...“I don’t sound like nobody” (Marsh). Elvis Presley uttered this phrase when he first met Sun founder Sam Phillips, during a recording session that Elvis was making for his mother’s birthday. Elvis’s voice and singing style pleased Phillips so much that he believed Elvis was a black man! The public would also have this theory about him until they actually saw him. Of course, when Elvis Presley walked into Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, even he could not predict that he was about to change the course of music history forever. “Elvis Presley is the true definition of a rock star. He has basically had music all around him his entire life. From first hearing the depressing blues from the Mississippi...
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...Elvis Presley is the true king of Rock-N-Roll . Even now people of the younger generation who aren’t familiar with him or who he is, know of his unchallenged royalty. One reason he is so big is his life story which is going from rags to riches. Elvis is also one of the youngest stars of his generation to start recording and progress so quickly to number one spots. Elvis stood out more from the rest by being a white artist that made music in black a black dominated genre. His stage presence, overall look and the controversy that followed him helped make him the biggest sensation of the Rock-N-Roll era. Elvis Presley started out at a young age coming from a poor lifestyle, background which was very appealing to a lot of the young audience. His...
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...Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, to Vernon and Gladys Presley. Elvis had a twin brother, Jessie Garon Presley, who died at birth. Elvis was raised in a small two bedroom house in Tupelo, Mississippi. The towns people called Tupelo, which was located near the Appalachian Mountains, the Mississippi Hills. Elvis grew up in a very poor side of town and where he mingled with the black culture. This exposed him to rhythm and blues, gospel, bluegrass, jazz and pop. Elvis didn't dress like a typical white middle class young man. He dressed with a rebel edge which included leather jackets, open shirts, and upturned colors. He slicked his hair back and grew long side burns. Elvis was a mixture of the black and white cultures that he grew up with. Elvis began singing at an early age in church, at local assemblies, camp meetings and revivals. While in elementary school his teacher convinced him to participate in a talent contest at the Mississippi/Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Elvis wore a cowboy suit, had to stand on a chair to reach the microphone, and he sang a Red Foley song, "Old Shep". Elvis won second place and a $5.00 prize. Shortly after this Elvis' uncle bought him a guitar and gave him lessons. The Presley's moved to Memphis when Elvis was thirteen. He graduated from L. C. Humes high school in 1953. Elvis went to work for Crown Electric Company as a truck driver. He was planning to get a job as an electric repairman and took evening classes towards that end. During...
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... Those of you who think Elvis is a cultural icon because of his ways of persuading his audience, are correct. In fact, I want to argue that he’s a champion cultural icon, the King of Rock and Roll, the Eternal Great. There are many reasons why this is true and I will lay these out in this paper. Elvis Presley is in fact, the ultimate cultural icon. He will never be replaced by anyone for many reasons. Thus, in this paper, I will argue that Elvis Presley is the ultimate cultural icon. For example, Elvis Presley and The Beatles represent the two poles of pop music superstardom. “On one side is the patriotic American truck driver with a voice that conquered the world over a two-decade career, and on the other hand, there are the four sharp-tongued Liverpudlians who came and went with the 60’s” (Webb). Former Beatle, John Lennon, once said, “Before Elvis, there was nothing” (Elvis Presley Quotes). “The question is, why Elvis? Why is Elvis—more so than Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and J.F.K.—consistently held up as an ‘icon of the twentieth century’” (Doss 2)? The reason Elvis is an icon is because he made an everlasting impression during his time. He was revolutionary. He influenced the teenage culture of the fifties and his music has shaped the styles of many recent artists. Musician Rod Stewart said, “Elvis was the king. No doubt about it. People like myself, Mick Jagger and all the others only followed in his footsteps” (Elvis Presley Quotes). Presley...
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...Elvis Presley: A Revolutionist Gage E. Trollinger Elvis Presley is the single most significant figure in rock and roll history. He completely changed music and he also changed entertainment through his influences. In the 1950’s Presley’s music broke past these racial barriers. He allowed Caucasian and African Americans listen to the same type of music. Elvis challenged the social and moral values because his music and his dance moves created a new generation. By 1955 Elvis had gone to a national sensation. People quickly fell in love with his style of music and dancing, Critics loved and hated him at the same time altho girls were in awe with him. The fact that Elvis shook his hips, thrust his pelvis, and danced passionately on stage, turned parents against his music. Elvis posed a threat to the values and morals of wight american cicity. Presly “set in motion a style of music that dominated the world for the rest of the century. It was the beginning of youth culture, the breakdown of sexual inhibition, and the end of racial segregation.”...
