore, Fontana and The Jordanaires declined to participate in those appearances, fearful of losing the lucrative session they would have in Nashville. Because of this, Presley had to put together a top-notch new company headed by guitarist James Burton and two groups also included gospel, The Imperials and Sweet Inspirations . 183 However, he felt a little nervous about it: its prior agreement only in Las Vegas in 1956, had been a disaster. Parker, who tried to convert the return of the interpreter at the trade event of the year, he oversaw such appearances have even greater promotional push. For its part, the hotel owner Kirk Kerkorian agreed to send his own plane to New York to bring him to reporters who specialize in the rock as long as they were present in the debut performance of Presley. 184
Presley went on stage without any presentation. The audience of 2200 people, among whom were several celebrities, gave him a standing ovation before they even sing a note and an additional at the end of his performance. A third cheer followed him to the interpretation of “Can not Help Falling in Love” (song that would be the ending theme for many of his appearances in the years 1970). 185 In a press conference after the show debut, when a reporter referred to him as “The King”, Presley pointed to Fats Domino , who was in place, and said, “That is the true king of rock and roll.” 186 The next day, Parker’s negotiations with the owner of the hotel led to the signing of a contract for five years in which Presley was singing every February and August, with an annual salary of one million U.S. dollars . 187 Newsweek said: “There are several unbelievable things about Elvis, but the most fascinating is its staying power in a world where meteoric careers disappear like shooting stars. ” 188 Rolling Stone in turn the return of Elvis categorized as’ supernatural resurrection. ” 189 In November, Presley’s latest film, Change of Habit , was released. The double album From Memphis To Vegas / From Vegas To Memphis was released that same month and returned again the million-selling albums that had the extraordinary renewal Elvis From Memphis , the first LP had five performances from the International Hotel, while the other contained more cuts in its American Sound. “Suspicious Minds” is positioned at the top of the listings, becoming the first pop tune that Presley’s achievement in reaching the United States in more than seven years and the last to do so.
Cassandra Peterson met Presley in Las Vegas this time, working as a hostess. On his meeting with the singer, recalled: “He was so reluctant to use drugs when I met him. I mentioned that smoked marijuana , and he just was horrified. He said, ‘Never again do it again’. ” 190 Indeed, at the time Presley was not only disagree with the use of drugs, but rarely drank. In fact, several of his relatives had been alcoholics, and he tried to avoid this tendency. 191
Returning to the tour and meeting with Nixon
Presley returned to the International Hotel in early 1970 to meet the first two annual commitment stipulated in the contract year, performing two shows a night. The recordings of these shows were included on the album On Stage . 192 In late February, Presley performed six shows that broke attendance records at the Houston Astrodome . 193 In April, the single ” The Wonder of You “became a hit in the United Kingdom, ranking well in the first place on the U.S. list adult contemporary . MGM filmed material with rehearsals and the concert at the International Hotel occurred in August for the documentary Elvis: That’s the Way It Is . Presley appeared since then dressed regularly in a suit with a winged type layer, which would become his typical dress during their live performances. In this series of presentations, the singer received death threats which demanded that she pay him the threatening 50 000 USD. Presley is known that others had previously received death threats since the 1950′s, but sometimes he becomes aware of them. 194 The FBI took the threat seriously and are predisposed to a security team on site to least the next two shows of the singer. Presley took the stage at these shows with a Derringer pistol in his right boot and a .45 caliber over in his waistband, but the final incident was not reported in these presentations. 195 196
The album That’s the Way It Is , produced to accompany the documentary and incorporates both studio recordings and live performances, marked a change in his style. The music historian John Robertson stressed: “The authority involves the interpretation of Presley helped distinguish the fact that the album turned away decisively from the American inspiration sessions in Memphis to advance to a more restrained sound. He set the pace country in the background, while the soul and R & B left them in Memphis, being a pop sound very thin and perfectly decent crowd in Las Vegas, although it was a retrograde step definitive Elvis. ” 197 Once ended commitment to the International Hotel on September 7, Presley embarked on a tour of concerts in a week-long, made primarily in the southern region, its first tour since 1958. Another tour of a week was held in the West Coast of the United States in November of that year. 198
Presley met with U.S. president Richard Nixon in the Oval Office of the White House on December 21, 1970.
