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Elvis Presley
The word, legend is perhaps overused but no one would dispute the title, when applied to Elvis Presley. He revolutionized popular music and became an icon for millions of people. Born in a humble house in Tupelo, Mississippi to poor parents in 1935, the family later moved to Memphis. Presley had taken an interest in music at an early age and learned to play the guitar. He went to blues clubs in the city and loved what he heard.
In 1953, Presley recorded some songs at the studios of Sun Records. Owner Sam Phillips knew he had found someone special. Elvis Presley had forged country music and black blues together and found his own style. He soon got airplay on the radio and his live performances were thrilling. No one had seen anything like it. Chart success followed and a star was born. A spell in the US army interrupted his career but his loyal fans were waiting for him when he came out.
Some of the early records are still considered to be classics today, such as Heartbreak Hotel and Houndog. Elvis Presley recorded some great ballads too, including Love Me Tender and Can't Help Falling in Love. Later hits followed through the decades, making him one of the best selling singers in history. Fans still love hearing Suspicious Minds, In the Ghetto and Viva Las Vegas. Presley had a film career too and made an impression in his early dramatic roles in Jailhouse Rock and King Creole. Later movies were more lighthearted affairs and were aimed at a family audience.
Since Presley's death in 1977, when he was aged 42, the Presley estate has become a profitable venture with the sale of merchandise and greatest hits compilations. The Elvis image is on jigsaw puzzles, watches, posters and cushion covers. Presley's Memphis home, Graceland, is open to the public and fans queue round the block to get in. The house still contains personal items and visitors can also see Presley's gravestone. The abundance of Elvis imitators is another manifestation of the legend. They come in all shapes and sizes and from every country.
The legacy of the star and his music cannot be overestimated. Many artists were inspired to take up music and can still remember where they were when they first heard Elvis Presley on the radio or the juke box. Women loved him and men wanted to be him and the memories linger on.
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