Revision as of 00:51, 4 May 2006 view sourceLochdale (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users897 edits →Priscilla Beaulieu Presley and other relationships← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 20:32, 22 December 2024 view source Rich Farmbrough (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers, Template editors1,725,264 edits Copyedit. | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|American singer and actor (1935–1977)}} | |||
:<span class="dablink">''"Elvis" redirects here. For other persons and things named Elvis, see ]''.</span> | |||
{{Other uses}} | |||
{{Infobox Celebrity | | |||
{{Redirect-multi|2|Elvis|King of Rock and Roll}} | |||
name = Elvis Presley | | |||
{{Featured article}} | |||
image = Elvis Presley 1970.jpg| | |||
{{pp|small=yes}} | |||
caption = Presley in 1970 | | |||
{{pp-move|small-yes}} | |||
birth_date = ], ] | | |||
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}} | |||
birth_place = ], ] | | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} | |||
death_date = ], ] | | |||
{{Infobox person | |||
death_place = ], ] | | |||
| image = Elvis Presley promoting Jailhouse Rock.jpg | |||
occupation = ], ] , soldier in the ], and ] | |||
| alt = Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock (1957) | |||
|}} | |||
| caption = A publicity photograph for the 1957 film '']'' | |||
| birth_name = Elvis Aaron Presley{{efn|name=name}} | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1935|1|8}} | |||
| birth_place = ], Mississippi, U.S. | |||
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|1977|8|16|1935|1|8}} | |||
| death_place = ], Tennessee, U.S. | |||
| relatives = ] (granddaughter)<br />] (second cousin)<br />] (first cousin once removed) | |||
| resting_place = ], Memphis | |||
| resting_place_coordinates = {{coord|35|2|46|N|90|1|23|W}} | |||
| works = {{flatlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
| awards = ] | |||
| alias = King of Rock and Roll | |||
| occupation = {{flatlist| | |||
* Singer | |||
* actor | |||
}} | |||
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1967|1973|reason=divorced}} | |||
| children = ] | |||
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | |||
| instruments = {{flatlist| | |||
* Vocals | |||
* guitar | |||
* piano | |||
}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instruments---> | |||
| genre = {{flatlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
| label = {{flatlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
| years_active = 1953–1977 | |||
}} | |||
| module2 = {{Infobox military person | |||
| embed = yes | |||
| embed_title = Military service{{sfn|US Department of Defense|1960|}} | |||
| allegiance = United States | |||
| branch = ] | |||
| branch_label = ] | |||
| serviceyears = 1958–1960 | |||
| rank = ] | |||
| unit = Headquarters Company, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, ], ] | |||
| awards = ] | |||
|module = {{Infobox person|child=yes | |||
| signature = Elvispresley-logo.svg}} | |||
}} | |||
}} | |||
'''Elvis Aaron Presley'''{{efn|name=name|Although some pronounce his surname {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɛ|z|l|i}} {{respell|PREZ|lee}}, Presley himself pronounced it {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɛ|s|l|i}} {{respell|PRESS|lee}}, as did his family and those who worked with him.{{sfn|Elster|2006|p=391}}<p>The correct spelling of his middle name has long been a matter of debate. The physician who delivered him wrote "Elvis Aaron Presley" in his ledger.{{sfn|Nash|2005|p=11}} The state-issued birth certificate reads "Elvis Aron Presley". The name was chosen after the Presleys' friend and fellow congregation member Aaron Kennedy, though a single-A spelling was probably intended by Presley's parents to parallel the middle name of Presley's stillborn brother, Jesse Garon.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=13}} It reads Aron on most official documents produced during his lifetime, including his high school diploma, RCA Victor record contract, and marriage license, and this was generally taken to be the proper spelling.{{sfn|Adelman|2002|pp=13–15}} In 1966, Presley expressed the desire to his father that the more traditional biblical rendering, Aaron, be used henceforth, "especially on legal documents".{{sfn|Nash|2005|p=11}} Five years later, the Jaycees citation honoring him as one of the country's Outstanding Young Men used Aaron. Late in his life, he sought to officially change the spelling to Aaron and discovered that state records already listed it that way. Knowing his wishes for his middle name, Aaron is the spelling his father chose for Presley's tombstone, and it is the spelling his estate has designated as official.{{sfn|Adelman|2002|pp=13–15}}}} (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), known ]ously as '''Elvis''', was an American singer and actor. Known as the "'''King of Rock and Roll'''", he is regarded as ]. Presley's energized performances and interpretations of songs, and ] performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a ], brought both great success and ]. | |||
<!--Editors: Please DO NOT change the spelling of 'Aaron' to 'Aron'. 'Aaron' is the spelling Presley's estate has designated as the official spelling when the middle name is used today. If you dispute this, please discuss it on the talk page before making changes to the article.--> | |||
'''Elvis Aaron Presley''' (], ] – ], ]), also known as '''"The King of Rock 'n' Roll"''' or just "'''The King'''" was an ] ], ] and ], a giant in the modern ]. The home where he lived for 21 years, and where he died, ], became a ] on ], ].<ref>Graceland, (March 27, 2006)</ref> | |||
Presley was born in ], Mississippi; his family relocated to ], Tennessee, when he was 13. His music career began there in 1954, at ] with producer ], who wanted to bring the sound of ] to a wider audience. Presley, on guitar and accompanied by lead guitarist ] and bassist ], was a pioneer of ], an uptempo, ]-driven fusion of ] and ]. In 1955, drummer ] joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and ] acquired his contract in a deal arranged by ], who managed him for the rest of his career. Presley's first RCA Victor single, "]", was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the US. Within a year, RCA Victor would sell ten million Presley singles. With a series of successful television appearances and chart-topping records, Presley became the leading figure of the newly popular ]; though his performative style and promotion of the then-marginalized sound of African Americans<ref name=":00" /> led to him being widely considered a ] to the moral well-being of ] youth.{{sfn|Brown|Broeske|1997|p=55}} | |||
Presley remains a popular and enigmatic star and his legend has only grown stronger since his premature death at age 42. During an active recording career that spanned more than two decades, Presley set many records for concert attendance, television ratings and record sales. As of 2006, more than a quarter century after his death, Presley remains the best-selling solo artist in popular music history, according to the RIAA.<ref>RIAA, (January 8, 2004).</ref> He had 104 singles in the US top 40, almost twice as many as the runner-up, with 17 of these reaching number one according to Billboard's 2005 revised methodology.<ref>Billboard, (December 22, 2005).</ref> Presley's continuing worldwide popularity has resulted in his global sales reaching an estimated one billion records to date.<ref>"." (NB technical faults in this page may render it impossible to read.)</ref>{{fact}} | |||
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in '']''. Drafted into ], he relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. Presley held few concerts, however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. Some of Presley's most famous films included '']'' (1957), '']'' (1961), and '']'' (1964). In 1968, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed NBC television comeback special '']'', which led to an extended ] concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, '']''. However, years of prescription drug abuse and unhealthy eating severely compromised his health, and Presley died unexpectedly in August 1977 at his ] estate at the age of 42. | |||
==An American phenomenon== | |||
According to ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, "it was Elvis who made rock 'n' roll the international language of pop" {{fact}}. A ] documentary once described Presley as "an American music giant of the 20th century who singlehandedly changed the course of music and culture in the mid-1950s."<ref>"": a page at pbs.org with a single paragraph, attributed to palmpictures.com.</ref> His recordings, dance moves, attitude and clothing came to be seen as embodiments of rock and roll. His music was heavily influenced by African-Americans who could not gain national attention because of their race. Presley sang both hard driving ] and ] dance songs and ]s, laying a commercial foundation upon which other rock and roll musicians would build. ] performers like ] and ] came to national prominence after Presley's acceptance among mass audiences of ] teenagers, even though his music was strongly influenced by some of those same African-American musicians. Singers like ], the ], ], ] and others immediately followed in his wake, leading ] to later observe, "Before Elvis, there was nothing." {{fact}} | |||
Presley is one of the ] of all time, with sale estimates ranging from 500 million records to over a billion worldwide.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=sales}} He was commercially successful in many genres, including ], country, rock and roll, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, ], and ]. He won three ], received the ] at age 36, and has been inducted into ]. He holds several records, including the most ]-certified ] and platinum albums, the most albums charted on the ], the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the ], and the most number-one singles by any act on the ]. In 2018, Presley was posthumously awarded the ]. | |||
] | |||
Teenagers came to Presley's concerts in unprecedented numbers. When he performed at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair in 1956, 100 ] surrounded the stage to control crowds of excited fans. {{fact}} When municipal politicians began denying permits for Presley appearances, teens piled into cars and traveled elsewhere to see him perform. When adult programmers announced they would not play Presley's music on their radio stations (some because ] told them it was sexually suggestive ] music, others saying it was Southern "] music" {{fact}}) the economic power of that generation became evident when they tuned in any radio station playing Presley records. In an industry already shifting to all-music formats in reaction to ], profit-conscious radio station owners learned hard lessons when sponsors bought advertising time on new rock and roll stations, some of which reached enormous markets at night with ] signals from ] broadcasts {{fact}}. | |||
== Life and career == | |||
During the post-] economic boom of the 1950s, many parents were able to give their teenaged children much higher weekly ]s, signalling a shift in the buying power and purchasing habits of American teens {{fact}}. During the 1940s ]s had idolized ], but the buyers of his records were mostly between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two. Presley triggered a juggernaut of demand for his records by near-teens and early teens aged ten and up.{{fact}} | |||
=== 1935–1953: early years === | |||
{{Main|Early life of Elvis Presley}} | |||
] in ], Mississippi|alt=Present-day photograph of a whitewashed house, about 15 feet wide. Four banistered steps in the foreground lead up to a roofed porch that holds a swing wide enough for two. The front of the house has a door and a single-paned window. The visible side of the house, about 30 feet long, has double-paned windows.]] | |||
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in ], Mississippi, to Gladys Love ({{née|Smith}}) and Vernon Presley.{{sfn|Eames|2022a}}{{sfn|Eames|2022b}} Elvis' twin Jesse Garon was delivered 35 minutes before, ].{{sfn|Earl|2017}} Presley became close to both parents, especially his mother. The family attended an ] church, where he found his initial musical inspiration.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=12–14}} Vernon moved from one ] to the next,{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=11–12, 23–24}}{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=419}} and the family often relied on neighbors and government food assistance. In 1938, they lost their home after Vernon was found guilty of ] and was jailed for eight months.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=12–14}} | |||
Along with Presley's "]" haircut, the demand for black slacks and loose, open-necked shirts resulted in new lines of clothing for teenaged boys. In 1956 America, birthday and Christmas gifts were often music or even Presley-related.{{fact}} A girl might get a pink portable 45 rpm record player for her bedroom. Meanwhile American teenagers began buying newly available portable ]s <ref>Rich Gordon, "", "Reprinted, with permission, from The Cole Papers, June 22, 2005."</ref> and listened to ] on them (helping to propel that fledgling industry from an estimated 100,000 units sold in 1955 to 5,000,000 units by the end of 1958). Teens were asserting more independence and Elvis Presley became a national symbol of their parents' consternation. {{fact}} | |||
In September 1941, Presley entered first grade at East Tupelo Consolidated, where his teachers regarded him as "average".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=15–16}} His first public performance was a singing contest at the Mississippi–Alabama Fair and Dairy Show on October 3, 1945, when he was 10; he sang "Old Shep" and recalled placing fifth.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=17–18}} A few months later, Presley received his first guitar for his birthday;{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=19}}{{sfn|Dundy|2004|p=101}} he received guitar lessons from two uncles and a pastor at the family's church. Presley recalled, "I took the guitar, and I watched people, and I learned to play a little bit. But I would never sing in public. I was very ] about it."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=23}} | |||
Presley's impact on the American youth consumer market was noted on the front page of '']'' on December 31, 1956 when business journalist Louis M. Kohlmeier wrote, "Elvis Presley today is a business," and reported on the singer's record and merchandise sales {{fact}}. Half a century later, historian Ian Brailsford (], ]) commented, "The phenomenal success of Elvis Presley in 1956 convinced many doubters of the financial opportunities existing in the youth market."<ref>Ian Brailsford, "" (NB Microsoft Word format): transcript of a paper delivered at "", 17 May 2001.</ref> | |||
In September 1946, Presley entered a new school, Milam, for sixth grade. The following year, he began singing and playing his guitar at school. He was often teased as a "trashy" kid who played ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=23–26}} Presley was a devotee of ]'s radio show. He was described as "crazy about music" by Slim's younger brother, one of Presley's classmates. Slim showed Presley chord techniques.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=19–21}} When his ] was 12, Slim scheduled him for two on-air performances. Presley was overcome by stage fright the first time but performed the following week.{{sfn|Dundy|2004|pp=95–96}} | |||
===Birth and ancestry=== | |||
] and Father Vernon.]] | |||
Elvis Aron <!-- This is not a typo for "Aaron". Please read the article carefully. -->Presley was born on ], ] in a two-room ] in ], ] to Vernon Elvis Presley and ]. His twin brother, ], was ], thus leaving him to grow up as an ]. The surname Presley was Anglicized from the German Pressler during the Civil War. His ancestor Johann Valentin Pressler emigrated to North America in 1710. Pressler first settled in New York, but later moved to the South. {{fact}} He was of mostly ]<ref>""; a 23 March 2004 BBC story that cites Allan Morrison, the author of the then-unpublished book ''The Presley Prophecy''.</ref> and ] descent, although his family tree also includes ], ], and ] roots.{{fact}} His maternal line traces to a ] ancestor; because of this, Presley had a star of David placed on his mother's tombstone.<ref>"", an unsigned page at elvispresleynews.com.</ref> He also gave to Jewish charities in the ] area, and wore the symbol of ] around his neck.{{fact}} | |||
In November 1948, the family moved to ], Tennessee.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=32–33}} Enrolled at ], Presley received a C in ] in eighth grade. When his music teacher said he had no aptitude for singing, he brought in his guitar and sang a recent hit, "Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=36}} He was usually too shy to perform openly and was occasionally ] by classmates for being a "]".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=35–38}} In 1950, Presley began practicing guitar under the tutelage of ], a neighbor. They and three other boys, including two future ] pioneers, brothers ] and ]—formed a loose musical collective.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=40–41}} | |||
===Youth=== | |||
Elvis's parents were very protective. He "grew up a loved and precious child. He was, everyone agreed, unusually close to his mother."<ref>Peter Guralnick, ''Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley,'' p.13.</ref> His mother Gladys "worshiped him," said a neighbor, "from the day he was born." Elvis himself said, "My mama never let me out of her sight. I couldn't go down to the creek with the other kids."<ref>Guralnick, p.13.</ref> In his teens, Elvis was still a very shy person, a "kid who had spent scarcely a night away from home in his nineteen years." <ref>Guralnick, p.149</ref> He was teased by his fellow classmates who threw "things at him - rotten fruit and stuff - because he was different, because he was quiet and he stuttered and he was a mama's boy."<ref>Guralnick, p.36, referring to an account by singer ].</ref> Psychologists believe that the disappearance of his father "Vernon from Elvis' life when the King was three (Vernon was jailed for passing bad cheques) had a profound effect upon Elvis' emotional development" at an age when "a child naturally goes through a separation anxiety from its mother, which fathers can often help with. Elvis only had Gladys. They slept in the same bed up until Elvis was a young teen."<ref>Patrick Humphries, ''Elvis The #1 Hits: The Secret History of the Classics'', p.117.</ref> Guitarist Scotty Moore still attested that the singer was a "typical coddled son" and "very shy": "His mama would corner me and say, 'Take care of my boy. Make sure he eats. Make sure he -' You know, whatever. Typical mother stuff." But Elvis "didn't seem to mind; there was nothing phony about it, he truly loved his mother."<ref>Moore adds that Elvis "was more comfortable just sitting there with a guitar than trying to talk to you." Quoted in Guralnick, p. 149.</ref> Gladys was so proud of her boy, that she "would get up early in the morning to run off the fans so Elvis could sleep".<ref>Guralnick, p.280.</ref> She was frightened of Elvis even going out of the house: "She knew her boy, and she knew he could take care of himself, but what if some crazy man came after him with a gun? she said ..., tears streaming down her face."<ref>Guralnick, p.346.</ref> {{fact}} | |||
During his junior year, Presley began to stand out among his classmates, largely because of his appearance: he grew his ] and styled his hair. He would head down to ], the heart of Memphis' thriving ] scene, and admire the wild, flashy clothes at ]. By his senior year, he was wearing those clothes.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=44, 46, 51}} He competed in Humes' Annual "Minstrel" Show in 1953, singing and playing "]", a recent hit for ]. Presley recalled that the performance did much for his reputation: <blockquote>I wasn't popular in school ... I failed music—only thing I ever failed. And then they entered me in this talent show ... when I came onstage, I heard people kind of rumbling and whispering and so forth, 'cause nobody knew I even sang. It was amazing how popular I became in school after that.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=52–53}}</blockquote> | |||
Presley, who could not ], played by ear and frequented record stores that provided ]es and listening booths. He knew all of ]'s songs,{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=171}} and he loved records by other country singers such as ], ], ], ], ], and ].{{sfn|Matthew-Walker|1979|p=3}} The ] singer ], one of his favorite performers, was a significant influence on his ]-singing style.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=46–48, 358}}{{sfn|Wadey|2004}} Presley was a regular audience member at the monthly All-Night Singings downtown, where many of the white gospel groups that performed reflected the influence of African American ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=47–48, 77–78}} Presley listened to regional radio stations, such as ], that played what were then called "race records": spirituals, blues, and the modern, ]-heavy ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=38–40}} Like some of his peers, he may have attended blues venues only on nights ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=51}} Many of his future recordings were inspired by local ]ians such as ] and ].{{sfn|Guralnick|2004}}{{sfn|Bertrand|2000|p=205}} ] recalled that he had known Presley before he was popular when they both used to frequent Beale Street.{{sfn|Szatmary|1996|p=35}} By the time he graduated high school in June 1953, Presley had singled out music as his future.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=54}}{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=8}} | |||
===The Sun recordings=== | |||
{{main|Elvis Presley's Sun recordings}} | |||
On July 18, 1953 Presley paid $8.25 to record the first of two double-sided demos ]s at ], "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" which were popular ]s at the time. According to the official Presley website, Presley reportedly gave it to his mother as a much-belated birthday present. Presley returned to Sun Studios (706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee) on January 4, 1954. He again paid $8.25 to record a second demo, "I'll Never Stand in Your Way" and "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You" (master 0812). {{fact}} | |||
=== 1953–1956: first recordings === | |||
Another receipt for $8.25 dated June 9, 1954 for master 0914 has been found and perhaps that could be the legendary "Casual Love Affair", the song that everybody presumed was recorded on January 4, 1954. {{fact}} | |||
==== Sam Phillips and Sun Records ==== | |||
{{See also|List of songs recorded by Elvis Presley on the Sun label}} | |||
] promotional photograph, 1954|upright=1.0]] | |||
In August 1953, Presley checked into ], the company run by ] before he started ]. He aimed to pay for studio time to record a two-sided ]: "]" and "]". He later claimed that he intended the record as a birthday gift for his mother, or that he was merely interested in what he "sounded like". Biographer ] argued that Presley chose Sun in the hope of being discovered.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=62–64}} In January 1954, Presley cut a second acetate at Sun—"I'll Never Stand in Your Way" and "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You"—but again nothing came of it.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=65}} Not long after, he failed an ] for a local vocal quartet, the Songfellows,{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=77}} and another for the band of ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=83}} | |||
{{Listen|type=speech|filename=That's All Right.ogg|title="That's All Right" |description=Presley transformed not only the sound but the emotion of the song, turning what had been written as a "lament for a lost love into a satisfied declaration of independence."{{sfn|Marcus|1982|p=174}}}} | |||
Phillips, meanwhile, was always on the lookout for someone who could bring to a broader audience the sound of the black musicians on whom Sun focused.{{sfn|Miller|2000|p=72}} In June, he acquired a demo recording by ] of a ballad, "Without You", that he thought might suit Presley. The teenaged singer came by the studio but was unable to do it justice. Despite this, Phillips asked Presley to sing other numbers and was sufficiently affected by what he heard to invite two local musicians, guitarist ] and ] player ], to work with Presley for a recording session.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=10–11}} The session, held the evening of July 5, proved entirely unfruitful until late in the night. As they were about to abort and go home, Presley launched into a 1946 blues number, Arthur Crudup's "]". Moore recalled, "All of a sudden, Elvis just started singing this song, jumping around and acting the fool, and then Bill picked up his bass, and he started acting the fool, too, and I started playing with them." Phillips quickly began taping; this was the sound he had been looking for.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=94–97}} Three days later, popular Memphis disc jockey ] (no relation to Sam Phillips) played "That's All Right" on his ''Red, Hot, and Blue'' show.{{sfn|Ponce de Leon|2007|p=43}} Listener interest was such that Phillips played the record repeatedly during the remaining two hours of his show. Interviewing Presley on-air, Phillips asked him what high school he attended to clarify his color for the many callers who had assumed that he was black.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=100–101}} During the next few days, the trio recorded a ] song, ]'s "]", again in a distinctive style and employing a ] ] that Sam Phillips dubbed "slapback". A single was pressed with "That's All Right" on the A-side and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" on the reverse.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=102–104}} | |||
==== Early live performances and RCA Victor contract ==== | |||
] founder ] and assistant Marion Keisker heard the discs and called Presley on June 26, ] to fill in for a missing ballad singer. Although that session was not productive, Sam Phillips put Presley together with local musicians ] and ] to see what might develop. {{fact}} During a rehearsal break on ], ], Presley began singing a ] song written by ] called "]". Phillips liked the resulting record; on July 19, 1954 he released it as a 78RPM single backed with Presley's hopped-up version of ]'s ] song "]." Memphis radio station ] began airing it two days later, the record became a local hit and Presley began a regular touring schedule which expanded his fame beyond Tennessee. {{fact}} | |||
The trio played publicly for the first time at the Bon Air club on July 17, 1954.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=105, 139}} Later that month, they appeared at the ], with ] headlining. Here Elvis pioneered "]", his signature dance movement.{{sfn|Miller|2021}}{{sfn|Rodman|2013|p=151}} A combination of his strong response to rhythm and nervousness led Presley to shake his legs as he performed: His wide-cut pants emphasized his movements, causing young women in the audience to start screaming.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=106, 108–111}} Moore recalled, "During the instrumental parts, he would back off from the mic and be playing and shaking, and the crowd would just go wild."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=110}} | |||
Soon after, Moore and Black left their old band to play with Presley regularly, and disc jockey/promoter ] became the trio's manager. From August through October, they played frequently at the Eagle's Nest club, a dance venue in Memphis. When Presley played, teenagers rushed from the pool to fill the club, then left again as the house ] band resumed.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=139}} Presley quickly grew more confident on stage. According to Moore, "His movement was a natural thing, but he was also very conscious of what got a reaction. He'd do something one time and then he would expand on it real quick."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=119}} Amid these live performances, Presley returned to Sun studio for more recording sessions.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=117–127, 131}} Presley made what would be his only appearance on ]'s '']'' on October 2; ''Opry'' manager Jim Denny told Phillips that his singer was "not bad" but did not suit the program.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=128–130}}{{sfn|Mason|2007|pp=37–38}} | |||
] star ] arranged to have Presley perform at ]'s '']'' and his performance was well received. Nonetheless, one of the show's executives was not impressed and hinted that Presley should give up his music. However, since that time many singers (] among them) have commented that one of the greatest thrills of playing the Opry is that they played on the same stage as Presley. {{fact}} | |||
==== ''Louisiana Hayride'', radio commercial, and first television performances ==== | |||
Presley's second single, "Good Rockin' Tonight", with "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" on the B-side, was released on September 25, 1954. {{fact}} | |||
In November 1954, Presley performed on '']''—the ''Opry''{{'}}s chief, and more adventurous, rival. The show was broadcast to 198 radio stations in 28 states. His nervous first set drew a muted reaction. A more composed and energetic second set inspired an enthusiastic response.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=127–128, 135–142}} Soon after the show, the ''Hayride'' engaged Presley for a year's worth of Saturday-night appearances. Trading in his old guitar for $8, he purchased a ] instrument for $175 ({{Inflation|US|175|1954|fmt=eq|r=-2}}) and his trio began playing in new locales, including ], Texas, and ], Arkansas.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=152, 156, 182}} Presley made his first television appearance on the ] broadcast of ''Louisiana Hayride''. Soon after, he failed an audition for '']'' on the ] television network. By early 1955, Presley's regular ''Hayride'' appearances, constant touring, and well-received record releases had made him a regional star.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=144, 159, 167–168}}{{sfn|Nash|2003|pp=6–12}} | |||