On December 21, 1970, Presley performed a daring meeting with President Richard Nixon in the White House , where President expressed to his patriotism and his contempt for the drug culture hippie . Before this, he asked a medal from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs , to keep with other similar objects that had been collecting and that meant to him legal approval of their patriotic efforts. Nixon, who apparently found uncomfortable this meeting, expressed his belief that Presley could send a positive message to young people and it was therefore important for him to “keep his credibility.” Nixon told Presley that the British band The Beatles , whose songs he sang regularly in their concerts during that time, 199 examples of what he conceived as a tendency “anti-American” and drug abuse in popular culture 200 (Presley had a four-hour meeting for five years before with the band). Upon hearing these statements, Paul McCartney later said he felt a little confused about it: `The irony was that we took drugs [illegal], and look what happened to him,” a way reference to Presley’s death, caused by the abuse of prescription drugs. 201
The Junior Chamber of the United States appointed Presley as one of his “Ten most outstanding youth of the Nation” that year, the January 16, 1971. 202 Not long after, the city of Memphis decided to call “Elvis Presley Boulevard” the southern section of Highway 51, just where Graceland. That same year, Presley became the first rock and roll singer in the award winning career Grammy (then known as Bing Crosby Award) by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences , the Grammy organization. 203 in 1971 were launched three new studio albums not related to a film, a figure comparable to the number of albums of this type produced by Presley in the previous eight years. The one who received rave reviews was Elvis Country , a concept album that focused on the most prominent features of the genre. 204 However, the increased sales was Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas , classified as a “true statement of all” by Greil Marcus. In his review, he added: “In the midst of ten Christmas songs painfully gentle, each sung with amazing sincerity and humility, one can discover that Elvis defined the way through burning six minutes ‘Merry Christmas, Baby’, a theme blues obscene Charles Brown. [...] If the sin [of Elvis] was his lack of life, their sinfulness was what gave him back the life. ” 205
Divorce and Aloha from Hawaii
MGM again filmed Presley introduced in April 1972, this time for Elvis on Tour , which was shortly after a Golden Globe in the category of “Best Documentary”. His gospel album He Touched Me , launched that same month, would earn him his second Grammy for “Best Performance influential.” A tour of 14 dates began after a series of four consecutive shows without predecent in Madison Square Garden in New York. 206 The July 10 concert was recorded and released in LP format a week later. Also, Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden became one of the most successful albums of the singer. After this tour , they released the single ” Burning Love “that would mark the ultimate success of Presley would enter the top ten of U.S. pop listings. According to rock critic Robert Christgau : “It is the single most exciting thing has done since Elvis ‘All Shook Up’ [...] Who else can do that ‘It’s coming closer, the flames are now licking my body’ sounds as an assignment with the band reserve of James Brown ? “. 207
Picture of Priscilla Presley in 2003, who was married to Elvis from 1967 to 1973.
Meanwhile, Presley and his wife began to distance themselves increasingly rarely get to sleep together. In 1971, an affair that the singer had with Joyce Bova led-without his knowledge, her pregnancy and subsequent abortion. Often, he saw the chance to move with her to Graceland, saying it would somehow leave Priscilla. 208 The Presley were separated on February 23, 1972, after Priscilla reveal his affair with Mike Stone, a karate instructor that your husband had previously recommended. Priscilla mentioned about this revelation that once he learned “the subject [it ...] and I made love to force”, saying: “This is how a real man makes love to his wife.” 209 Five months later, Presley’s new girlfriend, Linda Thompson , a songwriter and winner of Miss Tennessee USA , moved with him. 210 Presley and his wife filed for divorce on August 18 of that year. 211
In January 1973, Presley performed two benefit concerts for cancer foundation Kui Lee, together with the recording of an innovative television special, Aloha from Hawaii . The first show served as a trial although the background accompaniment faced technical problems that end up affecting the live broadcast two days later. Transmitted as scheduled on January 14, Aloha from Hawaii became the first live international satellite telecast, achieving an audience of approximately one and a half million viewers. 212 213 214 The singer’s dress became The best known example of clothing that Presley would use in the future and which would be associated with since. As described by Bobbie Ann Mason : “At the end of the show, when layer extends American eagle, the bird with its wings fully extended on his back, takes a divine figure.” 215 The double album of that filing, Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite , launched in February, reached the top of market sales reaching over 5 million copies in U.S. territory. 216 Consequently, it became the latest pop album of Presley to reach the first site of the U.S. charts throughout its trajectory.