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...Popular American Culture Paper By. Jackie Thompson Soc. 105 June 7, 2012 Professor Susan Kessler American Pop Culture Culture is something that is learned from birth, it affects the way a person looks at themselves, and their surroundings. Someone’s culture influences their preference in music, food, clothing, hair styles, parenting skills, social skills, and the way someone reacts to their environment. Pop culture is everywhere we look from television, radio, magazines, billboards, newspapers, family, friends, co-workers, professors, and classmates all of these things influences our lives in one way or another. It influences the way we behave in public, what we say, and the way we react to our giving surroundings in a specific time period, which is forever changing depending on what society finds acceptable at that point in time. Three trends in today’s American culture, starting with the biggest is reality TV, such as “Keeping up with the Kardashians”, “Jersey Shore”, “The Bachelor”, and “Teen Mom”. These reality shows have became a huge hit here in America, being able to watch these peoples personal issues play out right before your eyes is fascinating to some and boring to other. The second major trend would be the body modification, such as tattoos and or piercings. I believe that people are enjoying decorating their bodies not only to make themselves even more unique, but to express their own personality. Thirdly there is the large variety of music in today’s...
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...The two biggest icons in the modern music industry, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley ironically both dead of heart failure. Gone but not forgotten these to artists left a great impression in the music industry. The effects left on the music industry by both artists was their original music that combined various types of genres, their iconic dance moves that set them apart from other artists, and the positive influence they had on future artists all resulting in the titles as “The King of Pop” and “The King of Rock and Roll.” Both Jackson and Presley faced similar hardships in reaching the title as Kings in their genre of music. Jackson was a black man facing obstacles in an all-white industry while Presley was a white man trying to exceed in an African-American based industry. Both artists were able to overcome the obstacles and bring all different races together through their music. Each gave a unique and original sound that gave them the...
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...they are talking about. No matter how old or young we all know the King is Elvis Presley. Known for his good looks and amazing talent, he shook the newly found rock n’ roll world. Ladies adored him and guys wanted to be him. However, Elvis had a tough growing up but once he hit it big in Memphis, he shot right off to stardom carrying his gospel and R&B influences with him on a journey that no one would expect. Elvis Aaron and Jesse Garon Presley, twins, were born January 8, 1935 to Vernon and Gladys Presley. Jesse was a stillborn and was buried the next day leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. Things were hard in the Presley house as Elvis grew up. His dad and uncle had been “sentenced to three years in Mississippi State Penitentiary for altering a $4 check from Orville Bean in payment for a hog in 1937” (Guralnick 2). In 1939 Vernon was released early on good behavior but by then Gladys had lost their house due to not being able to make payments on it alone. Work was hard to find and Vernon jumped from job to job. In 1942 when Elvis had just started the first grade, his father had to leave again. This time it was to move to Alabama for work leaving Elvis and Gladys in Mississippi. A year later Vernon returns to his wife and son and finds work in their hometown, Tupelo. Things started to look up for the Presleys by 1945. They had moved into a new four-bedroom home, Vernon had steady work, and Elvis was a healthy10 year old boy. On October 3 the Presleys attended Children’s...
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...A Globalising World “ Popular Culture” ( 1950s ) Fashion In the 1950s, America exerted a huge influence on Australia through cinema. Ripple-soled shoes, leather motorbike jacket, long jackets and thick-soled shoes. Young women would wear tight-waisted skirt with the equally tight jumper influenced by Marilyn Monroe Short back and sides haircut for young men were replaced by long styled hair. Young men would have their hair slicked back with grease and this was influenced by Elvis Presley. Black sweater, chunky costume jewellery and turned-up pants were worn as casual clothes when going to the cinema. A lot of fashion that were popular in Australia came from Hollywood through the movie industry. American fashion dominated the youth scene....
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...time has moved forward, Elvis Pressley remains the greatest entertainer of all-time because of his award winning talent and the good looks sensuality, charisma, good humor, humility, respect, and kindness that endeared him to millions of his fans. Life and Times Elvis Presley was born to very humble beginnings in, Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. “The Presley family was very religious and regularly attended an Assembly of God church where Elvis sang gospel music in his youth,” (Petersen, 2005). At the tender age of 10, he won second prize at a fair in a singing competition that was backed by a neighborhood radio station. At 11 he received his first guitar and taught himself to play. Throughout his high school years he performed in talent shows, which inspired his career choice in the music industry. During the summer of 1953 Elvis made his first recording at Memphis Recording Service as a gift for his mother. When the owner heard his songs, he helped Elvis start a band and record another record that sold 6,000 copies within a week. One year later Elvis released his first nationwide hit. In August 1955, Elvis hired a manager “Colonel” Tom Parker, who helped him sign with RCA records. In one year’s time sold 300,000 copies of his hit release “Heartbreak Hotel,” along with five other number one hit songs and would maintain a place at the top of the charts for the next two years until he was drafted into the Army. Over the next 20 years Elvis would be given the title...