] and ] in 1956]] | |||
In January, Neal signed a formal management contract with Presley and brought him to the attention of ], whom he considered the best promoter in the music business. Having successfully managed the top country star ], Parker was working with the new number-one country singer, ]. Parker booked Presley on Snow's February tour.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=144, 159, 167–168}}{{sfn|Nash|2003|pp=6–12}} | |||
By August, Sun had released ten sides credited to "Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill"; the latest recordings included a drummer. Some of the songs, like "That's All Right", were in what one Memphis journalist described as the "R&B idiom of negro field jazz"; others, like "Blue Moon of Kentucky", were "more in the country field", "but there was a curious blending of the two different musics in both".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=163}} This blend of styles made it difficult for Presley's music to find radio airplay. According to Neal, many country-music disc jockeys would not play it because Presley sounded too much like a black artist and none of the R&B stations would touch him because "he sounded too much like a ]."{{sfn|Bertrand|2000|p=104}} The blend came to be known as "rockabilly". At the time, Presley was billed as "The King of Western Bop", "The Hillbilly Cat", and "The Memphis Flash".{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=53}} | |||
He continued to tour the ]. On ], ], he made his first appearance on '']'', a radio broadcast of live country music in ], and was a hit with the large audience. Following this, Presley was signed to a one-year contract for a weekly performance, during which time he was introduced to ]. This helped sales of his records as his releases began to reach the top of the country charts. {{fact}} | |||
Presley renewed Neal's management contract in August 1955, simultaneously appointing Parker as his special adviser.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=45}} The group maintained an extensive touring schedule.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=29}} Neal recalled, "It was almost frightening, the reaction that came to Elvis from the teenaged boys. So many of them, through some sort of jealousy, would practically hate him. There were occasions in some towns in Texas when we'd have to be sure to have a police guard because somebody'd always try to take a crack at him."{{sfn|Rogers|1982|p=41}} The trio became a quartet when ''Hayride'' drummer Fontana joined as a full member. In mid-October, they played a few shows in support of ], whose "]" track had been a number-one hit the previous year. Haley observed that Presley had a natural feel for rhythm, and advised him to sing fewer ballads.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=217–219}} | |||
===The management of Colonel Tom Parker: Elvis Presley's early TV appearances and movie contracts=== | |||
On ], ] Elvis Presley was signed by "Hank Snow Attractions", a management company jointly owned by singer ] and ]. Shortly thereafter, Colonel Parker took full control and, recognizing the limitations of Sun Studios, negotiated a deal with ] on ], ], then immediately established two ] recording companies for Presley's music. Understanding the commercial value for any composer having their song recorded by Presley, Parker was able to demand they share their royalties with the singer. A master promoter who wasted no time in furthering Presley's image, Parker licensed everything from guitars to cookware. {{fact}} | |||
At the Country Disc Jockey Convention in early November, Presley was voted the year's most promising male artist.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=31}} After three major labels made offers of up to $25,000, Parker and Phillips struck a deal with ] on November 21 to acquire Presley's Sun contract for an unprecedented $40,000.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|pp=28–29}}{{refn|Of the $40,000, $5,000 covered back royalties owed by Sun.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|pp=28–29}}|name=royalties|group=lower-alpha}} Presley, aged 20, was legally still a minor, so his father signed the contract.{{sfn|Escott|1998|p=421}} Parker arranged with the owners of ] Publishing, ] and ], to create two entities, Elvis Presley Music and Gladys Music, to handle all the new material recorded by Presley. Songwriters were obliged to forgo one-third of their customary ] in exchange for having Presley perform their compositions.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=36, 54}}{{refn|In 1956–57, Presley was also credited as a co-writer on several songs where he had no hand in the writing process: "]"; "]"; all four songs from his first film, including the title track, "]"; "]"; and "]".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=35, 51, 57, 61, 75}} (Parker, however, failed to register Presley with such musical licensing firms as ] and its rival ], which eventually denied Presley annuity from songwriter's royalties.) Presley received credit on two other songs to which he did contribute: he provided the title for "]" (1961), written by his friend and former Humes schoolmate ]; they collaborated with another friend, guitarist Charlie Hodge, on "]" (1962).{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=157–158, 166, 168}}|name=cowriter|group=lower-alpha}} By December, RCA had begun to heavily promote its new singer, and before month's end had reissued many of his Sun recordings.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=29}} | |||
Parker's first major coup was to market Presley on television. First, he had him booked in six of the Dorsey Shows (CBS); Elvis appeared on the show on January 28, 1956, then again on February 4, 11 & 18, 1956, with two more appearances on March 17 & 24, 1956. In March, he was able to obtain a lucrative deal with Milton Berle (NBC), for two appearances. The first was on April 3, 1956. It was Elvis' performance of "Hound Dog" on the June 5, 1956, episode of the Milton Berle Show that sparked a storm of controversy over his "gyrations" while singing. {{fact}} The controversy lasted through the rest of the 50's. However, the show did draw such huge ratings that Steve Allen (ABC) booked him for one appearance, which took place early on July 1, 1956. That night, Allen had for the first time beaten the Ed Sullivan Show in the Sunday night ratings, prompting Sullivan (CBS) to book Presley for three appearances, September 9, 1956; October 28, 1956 & January 6, 1957, for an unprecedented fee of $50,000.{{fact}} On September 9, 1956, at his first of three appearances on the Sullivan show, Presley drew an estimated 82.5% percent of the television audience,{{fact}} calculated at between 55-60 million viewers. This record was broken over seven years later, with ]' first appearance on the same Sullivan Show in February 1964. {{fact}} | |||
=== 1956–1958: commercial breakout and controversy === | |||
Simultaneously, and after being approached by the Hollywood Studios,<!-- which "Hollywood Studios"? --> Parker eventually negotiated a multi-picture seven-year contract that shifted Presley's focus from music to films. {{fact}} Under the terms of his contract, Presley earned a fee for performing plus a percentage of the profits on the films, most of which were huge moneymakers (see "] section below). With money seemingly at the forefront of all decisions made by the Colonel, his success led to his management contract with Presley being renegotiated to an even 50/50 split.{{fact}} | |||
==== First national TV appearances and debut album ==== | |||
]'' magazine advertisement, March 10, 1956]] | |||
On January 10, 1956, Presley made his first recordings for RCA Victor in Nashville.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=30}} Extending his by-now customary backup of Moore, Black, Fontana, and ''Hayride'' pianist ]—who had been performing at live club dates with Presley—RCA Victor enlisted guitarist ] and three background singers, including Gordon Stoker of the popular ] quartet.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=235–136}} The session produced the moody "]", released as a single on January 27.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=30}} Parker brought Presley to national television, booking him on CBS's '']'' for six appearances over two months. The program, produced in New York City, was hosted on alternate weeks by big band leaders and brothers ] and ]. After his first appearance on January 28, Presley stayed in town to record at RCA Victor's New York studio. The sessions yielded eight songs, including a ] of ]' rockabilly anthem "]". In February, Presley's "]", a Sun recording released the previous August, reached the top of the ].{{sfn|Slaughter|Nixon|2004|p=21}} Neal's contract was terminated and Parker became Presley's manager.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|pp=50, 54, 64}} | |||
RCA Victor released Presley's ] on March 23. Joined by five previously unreleased Sun recordings, its seven recently recorded tracks included two country songs, a bouncy pop tune, and what would centrally define the evolving sound of ]: "Blue Suede Shoes"—"an improvement over Perkins' in almost every way", according to critic ]—and three R&B numbers that had been part of Presley's stage repertoire, covers of ], ], and ]. As described by Hilburn, these <blockquote>were the most revealing of all. Unlike many white artists ... who watered down the gritty edges of the original R&B versions of songs in the '50s, Presley reshaped them. He not only injected the tunes with his own vocal character but also made guitar, not piano, the lead instrument in all three cases.{{sfn|Hilburn|2005}}</blockquote> It became the first rock and roll album to top the ''Billboard'' chart, a position it held for ten weeks.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=30}} While Presley was not an innovative guitarist like Moore or contemporary African American rockers ] and ], cultural historian Gilbert B. Rodman argued that the album's cover image, "of Elvis having the time of his life on stage ''with a guitar in his hands'' played a crucial role in positioning the guitar ... as the instrument that best captured the style and spirit of this new music."{{sfn|Rodman|1996|p=28}} | |||
Over the years, much has been written about Colonel Parker, most of it critical. Marty Lacker, a lifelong friend and a member of the ], says he thought of Parker as a "hustler and scam artist" who abused Presley's reliance on him.{{citeneeded}} Nonetheless, Lacker acknowledged that Parker was a master promoter.<ref>Marty Lacker, Lamar Fike, and Billy Smith, ''Elvis Aron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafia'' (1995).</ref> ] has said she didn't know who else there was at the time in 1955 who could have seized the moment and done the job of marketing Presley.<ref>Patricia Presley, in the 2005 television special about Presley.</ref> Parker's definitive biography was written by ] and published in 2003.<!-- Title? Incidentally, "definitive" seems a bit PoVish. --> | |||
==== ''Milton Berle Show'' and "Hound Dog" ==== | |||
===Military service=== | |||
] in 1956]] | |||
On ] ], at the peak of his career, Presley received his ] for two-year service with the ]. On ], ], he was inducted into the Army at the Memphis Draft Board. In spite of thousands upon thousands of letter sent to the Army, many of which expressing his fans' wishes that he be spared, or that he be given special treatment, Presley received none of it, and was widely praised for neither avoiding the draft nor serving part time in easy domestic positions such as the ]. The media speculated on whether two years out of the limelight would damage his career. {{fact}} | |||
On April 3, Presley made the first of two appearances on ]'s '']''. His performance, on the deck of the ] in ], California, prompted cheers and screams from an audience of sailors and their dates.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=262–263}} A few days later, Presley and his band were flying to ], Tennessee for a recording session when an engine died and the plane almost went down over ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=267}} Twelve weeks after its original release, "Heartbreak Hotel" became Presley's first number-one pop hit. In late April, Presley began a two-week ] at the ] on the ].{{sfn|Koch |Manning |Toplikar |2008}} The shows were poorly received by the conservative, middle-aged hotel guests, "like a jug of corn liquor at a champagne party", a '']'' critic wrote.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=274}} Amid his Vegas tenure, Presley, who had acting ambitions, signed a seven-year contract with ].{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=315}} He began a tour of the ] in mid-May, covering fifteen cities in as many days.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|pp=72–73}} He had attended several shows by ] in Vegas and was struck by their cover of "]", a hit in 1953 for blues singer ] by songwriters ]. It became his new closing number.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=273, 284}} | |||
After a show in ], Wisconsin, an urgent message on the letterhead of the local Catholic diocese's newspaper was sent to ] director ]. It warned that <blockquote>Presley is a definite danger to the security of the United States. ... actions and motions were such as to rouse the sexual passions of teenaged youth. ... After the show, more than 1,000 teenagers tried to gang into Presley's room at the auditorium. ... Indications of the harm Presley did just in La Crosse were the two high school girls ... whose abdomen and thigh had Presley's autograph.{{sfn|Fensch|2001|pp=14–18}}</blockquote> | |||
Presley sailed to Europe on the USS ''General George M. Randall'' (AP-115) and served in Germany, attaining the rank of ]. During his service, he met many people in the US Army bases he was trained at, and abroad, both in Germany and in France, where he travelled on leave on at least three different occasions. Years later, many still recall with much admiration and affection their time together with Presley, no matter how casual or short-lived the encounter may have been. Among them were his wife-to-be, the then 14-year-old ], noted '']'' correspondent and humorist ], future US Secretary of State ] (then a lieutenant with the ] in Germany), and Walter Alden, the father of Presley's last girlfriend, ], then a sergeant and in charge of Army public relations in Germany. In 1992, a book was published about Presley's time in Germany titled ''Soldier Boy Elvis'', written by his Sergeant ]. {{fact}} | |||
Presley's second ''Milton Berle Show'' appearance came on June 5 at ]'s Hollywood studio, amid another hectic tour. ] persuaded Presley to leave his guitar backstage.{{sfn|Burke|Griffin|2006|p=52}} During the performance, Presley abruptly halted an up-tempo rendition of "Hound Dog" and launched into a slow, grinding version accentuated with exaggerated body movements.{{sfn|Burke|Griffin|2006|p=52}} His gyrations created a storm of controversy.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=49}} ] of '']'' wrote, <blockquote>Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. ... His phrasing, if it can be called that, consists of the stereotyped variations that go with a beginner's aria in a bathtub. ... His one specialty is an accented movement of the body ... primarily identified with the repertoire of the blond bombshells of the burlesque runway.{{sfn|Gould|1956}}</blockquote> Ben Gross of the '']'' opined that popular music "has reached its lowest depths in the 'grunt and groin' antics of one Elvis Presley. ... Elvis, who rotates his pelvis ... gave an exhibition that was suggestive and vulgar, tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and ]s".{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=73}} ], whose ] was the nation's most popular, declared Presley "unfit for family viewing".{{sfn|Marcus|2006}} To Presley's displeasure, he soon found himself being referred to as "Elvis the Pelvis", which he called "childish".{{sfn|Marsh|1982|p=100}} | |||
Presley's impact on people, even during his two-year stint in the Army was remarkable, even reaching beyond his career as an entertainer. When he first entered the Army, only 2% of the American population had been vaccinated against polio. Presley got his shot on TV, an event carried by all three major networks. By the time of his discharge, an estimated 85% of the population had been vaccinated.{{fact}} | |||
==== ''Steve Allen Show'' and first Sullivan appearance ==== | |||
Presley returned to the United States on ] ] and was honorably discharged on March 5th.<ref>.</ref> Because of all the publicity that surrounded his draft and service in the Army, he is often referred to as the most celebrated G.I. in history. {{fact}} | |||
] and Presley during rehearsals for his second appearance on '']'', October 26, 1956]] | |||
The Berle shows drew such high ratings that Presley was booked for a July 1 appearance on NBC's '']'' in New York. ], no fan of rock and roll, introduced a "new Elvis" in a white bowtie and black tails. Presley sang "Hound Dog" for less than a minute to a ] wearing a top hat and bowtie. As described by television historian Jake Austen, "Allen thought Presley was talentless and absurd ... set things up so that Presley would show his contrition".{{sfn|Austen|2005|p=13}} Allen later wrote that he found Presley's "strange, gangly, country-boy charisma, his hard-to-define cuteness, and his charming eccentricity intriguing" and worked him into the "comedy fabric" of his program.{{sfn|Allen|1992|p=270}} Just before the final rehearsal for the show, Presley told a reporter, "I don't want to do anything to make people dislike me. I think TV is important so I'm going to go along, but I won't be able to give the kind of show I do in a personal appearance."{{sfn|Rock 'N Roll Stars|1956|p=5}} Presley would refer back to the Allen show as the most ridiculous performance of his career.{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=73}} Later that night, he appeared on '']'', a popular local television show. Pressed on whether he had learned anything from the criticism of him, Presley responded, "No, I haven't... I don't see how any type of music would have any bad influence on people when it's only music. ... how would rock 'n' roll music make anyone rebel against their parents?"{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=73}} | |||
The next day, Presley recorded "Hound Dog", "]" and "]". The Jordanaires sang harmony, as they had on ''The Steve Allen Show''; they would work with Presley through the 1960s. A few days later, Presley made an outdoor concert appearance in Memphis, at which he announced, "You know, those people in New York are not gonna change me none. I'm gonna show you what the real Elvis is like tonight."{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=51}} In August, a judge in ], Florida, ordered Presley to tame his act. Throughout the following performance, he largely kept still, except for wiggling his little finger suggestively in mockery of the order.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|pp=80–81}} The single pairing "Don't Be Cruel" with "Hound Dog" ruled the top of the charts for eleven weeks—a mark that would not be surpassed for thirty-six years.{{sfn|Whitburn|1993|p=5}} Recording sessions for Presley's second album took place in Hollywood in early September. Leiber and Stoller, the writers of "Hound Dog", contributed "]".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=60–65}} | |||
===Comeback=== | |||
Many observers (including ] {{citeneeded}}) later claimed that following Presley's return from military service the quality of his recorded output dropped, although others thought he was still capable of creating records equal to his best (and did so on the infrequent occasions where he was presented with "decent" material at his movie recording sessions). {{fact}} Presley himself became deeply dissatisfied with the direction his career would take over the ensuing seven years, notably the film contract with a demanding schedule that eliminated creative recording and giving public concerts.{{fact}} On April 8, 1960 the album ''Elvis is Back!'' was released to mixed reviews by critics and fans. With this drop-off, and in the face of the social upheaval of the 1960s and the ] spearheaded by the ], Presley's star faded slightly before a triumphant ] later dubbed the '']''. Aired on the ] network on ], ], this saw him return to his ] roots. His 1969 return to live performances, first in ] and then across the country, was noted for the constant stream of sold-out shows, with many setting attendance records in the venues where he performed. {{fact}} | |||
Allen's show with Presley had, for the first time, beaten ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' in the ratings. Sullivan booked Presley for three appearances for an unprecedented $50,000.{{sfn|Austen|2005|p=16}} The first, on September 9, 1956, was seen by approximately 60 million viewers—a record 82.6 percent of the television audience.{{sfn|Edgerton|2007|p=187}} Actor ] hosted the show, filling in while Sullivan was recovering from a car accident.{{sfn|Marcus|2006}} According to legend, Presley was shot only from the waist up. Watching clips of the Allen and Berle shows, Sullivan had opined that Presley "got some kind of device hanging down below the crotch of his pants—so when he moves his legs back and forth you can see the outline of his cock. ... I think it's a ] bottle. ... We just can't have this on a Sunday night. This is a family show!"{{sfn|Brown|Broeske|1997|p=93}} Sullivan publicly told '']'', "As for his gyrations, the whole thing can be controlled with camera shots."{{sfn|Austen|2005|p=16}} In fact, Presley was shown head-to-toe. Though the camerawork was relatively discreet during his debut, with leg-concealing closeups when he danced, the studio audience reacted with screams.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=338}}{{sfn|Gibson|2005}} Presley's performance of his forthcoming single, the ballad "]", prompted a record-shattering million advance orders.{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=439}} More than any other single event, it was this first appearance on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' that made Presley a national celebrity.{{sfn|Marcus|2006}} | |||
===1969 onward=== | |||
After seven years off the top of the charts, Presley's song "]" hit number one on the ''Billboard'' music charts on ], ].<ref>This was the last time any song by Presley reached number one on the ], although "Burning Love" reached two in September 1972, and "A Little Less Conversation" topped the Hot Singles Sales chart in 2002.</ref> He also reached number one on charts elsewhere. For example, "]" did so in ] in 1969, as did "The Wonder of You" in the UK in 1970. The "]" concert in January 1973 was the first of its kind to be broadcast worldwide via ] and was seen by at least one billion viewers worldwide.{{fact}} The soundtrack album was another number-one disc. {{fact}} | |||
Accompanying Presley's rise to fame, a cultural shift was taking place that he both helped inspire and came to symbolize. The historian Marty Jezer wrote that Presley began the "biggest pop craze" since ] and ] and brought rock and roll to mainstream culture: <blockquote>As Presley set the artistic pace, other artists followed. ... Presley, more than anyone else, gave the young a belief in themselves as a distinct and somehow unified generation—the first in America ever to feel the power of an integrated youth culture.{{sfn|Jezer|1982|p=281}}</blockquote> | |||
Presley recorded a number of country hits in his final years. '']'' was racing up the American ] chart shortly before Presley's death in 1977, and reached number one the week he died. It also topped the UK pop charts at the same time. Between 1969 and 1977 he gave over 1,000 sold-out performances in Las Vegas and on tour. He was the first artist to have four shows in a row sold to capacity at ]'s ]. {{fact}} | |||
==== Crazed crowds and film debut ==== | |||
During the mid-1970s Presley became increasingly isolated, battling an addiction to prescription drugs and its resulting toll on his appearance, health and performances. He made his last live concert appearance in ] at the ] on ], ]. {{fact}} | |||
] | |||
The audience response at Presley's live shows became increasingly fevered. Moore recalled, "He'd start out, 'You ain't nothin' but a Hound Dog,' and they'd just go to pieces. They'd always react the same way. There'd be a riot every time."{{sfn|Moore|Dickerson|1997|p=175}} At the two concerts he performed in September at the Mississippi–Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, fifty ] were added to the police detail to prevent a ruckus.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=343}} '']'', Presley's second RCA Victor album, was released in October and quickly rose to number one. The album includes "Old Shep", which he sang at the talent show in 1945, and which now marked the first time he played piano on an RCA Victor session. According to Guralnick, "the halting chords and the somewhat stumbling rhythm" showed "the unmistakable emotion and the equally unmistakable valuing of emotion over technique."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=335}} Assessing the musical and cultural impact of Presley's recordings from "That's All Right" through ''Elvis'', rock critic ] wrote that "these records, more than any others, contain the seeds of what rock & roll was, has been and most likely what it may foreseeably become."{{sfn|Marsh|1980|p=395}} | |||
===Movies=== | |||
In late 1955, Presley made his earliest known film appearance in a documentary titled '']'', a look at the career of ] Bill Randle. The film, (which reportedly included performance footage of Elvis as well as ] and other acts), was shown in its entirety only once (in ]) and was never released commercially. The film is currently considered "misplaced" and some Presley researchers maintain it never existed, although there is ample evidence to suggest it did.{{citeneeded}} {{fact}} | |||
{{Listen|filename=Hound Dog & intro (live-Ed Sullivan 2).ogg|title="We're gonna do a sad song ..." |description=Presley's definition of rock and roll included a sense of humor—here, during his second Sullivan appearance, he introduces one of his signature numbers.}} | |||
Beginning with '']'' (opened on ], ]), Presley starred in 31 movies, having signed to multiple long-term contracts on the advice of his manager. {{fact}} These were usually musicals based around Presley performances, and marked the beginning of his transition from rebellious rock and roller to all-round family entertainer. Presley was praised by all his directors, including the highly respected ], as unfailingly polite and extremely hardworking.{{citeneeded}} | |||
Presley returned to ''The Ed Sullivan Show'', hosted this time by its namesake, on October 28. After the performance, crowds in Nashville and ] burned him in ].{{sfn|Marcus|2006}} His first motion picture, '']'', was released on November 21. Though he was not top-billed, the film's original title—'']''—was changed to capitalize on his latest number-one record: "Love Me Tender" had hit the top of the charts earlier that month. To further take advantage of Presley's popularity, four musical numbers were added to what was originally a straight acting role. The film was panned by critics but did very well at the box office.{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=315}} Presley would receive top billing on every subsequent film he made.{{sfn|O'Malley|2016}} | |||
On December 4, Presley dropped into Sun Records, where Carl Perkins and ] were recording, and had an impromptu ] along with ]. Though Phillips no longer had the right to release any Presley material, he made sure that the session was captured on tape. The results, none officially released for twenty-five years, became known as the "]" recordings.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=71}} The year ended with a front-page story in '']'' reporting that Presley merchandise had brought in $22 million on top of his record sales,{{sfn|Palladino|1996|p=131}} and ''Billboard''{{'}}s declaration that he had placed more songs in the top 100 than any other artist since records were first charted.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=37}} In his first full year at RCA Victor, then the record industry's largest company, Presley had accounted for over fifty percent of the label's singles sales.{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=439}} | |||
Perhaps the biggest letdown of Presley's film career was when Colonel Parker made him give up the lead role in the film version of ''].'' Elvis was approached at first by the producers, being their favorite choice among several leading men.<ref>Others included ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].</ref> He originally wanted to play the role, but Parker insisted he pull out to star in the musicals he was accustomed to. {{fact}} From 1960 to 1961, the total box office earnings of his movies were $100 million, but he was upset upon learning that '']'' was a huge hit and earned ten ]. Till the end of his life, Presley never forgave the Colonel for his loss, and he never watched his films, which were, according to him, ''travellogue movies with no plot but exotic locales.''{{citeneeded}} | |||
==== Leiber and Stoller collaboration and draft notice ==== | |||
Other big disappointments included when the Colonel persuaded him not to audition for a main role in ], ], ], ], and ] with ]. All these roles led to box office success, critical acclaim, and ] for the actors that took his place. Elvis never really got over these chances, which would have boosted his acting career. | |||