In an event held this month midnight, four men burst into the scene for apparently attacking the interpreter. Security guards leapt to defend Presley, but the singer also defended their karate moves succeeded in bringing one of the intruders on their own stage. After the show, became obsessed with the idea that these men had been sent by Stone (pair of Priscilla) to kill him. Although it was later discovered that it was simply ecstatic fans, he exclaimed angrily: “There is much pain in me [...] Stone [must] die.” His outbursts continued to such a degree that not one doctor was able to reassure him, even after administering large doses of drugs. After two full days of rage, Red West , his friend and bodyguard, was required to obtain a price for a contract killing, getting rid of it only after some time Presley said: “Hell, let’s leave it for now only [ the issue]. Perhaps it is strong. ” 217
Deteriorating health and death (1973-77)
Crisis and the latest medical study sessions
Presley’s divorce occurred on October 9, 1973. 218 Thereafter, he began to get sick more and more consistently. By late 1973, was hospitalized in semi-comatose state for the effects of abuse in the use of Demerol . According to his physician, Dr. George C. Nichopoulos , Presley “I felt that to get the [drug] of a doctor was not always the common addict who went out to get them.” 219 Since his return, had made each year and live events for 1973 presented a total of 168 concerts, calendar busier throughout his career. 220 Despite his deteriorating health, in 1974 conducted another intensive series of presentations. 221
Presley’s health worsened in September, he could barely finish the introductions. 222 Wilkinson said in Detroit a few nights later ‘I looked in his dressing room, just lying on a chair, unable to move. I often thought ‘Boss, why not just cancel this tour and take a year off …?’ I said something about this once in a moment alone. He patted my back and said ‘I’ll be fine. Do not worry. ‘” 222 Presley continued his tour to crowds of supporters. As noted by the cultural critic Marjorie Garber , Presley was now seen as a pop singer in bad taste, “in fact had become Liberace . Even his fans were now middle-aged matrons and blue-haired grandmothers. ” 223
Front view of Graceland , home of Elvis from his youth and the rest of his life.
On July 13, 1976, Vernon Presley, who was closely involved in the financial affairs of his son’s bodyguards fired “Memphis Mafia” Red West (friend of Presley from the 1950s), Sonny West and David Hebler, citing the need to “reduce costs”. 224 225 226 When this happened, Presley was in Palm Springs . An associate of Presley, John O’Grady, explained that the bodyguards had been dismissed because of their harsh treatment of the fans had led to several lawsuits. 227 However, Presley’s stepbrother, David Stanley, said the guards had been dismissed because they were many statements about the drug of Presley. 228 Presley and Linda Thompson separated in November and shortly after the singer was romantically involved with Ginger Alden . 229 She proposed marriage, giving the engagement ring just two months later, although several of his friends then mentioned that he had no serious intention of remarrying. 230
In RCA, which had enjoyed a steady stream of material recorded by Presley for over a decade, executives became concerned due to lack of interest in wanting Presley recording new songs in the studio. After a session in December 1973 of which 18 were previously unreleased songs, enough to build two new albums, Presley returned to the studios throughout the year. 231 Parker was responsible for another compilation album called Elvis: As Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis . 232 Recorded on March 20, the material includes a version of ” How Great Thou Art “that would give the singer her third and final Grammy Award. 233 It should be noted that the three Grammys that Presley was to Throughout his career, a total of 14 nominations were for gospel recordings. Presley returned to the studio in March 1975, although Parker’s attempts to conduct another session later this year were unsuccessful. 234 In 1976, RCA sent a mobile studio to Graceland which resulted in the realization of two recording sessions Presley’s house. 235 While these meetings may have resulted comfortable for the artist, the recording process he was a great effort. 236
Due to the concerns of his label and his manager, in a series of studio sessions between July 1973 and October 1976, Presley recorded virtually the entire contents of six albums. Although he was no longer a significant presence in the charts, five of these materials entered the top five of the country chart and reached the top three sales: Promised Land (1975), From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee ( 1976) and Moody Blue (1977). 237 Something similar happened with their singles, which would no longer be classified as successes, but ultimately Presley was after a significant presence not only in the U.S. market but also in the radio AC . Eight singles from this era were positioned in the top ten of the listings. ” My Boy “became a number one AC genre in 1975, while” Moody Blue “reached the top position in the country chart reaching second place in the AC chart in 1976. 238 However, his most acclaimed recording by critics of the time his debut a little later: the soul classic “Hurt” by Greil Marcus classified as “apocalyptic attack” of the singer. 239 Dave Marsh said about Presley’s performance: “If he felt like it sounds , how wonderful it would have been had one more year of life but its attempt to survive the same period of time. ” 240
Last years and death
Tony Scherman journalist wrote that, by early 1977 “Elvis Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic way of being. Slightly overweight and with his mind clouded by the pharmacopoeia ingested daily, was almost unable to push through his brief concert. ” 241 In Alexandria, Louisiana , artist was on stage for less than an hour and “it was impossible understand. ” 242 Even he could not be in Baton Rouge , was not even able to get out of bed in the hotel where he was, so the rest of the tour was canceled. 242 Despite the rapid deterioration of his health, he engaged more tours in the future. In Rapid City, South Dakota , “he was so nervous on stage I could barely talk,” according to biographer Roy Samuel Presley, failing to “conduct or a significant move.” 243 Guralnick said that fans “began to become increasingly voluble about their disappointment, but everything seemed to matter to Elvis, whose world was now confined almost entirely to his room and his books on spiritualism . ” 244 Another cousin, Billy Smith, recalled how Presley sat in his room and talked for hours, sometimes evoking their favorite segments Monty Python and their own past releases, but more often focused on his paranoid obsessions that Smith reminded him of Howard Hughes . 245 ” Way Down “, the last Presley’s single, was released on June 6. Meanwhile, his last concert took place in Hall Market Square Arena in Indianapolis , June 26.
