Elvis Presley's Influence On American Culture Essay

Elvis Presley was signed to Sun Records in 1954. This was monumental for Phillips’s stand on racial boundaries in music. Elvis drew national attention to Sun Records which, in part, sparked slight popularity for other Sun artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, and Roscoe Gordon (Sun Records 1). This point in time is known as the origin of Rock and Roll. Contrary to what Rock and Roll is now, it was only popular within a certain demographic of people for a long time

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

Singer, actor, or GI are three words people often think of in connection with Elvis Presley. Many people know that Elvis Presley was the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, but he was much more. Elvis Presley changed the world by bringing new types of music to entertain everybody, making movies, and serving his country. He will be remembered as the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Elvis Presley was one of the most influential rock and roll singers in the American history. Presley’s work revolutionized the music and brought about significant changes in the entertainment industry. He grew up in an environment where racial segregation between the whites and African Americans was highly pronounced. In fact, Presley schooled in Memphis where he graduated from a whites-only high school. However, he upheld the Black’s music and made it possible for their music to be accessed by the White American youths. Presley’s tracks broke past the racial barrier as many teenagers loved his amazing voice. Through his music, he confronted racism and challenged both social and moral values. Elvis Presley changed the manner in which the Black minority were treated in the U.S. through his music, and this initiated the fights against racial discrimination leading to the civil rights movement.

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”.

Elvis Presley was best known for his integration of R&B and country music. The public was scared that not only Presley would integrate music but also the white and black community. Which was something he did actually achieve according to Little Richard “He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music” (Elvis After 198). Parents were afraid of his music, considering it was said that he had a voice of a black man. He caused controversy, a white man singing black music on the radio.This controversy grew as Presley grew in

Additionally, people made a change in the music they listened to. Elvis Presley the pioneer of rock and roll changed entertainment forever. Elvis’s fleshy face, erotic physique and sexually suggestive gyrations attracted the baby boomer of the decade. Because of these features and his unique dance moves, he faces controversy in the face of the media and some common American people. Parents did not want their children to adapt to the “King’s” ways. The new attitude followed on youths disobeying order. The same situation would follow on to the next decade and eventually on to the future.

sang all kinds of music and that he didn’t sing like anybody else. Elvis’s singing career started when

Regardless, Elvis kept playing his music, and ultimately brought rock and roll music into the mainstream listener base (US History for Dummies). In doing so, Elvis altered the course of music, injecting his own rock and roll techniques into the common musician’s repertoire. Paving the way for future musicians, Armstrong, Presley, and many more changed music despite of

Elvis Presley who grew up to be a brilliant star I. Introduction One of the most significant characters in the music history is Elvis Presley, a man who was born to be a star and to earn a widespread fame throughout his musical style. The king of pop “n” roll as he is entitled was born in 1935, Tupelo for a family used to move frequently from place to another. By attending the assembly of church, Elvis raised to have a strong faith in God where the gospel music had a great influence for him and was a main reason that he grew up to be a great musician. Since the beginning of his career, Elvis Presley earned a widespread fame and his music has had a great cultural impact. In this context, Rolling stone magazine described him as an American music giant of the 20th century who changed the course of culture and music in the mid 50th whose music was widely influenced by the Christian gospels , African – American Blues and southern country.

boy from Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis Presley’s country roots would become a major factor in his

Rock and roll music was really started by this one quote: “I don’t sound like nobody” (Marsh). This quote was said by Elvis when he first met Sun founder Sam Phillips, during a recording session that Elvis was making for his mother’s birthday. Phillips liked Elvis’ voice and singing style so much that he thought 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

Elvis impacted society by blatantly demonstrating “cultural intregation through his ability to enhance black music with unbridled emotion and his audacity to transform black-white rigidities onstage”(Hhauser). It was a social revolution at its finest. With this revolution Elvis did receive backlash from the white community, but he did not allow this minor set back to stop him from becoming one of the most famous musical icon. Despite his loud, endearing personality he felt inferior in the beginning of his career. Elvis was an introvert thrown directly into the spot light, because of that he had to conquer his fears very quickly.

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.

Elvis’s style was different than what was playing on the airwaves at the time. Daytime radio was all about warm humming, eccentric novelty, and ditsy innocence. Elvis’ music merged blues, country, and gospel into an incredibly dynamic sound people had never heard before (Wallace). With this new sound, fans from all around the globe became enamored with Elvis and how his music made them feel. This new sound caused Elvis to rise to the top of the charts, as he began destroying records for music at the time. The songs, written by Elvis himself, like, “All Shook Up”, “Don’t Be