Presley made his third and final ''Ed Sullivan Show'' appearance on January 6, 1957—on this occasion indeed shot only down to the waist. Some commentators have claimed that Parker orchestrated an appearance of censorship to generate publicity.{{sfn|Gibson|2005}}{{sfn|Clayton|Heard|2003|pp=117–118}} In any event, as critic ] describes, Presley "did not tie himself down. Leaving behind the bland clothes he had worn on the first two shows, he stepped out in the outlandish costume of a ], if not a harem girl. From the make-up over his eyes, the hair falling in his face, the overwhelmingly sexual cast of his mouth, he was playing ] in '']'', with all stops out."{{sfn|Marcus|2006}} To close, displaying his range and defying Sullivan's wishes, Presley sang a gentle black spiritual, "]". At the end of the show, Sullivan declared Presley "a real decent, fine boy".{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=90}} Two days later, the Memphis ] announced that Presley would be ] and would probably be drafted sometime that year.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=95}} | |||
Each of the three Presley singles released in the first half of 1957 went to number one: "]", "]", and "]". Already an international star, he was attracting fans even where his music was not officially released: ''The New York Times'' reported that pressings of his music on ] were commanding high prices in ].{{sfn|Salisbury|1957|p=4}} Presley purchased his 18-room mansion, ], on March 19, 1957.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=395–397}} Before the purchase, Elvis recorded '']''—the soundtrack to ], which was released in July. It was his third straight number-one album. The title track was written by Leiber and Stoller, who were then retained to write four of the six songs recorded at the sessions for '']'', Presley's next film. The songwriting team effectively produced the ''Jailhouse'' sessions and developed a close working relationship with Presley, who came to regard them as his "good-luck charm".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=406–408, 452}} "He was fast," said Leiber. "Any demo you gave him he knew by heart in ten minutes."{{sfn|Fox|1986|p=178}} The ] became another ], as was the ].{{sfn|Leigh|2017|p=187}} | |||
The movies '']'' (]), '']'' (]), and '']'' (]) are regarded among film critics as his best. Among fans, '']'' (]) and '']'' (]) are also highly praised. | |||
] in the trailer for ''Jailhouse Rock'', released in October 1957]] | |||
In addition to his own films, Presley has been the subject of more than seventy films that have his name in the title. {{fact}} | |||
Presley undertook three brief tours during the year, continuing to generate a crazed audience response.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=399–402, 428–430, 437–440}} A Detroit newspaper suggested that "the trouble with going to see Elvis Presley is that you're liable to get killed".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=400}} ] students pelted the singer with eggs in ],{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=400}} and in ] the crowd rioted after the show ended, destroying the stage.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=430}} Frank Sinatra, who had inspired the swooning and screaming of teenage girls in the 1940s, decried rock and roll as "brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious. ... It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phoney and false. It is sung, played and written, for the most part, by cretinous goons. ... This rancid-smelling aphrodisiac I deplore."{{sfn|Turner|2004|p=104}} Asked for a response, Presley said: <blockquote>I admire the man. He has a right to say what he wants to say. He is a great success and a fine actor, but I think he shouldn't have said it. ... This is a trend, just the same as he faced when he started years ago.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=437}}</blockquote> | |||
Leiber and Stoller were again in the studio for the recording of '']''. Toward the end of the session, they wrote a song on the spot at Presley's request: "]", an ]-laden blues.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=431}} The holiday release stretched Presley's string of number-one albums to four and would become the ],{{sfn|Grein|2008}}{{sfn|Caulfield|2016}} with eventual sales of over 20 million worldwide.{{sfn|Baird|2017}} After the session, Moore and Black—drawing only modest weekly salaries, sharing in none of Presley's massive financial success—resigned, though they were brought back on a per diem basis a few weeks later.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=431–435}} | |||
For details on films in which he starred, see the ]. {{fact}} | |||
On December 20, Presley received his draft notice, though he was granted a deferment to finish the forthcoming film '']''. A couple of weeks into the new year, "]", another Leiber and Stoller tune, became Presley's tenth number-one seller. Recording sessions for the ] were held in Hollywood in mid-January 1958. Leiber and Stoller provided three songs, but it would be the last time Presley and the duo worked closely together.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=448–449}} As Stoller later recalled, Presley's manager and entourage sought to wall him off.{{sfn|Fox|1986|p=179}} A brief soundtrack session on February 11 marked the final occasion on which Black was to perform with Presley.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=99, 105}} | |||
===Religious fervor, gospel music, and allegations of sinfulness=== | |||
Ironically, for all the controversy surrounding his early career, Elvis Presley's roots in religious music ran deep. In Tupelo, Mississippi, Vernon and Gladys Presley were what was disparagingly referred to as '']'' from the "wrong side of the tracks" at the east end of town.{{citeneeded}} Their ] home, where Elvis was born in 1935, was a two-room shack on one of several dirt tracks forming a small community off Old Saltillo Road. They belonged to a local ] ] church which played an important role in their lives. For Elvis Presley it provided an environment from which he would instinctively adopt the music, sound and accompanying body movements in his later rock-and-roll performances. The ] that became known as ] (which also evolved from ]) was also a part of Presley's childhood world and he probably heard it regularly in the ] section of Tupelo known as "Shakerag" (between Tupelo and East Tupelo, demolished in the 1960s as part of an urban renewal project). The church is said to have brought the Presleys, along with the rest of its desperately poor congregation, a message of hope wrapped around "]" sermons.{{citeneeded}} For nearly a quarter century the Pentecostal movement was ] and during the 1930s and 1940s many of these poor churches did not adopt the growing policy of ]. {{fact}} | |||
=== 1958–1960: military service and mother's death === | |||
Although Vernon Presley's family was Pentecostal and his sister Nash Presley became a minister, his wife Gladys was Elvis's devoutly religious parent. Her uncle Gains Mansell was also a Pentecostal preacher in East Tupelo whose interracial church services began with ]s held in a tent. Pentecostal church services started, centered and ended with music and everyone was encouraged to "make a joyous noise unto the Lord." Gladys Presley said that by the age of two her son was already trying to sing along in the church.<ref>Peter Guralnick.</ref><!-- Title? Page? --> A Pentecostal preacher would typically lead the congregation in prayer and both singing and prayer were accompanied by the waving of hands, the swaying of bodies and dancing about in the ]. As it almost always did in those settings, "when the Spirit strikes" the body would jerk as though hit by a bolt of lightning and frequently the worshipper would fall to the floor, rolling around and praying aloud (the reason why outsiders referred to church members as "]s" and their services as a "religious frenzy"). For instrumentation, these church services used a ], a ] or two and if they could afford one, a well-worn ] and perhaps a used ]. Church services lasting three hours and held several times a week were filled with music as Pentecostals gyrated their hips, shook their legs, clapped and waved their arms while belting out pounding, rhythmic songs such as ''Down by the Riverside'', ''When the Saints Go Marching in'' and ''Standing on the Promises''. There were also more serene songs sung with great emotion like ''The Old Rugged Cross'' and ''Softly and Tenderly (Jesus is calling)''.{{citeneeded}} | |||
{{Main|Military career of Elvis Presley}} | |||
] on March 24, 1958, at ]]] | |||
On March 24, 1958, Presley was drafted into the ] at ] in Arkansas. His arrival was a major media event. Hundreds of people descended on Presley as he stepped from the bus; photographers accompanied him into the installation.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=461–474}} Presley announced that he was looking forward to his military service, saying that he did not want to be treated any differently from anyone else.{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=27}} | |||
Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, Presley completed ] and advanced training at ], Texas, where he was temporarily assigned to Company A, 2d<!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please do not change to "2nd" as it would be historically inaccurate. Thank you. --> Medium Tank Battalion, ]. During the two weeks' ] between his basic and advanced training in early June, he recorded five songs in Nashville.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=106–111}} In early August, Presley's mother was diagnosed with ], and her condition rapidly worsened. Presley was granted emergency leave to visit her and arrived in Memphis on August 12. Two days later, she died of heart failure at age 46. Presley was devastated and never the same;{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=474–480}}{{sfn|Neibaur|2014|p=}} their relationship had remained extremely close—even into his adulthood, they would use baby talk with each other and Presley would address her with pet names.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=13}} | |||
In 1948 the Presley family left Tupelo, moving 110 miles northwest to Memphis, Tennessee. Here too, thirteen-year-old Elvis lived in the city's poorer section of town and attended a Pentecostal church. At this time, he was very much influenced by the ]. What does this mean - that he sang it? If not, what else? {{fact}} | |||
] ], poses atop a tank at ]]] | |||
While Elvis Presley was a teen cataclysm <!-- ?? --> with millions of American girls screaming at the sight of him, his own church viewed Presley's gyrations on stage as an affront, labelling it the ]'s work and a mocking of the ]. Presley records were condemned as ] and Pentecostal preachers thumped their ]s with ]s, warning congregations to keep ] rock and roll music out of their homes and away from their children's ears (especially the music of "that backslidden Pentecostal pup, ''Elvis Presley''"{{citeneeded}}). People who decades later would be considered part of the ] spoke out vigorously against Presley, including ]. In its weekly periodical, the ] added to the criticism in an article titled "Beware Elvis Presley."{{citeneeded}} | |||
On October 1, 1958, Presley was assigned to the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, ], ], at ], West Germany, where he served as an armor intelligence specialist.{{sfn|US Department of Defense|1960}} On November 27, he was promoted to ] and on June 1, 1959, to ]. While on maneuvers, Presley was introduced to ] and became "practically evangelical about their benefits", not only for energy but for "strength" and weight loss.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=21}} Karate became a lifelong interest: he studied with ],{{sfn|Tillery|2013|p=60}}{{sfn|Eiland|2018}} and later included it in his live performances.{{sfn|Corcoran|1998}}{{sfn|Tillery|2013|loc=Chapter 5: Patriot}}{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=47, 49, 55, 60, 73}} Fellow soldiers have attested to Presley's wish to be seen as an able, ordinary soldier despite his fame, and to his generosity. He donated his Army pay to charity, purchased television sets for the base, and bought an extra set of fatigues for everyone in his outfit.{{sfn|Clayton|Heard|2003|p=160}} Presley was promoted to ] on February 11, 1960.{{sfn|US Department of Defense|1960}} | |||
While in ], Presley, aged 24, met 14-year-old ].<!--She took the surname Presley after her marriage, thus, per https://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Biography#People_with_the_same_surname, is referred to by name as "Priscilla" to distinguish her from "Elvis".-->{{sfn|Jeffrey|Kaplan|2022}} They would marry after a seven-and-a-half-year courtship. In her autobiography, Priscilla said that Presley was concerned that his 24 months in the military would ruin his career. In ], he would have been able to perform and remain in touch with the public, but Parker had convinced him that to gain popular respect, he should serve as a regular soldier.{{sfn|Presley|1985|p=40}} Media reports echoed Presley's concerns about his career, but RCA Victor producer ] and ] of Hill and Range had carefully prepared: armed with a substantial amount of unreleased material, they kept up a regular stream of successful releases.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=107}} Between his induction and discharge, Presley had ten top-40 hits, including "]", the bestselling "]", and "]" in 1958, and "]" and the number-one "]" in 1959.{{sfn|Whitburn|2010|p=520}} RCA Victor also generated four albums compiling previously issued material during this period, most successfully '']'' (1958), which hit number three on the LP chart.{{sfn|Marcus|1982|p=278}} | |||
In August, 1956 in ] a local ] judge called Presley a "]" and threatened to arrest him if he shook his body while performing at Jacksonville's Florida Theatre, justifying the restrictions by saying his music was undermining the youth of America.{{citeneeded}} Throughout the performance Presley stood still as ordered but poked fun at the judge by wiggling a finger. Similar attempts to stop his "sinful gyrations" continued for more than a year and included his often noted January 6, 1957 appearance on '']'' (during which he performed the spiritual number "Peace in the Valley") when he was seen only from the waist up. {{fact}} | |||
=== 1960–1968: focus on films === | |||
''His Hand in Mine'' (1960) was the title of Presley's first gospel album. He said his music came from gospel and told a reporter that he "knew every gospel song there is."<ref>Respectively, during ], and in the 2005 televised special.</ref> Despite his church's attitude, gospel music was a prominent part of Presley's repertoire throughout his life. From 1971 to his death in 1977 Presley employed the ], a gospel group, for his backup vocals. He recorded several gospel albums, earning three ]s for his gospel music. In his later years Presley's live stage performances almost always included a rendition of "How Great Thou Art," the 19th century gospel song made famous by ]. Twenty-four years after his death, the ] finally inducted him into its ] (2001). {{fact}} | |||
{{See also|Elvis Presley on film and television}} | |||
<!-- | |||
Well-Known Gospel Songs: | |||
* How Great Thou Art | |||
* ] | |||
* Peace In The Valley | |||
* He Is My Everything | |||
* Help Me | |||
* Why Me, Lord? | |||
* ] | |||
* Swing Down Sweet Chariot | |||
==== ''Elvis Is Back'' ==== | |||
What's the purpose of this list? | |||
{{Listen|type=music|filename=It's Now or Never.ogg|title="It's Now or Never" |description=Presley broke new stylistic ground and displayed his vocal range with this number-one hit. The quasi-operatic ballad ends with Presley "soaring up to an incredible top G sharp."{{sfn|Matthew-Walker|1979|p=49}}}} | |||
--> | |||
Presley returned to the U.S. on March 2, 1960, and was ] three days later.{{sfn|Slaughter|Nixon|2004|p=54}} The train that carried him from ] to Tennessee was mobbed all the way, and Presley was called upon to appear at scheduled stops to please his fans.{{sfn|Matthew-Walker|1979|p=19}} On the night of March 20, he entered ] to cut tracks for a new album along with a single, "]", which was rushed into release and swiftly became a number-one hit.{{sfn|Slaughter|Nixon|2004|p=57}} Another Nashville session two weeks later yielded a pair of bestselling singles, the ballads "]" and "]", along with the rest of '']'' The album features several songs described by Greil Marcus as full of ] "menace, driven by Presley's own super-miked acoustic guitar, brilliant playing by Scotty Moore, and demonic sax work from ]. Elvis' singing wasn't sexy, it was pornographic."{{sfn|Marcus|1982|pp=279–280}} The record "conjured up the vision of a performer who could be all things", according to music historian John Robertson: "a flirtatious teenage idol with a heart of gold; a tempestuous, dangerous lover; a gutbucket blues singer; a sophisticated nightclub entertainer; raucous rocker".{{sfn|Robertson|2004|p=50}} Released only days after recording was complete, it reached number two on the album chart.{{sfn|"Red Carpet"|1960}}{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=124–127, 414}} | |||
] in '']'']] | |||
==Voice characteristics== | |||
Presley returned to television on May 12 as a guest on '']''. Also known as ''Welcome Home Elvis'', the show had been taped in late March, the only time all year Presley performed in front of an audience. Parker secured an unheard-of $125,000 for eight minutes of singing. The broadcast drew an enormous viewership.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=44, 62–63}} | |||
Elvis Presley was a baritone whose voice had an extraordinary compass — the so-called register — and a very wide range of vocal color.<ref>Henry Pleasants, ''The Great American Popular Singers.''</ref> It covered two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat. Presley's best octave was in the middle, D-flat to D-flat. In ballads and country songs he was able to belt out full-voiced high Gs and As, showing a remarkable ability to naturally assimilate styles, and eliciting a multiplicity of voices.<!-- What does the last part mean? --> {{fact}} | |||
'']'', the soundtrack to Presley's first film since his return, was a number-one album in October. His first LP of sacred material, '']'', followed two months later; it reached number 13 on the U.S. pop chart and number 3 in the United Kingdom, remarkable figures for a gospel album. In February 1961, Presley performed two shows in Memphis, for a benefit for twenty-four local charities. During a luncheon preceding the event, RCA Victor presented him with a plaque certifying worldwide sales of over 75 million records.{{sfn|Gordon|2005|pp=110, 114}} A twelve-hour Nashville session in mid-March yielded nearly all of Presley's next studio album, '']''.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=148}} According to John Robertson, it exemplifies the ], the restrained, cosmopolitan style that would define country music in the 1960s. Presaging much of what was to come from Presley over the next half-decade, the album is largely "a pleasant, unthreatening pastiche of the music that had once been Elvis' birthright".{{sfn|Robertson|2004|p=52}} It would be his sixth number-one LP. Another benefit concert, for a ] memorial, was staged on March 25 in Hawaii. It was to be Presley's last public performance for seven years.{{sfn|Gordon|2005|pp=110, 119}} | |||
Presley's range, though impressive in its own right, did not in itself make his voice that remarkable, at least in terms of how it measured against musical notation. What made it extraordinary, was where its center of gravity lay. By that measure, and according to Gregory Sandows, Music Professor at Columbia University,{{citeneeded}} Presley was at once a bass, a baritone and a tenor, most unusual among singers in either classical or popular music.{{fact}} | |||
==== Lost in Hollywood ==== | |||
(Comments on Presley's vocal range by music analysts and other entertainers, citing song examples, can be found in .) | |||
Parker had by now pushed Presley into a heavy filmmaking schedule, focused on formulaic, modestly budgeted ]. Presley initially insisted on pursuing higher roles, but when two films in a more dramatic vein—'']'' (1960) and '']'' (1961)—were less commercially successful, he reverted to the formula. Among the twenty-seven films he made during the 1960s, there were a few further exceptions.{{sfn|Ponce de Leon|2007|p=133}} His films were almost universally panned; critic Andrew Caine dismissed them as a "pantheon of bad taste".{{sfn|Caine|2005|p=21}} Nonetheless, they were virtually all profitable. ], who produced nine, declared, "A Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood."{{sfn|Fields|2007}} | |||
Of Presley's films in the 1960s, fifteen were accompanied by soundtrack albums and another five by soundtrack EPs. The films' rapid production and release schedules—Presley frequently starred in three a year—affected his music. According to Jerry Leiber, the soundtrack formula was already evident before Presley left for the Army: "three ballads, one medium-tempo , one up-tempo, and one break blues boogie".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=449}} As the decade wore on, the quality of the soundtrack songs grew "progressively worse".{{sfn|Kirchberg|Hendrickx|1999|p=67}} ], who appeared in '']'' (1966), says that Presley disliked many of the songs.{{sfn|Lisanti|2000|pp=19, 136}} The Jordanaires' Gordon Stoker describes how he would retreat from the studio microphone: "The material was so bad that he felt like he couldn't sing it."{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=201}} Most of the film albums featured a song or two from respected writers such as the team of ] and ]. But by and large, according to biographer ], the numbers seemed to be "written on order by men who never really understood Elvis or rock and roll".{{sfn|Hopkins|2002|p=32}} | |||
==Relationships== | |||
], holding their newborn daughter, ], in 1968]] | |||
] | |||
In the first half of the decade, three of Presley's soundtrack albums were ranked number one on the pop charts, and a few of his most popular songs came from his films, such as "]" (1961) and "]" (1962). However, the commercial returns steadily diminished. From 1964 through 1968, Presley had only one top-ten hit: "]" (1965), a gospel number recorded in 1960. As for non-film albums, between the June 1962 release of '']'' and the November 1968 release of the soundtrack to the television special that signaled his comeback, only one LP of new material by Presley was issued: the gospel album '']'' (1967). It won him his first ], for Best Sacred Performance. As Marsh described, Presley was "arguably the greatest white gospel singer of his time really the last rock & roll artist to make gospel as vital a component of his musical personality as his secular songs".{{sfn|Marsh|2004|p=650}} | |||
No entertainer has ever had his life and intimate relationships examined in as much detail as has Elvis Presley. Even the ] had a file on him of more than 600 pages.<ref>See Thomas Fensch, ''The FBI Files on Elvis Presley'' (New Century Books, 2001).</ref> He has been the subject of over 718 books (and counting), including two by his only wife, ] (whom he married on ], ]) and several others by former girlfriends including June Juanico. Since his death many claims to relationships have been made by women who were no more than acquaintances or had short affairs which were exaggerated for personal gain. {{fact}} | |||
Shortly before Christmas 1966, more than seven years since they first met, Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu. They were married on May 1, 1967, in a brief ceremony in their suite at the ] in Las Vegas.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=261–263}} The flow of formulaic films and assembly-line soundtracks continued. It was not until October 1967, when the ] registered record low sales for a new Presley album, that RCA Victor executives recognized a problem. "By then, of course, the damage had been done", as historians Connie Kirchberg and Marc Hendrickx put it. "Elvis was viewed as a joke by serious music lovers and a has-been to all but his most loyal fans."{{sfn|Kirchberg|Hendrickx|1999|p=73}} | |||
=== 1968–1973: Comeback === | |||
==== ''Elvis'': the '68 Comeback Special ==== | |||
{{Main|Singer Presents...Elvis}} | |||
] produced "one of the most famous images" of Presley;{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=263}} taken on June 29, 1968, it was adapted for the cover of '']'' in July 1969{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=263}}{{sfn|Rolling Stone|2009}}]] | |||
Presley's only child, ], was born on February 1, 1968, during a period when he had grown deeply unhappy with his career.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=171}} Of the eight Presley singles released between January 1967 and May 1968, only two charted in the top 40, none higher than number 28.{{sfn|Whitburn|2010|p=521}} His forthcoming soundtrack album, '']'', would rank at number 82. Parker had already shifted his plans to television: he maneuvered a deal with NBC that committed the network to finance a theatrical feature and broadcast a Christmas special.{{sfn|Kubernick|2008|p=4}} | |||
Recorded in late June in ], California, the special, simply called ''Elvis'', aired on December 3, 1968. Later known as the '']'', the show featured lavishly staged studio productions as well as songs performed with a band in front of a small audience—Presley's first live performances since 1961. The live segments saw Presley dressed in tight black leather, singing and playing guitar in an uninhibited style reminiscent of his early rock and roll days. Director and co-producer ] worked hard to produce a show that was far from the hour of Christmas songs Parker had originally planned.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=293, 296}} The show, NBC's highest-rated that season, captured forty-two percent of the total viewing audience.{{sfn|Kubernick|2008|p=26}} ] of ''Eye'' magazine remarked: <blockquote>There is something magical about watching a man who has lost himself find his way back home. He sang with the kind of power people no longer expect of rock 'n' roll singers. He moved his body with a lack of pretension and effort that must have made ] green with envy.{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=215}}</blockquote> Marsh calls the performance one of "emotional grandeur and historical resonance".{{sfn|Marsh|2004|p=649}} | |||
===High school and early stardom=== | |||
The early experiences that he was teased by his fellow classmates for being a mama's boy had a deep influence on his clumsy advances to girls. Beginning in his early teens, Presley embarked upon the "indefatigable pursuit of girls", but was totally rebuffed.<ref>According to interviews with teachers and former fellow students at Milam Junior High school in Tupelo, Mississippi, summarized: ], '']'', p.124.</ref> This may have contributed, at first, to his lifelong need for a beautiful woman to offset his feelings of inadequacy. According to Guralnick, he loved playing with the girls and teasing them, but it "didn't go too far. ... In between shows at the auditorium he would peek out from behind the curtain, then, when he spotted someone that he liked, swagger over to the concession stand, place his arm over her shoulder, and drape his other arm around someone else, acting almost like he was drunk."<ref>Guralnick, p.149.</ref> However, from looking at the numerous pictures of Presley starting at the age of 14, what is also quite evident is that the teenager who was usually dismissed, and rebuffed by girls his age, was not the extraordinarily handsome young man he indeed became by age 20. On the other hand, he was still a mama's boy. When Elvis entered the Army it marked the longest and furthest distance from his mother "that he'd ever been. For a man who'd slept in the same bed as his momma until his early teens, that was a cruel reality."<ref>Humphries, ''Elvis The #1 Hits: The Secret History of the Classics'', p.99.</ref> {{fact}} | |||
By January 1969, the single "]", written for the special, reached number 12. The ] rose into the top ten. According to friend ], the special reminded Presley of what "he had not been able to do for years, being able to choose the people; being able to choose what songs and not being told what had to be on the soundtrack. ... He was out of prison, man."{{sfn|Kubernick|2008|p=26}} Binder said of Presley's reaction, "I played Elvis the 60-minute show, and he told me in the screening room, 'Steve, it's the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I give you my word I will never sing a song I don't believe in.{{'"}}{{sfn|Kubernick|2008|p=26}} | |||
Between 1954 and 1956, when his stardom began to rise, the impoverished son of welfare recipients went from being shunned and even mocked by some of the popular girls from his junior and high school days, to being the subject of adulation and adoration of some of the most beautiful girls in Memphis, then of young Hollywood starlets such as ] and ]. ]<ref>Winters is usually considered a reliable source for Hollywood goings-on and portrayed Gladys Presley in the 1979 made-for-TV movie ''Elvis''.</ref> claimed the relationship between Presley and Natalie Wood developed into something more serious than what was generally reported in the media.<ref>Elaine Dundy.</ref> However, according to Wood biographer ], Elvis' mother believed that Natalie was a schemer who hoped to "snare" Elvis only "for publicity purposes."<ref>Gavin Lambert, ''Natalie Wood: A Life'', p.205.</ref> When a columnist wanted to know if the romance with Elvis was "serious," Natalie's cool answer was, "Not right now." "But who knows what will happen?"<ref>Lambert, p.206. The author adds, "By this time, Natalie had learned an important lesson in handling the press. Titillating curiosity without satisfying it was always more effective than the standard denial of 'We're just good friends.' "</ref> One of her judgements of Elvis was, "He can sing but he can't do much else."<ref>Lana Wood, ''Natalie – A Memoir by Her Sister'' (1984).</ref> {{fact}} | |||
==== ''From Elvis in Memphis'' and the International ==== | |||
] | |||
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Power of My Love.ogg|title="Power of My Love" |description=Beginning with his American Sound recordings, ] became a central element in Presley's fusion of styles. Here, he revels in lyrics full of sexual innuendos.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=277}}}} | |||