Presley Tomb in Graceland .
The book Elvis: What Happened? , co-written by three bodyguards fired a year earlier, was published on August 1. 246 He became the first material in detail the years in which Presley was drugged. Following its release, the singer was devastated and tried unsuccessfully to avoid giving money to launch the publisher responsible. 247 At the time, suffered from various diseases, glaucoma , high blood pressure , damage to the liver and colon broad. In all previous, Presley had a serious medical box possibly caused by excessive consumption of drugs. 219
Presley was scheduled to fly out of Memphis on the night of August 16, 1977, in order to start another tour. That afternoon, Alden found him unconscious on the floor of his bathroom. Before this, the doctors tried to revive him, but did not. The singer’s death was officially released at 3:30 pm at Baptist Memorial Hospital. 248
After his death, U.S. President Jimmy Carter gave a statement said Presley had “forever changed the face of American popular culture.” 249 Thousands of people gathered outside Graceland to see the open casket. One of Presley’s cousins, Billy Mann, accepted 18 000 USD in exchange for an exclusive photograph of the corpse of Presley’s image appeared on the cover of next issue of National Enquirer , becoming the best-selling tome of all time. 250 Alden demanded 105 000 USD to Enquirer to publish your story, but had to reduce the amount to break its exclusivity agreement. 251 Presley did not leave anything in your will. 252
Presley’s funeral took place Thursday at Graceland on August 18, 1977. In full funeral, outside the residence, a car attacked a group of fanatics, killing two women and seriously injuring a third person. 253 An estimated 80 000 people participated in the procession to Forest Hill Cemetery, where Presley was buried beside his mother. 254 A few days later, “Way Down” reached the top of the charts pop and country in the UK. 255 After a failed attempt to steal the singer’s body in late August The remains of Elvis Presley and his mother were moved to Graceland Meditation Garden on 2 October, where they are buried since. 251
After 1977
Elvis attire characteristic of their live performances, along with one of his guitars in a display at Graceland.
Between 1977 and 1981, six singles released on a posthumous Presley became a hit in ten countries and in 1982, Graceland opened to the public. 238 By attracting over half a million visitors a year, is the second most visited house the United States, only after the White House . 256 was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006. 257 Since his death, Presley was inducted into four halls of fame of music: Hall of Fame Rock (1986), the Hall Country of Fame (1998), the Hall of Fame Gospel (2001) and Hall of Fame Rockabilly (2007). In 1984, he received the WC Handy Award from the Blues Foundation and the first Golden Hat Academy of Country Music in 1987 received the Award of Merit from the American Music Awards . 258
A remix of the theme of ” A Little Less Conversation “made by Junkie XL (credited to “Elvis vs. JXL”) was used in an advertising campaign for Nike during the World Cup of 2002 . Topped the charts in over 20 countries and was included on a compilation of Presley’s number one hits, ELV1S , who also was an international success. In 2003, a remix of “Rubberneckin ‘”, a recording from 1969, topped the U.S. sales, as well as a revival of the 50th anniversary of ” That’s All Right “the following year. 259 The latter also had a great reception in the UK, reaching number three on the list UK Singles Chart .
