He Is Credited As Inventing Rock'n'Roll - A Look At Elvis Presley's Life In Honor Of His Birthday

Jan 08, 2022 by apost team

There’s no question that Elvis Presley was one of the 20th century’s most influential, important and memorable cultural figures. He wasn’t just a musician; he was an icon who changed an entire industry and the genre of pop music.

Despite his fame and fortune later in life, Elvis had humble beginnings. Elvis Aron Presley was born into a working-class, musical family in Tupelo, Mississippi, on Jan. 8, 1935. As The New York Times reports, Presley sang with his parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley, at church conventions, camps and revivals from a young age. Beyond music, Presley and his family were involved with the church, where a young Elvis was exposed to Gospel music.

Although his parents were working class, they gifted their musical child a guitar on his 11th birthday, and it didn’t take long until Elvis was performing. Just a few years later, the up-and-coming musician won first place at a talent show. 

It’s no surprise, then, that Elvis continued to pursue music after graduating from high school in 1953. In fact, he had a demo ready that year, which got the attention of Sam Phillips, the owner of a record label.

From then on, Elvis’ rise to fame was meteoric. Just three years later, he had his first number one album, a number one hit and a movie deal with Paramount. In other words, the 21-year-old was an instant sensation — and not only because of his music. Elvis’ stage presence was also legendary thanks to his unique dance moves and heart-throb good looks.

We’ll take a look a the rest of Elvis’ career, personal life and legacy on what would have been The King’s 87th birthday.

Although Elvis’ career was in high gear by the late 1950s, the pop star was drafted into the army in 1957. But entering the military would prove to be a pivotal moment in Elvis’ life, as he met the love of his life while stationed in Germany.

Priscilla Presley, then known as Priscilla Beaulieu, and her family moved to the country because her father was transferred there by the Air Force.

From the get-go, their relationship was controversial, as Priscilla Beaulieu was only 14 years old when she started dating Elvis. It has also been widely reported that Elvis groomed her as a teenager, making her dress and look the way he wanted her to, oftentimes to match his own style.

Their love story — if love is what they shared — is complex. After meeting her in Germany, the pop star openly dated other musicians and celebrities, only to invite Priscilla to stay with him in Los Angeles after months of silence between the two. While Priscilla’s parents were resistant at first, Elvis got his way. Four years later in 1966, Elvis proposed to Priscilla, who was just 21 years old.

It was around this time that Elvis’ career began to lose steam. Although he found success starring in Hollywood with films like “Blue Hawaii” (1961), “Girls! Girls! Girls!” (1962) and “Viva Las Vegas,” his personal life began to fall apart — not to mention his weight gain and struggles with addiction.

“He had no role model. And anybody's heart has to go out to young Elvis Presley trying to deal with the whole world suddenly being laid out before you,” said the filmmaker Eugene Jarecki, who released a documentary called “The King” in 2017.

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“How are you supposed to keep your wits together and maintain your authenticity, the very thing that made you great?”

Despite his waning popularity and his troubled personal life, Elvis remained a hit in Las Vegas.

“Although he sometimes appeared bloated, he was still an excellent showman and audiences always loved him,” Molly Ivins wrote in her New York Times obituary of Elvis.

But Elvis’ deteriorating health and problems with addiction eventually led to his death on Aug. 16, 1977. The King died of heart failure at just 42 years old.

And yet, Elvis’ memory continues to live on today.

Writing for Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, Brett Schewitz calls Elvis’ eponymous album the record that “changed the course of music history.”

“No one realised the impact this album, or rather this man would have,” Schewitz writes. “From John Lennon to Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen, honestly I could go on forever, but the fact is, without Elvis and that performance, we might not have had The Beatles as we know them, or even at all (not to say that he was the sole influence on the band, of course there was Chuck Berry, Little Richard etc.). And think about all the bands that THEY influenced.”

In other words, Elvis is credited with inventing rock ‘n’ roll. 

As former President Jimmy Carter said, “His music and his personality … permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense, and he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country.”

Happy Birthday, Elvis! How has Elvis’ life or music made an impression on you? Let us know — and be sure to ask your friends and family, too.