There were several significant relationships in Presley's life other than his one marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu. They included Dixie Locke, a high school sweetheart who he met at his ] ] church and was part of his life before and during his Sun Records time.<ref>Locke was portrayed by Jennifer Rae Westley in the 2005 ] ] ''Elvis''.</ref> Anita Wood, another wholesome ] girl whom Gladys Presley hoped he would eventually marry, was with Presley as he rose to superstardom, served in the US military and returned home in 1960. Anita lived at ] for a time but moved out after confronting him over Priscilla Beaulieu, the "girl in Germany." Following media reports of a girlfriend in Germany, Presley "had me believing that she was just a friend and her daddy was in the Army with him, and there was nothing to it whatsoever."<ref>2005 television interview of Anita Wood by ].</ref> Presley used his charm to persuade Anita to move back into Graceland, but she remained only a few months before leaving permanently. Presley immediately began a short-lived affair with ], his co-star from the film '']''. Helm came to Graceland for a short time but her quick exit allowed for the entrance of Beaulieu, who moved to Memphis in 1962. | |||
Buoyed by the experience of the ''Comeback Special'', Presley engaged in a prolific series of recording sessions at ], which led to the acclaimed '']''. Released in June 1969, it was his first secular, non-soundtrack album from a dedicated period in the studio in eight years. As described by Marsh, it is "a masterpiece in which Presley immediately catches up with pop music trends that had seemed to pass him by during the movie years. He sings country songs, soul songs and rockers with real conviction, a stunning achievement."{{sfn|Marsh|1980|p=396}} The album featured the hit single "]", issued in April, which reached number three on the pop chart—Presley's first non-gospel top ten hit since "Bossa Nova Baby" in 1963. Further hit singles were culled from the American Sound sessions: "]", "]", and "]".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=419}} | |||
Presley was keen to resume regular live performing. Following the success of the ''Comeback Special'', offers came in from around the world. The ] offered Parker {{US$|28,000|link=yes}} ({{Inflation|US|28000|1969|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) for a one-week engagement. He responded, "That's fine for me, now how much can you get for Elvis?"{{sfn|Gordon|2005|p=146}} In May, the brand-new ] in Las Vegas, boasting the largest showroom in the city, booked Presley for fifty-seven shows over four weeks, beginning July 31. Moore, Fontana, and the Jordanaires declined to participate, afraid of losing the lucrative session work they had in Nashville. Presley assembled new, top-notch accompaniment, led by guitarist ] and including two gospel groups, ] and ].{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=283}} Costume designer ], responsible for the intense leather styling of the ''Comeback Special'', created a new stage look for Presley, inspired by his passion for karate.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=343}} Nonetheless, Presley was nervous: his only previous Las Vegas engagement, in 1956, had been dismal. Parker oversaw a major promotional push, and International Hotel owner ] arranged to send his own plane to New York to fly in rock journalists for the debut performance.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=346–347}} | |||
However, there were also other sides of Presley's relationships with women. Albert Goldman goes as far as to call him a "pervert" dating fourteen-year-old girls.<ref>Albert Goldman, ''Elvis'' (McGraw-Hill, 1981).</ref><!-- Do not confuse this with Goldman's later "Elvis: The last 24 hours" --> Elvis had a predilection for underaged girls, as "with teenage girls, he felt more secure he wouldn't be pleasuring himself with a mother."<ref>Earl Greenwood, ''The Boy who would be King'', p.239.</ref> Home movies were made with these girls.<ref> Greenwood, p.254. One of Elvis's "favorite things was to watch the girls have sex with each other. The faces changed and each group got younger, until on the final evening there were four fourteen-year-olds ... The movies were Elvis's latest pride and joy. He and his boys watched parts of them every day..."</ref> Goldman cites Presley's closest friends and relatives in order to support his view that the star was an undisciplined, self-indulgent hillbilly with a sickly Oedipal relationship with his obese, smothering mother.<ref>Albert Goldman, ''Elvis: The Last 24 Hours''.</ref> | |||
Presley took to the stage without introduction. The audience of 2,200, including many celebrities, gave him a standing ovation before he sang a note and another after his performance. A third followed his encore, "Can't Help Falling in Love" (which would be his closing number for much of his remaining life).{{sfn|Gordon|2005|pp=149–150}} At a press conference after the show, when a journalist referred to him as "The King", Presley gestured toward ], who was taking in the scene. "No," Presley said, "that's the real king of rock and roll."{{sfn|Cook|2004|p=39}} The next day, Parker's negotiations with the hotel resulted in a five-year contract for Presley to play each February and August, at an annual salary of $1 million.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|pp=259, 262}} '']'' commented, "There are several unbelievable things about Elvis, but the most incredible is his staying power in a world where meteoric careers fade like shooting stars."{{sfn|Moyer|2002|p=73}} '']'' called Presley "supernatural, his own resurrection."{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=287}} In November, Presley's final non-concert film, '']'', opened. The double album '']'' came out the same month; the first LP consisted of live performances from the International, the second of more cuts from the American Sound sessions. "Suspicious Minds" reached the top of the charts—Presley's first ] in over seven years, and his last.{{sfn|Whitburn|2010|pp=521–522}} | |||
===Priscilla Beaulieu Presley and other relationships=== | |||
]]] | |||
Accounts differ on whether Presley had sex with Priscilla Beaulieu before they married. Priscilla recounted how Presley suffered from insomnia and would stay up all night and sleep most of the day. She described him as a very passionate man who was not overtly sexual towards her and condemned pre-marital sex as a sin.<ref>], '']'' (1985). If he wanted to go out, he'd rent out the venue so no fans would bother him. This insistence on being a virgin allegedly hallmarked each relationship Presley had with any woman he thought of as a potential wife or someone he was willing to live with.</ref> ] says that Priscilla and Presley slept together on their second date and that she wasn't a virgin on her wedding night.<ref>], ''Child Bride: The Untold Story of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley.'' The book also claims that Priscilla had lied and her marriage was part of a master plan for fame hatched by Priscilla and her mother and that she never loved Elvis.</ref> | |||
], later television's Elvira, met Presley during this period in Las Vegas. She recalled of their encounter, "He was so anti-drug when I met him. I mentioned to him that I smoked ], and he was just appalled."{{sfn|Stein|1997}} Presley also rarely drank—several of his family members had been alcoholics, a fate he intended to avoid.{{sfn|Mason|2007|p=81}} | |||
Presley's ex-wife and several girlfriends confirmed that while demanding purity and loyalty from them, Presley had numerous affairs with other women he had no plans of staying with. Whether he had sex with them is unclear. Some authors say that Presley's "list of one-night stands would fill volumes."<ref>Jim Curtin, ''Elvis: Unknown Stories behind the Legend,'' p.119.</ref> ] in an article for '']'' alleges that "he (Elvis) would never put himself inside one of these girls."<ref>A ] article by Byron Raphael and ] claims that "the so-called dangerous rock-and-roll idol was anything but a despotic ruler in the bedroom" and "really wasn’t all that keen on doing the wild thing. He was far more interested in heavy petting and panting and groaning" and "he would never put himself inside one of these girls ... within minutes he’d be asleep."</ref> Priscilla Presley relates that Elvis told her that he didn't make love to Anita Wood the whole four years he went with her.<ref>"Just to a point," he said. "Then I stopped. It was difficult for her too, but that's just how I feel." See Priscilla Presley, ''Elvis and Me'', p. 98.</ref> Model and actress ], who had a fling with Presley, says that the singer didn't feel like a man next to her and was "virtually impotent" with her.<ref>In her memoir, ''Breathing Out'' (St. Martin's Press, 2005), p.172, ] attributes his impotence to his heavy drug abuse. She relates that Presley was like a "teenage boy". "He didn't feel like a man next to me - more like a boy who'd never matured." When he tried to make love with Peggy, "he just wasn't up to sex. Not that he wasn't built, but with me, at least, he was virtually impotent."</ref> Suzanne Finstad also claims that Presley wasn't overtly sexually active.<ref>Suzanne Finstad, ''Child Bride''.</ref> | |||
==== Back on tour and meeting Nixon ==== | |||
Priscilla Beaulieu wrote that his philandering made her "crazed with worry," particularly his highly-publicized relationship with ], which he tried to hide from her. Shortly after he and Priscilla married and she got pregnant, Presley became involved with ]. When questioned by his wife, Presley denied any affair but then out of the blue, Nancy Sinatra, who barely knew Priscilla, called her and offered to organize her baby shower. Shortly after this, Presley left his expecting wife in shock by asking for a trial separation. On 1 February 1968, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter ], in Memphis, Tennessee. | |||
Presley returned to the International early in 1970 for the first of the year's two-month-long engagements, performing two shows a night. Recordings from these shows were issued on the album '']''.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=94}} In late February, Presley performed six attendance-record–breaking shows at the ].{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=95}} In April, the single "]" was issued—a number one hit in the UK, it topped the U.S. ] chart as well. ] (MGM) filmed rehearsal and concert footage at the International during August for the documentary '']''. Presley was performing in a jumpsuit, which would become a trademark of his live act. During this engagement, he was threatened with murder unless {{US$|50,000|link=yes}} ({{Inflation|US|50000|1970|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) was paid. Presley had been the target of many threats since the 1950s, often without his knowledge.{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=253}} The FBI took the threat seriously and security was increased for the next two shows. Presley went onstage with a ] in his right boot and a ] ] in his waistband, but the concerts succeeded without any incidents.{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=254}}{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=96}} | |||
'']'', produced to accompany the documentary and featuring both studio and live recordings, marked a stylistic shift. As music historian John Robertson noted, <blockquote>The authority of Presley's singing helped disguise the fact that the album stepped decisively away from the American-roots inspiration of the Memphis sessions towards a more middle-of-the-road sound. With country put on the back burner, and soul and R&B left in Memphis, what was left was very classy, very clean white pop—perfect for the Las Vegas crowd, but a definite retrograde step for Elvis.{{sfn|Robertson|2004|p=70}}</blockquote> After the end of his International engagement on September 7, Presley embarked on a week-long concert tour, largely of the ], his first since 1958. Another week-long tour, of the ], followed in November.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=99}} | |||
===Later years=== | |||
].]] | |||
Following his separation from Priscilla in late February, 1972 the thirty-seven-year-old Elvis Presley immediately became involved with a twenty-one-year-old beauty queen, ], who may or may not have moved in.<ref>She claims{{citeneeded}} she moved into ] and lived with him for nearly four and a half years, but others close to the family said{{citeneeded}} she did not.</ref> Presley dated a host of others besides Thompson, notably his backup singer ] and actress ], who spoke about her relationship with Presley while he was performing in Las Vegas: "years later, I would read and find out that he had like two other women there at the same time."<ref>To Larry King, in a candid 2002 television interview on ]'s '']'' marking the 25th anniversary of Presley's death.</ref> Thompson knew Presley had been cheating on her but stayed with him anyway until he ended it in late 1976 when he began a relationship with 21 year-old ].<ref>As Thompson told Larry King in the same show.</ref> | |||
] in the ] ], December 21, 1970]] | |||
].]] Alden, unlike Thompson and Priscilla, did not move in with Presley when he asked her and he told her that he respected her for not doing so and had great respect for her and her family. Presley proposed to Alden by giving her an 11 1/2 ] diamond engagement ring made from his favorite TCB ring on ], ] (they had plans for a Christmas wedding in 1977). Vernon Presley, Elvis's father, stated in an interview{{citeneeded}} that his son told him that he had "finally" found the love that he had been searching for all his life and that he wanted more children, a son, and wanted Alden to be the mother. Vernon also stated that Elvis told him that Graceland had come "alive" again after meeting Alden, and that he could see Elvis as that little boy from Tupelo again. However, Presley died before he could fulfill that lifelong search. | |||
On December 21, 1970, Presley engineered a meeting with U.S. President ] at the ], where he explained how he believed he could reach out to the ]s to help combat the ] he and the president abhorred. He asked Nixon for a ] badge, to signify official sanction of his efforts. Nixon, who apparently found the encounter awkward, expressed a belief that Presley could send a positive message to young people and that it was, therefore, important that he "retain his credibility".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=419–422}} Presley told Nixon that ], whose songs he regularly performed in concert during the era,{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=284, 286, 307–308, 313, 326, 338, 357–358}} exemplified what he saw as a trend of ].{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=420}} Presley and his friends previously had a four-hour get-together with the Beatles at his home in ], California, in August 1965. ] later said that he "felt a bit betrayed. ... The great joke was that we were taking drugs, and look what happened to him", a reference to Presley's early death linked to ].{{sfn|The Beatles|2000|p=192}} | |||
The ] named Presley one of its annual ] on January 16, 1971.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=321}} Not long after, the City of Memphis named the stretch of ] on which Graceland is located "Elvis Presley Boulevard". The same year, Presley became the first rock and roll singer to be awarded the ] (then known as the Bing Crosby Award).{{sfn|McPhate|2017}}{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|pp=299–300}} Three new, non-film Presley studio albums were released in 1971. Best received by critics was '']'', a ] that focused on genre standards.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=319}} The biggest seller was '']''. According to Greil Marcus, <blockquote>In the midst of ten painfully genteel Christmas songs, every one sung with appalling sincerity and humility, one could find Elvis tom-catting his way through six blazing minutes of "]", a raunchy old ] blues.{{nbsp}} If sin was his lifelessness, it was his sinfulness that brought him to life.{{sfn|Marcus|1982|pp=284–185}}</blockquote> | |||
==Death and burial== | |||
On ], ], at his ] mansion in ], Presley was found lying on the floor of his bedroom's ensuite bathroom by his fiancee, ], who had been asleep in his bed. He was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 3:30 p.m. He was only 42 years old. | |||
==== Marriage breakdown and ''Aloha from Hawaii'' ==== | |||
In her 1987 book ''Elvis and Kathy,'' friend and backup vocalist ] wrote "Everyone knew he was sick, that each public appearance brought him to the point of exhaustion." | |||
{{See also|Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite}} | |||
] (left) and ] (right) backstage at the ] on August 5, 1972]] | |||
MGM filmed Presley in April 1972 for '']'', which went on to win the ] for ]. His gospel album '']'', released that month, would earn him his second ]. A fourteen-date tour commenced with an unprecedented four consecutive sold-out shows at New York's ].{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=308}} The evening concert on July 10 was issued in LP form a week later. '']'' became one of Presley's biggest-selling albums. After the tour, the single "]" was released—Presley's last top ten hit on the U.S. pop chart. "The most exciting single Elvis has made since 'All Shook Up{{'"}}, wrote rock critic ].{{sfn|Marcus|1982|p=283}} | |||
] after their divorce was finalized in 1973]] | |||
Presley and his wife had become increasingly distant, barely cohabiting. In 1971, an affair he had with Joyce Bova resulted—unbeknownst to him—in her pregnancy and an abortion.{{sfn|Williamson|2015|pp=253–254}} He often raised the possibility of Joyce moving into Graceland.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=451, 446, 453}} The Presleys ] on February 23, 1972, after Priscilla disclosed her relationship with ], a karate instructor Presley had recommended to her. Priscilla related that when she told him, Presley forcefully made love to her, declaring, "This is how a real man makes love to his woman".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=456}} She later stated in an interview that she regretted her choice of words in describing the incident, and said it had been an overstatement.{{sfn|Marsh|2015}} Five months later, Presley's new girlfriend, ], a songwriter and one-time Memphis beauty queen, moved in with him.{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=291}} Presley and his wife filed for divorce on August 18.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=474}} According to Joe Moscheo of the Imperials, the failure of Presley's marriage "was a blow from which he never recovered".{{sfn|Moscheo|2007|p=132}} At a rare press conference that June, a reporter had asked Presley whether he was satisfied with his image. Presley replied, "Well, the image is one thing and the human being another ... it's very hard to live up to an image."{{sfn|Keogh|2004|pp=234–235}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
In January 1973, Presley performed two benefit concerts for the ] Cancer Fund in connection with a groundbreaking television special, '']'', which would be the first concert by a solo artist to be aired globally. The first show served as a practice run and backup should technical problems affect the live broadcast two days later. On January 14, ''Aloha from Hawaii'' aired live via satellite to prime-time audiences in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as to U.S. servicemen based across Southeast Asia. In Japan, where it capped a nationwide Elvis Presley Week, it smashed viewing records. The next night, it was simulcast to twenty-eight European countries, and in April an extended version aired in the U.S., receiving a fifty-seven percent share of the TV audience.{{sfn|Hopkins|2002|pp=61, 67, 73}} Over time, Parker's claim that it was seen by one billion or more people{{sfn|Hopkins|2002|p=73}} would be broadly accepted,{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=10}}{{sfn|Brown|Broeske|1997|p=364}}{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=475}} but that figure appeared to have been sheer invention.{{sfn|Fessier|2013}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Bruce Fessier |title=Director remembers landmark Elvis Presley performance |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/05/10/elvis-presley-aloha-from-hawaii/2151617/ |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |quote=Those figures now seem dubious. Aloha was transmitted to 38 nations, the combined populations of those countries was 1.3 billion. The Guinness Book of World Records says the largest TV audience for a performance was the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show by Michael Jackson, which drew 133.4 million viewers.}}</ref> Presley's stage costume became the most recognized example of the elaborate concert garb with which his latter-day persona became closely associated. As described by ], "At the end of the show, when he spreads out his American Eagle cape, with the full stretched wings of the eagle studded on the back, he becomes a god figure."{{sfn|Mason|2007|p=141}} The ], released in February, went to number one and eventually sold over 5 million copies in the U.S.{{sfn|RIAA|2010}} It was Presley's last ] during his lifetime.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=422–425}} | |||
At a press conference following his death, one of the medical examiners declared that he had died of a heart attack. Heart disease was very prevalent in his family. His mother, Gladys Presley, died of a heart attack brought on by acute hepatitis at age 46. Presley's father Vernon died of heart failure in 1979. | |||
At a midnight show that same month, four men rushed onto the stage in an apparent attack. Security personnel came to Presley's defense, and he ejected one invader from the stage himself. Following the show, Presley became obsessed with the idea that the men had been sent by Mike Stone to kill him. Though they were shown to have been only overexuberant fans, Presley raged, "There's too much pain in me ... Stone die." His outbursts continued with such intensity that a physician was unable to calm him, despite administering large doses of medication. After another two full days of raging, ], his friend and bodyguard, felt compelled to get a price for a ] and was relieved when Presley decided, "Aw hell, let's just leave it for now. Maybe it's a bit heavy."{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=488–490}} | |||
Dr. Willis Madrey, who had examined Presley's liver in 1975, said, "I had understood he was having some gastrointestinal problems his doctors were trying to evaluate."{{citeneeded}} Most likely, he was referring to Presley's enlarged colon, which worsened over time and may have led to ]. It is believed{{citeneeded}} that possibly his gastrointestinal problems, combined with a weak heart, caused his death; however, since the autopsy records will not be in the public domain until 2027, we will not know with certainty yet. It is a lasting theory, though never confirmed, that he ]. | |||
=== 1973–1977: health deterioration and death === | |||
According to ]'s book, ''Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley'' (1999), "drug use was heavily implicated in this unanticipated death of a middle-aged man with no known history of heart disease ... It was certainly possible that he had been taken while 'straining at stool,' and no one ruled out the possibility of anaphylactic shock brought on by the codeine pills he had gotten from his dentist, to which he was known to have had a mild allergy of long standing. ... There was little disagreement in fact between the two principal laboratory reports and analyses filed two months later, with each stating a strong belief that the primary cause of death was polypharmacy, and the BioScience Laboratories report ... indicating the detection of fourteen drugs in Elvis' system, ten in significant quantity." | |||
==== Medical crises and last studio sessions ==== | |||
Presley's divorce was finalized on October 9, 1973.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=329}} By then, his health was in serious decline. Twice during the year he overdosed on ]s, spending three days in a coma in his hotel suite after the first incident. In late 1973, he was hospitalized from the effects of a ] addiction. According to his primary care physician, ], Presley "felt that by getting drugs from a doctor, he wasn't the common everyday junkie getting something off the street".{{sfn|Higginbotham|2002}} Since his comeback, he had staged more live shows with each passing year, and 1973 saw 168 concerts, his busiest schedule ever.{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=238}} Despite his failing health, he undertook another intensive touring schedule in 1974.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=481, 487, 499, 504, 519–520}} | |||
Presley's condition declined precipitously that September. Keyboardist ] remembered his arrival at a ] concert: "He fell out of the limousine, to his knees. People jumped to help, and he pushed them away like, 'Don't help me.' He walked on stage and held onto the mic for the first thirty minutes like it was a post. Everybody's looking at each other like, 'Is the tour gonna happen'?"{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=547}} Guitarist John Wilkinson recalled: <blockquote>He was all gut. He was slurring. He was so fucked up. ... It was obvious he was drugged. It was obvious there was something terribly wrong with his body. It was so bad the words to the songs were barely intelligible. ... I remember crying. He could barely get through the introductions.{{sfn|Hopkins|1986|p=136}}</blockquote> | |||
In his book, ''Elvis: The Last 24 Hours'', ] even went as far as to suggest that Presley killed himself by overdosing on a stash of drugs that he stockpiled. David Stanley, Presley's stepbrother, who was at Graceland the day Presley died, is said{{citeneeded}} to have removed the needles and drug packets near Presley's body before the paramedics arrived, suggesting that he did not want to see Presley's name tarred with the brush of suicide. | |||
On July 13, 1976, Vernon Presley—who had become deeply involved in his son's financial affairs—had fired "]" bodyguards ] (Presley's friend since the 1950s), ], and David Hebler, citing the need to "cut back on expenses".{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=50, 148}}{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=601–4}}{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=139}} Presley was in ] at the time, and some suggest the singer was too cowardly to face the three himself. Another associate of Presley's, John O'Grady, argued that the bodyguards were dropped because their rough treatment of fans had prompted too many lawsuits.{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=354}} However, Presley's stepbrother David Stanley has claimed that the bodyguards were fired because they were becoming more outspoken about Presley's drug dependency.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=140}} | |||
On the other hand, some of his closest family members, friends, band members, and background singers have long disputed stories concerning Presley's alleged drug abuse and "self-destructive" lifestyle. At the same time, they have not denied that he did take prescription medications for ''bona fide'' or suspected health problems. For instance, the late Vernon Presley, Kathy Westmoreland, the late Charlie Hodge, and the late ] have pointed out{{citeneeded}} that Presley also suffered from severe health problems unrelated to drug abuse. These health problems included glaucoma, insomnia, and ]. The illness may have increased his dependency on prescription medication. | |||
RCA began to grow anxious as his interest in the recording studio waned. After a session in December 1973 that produced eighteen songs, enough for almost two albums, Presley made no official studio recordings in 1974.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=560}} Parker delivered RCA another concert record, '']''.{{sfn|Guralnick|Jorgensen|1999|p=336}} Recorded on March 20, it included a version of "]" that won Presley his third and final ].{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=381}}{{sfn|Grammy|2014}} All three of his competitive Grammy wins{{snd}}out of fourteen total nominations{{snd}}were for gospel recordings.{{sfn|Grammy|2014}} Presley returned to the recording studio in March 1975, but Parker's attempts to arrange another session toward the end of the year were unsuccessful.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=584–585}} In 1976, RCA sent a mobile recording unit to Graceland that made possible two full-scale recording sessions.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=593–595}} However, the recording process had become a struggle for him.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=595}} | |||
Elvis Presley was originally buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis next to his mother. After an attempted theft of the body, his remains and his mother's remains were moved to ]. | |||
==== Final months and death ==== | |||
{{See also|Elvis sightings}} | |||
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Hurt (Presley).ogg|title="Hurt" |description=An R&B hit for ] in 1955 and a pop hit for ] singer ] in 1961, Presley's ] version was picked up by country radio in 1976.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=397}}}} | |||
After Presley's relationship with Linda Thompson ended,{{sfn|Gostin|2023}} he began dating Ginger Alden in November 1976; he proposed marriage to Alden two months later.{{sfn|Speakman|2023}} | |||
Journalist Tony Scherman wrote that, by early 1977, "Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Grossly overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts."{{sfn|Scherman|2006}} According to Andy Greene of ''Rolling Stone'', Presley's final performances were mostly "sad, sloppy affairs where a bloated, drugged Presley struggled to remember his lyrics and get through the night without collapsing ... Most everything from the final three years of his life is sad and hard to watch."{{sfn|Greene|2018}} In ], Louisiana, he was on stage for less than an hour and "was impossible to understand".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=628}} On March 31, he canceled a performance in ], unable to get out of his hotel bed; four shows had to be canceled and rescheduled.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=628–630}} | |||