In 2005 it was reissued three more singles, ” Jailhouse Rock “,” One Night “/” I Got Stung “and” It’s Now or Never “which reached number one in the UK. A total of 17 Presley songs were reissued during the year, all reaching a place in the top five positions in the charts the same country. 260 For the fifth consecutive year, Forbes named Presley deceased celebrity generating more money with a gross income of $ 45 million. 261 In 2010, released the album Viva Elvis: The Album where his voice was overlaid with new instrumental recordings. 262 263
Presley keeps records more songs in the top 40 and the top 100 lists of Billboard : Joel Whitburn statistic calculates the respective totals of 104 and 151, 264 while the historian Presley, Adam Victor, 114 and 138 gives . 265 Presley’s records for the highest number of hits in the top 10 number one singles and vary depending on how the simple double counted ” Hound Dog / Do not Be Cruel “and” Do not / I Beg of You ” that precede the creation of the list Billboard Hot 100 . Note 5 According to Whitburn, Presley holds the record for most singles in the top 10 with 38, 266 but in the current list made by Billboard , ranks second with 36, behind of Madonna with 37. 267 Whitburn and Billboard agree that The Beatles hold the record for most number one singles with 20 and Mariah Carey is second with 18. 266 However, Whitburn considers 18 Presley number one hits, while Billboard puts third with 17. 268 According to Whitburn and Hall of Fame Rock, Presley retains the record for most weeks at number one: 80, 269 270 but according to Billboard , tied with Carey with 79 weeks. 271 272 The Jackson also holds the record for most number one hits on the British charts with 21, and the most singles in the top 10 , with 76. 273 274
Musical style
Influences
The Presley’s earliest musical influences came from gospel music . His mother recalled that at the age of two years, the church of the Assembly of God in Tupelo , where he regularly attended the family, “he slipped out of my lap, ran into the hall and climbed to the platform. There he stood looking toward the choir and trying to sing with them. ” 275 In Memphis , Presley often attended the nights of gospel in the Ellis Auditorium, where bands like The Statesmen Quartet played their music in such a way that suggests Guralnick and sowed the seeds of future performance of Presley:
The Statesmen were a combination electric … included some of the most exciting songs and daring theatricality never seen before in the world of entertainment … dressed in costumes that could have gone out the window of Lansky … The singer Jim Wetherington, known universally as “Big Boss”, he maintained his firm back, constantly moving his left leg first and then his right, while the fabric of the pant legs danced and shone. “He went so far as you can get into gospel music,” said Jake Hess. “Women could jump, like they do in a pop concert.” Preachers often opposed lewd movements … but the audience responded with shouts and jeers. 276
As a teenager, Presley had broad musical interests are deeply interested in the musical expressions of African Americans as well as whites. Although he never had any formal training, his musical knowledge already considerable when he made his first professional recordings in 1954 at the age of 19 years. When Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller met him two years later, were amazed at his encyclopedic knowledge of blues . 277 In a press conference the following year, proudly declared: “I know practically every religious song ever written.” 131
Genres
Vinyl with the theme ” Love Me Tender “, recorded in 1956.
Paul Friedlander describes the elements of style rockabilly (which he characterizes as “essentially … an Elvis Presley-building”) that the singer and his bandmates developed at Sun Records : “the raw and emotive vocal style, poor pronunciation and emphasis on the rhythmic feel of [the] blues with the strings and strumming guitar country. ” 278 It also considers the guitar solo by Moore in “That’s All Right”, the first recording of the group as “a combination of fingerpicking type country of Merle Travis , the execution of two notes sound kind boogie simultaneously, and bent notes of the blues genre, a work of a single sequence, is a microcosm of this merger. ” 278
In RCA , the sound of rock and roll rockabilly Presley grew distintguiéndose group a voice in the chorus , amplified electric guitars over 279 and a more powerful and intense. 280 While it was known for taking songs from various sources and give them a packaging to fit the rockabilly / rock and roll, also recorded songs in other genres from early in his career, from the pop standard ” Blue Moon “, to the country ballad” How’s the World Treating You? “in his second LP, to the blues of “Santa Claus is Back in Town”. In 1957, he released his first gospel album, the four-track EP Peace in the Valley . With over one million certified copies, became the biggest selling gospel EP in the history of recorded music. 281 Presley gospel recording tracks continue periodically for the rest of his life.
After his return from military service in 1968, Presley continued to play rock and roll, but his characteristic style declined substantially. The first single from this period, the number one hit ” Stuck on You “is an example of this change. Advertising for RCA refers to this as mild rock beat , the record company Ernst Jorgensen called upbeat pop . 282 The modern sound of the blues / R & B successfully captured on Elvis Is Back! was essentially abandoned for six years until it resurfaced in certain 1966 and 1967 recordings, such as ” Down in the Alley “and” Hi-Heel Sneakers . ” 283 For most of the 1960s, the style of music very much emphasized singer pop , often in the form of ballads like ” Are You Lonesome Tonight? “a number one in 1960. While the former was a dramatic theme, most of which Presley recorded for his scores were more cheerful topics. 284
Although Presley performed several of his classic ballads for your special back in 1968, the sound of the show was dominated by the aggressiveness of rock and roll. Later, he recorded new songs of pure rock and roll, as he explained, were “hard to find.” 285 An important exception was ” Burning Love “, his latest success in the pop music charts. Because his work in the early 1950, later returned to their recordings and country pop style, but in different permutations. His style began to use a sound more contemporary rock and soul and funk . Much of Elvis In Memphis , as well as ” Suspicious Minds “in the same sessions recorded reflect the new rock and fusion with soul. In the mid 1970′s, many of its easy to find a space on country radio stations, the first place where Presley became a star. 286
