Elvis Presley and His Lasting Impact

It’s safe to say that nearly everyone in the world has heard one of Elvis Presley’s songs. Either on the radio, on your favorite music streaming platform, as a cover song by another artist, in an old movie, or if you’re really lucky, you got to see The King of Rock and Roll in person.

Elvis is credited with bringing the sound of African-American music to a wider audience. He pioneered the rockabilly sound, a combination of country music and rhythm and blues. With his vocal talent and sexually provocative stage performances, he became the leader of the new genre of rock and roll.

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Young Elvis

Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935, and moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13. He began his music career in Memphis in 1954 at the age of 19 with Sun Records. It wasn’t long before he joined RCA Records in 1955 and forged a management deal with Colonel Tom Parker.

In 1956, he released the first of many hits, “Heartbreak Hotel”. It was during this period that he also started making movies, with a two-year break while he served in the military. While serving in the Army, he met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu.

Career-wise, his early years were focused on churning out hit singles and making movies.

Elvis Songs

Elvis had too many songs to list them all here, but some of the more well-known Elvis hits include:

Heartbreak Hotel (1955)
Hound Dog (1956)
Don’t Be Cruel (1956)
Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Tutti Frutti (1956)
I Got a Woman (1956)
Blue Moon (1956)
Money Hone (1956)
Shake, Rattle, and Roll (1956)
Love Me Tender (1956)
All Shook Up (1957)
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear (1957)
Are You Lonesome To-night (1960)
Return to Sender (1962)
(You’re the Devil) In Disguise (1963)
Blue Christmas (1964)
In the Ghetto (1969)
Suspicious Minds (1969)
Burning Love (1972)

Elvis did not write his own songs as many of today’s singer-songwriters do. Instead, artists such as Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Richard Rogers, Charles E. Calhoun (Jesse Stone), Otis Blackwell, Mac Davis, and others wrote the songs the King performed.

He was one of the first big Rock and Roll stars to perform in Las Vegas. In 1969, he performed two shows a day, 7 days a week at the former International Hotel and more shows at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino). He maintained his Las Vegas residency for 7 years.

In his later years, Elvis had fewer big hits but still commands a loyal fan base even today.

Musicians Influenced by Elvis

Many famous musicians say their music was influenced by Elvis, including:

The Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison)
Bob Dylan
Jim Morrison
David Bowie
Mick Fleetwood
Elton John
Robert Plant
Beyonce
Jon Bon Jovi
James Brown
The Rolling Stones
Buddy Holly
Bono

And countless others revere Elvis for the groundbreaker that he was.

An Early Death

Years of prescription drug abuse and unhealthy eating habits led to an early death for Elvis. The King of Rock and Roll died at his Graceland estate in 1977 at the relatively young age of 42. He is still recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest-selling music solo artist of all time, with $1 billion in sales worldwide.

His estate continues to make money and pulled in $400 million in 2022 after the biopic Elvis hit theaters.

Elvis and Kenny Presley

While most people are familiar with Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’s daughter with Priscilla Presley who died earlier this year, not so many are familiar with the man who claims to be Elvis’s son. Kenny Presley, an Elvis impersonator, says he learned when he was 7 years old that he is the illegitimate son of the King of Rock and Roll.

To date, his claims have not been substantiated by DNA testing. Kenny Presley will be performing at the Star Centre in Havre de Grace, MD on April 11 2024.