Despite the accelerating deterioration of his health, Presley fulfilled most of his touring commitments. According to Guralnick, fans "were becoming increasingly voluble about their disappointment, but it all seemed to go right past Presley, whose world was now confined almost entirely to his room and his ] books".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=634}} Presley's cousin, Billy Smith, recalled how he would sit in his room and chat for hours, sometimes recounting favorite ] sketches and his past escapades, but more often gripped by paranoid obsessions.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=212, 642}} | |||
==Lasting legacy== | |||
By 1957 Elvis Presley was the most famous entertainer in the world. After pioneer band leader ] spawned interest in rock and roll in ], Presley's records triggered a wide shift in tastes with effects lasting many decades. Once his records were heard, across the globe, singers in dozens of countries made Presley-influenced recordings in many languages and his own records were sold around the globe, even behind the former ]. By 1958 ], the so-called "British Elvis", was rising to prominence in the ], and in ] ], known as the "Elvis of France", became a rock and roll idol singing in French, soon to be followed by others like ] and, in Italy, by Adriano Celentano and Bobby Solo, all of whom were heavily influenced by Presley's early style. Later, as his first movies were shown throughout the world, Presley-mannered stage performers and singers appeared everywhere, from Latin America to Asia, the Middle East, and even in some parts of Africa. Airplay and sales of Presley recordings across Europe were followed by those of other American rockers who began touring there. ]s around the world copied his "]" hair style. | |||
"]", Presley's last single issued during his lifetime, was released on June 6, 1977. That month, CBS taped two concerts for a television special, '']'', to be broadcast in October. In the first, shot in ] on June 19, Presley's voice, Guralnick writes, "is almost unrecognizable, a small, childlike instrument in which he talks more than sings most of the songs, casts about uncertainly for the melody in others, and is virtually unable to articulate or project".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=638}} Two days later, in ], South Dakota, "he looked healthier, seemed to have lost a little weight, and sounded better, too", though, by the conclusion of the performance, his face was "framed in a helmet of blue-black hair from which sweat sheets down over pale, swollen cheeks".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=638}} Presley's final concert was held in ] at ], on June 26, 1977.{{sfn|Harrison|2016|p=23}} | |||
For the next 21 years, until he died, Presley's singing style, mannerisms and look continued to be imitated with surprising regularity, wherever his image, songs, or movies happened to be shown, regardless of major shifts in popular culture, music, and manner of dress, all of which he had helped influence in the first place. But it was only after his death that an industry built itself around him, with hundreds, then thousands upon thousands{{fact}} of men (and a few women also) of every race, creed and nationality taking up a career for life, as professional ]s — or Elvis Tribute Artists (ETAs) — as they now prefer to be called. | |||
The book '']'', co-written by the three bodyguards fired a year prior, was published on August 1.{{sfn|Stanley|Coffey|1998|p=148}} It was the first exposé to detail Presley's years of drug misuse. He was devastated by the book and tried unsuccessfully to halt its release by offering money to the publishers.{{sfn|Humphries|2003|p=79}} By this point, he suffered from multiple ailments: ], ], ], and an ], each magnified—and possibly caused—by drug abuse.{{sfn|Higginbotham|2002}} | |||
Conversely, a parallel industry, mostly kitsch, continues to grow around his memory, chronicling his dietary and chemical predilections along with the trappings of his wide celebrity. Critics said{{citeneeded}} this, along with the obvious shortcomings that most Presley impersonators face when attempting to portray Presley both vocally and visually, tends to obscure the vibrant and vital music he once made as a young man, the vocally-influential recordings of his later career, and his lasting mark on popular culture. | |||
]|upright=0.8]] | |||
] and Presley in a brief meeting in December, 1970 during which a reportedly{{citeneeded}} prescription drug-impaired Presley offered his assistance in a national effort against drug abuse.]] | |||
On August 16, 1977, Presley was scheduled on an evening flight out of Memphis to ], Maine, to begin another tour. That afternoon, however, his fiancée Ginger Alden discovered him unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion.{{sfn|Alden|2014}} Attempts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead at ] at 3:30 p.m.;{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=645–648}} he was 42.{{sfn|Harrison|2016|p=242}} | |||
President ] issued a statement that credited Presley with having "permanently changed the face of American popular culture".{{sfn|Woolley|Peters|1977}} Thousands of people gathered outside Graceland to view the open casket. One of Presley's cousins, Billy Mann, accepted {{US$|18000|link=yes}} ({{Inflation|US|18000|1977|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) to secretly photograph the body; the picture appeared on the cover of the '']''{{'}}s biggest-selling issue ever.{{sfn|Hopkins|2007|p=386}} Alden struck a $105,000 ({{Inflation|US|105000|1977|fmt=eq|r=-3}}) deal with the ''Enquirer'' for her story, but settled for less when she broke her exclusivity agreement.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=660}} Presley left her nothing in his ].{{sfn|Victor|2008|pp=581–582}} | |||
Following Presley's death in 1977 US ] ] said: | |||
''Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, 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.''{{citeneeded}} | |||
Presley's funeral was held at Graceland on August 18. Outside the gates, a car ploughed into a group of fans, killing two young women and critically injuring a third.{{sfn|Matthew-Walker|1979|p=26}} About 80,000 people lined the processional route to ], where Presley was buried next to his mother.{{sfn|Pendergast|Pendergast|2000|p=108}} Within a few weeks, "Way Down" topped the country and UK singles chart.{{sfn|Whitburn|2006|p=273}}{{sfn|Warwick|Kutner|Brown|2004|pp=860–866}} Following an attempt to steal Presley's body in late August, the remains of both Presley and his mother were exhumed and reburied in Graceland's Meditation Garden on October 2.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=660}} | |||
Or as ] once put it, "He taught white America to get down."{{citeneeded}} | |||
===== Cause of death ===== | |||
Among his many accomplishments, Elvis Presley is only one of four artists (], ] and ] being the others) to ever have two top five albums on the charts simultaneously. | |||
While an ] undertaken the same day Presley died was still in progress, Memphis ] Jerry Francisco announced that the immediate cause of death was cardiac arrest and declared that "drugs played no role in Presley's death".{{sfn|Ramsland|2010}} In fact, "drug use was heavily implicated" in Presley's death, writes Guralnick. The pathologists conducting the autopsy thought it possible, for instance, that he had suffered "] brought on by the codeine pills he had gotten from his dentist, to which he was known to have had a mild allergy". Lab reports filed two months later strongly suggested that ] was the primary cause of death; one reported "fourteen drugs in Elvis' system, ten in significant quantity".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|pp=651–653}} In 1979, forensic pathologist ] reviewed the reports and concluded that a combination of ]s had resulted in Presley's accidental death.{{sfn|Ramsland|2010}} Forensic historian and pathologist ] viewed the situation as complicated: "Elvis had an ] for a long time. That, together with his drug habit, caused his death. But he was difficult to diagnose; it was a judgment call."{{sfn|Baden|Hennessee|1990|p=35}} | |||
The competence and ethics of two of the centrally involved medical professionals were seriously questioned. Francisco had offered a cause of death before the autopsy was complete; claimed the underlying ailment was ], a condition that can be determined only in a living person; and denied drugs played any part in Presley's death before the toxicology results were known.{{sfn|Ramsland|2010}} Allegations of a cover-up were widespread.{{sfn|Baden|Hennessee|1990|p=35}} While a 1981 trial of Presley's main physician, George C. Nichopoulos, exonerated him of criminal liability, the facts were startling: "In the first eight months of 1977 alone, he had more than 10,000 doses of ]s, ]s, and narcotics: all in Elvis' name." Nichopoulos' license was suspended for three months. It was permanently revoked in the 1990s after the Tennessee Medical Board brought new charges of over-prescription.{{sfn|Higginbotham|2002}} | |||
He has been inducted into the ] (1986), the ] (1998), and the ] (2001). | |||
In 1994, the Presley autopsy report was reopened. Joseph Davis, who had conducted thousands of autopsies as ] coroner,{{sfn|Tennant|2013|p=2}} declared at its completion, "There is nothing in any of the data that supports a death from drugs. In fact, everything points to a sudden, violent heart attack."{{sfn|Higginbotham|2002}} More recent research has revealed that Francisco did not speak for the entire pathology team. Other staff "could say nothing with confidence until they got the results back from the laboratories, if then."{{sfn|Williamson|2015|pp=11–14}} One of the examiners, E. Eric Muirhead, <blockquote>could not believe his ears. Francisco had not only presumed to speak for the hospital's team of pathologists, he had announced a conclusion that they had not reached. ... Early on, a meticulous dissection of the body ... confirmed Elvis was chronically ill with ], glaucoma, and constipation. As they proceeded, the doctors saw evidence that his body had been wracked over a span of years by a large and constant stream of drugs. They had also studied his hospital records, which included two admissions for drug detoxification and ] treatments.{{sfn|Williamson|2015|pp=11–14}}</blockquote> | |||
In 1984 Presley was given the ] from the ] in Memphis for "keeping the blues alive in his music - rock and roll." | |||
=== 1977–present: posthumous developments === | |||
In ], Presley's image appeared on a ]. | |||
Between 1977 and 1981, six of Presley's posthumously released singles were top-ten country hits.{{sfn|Whitburn|2006|p=273}} Graceland was opened to the public in 1982. Attracting over half a million visitors annually, it became the second-most-visited home in the United States, after the White House.{{sfn|Brown|Broeske|1997|p=433}} The residence was declared a ] in 2006.{{sfn|National Park Service|2010}} | |||
Presley has been inducted into five music ]: the ] (1986), the ] (1998), the ] (2001), the ] (2007), and the ] (2012). In 1984, he received the ] from the ] and the ]'s first Golden Hat Award. In 1987, he received the ]s' Award of Merit.{{sfn|Cook|2004|p=33}} | |||
Upon announcing that Presley's home, the Graceland Mansion, was being designated as a National Historic Landmark, U.S Interior Secretary ] noted on ], ], that “It didn’t take Americans and the rest of the world long to discover Elvis Presley; and it is clear they will never forget him. His popularity continues to thrive nearly 29 years after his passing, with each new generation connecting with him in a significant way.” | |||
A ] remix of Presley's "]" (credited as "Elvis Vs JXL") was used in a ] advertising campaign during the ]. It topped the charts in over twenty countries and was included in a compilation of Presley's number-one hits, '']'', which was also an international success. The album returned Presley to the top of the ''Billboard'' chart for the first time in almost three decades.{{sfn|Garrity|2002}} | |||
==Allegations of racism== | |||
Whether or not he actually said it, Presley was widely believed to have said, "The only thing black people can do for me is shine my shoes and buy my records."<ref>A variant: "I've only two uses for niggers – they can buy my records and they can shine my shoes." Alexander Cockburn, ''The Golden Age Is in Us: Journeys and Encounters, 1987-1994,'' p.17. According to Michael T. Bertrand, the comment is alleged to have been made either in Boston or on Edward R. Murrow's ''Person to Person.'' Michael T. Bertrand, ''Race, Rock, and Elvis'' (University of Illinois Press, 2000), p.221. Since Presley was never in Boston in the 50's, nor was he ever interviewed by Murrow, Bertrand believes it was fabricated.</ref> In 1957, the African-American magazine ''Jet'' looked into the allegations, finding no proof that Presley had ever said it. Presley himself later claimed that the quote had been fabricated and that he wasn't a racist.<ref>.</ref> | |||
In 2003, a remix of "]", a 1969 recording, topped the U.S. sales chart, as did a 50th-anniversary re-release of "That's All Right" the following year.{{sfn|Bronson|2004|p=1}} The latter was an outright hit in Britain, debuting at number three on the pop chart; it also made the top ten in Canada.{{sfn|"Hits of the World"|2004}} In 2005, another three reissued singles, "Jailhouse Rock", "One Night"/"I Got Stung", and "It's Now or Never", went to number one in the UK. They were part of a campaign that saw the re-release of all eighteen of Presley's previous chart-topping UK singles. The first, "All Shook Up", came with a collectors' box that made it ineligible to chart again; each of the other seventeen reissues hit the British top five.{{sfn|Sexton|2007}} | |||
The fact that Presley was "a white performer whose financial success rested upon the songs and styles of black artists historically excluded from the popular music marketplace"<ref>Bertrand, ''Race, Rock, and Elvis,'' p.26.</ref>, together with other factors that would have made him highly suspect in the eyes of blacks, namely his poor, white origins in deeply racist Mississippi, or his purchase of an old Memphis mansion, and his association with right-wing politicians, has often been cited as proof that he was a racist.<ref>Bertrand, ''Race, Rock, and Elvis,'' p.27. Presley was actually a Democrat, naming the Kennedy brothers as his favourite politicians.{{fact}}</ref> Whether or not it was justified, the fact remains that distrust of Presley was common amongst the general African-American population after the allegations were made public.<ref>Bertrand, ''Race, Rock, and Elvis,'' p.200.</ref> | |||
In 2005, ] named Presley the ] for the fifth straight year, with a gross income of $45 million.{{sfn|Goldman|Ewalt|2007}} He was placed second in 2006,{{sfn|Rose|2006}} returned to the top spot the next two years,{{sfn|Goldman|Paine|2007}}{{sfn|Hoy|2008}} and ranked fourth in 2009.{{sfn|Pomerantz et al.|2009}} The following year, he was ranked second, with his highest annual income ever—$60 million—spurred by the celebration of his 75th birthday and the launch of ]'s '']'' show in Las Vegas.{{sfn|Rose et al.|2010}} In November 2010, '']'' was released, setting his voice to newly recorded instrumental tracks.{{sfn|Baillie|2010}}{{sfn|Bouchard|2010}} As of mid-2011, there were an estimated 15,000 licensed Presley products,{{sfn|Lynch|2011}} and he was again the second-highest-earning deceased celebrity.{{sfn|Pomerantz|2011}} Six years later, he ranked fourth with earnings of $35 million, up $8 million from 2016 due in part to the opening of a new entertainment complex, Elvis Presley's Memphis, and hotel, The Guest House at Graceland.{{sfn|Greenburg|2017}} | |||
The above notwithstanding, Presley was able to maintain close and friendly personal relationships with some of the most learned, well-informed, celebrated and proud African-Americans of his generation, including sportsmen and US civil rights activists and humanists ], ], and ], as well as R&B legends ], ], ] and ], amongst many other notable African-Americans. {{fact}}. | |||
In 2018, RCA/] released '']'', a new album focused on Presley's love of gospel music. Produced by Joel Weinshanker, Lisa Marie Presley and ], the album introduced newly recorded instrumentation along with vocals from singers who had performed in the past with Elvis. It included a reimagined duet with Lisa Marie, on the album's title track.{{sfn|Legacy|2018}} | |||
As quoted earlier, Presley's social background as a poor, white kid growing in Mississippi, a state known for its deep tooted racism, has been cited, inter-alia, as one of the reasons African-Americans were led to believe that the allegations about Presley being a racist were true. The latter, however, fails to take into consideration that Tupelo, in 1935 (the year when Elvis was born, and where he lived until he turned 13), was not a place where racism was an issue. In fact, two years earlier, in 1933, it was the first city in the United States to provide all its citizens with electric power through the Tennessee Valley Authority, being visited, in 1935 itself, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself, who proudly named it "The First TVA City". | |||
In 2022, ]'s film '']'', a biographical film about Presley's life, was released. Presley is portrayed by ] and Parker by ]. As of August 2022, the film had grossed $261.8 million worldwide on a $85 million budget, becoming the second-highest-grossing music biopic of all-time behind '']'' (2018), and the ] film. For his portrayal of Presley, Butler won the ] and was nominated for the ].{{sfn|Box Office Mojo}} In January 2023, his ] sold at an auction for $260,000.{{sfn|Walker|2023}}<!--{{sfn|Davoren|2023}}--> | |||
Another misconception, that Elvis associated with right-wing politicians, stems from his infamous trip to the White House to meet President Nixon and what transpired, years later, namely the knowledge that he had railed against the radical underground groups, or spoken badly about the Beatles, and Jane Fonda. While the latter is beyond question, so is the fact that he was Democrat, citing the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, as his favourite people in politics. Moreover, and with the possible exceptions of Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson, every elected U.S. President since 1956 was an avid and outspoken admirer of Presley, whether they were Republicans (R. Nixon, R. Reagan, G. Bush Sr., and G.W. Bush), or Democrats (J. Kennedy, J. Carter, B. Clinton). | |||
Furthermore, since one of the other reasons cited as proof that Elvis could have been a racist was his purchase of a mansion such as Graceland, the fact that the mansion itself has been visited, and toured, by prominent members of practically every community - including the African American one-, or by noted world statesmen (amongst them, a former Nobel Peace-Prize winner, the current President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias), as well as by both US, and foreign-based high level diplomats from every continent of the world, make the racist allegations even less credible, in particular as any one of them could hardly afford, in their position, to have gone ahead and toured Graceland knowing for a fact that these allegations had but a grain of truth. | |||
== Artistry == | |||
==Elvis in the 21st century== | |||
=== Influences === | |||
] | |||
Presley's earliest musical influence came from ]. His mother recalled that from the age of two, at the Assembly of God church in Tupelo attended by the family, "he would slide down off my lap, run into the aisle and scramble up to the platform. There he would stand looking at the choir and trying to sing with them."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=14}} In Memphis, Presley frequently attended all-night gospel singings at the ], where groups such as the ] led the music in a style that, Guralnick suggests, sowed the seeds of Presley's future stage act: | |||
{{blockquote|The Statesmen were an electric combination ... featuring some of the most thrillingly emotive singing and daringly unconventional showmanship in the entertainment world ... dressed in suits that might have come out of the window of Lansky's. ... Bass singer Jim Wetherington, known universally as the Big Chief, maintained a steady bottom, ceaselessly jiggling first his left leg, then his right, with the material of the pants leg ballooning out and shimmering. "He went about as far as you could go in gospel music," said ]. "The women would jump up, just like they do for the pop shows." Preachers frequently objected to the lewd movements ... but audiences reacted with screams and swoons.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=47–48}}}} | |||
Interest in Presley's recordings returned during the buildup to the ], when ] used a ] remixed version of his "]" (credited as "Elvis Vs JXL") as the background music to a series of TV commercials featuring international ] stars. The remix hit number one in over 20 countries, including the ] and ].<ref>It was also his first top 10 hit in the UK for nearly 22 years, and his first number one there for nearly 25 years. It topped Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart (physical singles - legal downloads were not around at the time) but only reached #50 on the ].</ref> At about the same time, a compilation of Presley's US and UK Number 1 hits, ], was being prepared for release. "A Little Less Conversation" (remix version) was quickly added as the album's 31st track just before release in October 2002. | |||
], Presley's musical interests were wide-ranging, and he was deeply informed about both white and African-American musical idioms. Though he never had any formal training, he had a remarkable memory, and his musical knowledge was already considerable by the time he made his first professional recordings aged 19 in 1954. When Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller met him two years later, they were astonished at his encyclopedic understanding of the blues,{{sfn|Bertrand|2000|p=211}} and, as Stoller put it, "He certainly knew a lot more than we did about country music and gospel music."{{sfn|Fox|1986|p=179}} At a press conference the following year, he proudly declared, "I know practically every religious song that's ever been written."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=430}} | |||
Nearly 50 years after Presley made his first hit record and 25 years after his death, the compilation reached number one on the charts in the US, the UK, Australia and many other countries. A re-release from it, "]" (not a remix), also made the Australian top 40 later in the year. | |||
=== Musicianship === | |||
Presley's renewed fame continued with another remix in 2003 (this time by ]) of "Rubberneckin'", which made the top three in ] and top five in the ]. This was followed by another album called '']'', a collection of his hits, including the "Rubberneckin'" remix, that just failed to reach number one. | |||
Presley played guitar, bass, and piano; he received his first guitar when he was 11 years old. He could not read or write music and had no formal lessons, and played everything by ear.{{sfn|Graceland Blog|2015}} Presley often played an instrument on his recordings and produced his own music. Presley played rhythm acoustic guitar on most of his Sun recordings and his 1950s RCA Victor albums. Presley played piano on songs such as "]" and "First in Line" from his 1956 album '']''.{{sfn|Osborne|2017|p=}} He is credited with playing piano on later albums such as '']'' and "]", and on "]", which was one of the last songs that he recorded.{{sfn|Duffett|2018|p=}} Presley played lead guitar on one of his successful singles called "]".{{sfn|Murray|1961|p=65}} At one point during the ], Elvis took over on lead electric guitar, the first time he had ever been seen with the instrument in public, playing it on songs such as "]" and "]".{{sfn|Marcus|2015|p=}} The album '']'' features Presley playing a lot of acoustic guitar on songs such as "]" and "]".{{sfn|Eder|2013|p=}} | |||
=== Musical styles and genres === | |||
To commemorate the 50th anniversary in mid-2004 of Presley's first professional recording, "That's All Right", it was re-released, and made the charts around the world, including top three in the UK and top 40 in Australia. | |||
], March 1957]] | |||
Presley was a central figure in the development of ], according to music historians. "Rockabilly crystallized into a recognizable style in 1954 with Elvis Presley's first release, on the Sun label," writes Craig Morrison.{{sfn|Morrison|1996|p=x}} Paul Friedlander described rockabilly as "essentially ... an Elvis Presley construction", with the defining elements as "the raw, emotive, and slurred vocal style and emphasis on rhythmic feeling the blues with the string band and strummed rhythm guitar country".{{sfn|Friedlander|1996|p=45}} In "That's All Right", the Presley trio's first record, Scotty Moore's guitar solo, "a combination of ]–style country finger-picking, double-stop slides from acoustic boogie, and blues-based bent-note, single-string work, is a microcosm of this fusion".{{sfn|Friedlander|1996|p=45}} While Katherine Charlton calls Presley "rockabilly's originator",{{sfn|Charlton|2006|p=103}} ], another pioneer of rock'n'roll, said that " Phillips, Elvis, and I didn't create rockabilly".{{sfn|Jancik|1998|p=16}} According to ], the first major rockabilly song was recorded by ].{{sfn|Campbell|2009|p=161}} In Moore's view, "It had been there for quite a while, really. Carl Perkins was doing basically the same sort of thing up around ], and I know for a fact Jerry Lee Lewis had been playing that kind of music ever since he was ten years old."{{sfn|Guralnick|1989|p=104}} | |||
At RCA Victor, Presley's rock and roll sound grew distinct from rockabilly with group chorus vocals, more heavily amplified electric guitars,{{sfn|Gillett|2000|p=113}} and a tougher, more intense manner.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=39}} While he was known for taking songs from various sources and giving them a rockabilly/rock and roll treatment, he also recorded songs in other genres from early in his career, from the pop standard "]" at Sun Records to the country ballad "How's the World Treating You?" on his second RCA Victor LP to the blues of "Santa Claus Is Back in Town". In 1957, his first gospel record was released, the four-song EP '']''. Certified as a million-seller, it became the top-selling gospel EP in recording history.{{sfn|Wolfe|1994|p=14}} Presley would record gospel periodically for the rest of his life.{{cn|date=November 2024}} | |||
In early 2005 in the United Kingdom, RCA began to re-issue Presley's 18 UK number-one singles as CD-singles in the order they were originally released, one of them a week. The first of these re-issues, "]", was ineligible to chart due to its being sold together with a collector's box which holds all 18 singles in it (it actually sold enough to be number two). The second, "]", was the number one in the first chart of 2005, and "One Night"/"I Got Stung", the third in the series, replaced it on the ] chart (and thus becoming the 1000th UK number one entry). | |||
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Run On.ogg|title="Run On" |description=From '']'' (1967), a traditional song popular in the black gospel tradition. The arrangement evokes "the percussive style of the 1930s ]."{{sfn|Wolfe|1994|p=22}}{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=184}}}} | |||
All of these have reached top five in the official charts.<ref>Three number ones, eight number twos, four number threes, one number four, and one number five.</ref> These re-releases have made Elvis the only artist so far to spend at least 1000 weeks in the British top 40.<ref>On ], ], the ''Book of British Hit Singles & Albums'' unveiled its annual list of the Top 100 Most Successful Acts of all time, based on the total number of weeks each recording artist has spent on the official UK Singles and Albums charts. Elvis Presley ranked first, with Cliff Richard, Queen, The Beatles and Madonna rounding out the top five. | |||
After his return from military service in 1960, Presley continued to perform rock and roll, but the characteristic style was substantially toned down. His first post-Army single, the number-one hit "Stuck on You", is typical of this shift. RCA Victor publicity referred to its "mild rock beat"; discographer Ernst Jorgensen calls it "upbeat pop".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=123}} The number five "]" (1962) "integrates the Jordanaires so completely, it's practically doo-wop".{{sfn|Marsh|1982|p=145}} The modern blues/R&B sound captured with success on ''Elvis Is Back!'' was essentially abandoned for six years until such 1966–67 recordings as "]" and "]".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=213, 237}} Presley's output during most of the 1960s emphasized pop music, often in the form of ballads such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", a number-one in 1960. "It's Now or Never", which also topped the chart that year, was a classically influenced variation of pop based on the Neapolitan song "{{lang|nap|]|italic=no}}" and concluding with a "full-voiced operatic cadence".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=65}} These were both dramatic numbers, but most of what Presley recorded for his many film soundtracks was in a much lighter vein.{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|pp=142–143}} | |||
While Presley performed several of his classic ballads for the '']'', the sound of the show was dominated by aggressive rock and roll. He recorded few new straight rock and roll songs thereafter; as he explained, they had become "hard to find".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=343}} A significant exception was "Burning Love", his last major hit on the pop charts. Like his work of the 1950s, Presley's subsequent recordings reworked pop and country songs, but in markedly different permutations. His stylistic range now began to embrace a more contemporary rock sound as well as soul and ]. Much of ''Elvis in Memphis'', as well as "Suspicious Minds", cut at the same sessions, reflected this new rock and soul fusion. In the mid-1970s, many of his singles found a home on country radio, the field where he first became a star.{{sfn|Ponce de Leon|2007|p=199}} | |||
In the UK singles charts, Elvis went to #1 the most times (21, three of them hitting #1 twice), spent the most weeks there (80), as well as had the most top tens and top forty hits. In the UK album charts, he is second to the Beatles (21), with 16 chart toppers, as well as earning the most top ten, and top forty albums. Still in the album category, his longevity record boasts an almost fifty year gap between his first, and last hit album. | |||