Range and vocal style
The Henry Pleasants music critic observes that “Elvis Presley has been described as a baritone and a tenor . A compass extraordinary … and its wide range of vocal color have something to do with this divergence of opinion. ” 287 identifies Presley as a great baritone, calculates your vocal range of two octaves and a third, “from a Sun 4 of a baritone, so if 1 of a tenor, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat . Presley the best octave is in the middle D flat to D flat , giving an additional note to get a high or low tone. ” 287 In his view, his voice was “variable and unpredictable” in the worst case scenario and “often brilliant” at best, with the ability to sing “high notes as the sun and the that would be the envy of any opera baritone. ” 287 Lindsay Waters, which estimates the vocal range of two octaves and Presley fourth, stresses that “his voice had an emotional range from tender whispers to sighs and cries and groans scratchy, they could pass the listener of calm and surrender to fear. His voice can not be measured in octaves, but in decibels, even this does not solve the problem of measuring their delicate whispers that are hardly audible. ” 288 Presley was always “able to duplicate the open sound, raucous, ecstatic, shouting, crying and recklessness of black performers rhythm and blues and gospel, “Pleasants wrote, and” also demonstrated a remarkable ability to assimilate many vocal styles. ” 287
Controversy over his death
“The prescription drug was heavily involved” in the death of Presley, Guralnick writes. “No one ruled out the possibility of anaphylactic shock caused by the pills of codeine … to which was known to have a mild allergy. ” A pair of lab reports filed two months later suggested that polypharmacy was the main cause of his death, one of them reported “fourteen drugs in Elvis’s body, ten in significant quantity.” 289 The historian forensic pathologist Michael Baden considers that the situation is complicated: “Elvis had a cardiomegaly a long time. This, together with his addiction to drugs, caused his death. But it was difficult to diagnose, it was a call to trial. ” 290
The competence and ethics of two medical professionals involved seriously questioned. Before the autopsy was completed and the results were known toxicological study, Dr. Jerry Francisco said the arrhythmia as the cause of death, a condition that can be determined only in someone who is still alive. 291 cover-up accusations became widespread. 290 While Presley’s main doctor, Dr. Nichopoulos, was exonerated from criminal liability for the death of the singer, the facts were surprising themselves as “in just the first eight months of 1977 was [prescribed] more than 10 000 doses of sedatives , amphetamines and narcotics : all in the name of Elvis. “His license was suspended for three months shortly after. In the 1990′s finally permanently revoked after the Tennessee Medical Board presented new charges. 219
In 1994, Presley’s autopsy was examined once again. Dr. Joseph Davis declared: “there is nothing in any of the data that supports a death from overdose. In fact, everything points to a sudden, violent heart attack. ” 219 Whether drug poisoning whether or not the cause of his death, there is no doubt that polypharmacy contributed to the premature death of Presley. 291
Racial Problems
When Dewey Phillips released ” That’s All Right “on the radio in Memphis, many listeners contacted the station by telephone and telegram to ask again to assume it was a black singer. 59 From the beginning of his national fame, Presley expressed his respect by African American artists and their music and their ignorance of the rules of segregation and racial prejudice that prevailed in the south. In an interview in 1956, recalled how in his childhood listening to blues singer Arthur Crudup (the creator of “That’s All Right”) ‘singing as I do now, and I said if you could get to the place where I could feel all what old Arthur felt, I would become a musician like no one has ever seen. ” 45 The Memphis World , an African American newspaper, said Presley, “the phenomenon of rock and roll”, “broke the segregation laws in Memphis “assisting the local amusement park, which was designated as the” night color. ” 45 These statements and actions led to Presley to be hailed in the black community during the first years of his stardom. 45 On the contrary, according to Arnold Shaw Billboard , many white adults “did not like and condemned him as depraved. No doubt the anti-black prejudice influenced his antagonism to adults. Regardless of whether the parents are aware of the black sexual origins of the phrase ‘rock and roll’, Presley impressed them when visual and auditory representation of sex. ” 292
Despite the largely positive picture that Presley had African Americans in the middle of 1957 a rumor spread that it was claimed that the singer had announced some time that “the only thing Negroes can do for me is to buy my records and shine my shoes. ” A journalist with the African American Jet , Louie Robinson gave up on the story. On the set of The Jailhouse Rock , Presley gave an interview, although he was no longer with the press. Denied making a statement in any form could be seen as racist . Robinson found no proof that Presley would have made such a comment and instead, he ran into the testimony of many people who claimed that Presley was anything but racist. 45 293 blues singer Ivory Joe Hunter , who had heard the rumor before to visit Graceland, Presley said: “I was shown great courtesy, and I think is one of the best.” 294 Although the observation was totally discredited rumored at the time, Presley was still used against decades later. 295 The Presley identification with racism (whether personal or symbolically) is mainly expressed in the letter of the successful rap of 1989 ” Fight the Power “by Public Enemy : “Elvis was a hero to most / but he never meant shit to me / was a racist that sucker straight / simple and plain. ” 296
