Elvis Presley: Influence Of African-American Music

Elvis’ unique fashion sense influenced younger generations through the years to dress their snazziest, grease their hair in a 50’s fashion, and influenced how they interact with each other. Elvis was a part of the reason that the youthful generation blossomed away from the typical conservative ways that the previous generations encouraged,

Elvis Presley is one of the biggest names in rock and roll. Singer, musician and actor he was an American icon. He is best known as the King of Rock and Roll. His musical influence included the country and pop music of the time, the gospel music he sang in church and the black R&B music he listened to as a teenager (Comprehensive History of Elvis Presley’s Dynamic Life). Elvis has influenced American culture not only while he was living but also in today’s 21st century. It wasn’t easy for him to be accepted; in fact many adults and the older generations of his time were appalled by his performances and his music. In time though, people were able to accept him and he became well-known all over the world. Even after his death Americans are

Presley’s provocative dancing moves were criticized mostly by the whites who strongly believed that Presley was violating their values. Presley danced passionately by thrusting his pelvis and shaking his hips. Some parents were not impressed by Presley’s way of dancing thus turned against his music. Again, the old generation disliked him for no good reason, however; all the controversies around Presley made him more popular. By the end of 1955, Elvis had successfully moved from local to national sensation. According to Wallace (100), Presley’s popularity increased the blacks’

The response from listeners was immediately ecstatic, and Dewey demanded that Elvis return to the station for an interview. Soon after that, Scotty Moore became Presley’s manager. With Scotty’s help, “That’s All Right” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” became Presley’s first ever hit. For a while, Elvis only played local shows, until that fateful night at Grand Ole Opry. Presley played at the Grand Ole Opry on September 25, and was considered by all who attended to be untalented and a major flop. It has even been said Opry’s talent coordinator asked Elvis what his original profession was, and when he replied that he drove trucks, he was told by the coordinator to go back to driving trucks.

Elvis Aaron Presley, otherwise known as “The King” was born on January 8th, 1935. He came from simple beginnings; being born into a lower-class family in Tupelo, Mississippi. In 1948, at the age of 13 Elvis Presley and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Soon he launched his incredibly successful music career with Sun Records at the age of 19 in 1954. His music was influenced by both African American and White artists causing his unique blend of country, pop, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. Presley was heavily influenced by artists such as Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Buddy Holly. Though Presley was widely known for his “provocative” dances moves and his popularization of Rock n’ Roll Presley impacted American culture in a much larger aspect. His influence on Americans and American culture aided desegregation and civil rights during his period of influence and helped create “youth culture”.

Ellvis Presly was the “white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel” that Sam Phillips was looking for. Elvis, using the modern TV and radio to spread his music, became a figure head for the rebellious new teenagers of the mid-twentieth century. His image was of a sexy rebel who challenged the sexual and social conventions of the times instigating much social change. (Gillon, n.d.) While Elvis did have a devastating impact on the culture of America so, too, did the Harlem Renaissance, which made it possible for Elvis to sing the type of songs he did by setting the stage not just in music, but in many other areas of American culture.

In order to appropriately analyze the question of “How Elvis influenced and changed the entertainment industry of Rock ‘n’ Roll” the reader must first clearly define and understand the timing and age of the development of his musical career as well as the characteristics of his music. When attempting to clearly understand the implications of his influence on the era, the reader must fully comprehend his early life and the development of his musical career, the type of music he portrayed to his audience, and how he revolutionized and influenced Rock ‘n’ Roll. These facts will be analyzed using the combination of historical data and current articles for determining his influence in the 1950s. Regardless of where and how he grew up, it is well documented that his music influenced the Rock ‘n’ Roll era.

At the start of Presley’s career, his privilege is displayed in his first and only performance at The Grand Ole Opry. Elvis Presley was not invited to perform at The Ryman Auditorium but rather “given a chance” after Sam Phillips begged Jim Denny to let Presley perform. While the audience did not receive Presley’s style well, it did not hinder his career, Jim Denny simply confirmed that Elvis did not fit in The Opry Style that he had the desire to pursue. Regardless, that this was not Presley’s audience he still obtained the performance opportunity.

“The King of Rock and Roll” also known as Elvis Presley was famous and adored during the 1950’s by the young adults all over the United States. Although the older crowd found his music and dance moves very inappropriate, the teenagers adored and grew fond of his music which made this Mississippi star controversial. In the very beginning before Elvis, the music that was heard around the world was a lot of swing and jazz music that the Greats played. By Greats I mean well known artists like Rosemary Clooney, Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and so many others.

Elvis Presley’ musical career has many differences from Frank Sinatra’s, while they still share some similarities such as their fan base and their middle lower social status. The differences between them are affected by many factors such as the development of technology, social environment and so on.

Elvis changed a lot between culture and people through his musical influence. When Phillips had said that he had finally found “a white man with a negro” this was a would eventually bring a large change in society. Elvis had spun up the social norm in 1950, with his album “The Hillbilly Cat” by intertwining the music of black people with poor white people to create his unique rock and roll (Hauser, 2013). Elvis had not been very socially accepted by older age groups, for they say it as a disgrace on American culture (Hauser, 2013). Elvis had been able to preserve the sound of black music and was able to attract white culture to the music so well (Hauser,

Children were driven wild by his performances: screaming, rushing the stage, crying, and even fainting. Parents were less enthusiastic about Elvis, to say the least, viewing him as a threat. Newspapers followed suit, condemning the star’s “obscene performance[s]”. But it was this hate that Presley drew from parents which made him revered as a symbol of youth.

It’s easy to see why Elvis set the charts and hearts ablaze with his famous hip swings and body contortions. Many saw him as a musical rebel. Buddy Holly moved away from Country after seeing Elvis in concert. Elvis was a very expressive and dramatic singer he could make his voice sound any way he wanted from sweet to dangerous in a moment. The Hallmarks of Elvis’s music were the quicker tempos, edgier textures, and amazing

The teenage Elvis continues to be known for singing with his guitar. He buys his clothes on Beale Street and he absorbs the black blues and gospel he hears there. He’s also a regular audience member at the all-night, white and black,

Elvis’s music allowed them to be able to hear the amazing sound that came from this specific type of music. This began to bring the younger generations of different races together by liking one specific thing causing a huge change in society. Elvis’s clothing would also help to change America. White adults believed that Elvis dressed like a black person. He would wear baggy pants, leather jackets and a pink shirt with its collar up. More white teenagers would start to wear more types of clothing like this. White teenagers started to shop in stores that were owned by black businessmen. This was something that was just simply never done. Elvis’s dancing was the last part of him that would cause tension in America. He would dance sexually with hip thrusts and moving that was inappropriate. This would start a tread of new dancing though the teenagers. This upset adults that their children were more open about their sexuality. Simply, Elvis would start treads which can still be seen today. This was the start of the African American culture being mixed with mainstream culture.