=== Vocal style and range === | |||
In total, he has spent 2,574 weeks in both the UK singles and album charts, way ahead of his closest competitors, namely Cliff Richard (1,982), Queen (1,755), the Beatles (1,749), and Madonna (1,660).</ref> | |||
] program '']'', January 16, 1956]] | |||
The developmental arc of Presley's singing voice, as described by critic Dave Marsh, goes from "high and thrilled in the early days, lower and perplexed in the final months."{{sfn|Marsh|1982|p=234}} Marsh credits Presley with the introduction of the "vocal stutter" on 1955's "]".{{sfn|Marsh|1989|p=317}} When on "Don't Be Cruel", Presley "slides into a 'mmmmm' that marks the transition between the first two verses," he shows "how masterful his relaxed style really is."{{sfn|Marsh|1989|p=91}} Marsh describes the vocal performance on "Can't Help Falling in Love" as one of "gentle insistence and delicacy of phrasing", with the line {{"'}}Shall I stay' pronounced as if the words are fragile as crystal".{{sfn|Marsh|1989|p=490}} | |||
] recently aired a TV miniseries, '']'' starring Irish actor ] as Presley. | |||
Jorgensen calls the 1966 recording of "How Great Thou Art" "an extraordinary fulfillment of his vocal ambitions", as Presley "crafted for himself an ad-hoc arrangement in which he took every part of the four-part vocal, from bass intro to the soaring heights of the song's operatic climax", becoming "a kind of one-man quartet".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=212}} Guralnick finds "]" from the same gospel sessions "a beautifully articulated, almost nakedly yearning performance", but, by contrast, feels that Presley reaches beyond his powers on "Where No One Stands Alone", resorting "to a kind of inelegant bellowing to push out a sound" that Jake Hess of the Statesmen Quartet had in his command. Hess himself thought that while others might have voices the equal of Presley's, "he had that certain something that everyone searches for all during their lifetime."{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=232}} Guralnick attempts to pinpoint that something: "The warmth of his voice, his controlled use of both vibrato technique and natural falsetto range, the subtlety and deeply felt conviction of his singing were all qualities recognizably belonging to his talent but just as recognizably not to be achieved without sustained dedication and effort."{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=231}} | |||
Shortly after taking over the management of all things Elvis from the Elvis Presley Estate (which retained a 15% stake in the new company, while keeping Graceland and the bulk of the possessions found therein), Robert Sillerman's CKX company produced a DVD and CD featuring Presley (titled "Elvis by the Presleys"), as well as an accompanying two-hour documentary broadcast on Viacom's CBS Network, which alone generated $5.5 million.{{citeneeded}} And while some of Presley's fans fretted that outside management might mar the appeal of Graceland, revenue is up <!-- "Up" relative to when? --> at the Memphis shrine, too. | |||
Marsh praises his 1968 reading of "]", "bearing down on the hard guy lyrics, not sending them up or overplaying them but tossing them around with that astonishingly tough yet gentle assurance that he brought to his Sun records."{{sfn|Marsh|1989|p=424}} The performance on "In the Ghetto" is, according to Jorgensen, "devoid of any of his characteristic vocal tricks or mannerisms", instead relying on the exceptional "clarity and sensitivity of his voice".{{sfn|Jorgensen|1998|p=271}} Guralnick describes the song's delivery as of "almost translucent eloquence ... so quietly confident in its simplicity".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=332}} On "Suspicious Minds", Guralnick hears essentially the same "remarkable mixture of tenderness and poise", but supplemented with "an expressive quality somewhere between stoicism (at suspected infidelity) and anguish (over impending loss)".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=335}} | |||
A channel on the Sirius Satellite Radio subscriber service is devoted to the life and music of Elvis, with all broadcasts originating from Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. | |||
Music critic ] observes that "Presley has been described variously as a ] and a ]. An extraordinary compass ... and a very wide range of vocal color have something to do with this divergence of opinion."{{sfn|Pleasants|2004|p=260}} He identifies Presley as a high baritone, calculating his range as two ]s and a third, "from the baritone low ] to the tenor high ], with an upward extension in ] to at least a D-flat. Presley's best octave is in the middle, D-flat to D-flat, granting an extra full step up or down."{{sfn|Pleasants|2004|p=260}} In Pleasants' view, his voice was "variable and unpredictable" at the bottom, "often brilliant" at the top, with the capacity for "full-voiced high Gs and ] that an opera baritone might envy".{{sfn|Pleasants|2004|p=260}} Scholar Lindsay Waters, who figures Presley's range as two-and-a-quarter octaves, emphasizes that "his voice had an emotional range from tender whispers to sighs down to shouts, grunts, grumbles, and sheer gruffness that could move the listener from calmness and surrender, to fear. His voice can not be measured in octaves, but in decibels; even that misses the problem of how to measure delicate whispers that are hardly audible at all."{{sfn|Waters|2003|p=205}} Presley was always "able to duplicate the open, hoarse, ecstatic, screaming, shouting, wailing, reckless sound of the black rhythm-and-blues and gospel singers", writes Pleasants, and also demonstrated a remarkable ability to assimilate many other vocal styles.{{sfn|Pleasants|2004|p=260}} | |||
In a list{{citeneeded}} of the greatest English language singers of the 20th century, as compiled by BBC Radio, Elvis Presley was ranked second. The poll was topped by ], with ] and ] also in the top ten. | |||
== Public image == | |||
In July of 2005, Presley was named one of the top 100 "Greatest Americans," following a vote organized by ]. In the vote, Presley ranked ahead of all entertainers and in eighth place behind Presidents ], ], ], ], and ], plus ] and ]. | |||
=== Relationship with the African-American community === | |||
], circa 1955]] | |||
When Dewey Phillips first aired "That's All Right" on Memphis' ], many listeners who contacted the station to ask for it again assumed that its singer was black.{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|pp=100–101}} From the beginning of his national fame, Presley expressed respect for African-American performers and their music, and disregard for the segregation and racial prejudice then prevalent in the South. Interviewed in 1956, he recalled how in his childhood he would listen to blues musician ]—the originator of "That's All Right"—"bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place where I could feel all old Arthur felt, I'd be a music man like nobody ever saw."{{sfn|Guralnick|2004}} ''The Memphis World'', an African-American newspaper, reported that Presley "cracked Memphis' segregation laws" by attending the local amusement park on what was designated as its "colored night".{{sfn|Guralnick|2004}} Such statements and actions led Presley to be generally hailed in the black community during his early stardom.{{sfn|Guralnick|2004}} In contrast, many white adults "did not like him, and condemned him as depraved. Anti-negro prejudice doubtless figured in adult antagonism. Regardless of whether parents were aware of the Negro sexual origins of the phrase 'rock 'n' roll', Presley impressed them as the visual and aural embodiment of sex."<ref name=":00" /> | |||
Despite the largely positive view of Presley held by African Americans, a rumor spread in mid-1957 that he had announced, "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." A journalist with the national African American weekly '']'', Louie Robinson, pursued the story. On the set of ''Jailhouse Rock'', Presley granted Robinson an interview, though he was no longer dealing with the mainstream press. He denied making such a statement: <blockquote>I never said anything like that, and people who know me know that I wouldn't have said it. ... A lot of people seem to think I started this business. But rock 'n' roll was here a long time before I came along. Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people. Let's face it: I can't sing like Fats Domino can. I know that.{{sfn|Williams|2012}}</blockquote> Robinson found no evidence that the remark had ever been made, and elicited testimony from many individuals indicating that Presley was anything but racist.{{sfn|Guralnick|2004}}{{sfn|Pilgrim|2006}} Blues singer ], who had heard the rumor before he visited Graceland, reported of Presley, "He showed me every courtesy, and I think he's one of the greatest."{{sfn|Guralnick|1994|p=426}} Though the rumored remark was discredited, it was still being used against Presley decades later.{{sfn|Kolawole|2002}} | |||
In mid October of 2005, ''Variety'' named the top 100 entertainment icons of the 20th century, with Presley landing on the top ten, along with The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, James Dean and Mickey Mouse. | |||
The persistence of such attitudes was fueled by resentment over the fact that Presley, whose musical and visual performance idiom owed much to African-American sources, achieved the cultural acknowledgement and commercial success largely denied his black peers.{{sfn|Pilgrim|2006}} Into the twenty-first century, the notion that Presley had "stolen" black music still found adherents.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ushe |first1=Naledi |title=Appropriation or appreciation? How 'Elvis' highlights his complicated history with Black music |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/06/30/elvis-presley-complicated-relationship-black-music/7746069001/ |access-date=April 8, 2024 |work=USA Today |date=June 30, 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Kolawole|2002}}{{sfn|Myrie|2009|pp=123–124}} Notable among African-American entertainers expressly rejecting this view was ], who argued, "A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man's music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis."{{sfn|Masley|2002}} Moreover, Presley acknowledged his debt to African-American musicians throughout his career. Addressing his '68 Comeback Special audience, he said, "Rock 'n' roll music is basically gospel or rhythm and blues, or it sprang from that. People have been adding to it, adding instruments to it, experimenting with it, but it all boils down to ."{{sfn|Osborne|2000|p=207}} Nine years earlier, he had said, "Rock 'n' roll has been around for many years. It used to be called rhythm and blues."{{sfn|Bertrand|2000|p=198}} | |||
A week later, ''Forbes'' magazine{{citeneeded}} named Elvis Presley, for the fifth straight year, the top-earning dead celebrity, grossing US$45 million for the Elvis Presley Estate during the period from October of 2004, to October 2005. ''Forbes'' pointed out that CKX spent $100 million in cash, and stock, for an 85% interest in Presley's income stream in February 2005. | |||
== |
=== Sex symbol === | ||
]'' (1962), visualizing Presley's sex symbol image]] | |||
There is a widespread belief in some quarters that Presley did not die in 1977. Many fans persist in claiming he is still alive, that he went into hiding for various reasons. This claim is allegedly backed up by thousands of so-called ] that have occurred in the years since his death.<ref>The Elvis Presley Online Store, ""</ref> Critics of the notion state that a number of Elvis impersonators can easily be mistaken for Elvis and that the urban legend is merely the result of fans not wanting to accept his death. | |||
Presley's physical attractiveness and sexual appeal were widely acknowledged. "He was once beautiful, astonishingly beautiful", according to critic ].{{sfn|Feeney|2010}} Television director Steve Binder reported, "I'm straight as an arrow and I got to tell you, you stop, whether you're male or female, to look at him. He was that good looking. And if you never knew he was a superstar, it wouldn't make any difference; if he'd walked in the room, you'd know somebody special was in your presence."{{sfn|Ashley|2009|p=76}} His performance style was equally responsible for Presley's eroticized image. Critic ] described him as "the master of the sexual simile, treating his guitar as both phallus and girl".{{sfn|Rodman|1996|p=58}} In his Presley obituary, ] credited him with bringing "overt blatant vulgar sexual frenzy to the popular arts in America".{{sfn|Rodman|1996|pp=58–59}} Ed Sullivan's declaration that he perceived a soda bottle in Presley's trousers was echoed by rumors involving a similarly positioned toilet roll tube or lead bar.{{sfn|Garber|1997|p=366}} | |||
While Presley was marketed as an icon of heterosexuality, some critics have argued that his image was ambiguous. In 1959, '']''{{'}}s Peter John Dyer described his onscreen persona as "aggressively bisexual in appeal".{{Sfn|Dyer|1959–1960|p=30}} Brett Farmer places the "orgasmic gyrations" of the title dance sequence in ''Jailhouse Rock'' within a lineage of cinematic musical numbers that offer a "spectacular eroticization, if not homoeroticization, of the male image".{{sfn|Farmer|2000|p=86}} In the analysis of ], "Elvis was an ambivalent figure who articulated a peculiar feminised, objectifying version of white working-class masculinity as aggressive sexual display."{{sfn|Tasker|2007|p=208}} | |||
Two main reasons are given in support of the belief that Presley faked his death: | |||
Reinforcing Presley's image as a sex symbol were the reports of his dalliances with Hollywood stars and starlets, from ] in the 1950s to ] and ] in the 1960s to ] and ] in the 1970s. June Juanico of Memphis, one of Presley's early girlfriends, later blamed Parker for encouraging him to choose his dating partners with publicity in mind.{{sfn|Stein|1997}} Presley never grew comfortable with the Hollywood scene, and most of these relationships were insubstantial.{{sfn|Kirchberg|Hendrickx|1999|p=109}} | |||
*On his grave, his middle name Aron is misspelled. The double 'A' was removed after his twin brother Jesse Garon was stillborn, Elvis' parents went to great lengths to have it changed on the official birth certificate.{{citeneeded}} | |||
== Legacy == | |||
*"Hours after Elvis' death was announced, a man by the name of Jon Burrows (Elvis' traveling alias) purchased a one way ticket with cash to Buenos Aires."<ref>"", which does not elaborate or give any source for this claim.</ref> | |||
{{further|Cultural impact of Elvis Presley|Cultural depictions of Elvis Presley|Elvis has left the building|List of songs about or referencing Elvis Presley}} | |||
{{quote box | |||
==Discography== | |||
|quote=I know he invented rock and roll, in a manner of speaking, but ... that's not why he's worshiped as a god today. He's worshiped as a god today because in addition to inventing rock and roll he was the greatest ballad singer this side of ]—because the spiritual translucence and reined-in gut sexuality of his slow weeper and torchy pop blues still activate the hormones and slavish devotion of millions of female human beings worldwide. | |||
*For a detailed discography see: ]. | |||
|source= —] <br /> December 24, 1985{{sfn|Christgau|1985}} | |||
*For a list of Elvis' singles see: ]. | |||
|salign=right | |||
*For a list of all of his songs see: ]. | |||
|width=320px | |||
}} | |||
Presley's rise to national attention in 1956 transformed the field of popular music and had a huge effect on the broader scope of popular culture.{{sfn|Collins|2002}} As the catalyst for the cultural revolution that was rock and roll, he was central not only to defining it as a musical genre but in making it a touchstone of youth culture and rebellious attitude.{{sfn|Sadie|1994|p=638}} With its racially mixed origins—repeatedly affirmed by Presley—rock and roll's occupation of a central position in mainstream American culture facilitated a new acceptance and appreciation of black culture.{{sfn|Bertrand|2000|p=94}} | |||
In this regard, ] said of Presley, "He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music."{{sfn|Rodman|1996|p=193}} ] agreed: "He broke the ice for all of us."{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=356}} | |||
==Trivia== | |||
*When Presley was drafted into the US Army in March, 1958, his monthly pay went from $100,000 to $78. | |||
*In 1960, following his return from military service, the various employees hired by Elvis Presley to handle security and his concert tours were dubbed the "]" by the news media. | |||
*His given middle name at birth was ''Aron'';<ref>" (Technical problems with this page may make display impossible.) The page does not specify any source.</ref> however, ''Aaron'' was placed on his gravestone by his father because Presley preferred that ] spelling and had legally changed it. Aaron is the official spelling used by his estate. | |||
*Presley had a twin brother named Jesse who was stillborn. | |||
*] was at one point nicknamed 'Elvisaurus' because of its head crest being similar to Elvis' hairstyle. | |||
* The estate of Elvis Presley earns over 40 million dollars every year which is a record for a deceased entertainer. | |||
* Presley made only one television commercial, an ad for Southern Maid Doughnuts that ran in 1954. | |||
* His hair was a natural sandy brown but he dyed it jet black after filming "Love Me Tender." | |||
* Presley made famous a version of the ] with ] (either mashed or whole) that was ] or ], and may have contained ] and ]. | |||
*Has sold over one billion records worldwide{{citeneeded}} — the first to do so — and is one of the best selling recording artists in history. | |||
*Has won three Grammy awards, all for his gospel recordings. These were for the 1967 "How Great Thou Art" LP, for the 1972 LP, "He Touched Me" and, in 1974, for the song "How Great Thou Art" (live). | |||
* '']'' historian ] declared Presley the "#1 act of the Rock era", beating out ], based upon his dominance of ''Billboard''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> list of top 100 singles artists since 1955. | |||
*Elvis gave a concert and, at its conclusion, a woman came forward with a crown resting on a plush pillow. She lifted the crown to Elvis and shouted, "You're the King!" "No, honey," he said, "I'm not the King. Christ is the King. I'm just a singer".<ref>Steve Brown, ''Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature of the Gospel.''</ref> | |||
* Also, in September of 1974, during one of his two sellout shows at the University of Notre Dame, he stopped singing, as well as motioned for the band to quit playing, in order to tell those holding a huge banner which read ¨You are the King¨, that he was not going to resume singing until it was taken out from view, adding that "there was only one King, and that was the Lord, Jesus Christ".{{citeneeded}} | |||
* Various people are named after Presley. ], a Canadian who was the three-time ], was named after Presley by his mother, who was a big fan. Elvis Crespo, the King of salsa and merengue, was also named after Presley by his mother, a native of Puerto Rico who was a big Elvis fan. Elvis Dumervil, the University of Louisville All American college football player and a candidate to win the 2005 edition of the "Lombardi Award", was also named after Presley by his mother, an African American. ], the former movie critic for the ''],'' was named after Presley by his parents, who were African-Americans. | |||
* Musician ] borrowed Presley's first name, a few months before his death in 1977, in order to help his then fledgling career. | |||
* In 2005, and for the fifth year straight, Presley was named the richest deceased celebrity in ].{{citeneeded}} (see also reference above, under Elvis in the 21st Century) | |||
* He was proud of his role in '']'' because the part was originally offered to his idol ]. Although songs were later slipped into the movie, Presley considered it his best work. | |||
* His favorite rollercoaster was the ] at ].{{fact}} He would rent out the park to himself just so he could ride it non-stop. | |||
* He was offered the lead role of Tony in the film adaptation of the ] musical '']'' but Col. Parker forced Presley turn it down as non-commercial despite Presley's arguments it would legitimize his acting career. The film won ten ] including ]. | |||
* The 1960 Broadway musical '']'' is a supposed satire about the effects of the compulsory U.S. military draft on a famous singer similar to Presley. | |||
* The ] "All Shook Up" features the songs of Elvis Presley, and is based on the plot of ]'s ]. | |||
* Presley's favorite female singer was ]{{fact}} and he recorded a version of "Snowbird". | |||
* Presley was a practitioner of ]. He had an eighth degree black belt when he died.{{fact}} | |||
* Presley was also distantly related to both country singer ]{{fact}} and former U.S. President ].{{fact}} | |||
* Presley was a member of ].{{fact}} | |||
* On his 70th birthday, ] wondered how Presley would look today. To this, ] responded: "Probably like all those Elvis impersonators". | |||
* Presley's height was officially measured in the army twice and was stated at 6'.0.5 inches in bare foot and 6'.1.75 inches with shoes.{{fact}} | |||
* The 2002 ] animated feature ] contains more Presley songs than there are in several movies in which Presley himself starred. The film's closing sequence also features a montage of photographs, one of which portrays the film's main characters posing before the gates of ]. The film also broke several rules related to Presley in films which included using his photo, shortening his songs for time and dressing up like him.{{fact}} However, the Graceland estate allowed the producers this degree of freedom. | |||
* Elvis Presley was a big fan of ], and styled his trademark haircut after that of the comic book character.{{fact}} In addition, Presley's stage outfits (with a half-cape similar to those worn by the Marvels) and his TCB logo (with a Marvel-esque lightning bolt insignia) also show inspiration from Captain Marvel, Jr. | |||
* His death occurred only three days before that of ]. As a result, the comedian's death did not receive as much media attention as many felt it deserved. | |||
* The Presley surname comes from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokshire, Wales, UK.{{fact}} The hills are the source of the famous bluestones that make Stonehenge. | |||
* Pop singer ] was briefly married to Presley's daughter, ], publicized as a wedding between the "King of Pop" and the "Princess of Rock". They were only wed for about six months. | |||
* Presley had a pet rabbit called Dean, after his idol James Dean. {{fact}} | |||
*], who was a close friend of Presley, aired a nationwide tribute in his memory following the news of his death. Martindale was an up-and-coming radio DJ in Memphis at the time Presley's career began to take off in high gear. | |||
*] also paid tribute to Presley on an episode of ]. | |||
*In December 2004 Wade Jones from Belmont, NC sold 3 tablespoons of water from a cup that Elvis Presley drank out of on eBay. The water fetched $455.{{fact}} One week later (January 2005), he sold an appearance of the Elvis Cup on eBay for $3,000{{fact}} and currently tours with the Elvis Cup, which even has its own song "The Elvis Cup" written and recorded by a Filipino Elvis impersonator, "Renelvis". Jones says{{citeneeded}} he scored the styrofoam cup at a 1977 concert the King played. Hoping for a better souvenir, he ended up getting a cup out of which he saw Presley drink. | |||
*In April 3, 2005, the UK-based "] Adventures" magazine published a list of the top ten historical figures people would most like to travel back in time to meet. As reported by the BBC,{{citeneeded}} Presley ranked 2nd, behind Sir ]. Others in the top ten included, in ranking order, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Isaac Newton and Queen Elizabeth I. | |||
*Presley had a short mention in the S.E Hinton classic, ]. | |||
President ] remarked on Presley's legacy in 1977: "His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture."{{sfn|Woolley|Peters|1977}} Presley also heralded the vastly expanded reach of celebrity in the era of mass communication: within a year of his first appearance on American network television, he was regarded as one of the most famous people in the world.{{sfn|Arnett|2006|p=400}} | |||
==Notes== | |||
<references /> | |||
]s in 2005]] | |||
==See also== | |||
Presley's name, image, and voice are recognized around the world.{{sfn|Doss|1999|p=2}} He has inspired ].{{sfn|Lott|Uebel|1997|p=192}} In polls and surveys, he is recognized as one of the most important popular music artists and influential Americans.{{refn|] ranked Presley No. 8 among the "100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll" in 1998.{{sfn|VH1|1998}} The ] ranked him as the No. 2 "Voice of the Century" in 2001.{{sfn|BBC News|2001}} '']'' placed him No. 3 in its list of "The Immortals: The Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004.{{sfn|Rolling Stone|2004}} ] ranked him No. 15 among the "40 Greatest Men in Country Music" in 2005.{{sfn|CMT|2005}} The ] placed him No. 8 on its "Greatest American" list in 2005.{{sfn|Discovery Channel|2005}} '']'' put him in the top ten of its "100 Icons of the Century" in 2005.{{sfn|Variety|2005}} '']'' ranked him No. 66 among the "100 Most Influential Figures in American History" in 2006.{{sfn|Atlantic|2006}} '']'' ranked him No. 17 on its 2023 list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.{{sfn|Rolling Stone|2023}}|name=ranking|group=lower-alpha}} American composer and conductor ] said, "Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century. He introduced the beat to everything and he changed everything—music, language, clothes."{{sfn|Keogh|2004|p=2}} ] said that "Nothing really affected me until Elvis."{{sfn|Davies|1996|p=19}} ] described the sensation of first hearing Presley as "like busting out of jail".{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=356}} | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*'']'' | |||
] at 6777 Hollywood Blvd]] | |||
==Further reading== | |||
* | |||
*Authors of important works on Presley include | |||
**] — his books are considered the definitive work on Presley yet he did not interview all close with Elvis. | |||
**] — award winning book by the ]' 1994 National Member of the Year | |||
**] — reviled by fans for his harsh criticisms of Presley | |||
**] — author of "'']''," called "Nothing less than the best Elvis book yet" by the ] and ], "The most fine-grained Elvis bio ever." | |||
**Michael T. Bertrand - "''Race, Rock, and Elvis''" by ] assistant professor of history. . (2000), ISBN 0-252-02586-5. The book examines the emergence of rock 'n' roll in a social and regional context. | |||
**Louis Cantor - "''Dewey and Elvis - The Life and Times of a Rock 'n' Roll Deejay''" by a professor emeritus of history at ] who grew up in ] and attended high school with Presley. - ] (2005) ISBN 025202981X | |||
**Thomas Fensch - ''The FBI Files on Elvis Presley'' (New Century Books, 2001). ISBN 0930751035. This book reproduces actual texts from numerous ] reports dating from 1959 to 1981,which represent a "microcosm behind-the-scenes life." | |||
For much of his adult life, Presley, with his rise from poverty to riches and fame, had seemed to epitomize the ].{{sfn|Nash|2005|p=xv}}{{sfn|Harrison|2016|p=149}} In his final years, and following the revelations about his circumstances after his death, he became a symbol of excess and gluttony.{{sfn|Cosby|2016|p=144}}{{sfn|Doll|2016|p=186}} Increasing attention was paid to his appetite for the rich, heavy ] of his upbringing, foods such as ] and ].{{sfn|Martin|2000}}{{sfn|Smith|2002}} In particular, his love of fried ],{{sfn|Dundy|2004|pp=227, 256}}{{sfn|Martin|2000}} now known as "Elvis sandwiches",{{sfn|Wilson|2010|p=121}} came to symbolize this characteristic.{{sfn|Slater|2002}} | |||
==External links== | |||
{{commons}} | |||
{{wikiquote}} | |||
* - the site is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises, which is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc (]: {{ndaq|CKXE}}). | |||
* - All about Elvis Presley and his movies. | |||
* - Elvis Aron Presley | |||
* {{imdb name|id=0000062|name=Elvis Presley}} | |||
* | |||
* | |||
*] ] files on Elvis: | |||
* in ] | |||
<!-- Metadata: see ] --> | |||
Since 1977, there have been numerous ]. A long-standing conspiracy theory among some fans is that he faked his death.{{sfn|Harrison|1992|pp=42, 157–160, 169}}{{sfn|Clarke|2006|pp=77, 80}} Adherents cite alleged discrepancies in the death certificate, reports of a wax dummy in his original coffin, and accounts of Presley planning a diversion so he could retire in peace.{{sfn|Harrison|1992|pp=159–160}} An unusually large number of fans have domestic shrines devoted to Presley and journey to sites with which he is connected, however faintly.{{sfn|Harrison|2016|p=10}} On the anniversary of his death, thousands of people gather outside Graceland for a candlelight ritual.{{sfn|Segré|2002}} "With Elvis, it is not just his music that has survived death", writes Ted Harrison. "He himself has been raised, like a medieval saint, to a figure of cultic status. It is as if he has been canonized by acclamation."{{sfn|Harrison|2016|p=10}} | |||
{{Persondata | |||
|NAME=Presley, Elvis Aron | |||
On the 25th anniversary of Presley's death, ''The New York Times'' asserted: <blockquote>All the talentless impersonators and appalling ] on display can make him seem little more than a perverse and distant memory. But before Elvis was camp, he was its opposite: a genuine cultural force. ... Elvis' breakthroughs are underappreciated because in this rock-and-roll age, his hard-rocking music and sultry style have triumphed so completely.{{sfn|New York Times|2002}}</blockquote> | |||
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Presley, Elvis Aron | |||
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=American singer, song producer and actor; "The King of Rock'n'Roll" | |||
He was ranked third on '']'''s list of greatest artists. ] wrote in appreciation: <blockquote>In Elvis, you have the blueprint for rock & roll. The highness — the gospel highs. The mud — the Delta mud, the blues. Sexual liberation. Controversy. Changing the way people feel about the world. It's all there with Elvis.{{sfn|Bono|2010|loc="Elvis"}}</blockquote> | |||