The persistence of such attitudes of resentment fueled by the fact that Presley, whose speech and musical and visual style owed much to African American culture , achieved cultural recognition and commercial success that was denied largely their black counterparts. 293 In the twenty-first century, the notion that Presley “stole” black music still has defenders. 295 296 One of the most notable African American artists expressly reject this view is Jackie Wilson , who argued: “many people have accused Elvis of stealing black music, when in fact almost every black solo performances by Elvis copied. ” 297 Throughout his career, Presley clearly recognized its debt. In speaking to his audience back in the 1968 special said: “The rock and roll is basically gospel or rhythm & blues, or arose from both. People have been growing, adding instruments, experimenting with it, but it comes down to [it]. ” Nine years earlier, also said: “rock and roll has been around for many years. Used to be called rhythm & blues. ” 298
Influence of Colonel Parker and others
Parker and brothers Aberbachs
Once it became Presley’s manager, the Colonel Tom Parker insisted on maintaining an exceptionally tight control over his client’s career. He and his allies of Hill & Range , the brothers Jean and Julian Aberbach , perceived the close relationship that developed between Presley and songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller as a serious threat to that control. 299 Parker ended the relationship, deliberately or not With the new contract Leiber sent in early 1958. Leiber thought it was a mistake, the paper was blank, except for the signing of Parker and a line that read: “Make no mistake, boy, just sign it and return it. Do not worry, fill it later. ” Leiber refused, and ended the fruitful collaboration with the team Presley composition. 300 Other respected songwriters lost interest or simply avoided writing for Presley due to the requirement of Parker to give up a third of their usual royalties. 301
In 1967, Parker had contracts with Presley that gave 50% of most of the gains from merchandise singer, recordings and films. 302 From February 1972, took a third of the profits of their live 303 and then in half, thanks to an agreement in January one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six. three hundred and four Priscilla Presley noted that “Elvis detested the business side of his career. Sign a contract without even reading it. ” 305 The friend of Presley, Marty Lacker regarded Parker as a “liar and a cheat. I was just interested in the ‘money now’: win the silver and disappear. ” 306
In early 1969, Lacker was the main instrument to convince Presley that work with the Memphis producer Chips Moman and his players selected in the American Sound Studio. These sessions represent a significant change of control usually exercised Hill & Range. Moman still had to deal with the editorial staff, whose suggestions he considered unacceptable. He was about to give up, until Presley staff ordered out Hill & Range of the study. 307 Although Joan Deary, RCA executive, was hailed with praise for the selection of songs from the producer and the quality of the recordings, 308 Moman, unfortunately for him, did not receive credit for the recording and royalties for their work. 309
Throughout his career, Presley appeared in only three locations outside the United States, all in Canada , during the brief tour of 1957. In 1974, rumors grew that would be presented abroad for the first time when he learned about an offer of million USD for a tour of Australia . Parker was reluctant to accept the offer, which led to Presley to speculate about the past of his manager and the reasons for his apparent unwillingness to apply for a passport . Parker ultimately rejected any draft Presley to work abroad, and said that the external security was poor and that the premises were unsuitable for a star of his magnitude. 310
Parker served possibly even tighter control over Presley’s film career. In 1957, Robert Mitchum co Presley asked him starring in the film Thunder Road , which Mitchum had been a writer and producer. 311 According to George Klein, one of his oldest friends, Presley was offered roles in West Side Story and Midnight Cowboy . 312 In 1974, Barbra Streisand approached Presley to star with her the remake of A Star is Born . 313 In each case, the ambitions the singer may have had to perform these roles were frustrated by the demands of their manager in the negotiation or by the simple denial on their part. According to Lacker, “all that remained standing after Elvis early years was to find a new challenge. But Parker kept everything within the field. ” 306 The attitude can be summed up better operational by the response received when Leiber and Stoller took a serious project for Presley and Parker Hill & Range owners for consideration. In the story of Leiber, Jean Aberbach warned that “never again try to interfere with the business or artistic work process known as Elvis Presley.” 165
Memphis Mafia
In the 1960′s, the circle of friends that constantly Presley was associated until his death became known as the ” Memphis Mafia . ” 314 “Surrounded by his parasitic presence,” as the journalist John Harris says, “is not surprising that, when it fell into addiction and torpor, no one checked the alarm for them, Elvis was the bank, and had to remain open. ” 315 Tony Brown , who played the piano for Presley regularly in the past two years singer’s life, observed a rapid decline in their health and the urgent need to address it, “but we all knew it was hopeless because Elvis was surrounded by that small circle of people … all those he called friends. ” 316 In defense of the Memphis Mafia, Marty Lacker said, “[Presley] was his own man. [...] If we had not been around, would have died long before. ” 317
Larry Geller became Presley stylist in 1964. Unlike other members of the “Memphis Mafia”, was interested in spiritual matters and recalls how, from their first conversation, Presley revealed his secret thoughts and concerns: “I mean that has to be a way … must have a reason … why I was chosen to be Elvis Presley. … I swear by God that no one knows how lonely I am. And what I really feel so empty. ” 318 In this way, Geller gave him books on religion and mysticism, the singer read voraciously. 319 Presley was concerned about several issues in much of his life, bringing with it lots of books on tour. 219
Sex Symbol
The title and the promotion of Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) used the status of sex symbol of Presley.