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...There were many influential musicians in the 20th century, but we were able to narrow the list down to our top five most influential musicians. The Musicians we picked were Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Nirvana, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. We chose these musicians because they all left a lasting impact on America, not just on the music industry. All of these musicians are remembered for both their music and their impact on society. Michael Jackson was born in 1958, part of the first generation of Americans who never knew a world without TV, Jackson didn't just grow up with TV. He grew up on it. He was the first great televisual entertainer (Atlantic). You could say that because of Michael Jackson, music videos mean more today. Michael...
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...Peter Clark Professor James Smethurst AFROAM 151 December 5, 2012 The History Of Rock and Roll: Copyright Not Included The history of black America is one filled with exploitation and abuse. Time and time again we see the “cultural rape” of the black community. Whether it be style, lingo, or music white culture has been “borrowing” from black culture since the early history of the United States. It is so obvious it almost passes unnoticed. For example the handshake has largely been replaced in youth culture by a dap or a fist pound, both remnant of black culture in the 60’s. Even hello has been replaced with “yo” an interjection made popular in the black vernacular. One cultural phenomena that has been largely covered up as African-American in origin. The history of rock and roll is long and intricate drawing its roots from early American R&B, among other places. While most of the true innovators of rock music have been widely overlooked, white musicians have been profiting greatly off of the innovations made in music by black recording artists, specifically in the arena of rock and roll. It is widely accepted that rock music has its roots in the american blues. The history of the blues dates all the way back to slave plantations. This genre comes specifically from African-American folk music. Julio Finn the author of The Bluesman stated that: [White blues performers] can never be bluespeople...because the blues is not something they live but something they...
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...The Independent Record Labels of the 1950’s and 1960’s History of Music Production Eric Eller Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, a wave of new musical movements by independent record labels and new artists emerged in the United States. This movement is captured in the stories of those label creators and owners, and in the turbulent journey through their successes and failures. The first emergence was fueled by multiple factors: competitive economic circumstances, up-and-coming local musical talent in conjunction with the independent labels and studio owners, and the commercially viable musical interest and curiosity of consumers in these local artists. An article poses another causative factor that makes sense: when rock and roll was a new genre, major labels such as Columbia, Capitol, and RCA were “reluctant to sign these acts; thus, sprung forth the independent label” (Jacobs). Grassroots production and engineering enthusiasts were given an in-road into the music industry and were able to gain their own clients in independent local artists. Independent label owners in connection with this local talent generate publicity and profit. One such example is found with the duo of Polish immigrant brothers named Leonard and Phil Chess, also known as the Blues Brothers. The Chess brothers bought sole ownership of Aristocrat Records in 1950, and change its name to Chess Records. Leonard specialized as the hands-on producer for the label, while Phil focused...
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...Taylor Rice History of Rock and Roll Mixtape Project February 25, 2016 Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson Hound Dog by Elvis Presley This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie Good Golly Miss Molly by Little Richard Unforgettable by Nat King Cole Miserlou by Dick Dale & the Del Tones Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & the Comets Surfin’ USA by Beach Boys Maybellene by Chuck Berry The Times They Are A-Changin by Bob Dylan Robert Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues” (Crossroads) released in 1937. Robert Johnson is a legend, known as a figure in defining the foundation of the birth of Blues. His blues style was also very influential in the shaping of Rock and Roll. Before his young death at the young age of 27, he only ever recorded 29 of his compositions, which is very little material in comparison to other legends. His songs were seen as remarkable and inspiring since his music had a shockingly raw feel for the era. “Cross Road Blues” is in the blues genre, more specifically the Delta blues style. The song gives life to the legend of Robert Johnson who supposedly met the Devil at a crossroads outside of town and sold his sole in return for the Devil to tune his guitar and give him the talent to become a great musician. The song represents the blues genre of the era from the spiritual and religious roots, however, rather than using the usual saxophone as the lead instrument in a jazz song, he played the acoustic guitar. Woody Guthrie’s “This Land...
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...Running head: Roots of Blues and Country music Roots of Blues and Country music Marc A. Cañas Brandman University Roll Over Beethoven: A Survey of Rock and Roll Professor: Jeanne Mayer, Ph.D April 11, 2010 Blues & Country The Blues and Country Music Blues and country music both developed in the 19th century in the Southern United States. They share a similar history. For this reason, they share many of the same musical and lyrical characteristics. The Blues Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre created primarily within the African-American communities in the Deep South of the United States at the end of the 19th century. The roots. Blues finds its roots from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads. Attributes. The blues genre is based on the blues form but possesses other characteristics such as specific lyrics, bass lines and instruments. Blues can be subdivided into several subgenres ranging from country to urban blues that were more or less popular during different periods of the 20th century. Early social importance. The first appearance of the blues is often dated after the Emancipation Act of 1863, between 1870 and 1900, a period that coincides with Emancipation and, later, the development of juke joints as places where Blacks went to listen to music, dance, or gamble after...
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