|DATE OF BIRTH=], ] | |||
|PLACE OF BIRTH=] | |||
Not only Presley's achievements but his failings as well, are seen by some cultural observers as adding to the power of his legacy, as in this description by Greil Marcus:<blockquote>Elvis Presley is a supreme figure in American life, one whose presence, no matter how banal or predictable, brooks no real comparisons. ... The cultural range of his music has expanded to the point where it includes not only the hits of the day, but also patriotic recitals, pure country gospel, and really dirty blues. ... Elvis has emerged as a great ''artist'', a great ''rocker'', a great ''purveyor of schlock'', a great ''heart throb'', a great ''bore'', a great ''symbol of potency'', a great ''ham'', a great ''nice person'', and, yes, a great American.{{sfn|Marcus|1982|pp=141–142}}</blockquote> | |||
|DATE OF DEATH=], ] | |||
|PLACE OF DEATH=] | |||
== Achievements == | |||
{{See also|List of accolades received by Elvis Presley}} | |||
With a billion estimated record sales, ] ranks Presley as the best-selling solo artist of all time.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=sales|The estimates of Elvis Presley's record sales vary from 500 million – 1 billion records worldwide.{{sfn|Reuters|2022}}<ref>{{cite book|title= Brandstorm: Surviving and Thriving in the New Consumer-Led Marketplace|publisher= ]|page=77|author=Liz Nickles, Savita Iyer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/14/us/elvis-presley-1968-comeback-guitar-auction/index.html|title= An iconic guitar from Elvis Presley's Comeback Special is up for auction|date=March 14, 2021|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-solo-artist#:~:text=Elvis%20Presley%20(USA)%20is%20the,129.5%20million%20in%20the%20USA). |title=Best-selling solo artist |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=Nov 26, 2024 |website=www.guinnessworldrecords.com |publisher=] |access-date=Nov 26, 2024 |quote=Elvis Presley (USA) is the best-selling solo artist, with 1 billion sales worldwide (129.5 million in the USA).}}</ref>}} Presley's rankings for top ten and number-one hits vary depending on how the double-sided "Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel" and "Don't/I Beg of You" singles, which precede the inception of ''Billboard''{{'}}s unified ] chart, are analyzed.{{refn|Whitburn follows actual ''Billboard'' history in considering the four songs on the "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" and "Don't/I Beg of You" singles as distinct. He tallies each side of the former single as a number-one (''Billboard''{{'}}s sales chart had "Don't Be Cruel" at number one for five weeks, then "Hound Dog" for six) and reckons "I Beg of You" as a top ten, as it reached number eight on the old Top 100 chart. ''Billboard'' now considers both singles as unified items, ignoring the historical sales split of the former and its old Top 100 chart entirely. Whitburn thus analyzes the four songs as yielding three number ones and a total of four top tens. ''Billboard'' now states that they yielded just two number ones and a total of two top tens, voiding the separate chart appearances of "Hound Dog" and "I Beg of You".|name=billboard|group=lower-alpha}} According to Whitburn's analysis, Presley holds the record with 38, tying with ];{{sfn|Whitburn|2010|p=875}} per ''Billboard''{{'}}s current assessment, he ranks second with 36.{{sfn|Hasty|2008}} Whitburn and ''Billboard'' concur that the Beatles hold the record for most number-one hits with 20, and that ] is second with 19.{{sfn|Trust|2022}} Whitburn has Presley with 18:{{sfn|Whitburn|2010|p=875}} ''Billboard'' has him third with 17.{{sfn|Moody|2008}} According to ''Billboard'', Presley has 79 cumulative weeks at number one: alone at 80, according to Whitburn and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,{{sfn|Whitburn|2010|p=876}}{{sfn|RRHF|2010}} with only Mariah Carey having more with 91 weeks.{{sfn|Trust|2023}} He holds the records for most number-one singles on the UK chart with 21 and singles reaching the top ten with 76.{{sfn|Myers|2022}}{{sfn|Myers|2021}} | |||
As an album artist, Presley is credited by ''Billboard'' with the record for the most albums charting in the ]: 129, far ahead of second-place Frank Sinatra's 82. He also holds the record for most cumulative weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 for a male solo artists: 67 weeks{{sfn|Trust|2015}} In 2015 and 2016, two albums setting Presley's vocals against music by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, '']'' and '']'', both reached number one in the UK. This gave him a new record for number-one UK albums by a solo artist with 13, and extended his record for longest span between number-one albums by anybody—Presley had first topped the British chart in 1956 with his self-titled debut.{{sfn|Sexton|2016}} | |||
{{as of|2023}}, the ] (RIAA) credits Presley with 146.5 million certified album sales in the US, third all time behind the Beatles and ].{{sfn|RIAA|2020a}} He holds the records for most ] (101, nearly double second-place ]'s 51),{{sfn|RIAA|2020b}} and most platinum albums (57).{{sfn|RIAA|2020c}} His 25 multi-platinum albums is second behind the Beatles' 26.{{sfn|RIAA|2020d}} His total of 197 album certification awards (including one diamond award), far outpaces the Beatles' second-best 122.{{sfn|Lewis|2017}} He has the 9th-most gold singles (54, tied with ]),{{sfn|RIAA|2020e}} and the 16th-most platinum singles (27).{{sfn|RIAA|2020f}} | |||
In 2012, the spider '']'' was named in his honor.{{sfn|Miller |Griswold |Scharff |Rezac |2012}} In 2018, President ] awarded Presley the ] posthumously.{{sfn|BBC News|2018}} | |||
There is a street named after Presley in ], Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Merrisa |date=September 30, 2014 |title=San Antonio street names and groupings |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/slideshow/San-Antonio-street-names-and-groupings-94695.php |website=mysanantonio.com}}</ref> | |||
== Discography == | |||
{{Main|Elvis Presley albums discography|Elvis Presley singles discography|List of songs recorded by Elvis Presley}} | |||
A vast number of recordings have been issued under Presley's name. The number of his original master recordings has been variously calculated as 665{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=438}} and 711.{{sfn|Feeney|2010}} His career began and he was most successful during an era when singles were the primary commercial medium for pop music. For his albums, the distinction between "official" studio records and other forms is often blurred.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} | |||
{{col-begin}} | |||
{{col-2}} | |||
'''Studio albums''' | |||
* '']'' (1956) | |||
* '']'' (1956) | |||
* '']'' (1957) | |||
* '']'' (1960) | |||
* '']'' (1960) | |||
* '']'' (1961) | |||
* '']'' (1962) | |||
* '']'' (1965) | |||
* '']'' (1967) | |||
* '']'' (1969) | |||
* '']'' (1969) | |||
* '']'' (1970) | |||
* '']'' (1971) | |||
* '']'' (1971) | |||
* '']'' (1971) | |||
* '']'' (1972) | |||
* '']'' (1972) | |||
* '']'' (1973) <small>(The "Fool" Album)</small> | |||
* '']'' (1973) | |||
* '']'' (1974) | |||
* '']'' (1975) | |||
* '']'' (1975) | |||
* ''], Tennessee'' (1976) | |||
* '']'' (1977) | |||
{{col-2}} | |||
'''Soundtrack albums (original material)''' | |||
* '']'' (1957) | |||
* '']'' (1958) | |||
* '']'' (1960) | |||
* '']'' (1961) | |||
* '']'' (1962) | |||
* '']'' (1963) | |||
* '']'' (1963) | |||
* '']'' (1964) | |||
* '']'' (1964) | |||
* '']'' (1965) | |||
* '']'' (1965) | |||
* '']'' (1966) | |||
* '']'' (1966) | |||
* '']'' (1966) | |||
* '']'' (1967) | |||
* '']'' (1967) | |||
* '']'' (1968) | |||
{{col-end}} | |||
== Filmography == | |||
{{Main|Elvis Presley on film and television}} | |||
; Films starred | |||
{{div col|colwidth=18em}} | |||
* '']'' (1956) | |||
* '']'' (1957) | |||
* '']'' (1957) | |||
* '']'' (1958) | |||
* '']'' (1960) | |||
* '']'' (1960) | |||
* '']'' (1961) | |||
* '']'' (1961) | |||
* '']'' (1962) | |||
* '']'' (1962) | |||
* '']'' (1962) | |||
* '']'' (1963) | |||
* '']'' (1963) | |||
* '']'' (1964) | |||
* '']'' (1964) | |||
* '']'' (1964) | |||
* '']'' (1965) | |||
* '']'' (1965) | |||
* '']'' (1965) | |||
* '']'' (1966) | |||
* '']'' (1966) | |||
* '']'' (1966) | |||
* '']'' (1967) | |||
* '']'' (1967) | |||
* '']'' (1967) | |||
* '']'' (1968) | |||
* '']'' (1968) | |||
* '']'' (1968) | |||
* '']'' (1969) | |||
* '']'' (1969) | |||
* '']'' (1969) | |||
* '']'' (1970) | |||
* '']'' (1972) | |||
{{div col end}} | |||
; TV concert specials | |||
* '']'' (1968) | |||
* '']'' (1973) | |||
* '']'' (1977) | |||
== See also == | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
== Explanatory notes == | |||
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}} | |||
== References == | |||
=== Citations === | |||
{{reflist|20em|refs= | |||
<ref name=":00">''Billboard'' writer Arnold Shaw, cited in {{harvnb|Denisoff|1975|p=22}}.</ref> | |||
}} | }} | ||
=== General sources === | |||
<!--Categories--> | |||
{{refbegin|30em}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite book |last=Adelman |first=Kim |year=2002 |title=The Girls' Guide to Elvis: The Clothes, the Hair, the Women, and More! |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-7679-1188-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/girlsguidetoelvi0000adel}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite book |last=Alden |first=Ginger |title=Elvis & Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiancée and Last Love Finally Tells her Story |publisher=Berkeley Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-101-61613-0}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite book |last=Allen |first=Steve |year=1992 |title=Hi-Ho, Steverino!: My Adventures in the Wonderful Wacky World of TV |publisher=Thorndike Press |isbn=978-1-56054-521-7}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Arnett |first=Jeffrey Jensen |year=2006 |title=Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach |publisher=Pearson Prentice Hall |edition=3rd |isbn=978-0-13-195071-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Ashley |first=Martin |year=2009 |title=How High Should Boys Sing? |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0-7546-6475-8}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |magazine=] |title=The Top 100 |date=December 2006 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/12/the-top-100-influential-figures-in-american-history/305384/ |access-date=January 19, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|Atlantic|2006}} |archive-date=September 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916161415/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/12/the-top-100-influential-figures-in-american-history/305384/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Austen |first=Jake |year=2005 |title=TV-A-Go-Go: Rock on TV from American Bandstand to American Idol |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-572-8}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Baden |first1=Michael M. |last2=Hennessee |first2=Judith Adler |year=1990 |title=Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner |publisher=Ballantine |isbn=978-0-8041-0599-6}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Baillie |first=Russell |newspaper=] |title=Album Review: ''Elvis Presley Viva Elvis The Album'' |date=November 6, 2010 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment-reviews/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502967&objectid=10685618 |access-date=November 9, 2010 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806004002/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment-reviews/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502967&objectid=10685618 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Baird |first=Robert |title=Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic |date=December 23, 2017 |magazine=Stereophile |url=https://www.stereophile.com/content/elvis-and-royal-philharmonic |access-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118181243/https://www.stereophile.com/content/elvis-and-royal-philharmonic |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |agency=BBC News |title=Sinatra Is Voice of the Century |date=April 18, 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1281522.stm |access-date=December 29, 2009 |ref={{sfnRef|BBC News|2001}} |archive-date=January 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106183538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1281522.stm |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite news |title=Elvis Presley gets US Presidential Medal of Freedom |date=November 16, 2018 |agency=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46233352 |access-date=November 17, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|BBC News|2018}} |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116211209/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46233352 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |author=The Beatles |year=2000 |title=The Beatles Anthology |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-0-8118-2684-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesanthology0000unse}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Bertrand |first=Michael T. |year=2000 |title=Race, Rock, and Elvis |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-02586-0}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |author=Bono |date=December 3, 2010 |title=100 Greatest Artists |magazine=] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-artists-147446/elvis-presley-2-30887/ |access-date=January 31, 2024 |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131222535/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-artists-147446/elvis-presley-2-30887/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Bouchard |first=Dany |newspaper=Toronto Sun |title=Priscilla Presley Keeps King Alive |date=November 5, 2010 |url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/music/2010/11/05/15987851.html |access-date=November 9, 2010 |archive-date=March 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314065939/http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/music/2010/11/05/15987851.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3704428/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |title=Elvis (2022) |publisher=] |access-date=August 15, 2022 |ref={{sfnRef|Box Office Mojo}} |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713184133/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3704428/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |title=Chart Beat |date=July 3, 2004 |magazine=Billboard |page=57 |url={{GBurl |id=OhAEAAAAMBAJ}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Peter Harry |last2=Broeske |first2=Pat H. |year=1997 |title=Down at the End of Lonely Street: The Life and Death of Elvis Presley |publisher=Signet |isbn=978-0-451-19094-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Duffett |first=Mark |title=Counting Down Elvis: His 100 Finest Songs |year=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-4805-2 |url={{GBurl |id=a7hJDwAAQBAJ}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Burke |first1=Ken |last2=Griffin |first2=Dan |year=2006 |title=The Blue Moon Boys: The Story of Elvis Presley's Band |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-614-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/bluemoonboys00burk}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Caine |first=Andrew |year=2005 |title=Interpreting Rock Movies: The Pop Film and Its Critics in Britain |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-7190-6538-5}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=Michael |title=Popular Music in America |edition=3rd |year=2009}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |title=Popular Demand |date=November 25, 2016 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5847879/top-selling-christmas-albums-all-time-elvis-kenny-g |access-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105063911/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/5847879/top-selling-christmas-albums-all-time-elvis-kenny-g |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Charlton |first=Katherine |year=2006 |title=Rock Music Styles: A History |publisher=McGraw-Hill |edition=5th |isbn=978-0-07-312162-8}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=December 24, 1985 |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv12b-85.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=] |access-date=August 26, 2012 |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016024215/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv12b-85.php |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Clarke |first1=Steve |year=2006 |title=Conspiracy Theories: The Philosophical Debate |publisher=Ashgate |chapter=Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Theorizing|editor-last1=Coady|editor-first1=David |isbn=978-0-7546-5250-2}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Clayton |first1=Dick |last2=Heard |first2=James |year=2003 |title=Elvis: By Those Who Knew Him Best |publisher=Virgin Publishing |isbn=978-0-7535-0835-0}} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=CMT |year=2005 |title=40 Greatest Men in Country Music |url=http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/76607/episode_countdown.jhtml |access-date=December 29, 2009 |ref={{sfnRef|CMT|2005}} |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606215012/http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/76607/episode_countdown.jhtml |url-status=dead }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Coffey |first=Frank |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elvis |publisher=Alpha Books |year=1997}} | |||
* {{cite web |last=Collins |first=Dan |title=How Big Was The King? |date=August 7, 2002 |publisher=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-big-was-the-king/ |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=July 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723025233/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/07/entertainment/main517851.shtml |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Cook |first=Jody |year=2004 |title=Graceland National Historic Landmark Nomination Form |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=5db64e4b-7360-4b57-9d04-fae564edd7fc |format=PDF |publisher=United States Department of the Interior |access-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013161127/https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=5db64e4b-7360-4b57-9d04-fae564edd7fc |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Corcoran |first=John |date=March 1, 1998 |url={{GBurl |id=NdoDAAAAMBAJ |p=50}} |title=The King and Karate |work=Black Belt |pages=48–54 |access-date=December 17, 2017 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Cosby |first=James A. |year=2016 |title=Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies: How America Gave Birth to Rock and Roll |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-6229-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Davies |first=Hunter |year=1996 |title=The Beatles |publisher=W. W. Norton |edition=2nd rev. |isbn=978-0-393-31571-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/beatles00davi}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Denisoff |first=R. Serge |year=1975 |title=Solid Gold: The Popular Record Industry |publisher=Transaction Books |isbn=978-0-87855-586-4}} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Discovery Channel |year=2005 |title=Greatest American |ref={{sfnRef|Discovery Channel|2005}} |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/greatestamerican/greatestamerican.html |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129115404/http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/greatestamerican/greatestamerican.html |archive-date=January 29, 2010 }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Doll |first=Susan |year=2016 |title=Understanding Elvis: Southern Roots vs. Star Image |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-8153-3164-3}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Doss |first=Erika Lee |author-link=Erika Doss |year=1999 |title=Elvis Culture: Fans, Faith, and Image |publisher=University of Kansas Press |isbn=978-0-7006-0948-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/elvisculturefans00doss}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Dundy |first=Elaine|author-link=Elaine Dundy |year=2004 |title=Elvis and Gladys |edition=2nd |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=978-1-57806-634-6}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Dyer |first=Peter John |date=Winter 1959–1960 |title=The Teenage Rave |magazine=Sight and Sound}} | |||
* {{Cite web |last=Eames |first=Tom |date=May 20, 2022a |title=Who was Elvis Presley's father Vernon and what happened to him after his son's death? |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/elvis-presley/father-vernon-presley-death-wife/ |access-date=November 6, 2023 |website=] |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106224658/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/elvis-presley/father-vernon-presley-death-wife/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{Cite web |last=Eames |first=Tom |date=May 20, 2022b |title=Who was Elvis Presley's mother Gladys? The heartbreaking story behind her life and death |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/elvis-presley/mother-gladys-death-husband/ |access-date=November 6, 2023 |website=Smooth Radio |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106224658/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/elvis-presley/mother-gladys-death-husband/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Earl |first=Jennifer |date=February 14, 2017 |title=19 celebrities you didn't know were twins (Elvis and Jesse Presley) |agency=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrities-you-didnt-know-were-twins/20/ |access-date=July 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715064113/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/celebrities-you-didnt-know-were-twins/20/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Eder |first=Mike |title=Elvis Music FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the King's Recorded Works |year=2013 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=978-1-61713-580-4 |url={{GBurl |id=XcYIAgAAQBAJ}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Edgerton |first=Gary R. |year=2007 |title=The Columbia History of American Television |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-12165-1}} | |||
* {{Cite news |last=Eiland |first=Murray |date=2018 |title=Elvis Presley's Coat of Arms |work=The Armiger's News |volume=41 |issue=1 |page=6 |url=https://www.academia.edu/38516784 |via=academia.edu |access-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-date=February 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221091309/https://www.academia.edu/38516784 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Elster |first=Charles Harrington |year=2006 |title=The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=978-0-618-42315-6}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Escott |first1=Colin|author-link=Colin Escott |year=1998 |title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music |publisher=Oxford University Press |chapter=Elvis Presley |editor-last1=Kingsbury|editor-first1=Paul |isbn=978-0-19-517608-7}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Farmer |first=Brett |year=2000 |title=Spectacular Passions: Cinema, Fantasy, Gay Male Spectatorships |edition=2nd |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-2589-5}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Feeney |first=Mark |title=Elvis at 75: Can We Ever Again See the Performer, Not the Punch Line? |date=January 3, 2010 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/01/03/elvis_the_performer_and_the_punch_line/ |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-date=January 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115083709/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/01/03/elvis_the_performer_and_the_punch_line/? |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Fensch |first=Thomas |year=2001 |title=The FBI Files on Elvis Presley |publisher=New Century Books |isbn=978-0-930751-03-6}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Fessier |first=Bruce |title=Director Remembers Landmark Elvis Presley Performance |date=May 10, 2013 |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/05/10/elvis-presley-aloha-from-hawaii/2151617/ |access-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128025704/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/05/10/elvis-presley-aloha-from-hawaii/2151617/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Fields |first=Curt |title=A Whole Lotta Elvis Is Goin' to the Small Screen |date=August 3, 2007 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080200660.html |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102204500/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080200660.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Fox |first=Ted |year=1986 |title=In the Groove: The People Behind the Music |publisher=St Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-312-01776-7}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Friedlander |first=Paul |year=1996 |title=Rock and Roll: A Social History |publisher=Westview |isbn=978-0-8133-2725-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Garber |first=Marjorie |year=1997 |title=Vested Interests: Cross-Dressing and Cultural Anxiety |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-91951-7}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Garrity |first=Brian |title=King's Crown Shines: First No. 1 Debut |date=October 12, 2002 |magazine=Billboard |pages=1, 3 |url={{GBurl |id=Fg0EAAAAMBAJ}} }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Gibson |first=Christine |title=Elvis on Ed Sullivan: The Real Story |date=December 6, 2005 |magazine=American Heritage |url=http://www.americanheritage.com/entertainment/articles/web/20050909-elvis-presley-ed-sullivan-show-steve-allen-milton-berle-charles-laughton.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515154236/http://www.americanheritage.com/entertainment/articles/web/20050909-elvis-presley-ed-sullivan-show-steve-allen-milton-berle-charles-laughton.shtml |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |access-date=December 31, 2009}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Gillett |first=Charlie|author-link=Charlie Gillett |year=2000 |title=Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay: An Anthology |publisher=W. W. Norton |chapter=The Five Styles of Rock'n'Roll |editor=McKeen, William |isbn=978-0-393-04700-4}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last1=Goldman |first1=Lea |last2=Ewalt |first2=David M. |title=Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |date=October 29, 2007 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/business/2007/10/29/dead-celebrity-earning-biz-media-deadcelebs07_cz_lg_1029celeb_land.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611105814/http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/10/29/dead-celebrity-earning-biz-media-deadcelebs07_cz_lg_1029celeb_land.html |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2010}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last1=Goldman |first1=Lea |last2=Paine |first2=Jake |title=Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |date=October 29, 2007 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/10/26/top-dead-celebrity-biz-media-deadcelebs07-cz_lg_1029celeb.html |access-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426025601/https://www.forbes.com/2007/10/26/top-dead-celebrity-biz-media-deadcelebs07-cz_lg_1029celeb.html |archive-date=April 26, 2011}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Gordon |first=Robert |year=2005 |title=The King on the Road |publisher=Bounty Books |isbn=978-0-7537-1088-3}} | |||