Physical attractiveness and sexual Presley was widely recognized. In the words of critic Mark Feeney, “It was beautiful, incredibly beautiful.” 320 The television director Steve Binder, who was not a fan of Presley’s music before seeing the special back in 1968, said: “I’m totally hetero and I have to say that, I stopped to look either male or female. He had that look good. And if you did not know he was a superstar, there was no difference, if he entered the room, you knew something special was in your presence. ” 321 The style of his performance as well as its physical beauty, was responsible for the image Presley’s eroticized. In 1970, the critic George Melly described him as “the master of sexual smile, treating his guitar as if the phallus and girl.” 322 In his obituary of Presley, Lester Bangs credited him as “the man who was openly blatant vulgar sexual frenzy and popular arts in America. ” 323 The declaration of Ed Sullivan who received a bottle of soda on his pants Presley echoed rumors of a paper tube or a bar of lead placed in the same manner. 324
While Presley was marketed as an icon of heterosexuality, some cultural critics have argued that his image was ambiguous. In 1959, Peter John Dyer of the magazine Sight and Sound , described his role on screen as “aggressively bisexual in appearance.” 325 Brett Fermer put the “twists orgasmic ‘dance sequence in The Jailhouse Rock in a film series of musical numbers that offer a “spectacular eroticism, while a male image homoerotización.” 326 In the analysis of Yvonne Tasker, “Elvis was an ambivalent figure who articulated a particular version of masculinity feminized class white working as a display of sexual aggression. ” 327
Which reinforced the image of Presley as a sex symbol were the reports of his adventures with several stars of Hollywood , from Natalie Wood in the 1950′s, through Connie Stevens and Ann-Margret in the years 1960 to Candice Bergen and Cybill Shepherd in the 1970s. June Juanico of Memphis, one of the first pairs of Presley, later blamed for encouraging Parker to choose their appointments for advertising purposes in mind. 190 However, Presley never felt comfortable on the scene Hollywood, and most of these relationships were pointless. 328
Legacy
His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His popularity was immense, and was a symbol for the people of the world of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of his country. – Jimmy Carter , August 17, 1977. 249
In 1956, U.S. attention lent Presley transformed the field of pop music and had a great effect on the broader popular culture. 12 As the catalyst for the cultural revolution that was rock and roll, Presley played a central role not only to define it as a genre, but also to give a touch of youth culture and a rebellious attitude. 329 With mestizo origin, affirmed repeatedly by Presley, rock and roll was a central figure in the culture U.S. and provided a new acceptance and appreciation of black culture. 330 In this regard, Little Richard Presley said: “It was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. Do not let pass the black music, but he opened the door for black music. ” 331 Al Green said: “He broke the ice for us all.” 332 Presley also demonstrated the enormous scope of the celebrities in the era of communication: 21 years of age, after a year of its first appearance on American television, was one of the most famous people in the world. 333
Stamp with the image of Presley, printed by the German Post Office in 1988.
The image and voice of Presley are recognized around the world. 334 335 In polls and surveys, is recognized as one of the most important artists in pop music and one of the most influential Americans. Note 6 “Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force of the twentieth century, “said the composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein . “He introduced the beat to everything and everything changed: music, language, clothes. It is a new social revolution – the sixties came of it. ” 343 Bob Dylan described his feelings after hearing Presley for the first time as “running out of prison.” 332
In an edition of the New York Times on the 25th anniversary of Presley’s death said: “All the talentless impersonators and appalling all images in black velvet can make it seem little more than a distant memory and perverse. But before Elvis was a champion, was its opposite: a genuine cultural force. [...] Elvis innovations are underestimated because in this era of rock and roll, music and hard-rock style have triumphed completely sensual. ” 344 For some, not only considered Presley’s achievements but also their failures as add more items to his legacy, as in this description of Greil Marcus:
Elvis Presley is a supreme figure in American life, whose presence, no matter how banal or predictable was, can have no real comparison. … The cultural range of his music has grown to the point where it includes not only the hits, but also the patriotic concerts, gospel and country blues pure and really dirty. … Elvis emerged as a great artist, a great rocker, a major supplier of schlock , a man of great heart, a large bore, a great symbol of power, a large ham, a nice person and, yes, a great American.