* {{Cite web|url=https://pagesix.com/2023/06/27/elvis-presleys-ex-slams-step-brothers-claim-that-singer-killed-himself/|title=Elvis Presley's ex slams step-brother's claim that singer killed himself|website=Page Six|last=Gostin|first=Nicki|date=June 27, 2023|archive-date=July 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714074734/https://pagesix.com/2023/06/27/elvis-presleys-ex-slams-step-brothers-claim-that-singer-killed-himself/|url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Gould |first=Jack |title=TV: New Phenomenon – Elvis Presley Rises to Fame as Vocalist Who Is Virtuoso of Hootchy-Kootchy |date=June 6, 1956 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/archives/elvis-presley-on-milton-berle-show-06-06-1956.pdf |access-date=December 31, 2009 |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529032209/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/archives/elvis-presley-on-milton-berle-show-06-06-1956.pdf |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite web |title=Elvis Presley, the Musician |publisher=Graceland Blog |date=December 3, 2015 |url=https://www.graceland.com/blog/posts/elvis-presley-the-musician |access-date=July 1, 2019 |ref={{sfnref|Graceland Blog|2015}} |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101115434/https://www.graceland.com/blog/posts/elvis-presley-the-musician |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |title=Elvis Presley |date=March 17, 2014 |publisher=Grammy Awards |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/elvis-presley |access-date=January 9, 2019 |ref={{sfnref|Grammy|2014}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406230258/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/elvis-presley |archive-date=April 6, 2019 }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Greenburg |first=Zack O'Malley |title=The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2017 |date=October 30, 2017 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2017/10/30/the-top-earning-dead-celebrities-of-2017/#75dd8def41f5 |access-date=January 8, 2018 |archive-date=February 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205143455/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2017/10/30/the-top-earning-dead-celebrities-of-2017/#75dd8def41f5 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=July 31, 2018 |title=Flashback: Elvis Presley's 'Aloha From Hawaii' Marks His Final Truly Great Moment |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-elvis-presleys-aloha-from-hawaii-marks-his-final-truly-great-moment-705310/ |access-date=January 17, 2023 |magazine=] |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117121303/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flashback-elvis-presleys-aloha-from-hawaii-marks-his-final-truly-great-moment-705310/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite web |last=Grein |first=Paul |title=Chart Watch Extra: The Top 40 Christmas Albums |date=December 5, 2008 |publisher=Yahoo! Music |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-the-top-40-christmas-albums.html |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224030746/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-the-top-40-christmas-albums.html |archive-date=December 24, 2011}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Guralnick |first=Peter |year=1989 |title=Lost Highway: Journeys & Arrivals of American Musicians |publisher=Vintage |isbn=978-0-394-75215-0}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Guralnick |first=Peter |year=1994 |title=Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley |publisher=Little, Brown |isbn=978-0-316-33225-5}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Guralnick |first=Peter |year=1999 |title=Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley |publisher=Back Bay Books |isbn=978-0-316-33297-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780316332972}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Guralnick |first=Peter |title=How Did Elvis Get Turned into a Racist? |date=January 8, 2004 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/11/opinion/11guralnick.html |access-date=August 11, 2007 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512180531/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/11/opinion/11guralnick.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Guralnick |first1=Peter |last2=Jorgensen |first2=Ernst |year=1999 |title=Elvis Day by Day: The Definitive Record of His Life and Music |publisher=Ballantine |isbn=978-0-345-42089-3}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Ted |year=1992 |title=Elvis People: The Cult of the King |publisher=Fount |isbn=978-0-00-627620-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/elvispeopleculto00harr}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Ted |year=2016 |title=The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley |publisher=Reaktion |isbn=978-1-78023-637-7}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Hasty |first=Katie |magazine=Billboard |title=Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 with 7th No. 1 |date=May 7, 2008 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045488/madonna-leads-busy-billboard-200-with-7th-no-1 |access-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523062750/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045488/madonna-leads-busy-billboard-200-with-7th-no-1 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Higginbotham |first=Alan |title=Doctor Feelgood |date=August 11, 2002 |newspaper=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/aug/11/features.magazine27 |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-date=September 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922062642/https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2002/aug/11/features.magazine27 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |title=From the Man Who Would Be King |date=February 6, 2005 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-feb-06-ca-presley6-story.html |access-date=January 4, 2010 |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711033522/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/feb/06/entertainment/ca-presley6 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |title=This Fan of Charts Is No. 1, with a Bullet |date=October 30, 2007 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-backtracking30oct30,0,1043136.story |access-date=January 17, 2010 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523225302/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-backtracking30oct30,0,1043136.story |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |date=July 24, 2004 |magazine=Billboard |volume=116 |number=30 |page=62 |url={{GBurl |id=aRAEAAAAMBAJ}} |ref={{sfnRef|"Hits of the World"|2004}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Jerry |year=1986 |title=Elvis: The Final Years |publisher=Berkley |isbn=978-0-425-08999-6}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Jerry |year=2002 |title=Elvis in Hawaii |publisher=Bess Press |isbn=978-1-57306-142-1}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Hopkins |first=Jerry |year=2007 |title=Elvis{{snd}}The Biography|publisher=Plexus|isbn=978-0-85965-391-6}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Hoy |first=Peter |title=Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |date=October 27, 2008 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/10/27/top-dead-celebrity-biz-media-deadcelebs08-cz_ph_1027celeb.html |access-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710001716/http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/27/top-dead-celebrity-biz-media-deadcelebs08-cz_ph_1027celeb.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Jancik |first=Wayne |title=The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders |year=1998}} | |||
* {{Cite web |last1=Jeffrey |first1=Joyann |last2=Kaplan |first2=Anna |date=June 27, 2022 |orig-date=Updated November 6, 2023 |title=Priscilla Presley and Elvis Presley's relationship story, in their own words |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/music/elvis-priscilla-presley-relationship-true-story-rcna35050 |access-date=February 26, 2023 |work=]}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Jezer |first=Marty |year=1982 |title=The Dark Ages: Life in the United States 1945–1960 |publisher=South End Press |isbn=978-0-89608-127-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/darkageslifeinth00jeze}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Jorgensen |first=Ernst |year=1998 |title=Elvis Presley{{snd}}A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions|publisher=St Martin's Press|isbn=978-0-312-18572-5}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Keogh |first=Pamela Clarke |year=2004 |title=Elvis Presley: The Man, The Life, The Legend |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-0-7434-5603-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/elvispresleymanl00keog_0}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Kirchberg |first1=Connie |last2=Hendrickx |first2=Marc |year=1999 |title=Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon, and the American Dream |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-0716-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/elvispresleyrich00kirc}} | |||
* {{Cite news |last1=Koch |first1=Ed |last2=Manning |first2=Mary |last3=Toplikar |first3=Dave |date=May 15, 2008 |newspaper=] |title=Showtime: How Sin City evolved into 'The Entertainment Capital of the World' |url=https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/evolution-worlds-entertainment-capital/ |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043145/https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/evolution-worlds-entertainment-capital/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Kolawole |first=Helen |title=He Wasn't My King |date=August 15, 2002 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/15/elvis25yearson.elvispresley |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514190740/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/15/elvis25yearson.elvispresley |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Kubernick |first=Harvey |year=2008 |title=The Complete '68 Comeback Special |publisher=CD Booklet RCA/BMG. UPC 88697306262}} | |||
* {{cite web |title=Groundbreaking New Elvis Presley Album, 'Where No One Stands Alone', To Be Released August 10 |date=June 21, 2018 |website=Legacy |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment |url=https://www.legacyrecordings.com/2018/06/21/groundbreaking-new-elvis-presley-album-where-no-one-stands-alone-to-be-released-august-10/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |ref={{sfnref|Legacy|2018}} |archive-date=January 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130141032/https://www.legacyrecordings.com/2018/06/21/groundbreaking-new-elvis-presley-album-where-no-one-stands-alone-to-be-released-august-10/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Leigh |first=Spencer |author-link=Spencer Leigh (radio presenter) |year=2017 |title=Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap |publisher=McNidder and Grace |isbn=978-0-85716-166-6}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Randy |title=40 Years After His Death, Elvis Presley Is Still the King in the YouTube Age |date=August 16, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-august-elvis-presley-in-the-youtube-age-still-1502897506-htmlstory.html |access-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124652/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-august-elvis-presley-in-the-youtube-age-still-1502897506-htmlstory.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Lisanti |first1=Tom |year=2000 |title=Fantasy Femmes of 60s Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-0868-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Lott |first1=Eric |last2=Uebel |first2=Michael |year=1997 |title=Race and the Subject of Masculinities |publisher=Duke University Press |chapter=All the King's Men: Elvis Impersonators and White Working-Class Masculinity |editor=Stecopoulos, Harry |isbn=978-0-8223-1966-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/racesubjectofmas0000unse}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Lynch |first=Rene |title=Elvis Presley, Who Died 34 Years Ago Today, Spurs Fresh Tears |date=August 16, 2011 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/08/elvis-presley.html |access-date=August 17, 2011 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527070238/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/08/elvis-presley.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marcus |first=Greil |year=1982 |title=Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music |edition=Revised |publisher=E.P. Dutton |isbn=978-0-525-47708-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/mysterytrainimag00marcus}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marcus |first=Greil |year=2006 |title=Elvis Presley: The Ed Sullivan Shows |publisher=DVD Booklet Image Entertainment. UPC 01438137302 |url=http://www.msopr.com/n/past-campaigns/elvis-presley-the-ed-sullivan-shows/ |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-date=December 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219163909/http://www.msopr.com/n/past-campaigns/elvis-presley-the-ed-sullivan-shows/}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marcus |first=Greil |title=Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music |year=2015 |publisher=Plume |isbn=978-0-14-218158-4 |url={{GBurl |id=trEBDAAAQBAJ}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marsh |first=Dave |year=1980 |title=The Rolling Stone Record Guide |publisher=Virgin |chapter=Elvis Presley |edition=2nd |editor=Marsh, Dave |editor2=Swenson, John |isbn=978-0-907080-00-8}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marsh |first=Dave |year=1982 |title=Elvis |publisher=Times Books |isbn=978-0-8129-0947-0}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marsh |first=Dave |year=1989 |title=The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-012108-7}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Marsh |first=Dave |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2004 |chapter=Elvis Presley |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor-last1=Brackett |editor-first1=Nathan |editor-last2=Hoard |editor-first2=Christian |edition=4th |isbn=978-0-7432-0169-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Stefanie |title=Did Elvis indoctrinate me? Probably – but I don't see it as a bad thing |date=December 21, 2015 |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/did-elvis-indoctrinate-me-probably-but-i-dont-see-it-as-a-bad-thing-73rpgqlc3r3 |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-date=June 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619014522/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/did-elvis-indoctrinate-me-probably-but-i-dont-see-it-as-a-bad-thing-73rpgqlc3r3 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |title=Mary Jenkins Langston, 78, Cook for Presley |date=June 5, 2000 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/05/us/mary-jenkins-langston-78-cook-for-presley.html |access-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-date=January 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121125808/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/05/us/mary-jenkins-langston-78-cook-for-presley.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Masley |first=Ed |title=It's Good To Be King |date=August 15, 2002 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20020815&id=15INAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YnADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3942,3866464 |access-date=January 31, 2010 |archive-date=August 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819011116/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20020815&id=15INAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YnADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3942,3866464 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Mason |first=Bobbie Ann |year=2007 |title=Elvis Presley |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-303889-4 |url={{GBurl |id=NqCQo9nqVHYC |p=37}} }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Matthew-Walker |first=Robert |year=1979 |title=Elvis Presley. A Study in Music |publisher=Midas Books |isbn=978-0-85936-162-0}} | |||
* {{cite web |last=McPhate |first=Tim |date=August 15, 2017 |title=Elvis: Do You Know These 5 Facts? |publisher=Grammy Awards |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/remembering-elvis-presley-5-grammy-facts |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227044323/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/remembering-elvis-presley-5-grammy-facts |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Jeremy A. |last2=Griswold |first2=Charles E. |last3=Scharff |first3=Nikolaj |last4=Rezac |first4=Milan |last5=Szuts |first5=Tamas |last6=Marhabaie |first6=Mohammad |title=The velvet spiders: an atlas of the Eresidae (Arachnida, Araneae) |journal=ZooKeys |date=May 18, 2012 |issue=195 |pages=1–144 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.195.2342 |pmid=22679386 |issn=1313-2970 |pmc=3361087 |bibcode=2012ZooK..195....1M |doi-access=free}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Miller |first=James |year=2000 |title=Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977 |publisher=Fireside |isbn=978-0-684-86560-7}} | |||
* {{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Madison |date=March 23, 2021 |title=Elvis Presley: How the King of Rock 'n' Rolling Developed His Signature Dance Moves |website=Outsider |url=https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/elvis-presley-how-king-rock-roll-developed-his-signature-dance-moves/ |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214105458/https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/elvis-presley-how-king-rock-roll-developed-his-signature-dance-moves/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Moody |first=Nekesa Mumbi |title=Mariah Carey Surpasses Elvis in No. 1s |date=April 2, 2008 |newspaper=USA Today |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-04-02-carey_N.htm |access-date=April 14, 2010 |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512161449/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-04-02-carey_N.htm |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Moore |first1=Scotty |last2=Dickerson |first2=James |year=1997 |title=That's Alright, Elvis |publisher=Schirmer Books |isbn=978-0-02-864599-5}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Craig |year=1996 |title=Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-02207-4}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Moscheo |first=Joe |year=2007 |title=The Gospel Side of Elvis |publisher=Center Street |isbn=978-1-59995-729-6}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Moyer |first=Susan M. |year=2002 |title=Elvis: The King Remembered |publisher=Sports Publishing LLC |isbn=978-1-58261-558-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/elviskingremembe0000moye |url-access=registration}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Murray |first=Don |date=October 1961 |title=One Million Times 98¢ |magazine=HiFi/Stereo Review |volume=7 |number=4 |pages=63–66 |publisher=Ziff-Davis Publishing Company |url={{GBurl |id=R31UAAAAMAAJ |pg=RA6-PA63}} }} | |||
* {{cite web |last=Myers |first=Justin |date=September 30, 2022 |title=Artists with the most Number 1 singles on the UK chart |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/artists-with-the-most-number-1-singles-on-the-uk-chart__23765/ |url-status=live |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226150127/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/artists-with-the-most-number-1-singles-on-the-uk-chart__23765/ |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |access-date=October 15, 2022}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Myers |first=Justin |date=September 17, 2021 |title=Artists with the most Top 10 singles in the UK |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/artists-with-the-most-top-10-singles-in-the-uk__25400/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |url-status=live |publisher=Official Charts Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617194018/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/artists-with-the-most-top-10-singles-in-the-uk__25400/ |archive-date=June 17, 2022}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Myrie |first=Russell |year=2009 |title=Don't Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin': The Authorized Story of Public Enemy |publisher=Canongate |isbn=978-1-84767-182-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/dontrhymeforsake00myri}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Nash |first=Alanna |year=2003 |title=The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley |author-link=Alanna Nash |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-0-7432-1301-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/colonelextraordi00nash}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Nash |first=Alanna |year=2005 |title=Elvis and the Memphis Mafia |publisher=Aurum |isbn=978-1-84513-128-9}} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=National Park Service |year=2010 |title=Graceland |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1146152923&ResourceType=Building |access-date=January 7, 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|National Park Service|2010}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230214217/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1146152923&ResourceType=Building |archive-date=December 30, 2011 }} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Neibaur |first=James L. |year=2014 |title=The Elvis Movies |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-3074-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u95XAwAAQBAJ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321182638/https://books.google.com/books?id=u95XAwAAQBAJ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Long Live the King |date=August 16, 2002 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE0DD143DF935A2575BC0A9649C8B63 |access-date=December 30, 2009 |ref={{sfnRef|New York Times|2002}} |archive-date=January 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119104830/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE0DD143DF935A2575BC0A9649C8B63 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite news |last=O'Malley |first=Sheila |title=Love Me Tender |date=April 4, 2016 |work=Bright Wall/Dark Room |url=http://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2016/04/04/love-me-tender/ |access-date=January 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118182902/http://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2016/04/04/love-me-tender/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Osborne |first=Jerry |year=2000 |title=Elvis: Word for Word |publisher=Harmony |isbn=978-0-609-60803-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/elvis00jerr}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Osborne |first=Jerry |title=Presleyana VIII – the Elvis Presley Record, CD, and Memorabilia Price Guide |year=2017 |publisher=Jerry Osborne Enterprises |isbn=978-0-932117-97-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE6JPQyNKawC |access-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321182514/https://books.google.com/books?id=CE6JPQyNKawC |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Palladino |first=Grace |year=1996 |title=Teenagers: An American History |publisher=Westview |isbn=978-0-465-00766-0}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Pendergast |first1=Sara |last2=Pendergast |first2=Tom |year=2000 |title=St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture |edition=4th |publisher=St. James Press |isbn=978-1-55862-404-7}} | |||
* {{cite web |last=Pilgrim |first=David |title=Question of the Month: Elvis Presley and Racism |date=March 2006 |publisher=Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia |url=http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/question/mar06/ |access-date=December 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106054126/http://www.ferris.edu/JIMCROW/question/mar06/ |archive-date=January 6, 2012}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Pleasants |first=Henry |year=2004 |title=Popular Music: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies, Volume 3: Popular Music Analysis |publisher=Routledge |chapter=Elvis Presley |editor=Frith, Simon |isbn=978-0-415-33269-9}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Pomerantz |first=Dorothy |title=The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |date=October 25, 2011 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2011/10/25/the-top-earning-dead-celebrities/ |access-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203457/https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2011/10/25/the-top-earning-dead-celebrities/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last1=Pomerantz |first1=Dorothy |last2=Lacey |first2=Rose |first3=Streib |last3=Lauren |last4=Thibault |first4=Marie |title=Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |date=October 27, 2009 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/10/27/top-earning-dead-celebrities-list-dead-celebs-09-entertainment_land.html |access-date=January 5, 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|Pomerantz et al.|2009}} |archive-date=December 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205021043/http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/27/top-earning-dead-celebrities-list-dead-celebs-09-entertainment_land.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Ponce de Leon |first=Charles L. |year=2007 |title=Fortunate Son: The Life of Elvis Presley |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-8090-1641-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Presley |first=Priscilla |year=1985 |title=Elvis and Me |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |isbn=978-0-399-12984-1}} | |||
* {{cite web |last=Ramsland |first=Katherine |year=2010 |title=Cyril Wecht: Forensic Pathologist{{snd}}Coverup for a King |publisher=TruTV |url=http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/forensics/cyril_wecht/4.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105181517/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/forensics/cyril_wecht/4.html/index.html |archive-date=November 5, 2013 }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2010 |title=Top 100 Albums |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTop100 |access-date=January 31, 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2010}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701162536/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTop100 |archive-date=July 1, 2007 }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2020 |title=Gold & Platinum: Top Artists (Albums) |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=TAA |access-date=February 8, 2020 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2020a}} |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203033345/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=TAA |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2020 |title=Gold & Platinum: Artists{{snd}}Albums/EPs (Gold) |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist&col=gold_units&ord=desc#search_section |access-date=February 8, 2020 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2020b}} |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424044216/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist&col=gold_units&ord=desc#search_section |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2020 |title=Gold & Platinum: Artists{{snd}}Albums/EPs (Platinum) |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist&col=platinum_units&ord=desc#search_section |access-date=February 8, 2020 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2020c}} |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424070914/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist&col=platinum_units&ord=desc#search_section |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2020 |title=Gold & Platinum: Artists{{snd}}Albums/EPs (Multi-Platinum) |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist&col=multi_platinum_units&ord=desc#search_section |access-date=February 8, 2020 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2020d}} |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424070736/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist&col=multi_platinum_units&ord=desc#search_section |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2020 |title=Gold & Platinum: Artists{{snd}}Singles (Gold) |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_artist&format_option=singles&type_option=ST&col=gold_units&ord=desc#search_section |access-date=February 8, 2020 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2020e}} |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613130432/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_artist&format_option=singles&type_option=ST&col=gold_units&ord=desc#search_section |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |year=2020 |title=Gold & Platinum: Artists{{snd}}Singles (Platinum) |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_artist&format_option=singles&type_option=ST&col=platinum_units&ord=desc#search_section |access-date=February 8, 2020 |ref={{sfnRef|RIAA|2020f}} |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613113423/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_artist&format_option=singles&type_option=ST&col=platinum_units&ord=desc#search_section |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |title=Red Carpet for Elvis LP |date=April 18, 1960 |magazine=Billboard |page=11 |url={{GBurl |id=xh8EAAAAMBAJ}} |ref={{sfnRef|"Red Carpet"|1960}} }} | |||
* {{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-universal-music-elvis-idCAKCN2M40UH |title=Universal Music can't help falling for Elvis Presley, to manage song catalog |date=April 12, 2022 |work=] |access-date=March 19, 2023 |ref={{sfnRef|Reuters|2022}} |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718055826/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-universal-music-elvis-idCAKCN2M40UH |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Robertson |first=John |year=2004 |title=Elvis Presley: The Complete Guide to His Music |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-1-84449-711-9}} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |year=2010 |title=Elvis Presley |url=http://rockhall.com/exhibits/featured-collections/elvis-presley/ |access-date=July 22, 2010 |ref={{sfnRef|RRHF|2010}} |archive-date=June 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629124806/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibits/featured-collections/elvis-presley/ }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |title=Elvis Presley: 'King of Rock' |year=1956 |magazine=Rock 'N Roll Stars |pages=2–13 |ref={{sfnRef|Rock 'N Roll Stars|1956}}}} via {{cite magazine |first=Jans |last=Rabbers |title=Rock 'N Roll Stars (1956) |magazine=Smelly Paper Vintage Magazines |date=July 11, 2013 |ref=none |url=http://www.elvisechoesofthepast.com/rock-n-roll-stars-1956/ |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007172218/http://www.elvisechoesofthepast.com/rock-n-roll-stars-1956/ |url-status=dead}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Rodman |first=Gilbert B. |year=1996 |title=Elvis After Elvis, The Posthumous Career of a Living Legend |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-11002-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/elvisafterelvisp0000rodm}} | |||
* {{Cite book |last=Rodman |first=Gilbert B. |title=Elvis After Elvis The Posthumous Career of a Living Legend |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-136-15506-2}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Rogers |first=Dave |year=1982 |title=Rock 'n' Roll |publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul |isbn=978-0-7100-0938-8}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |magazine=Rolling Stone |title=The Immortals: The First Fifty |date=April 15, 2004 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625061212/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty |archive-date=June 25, 2008 |ref={{sfnRef|Rolling Stone|2004}} }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |magazine=Rolling Stone |year=2009 |title=1969 Rolling Stone Covers |ref={{sfnRef|Rolling Stone|2009}} |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/coverwall/1969#0037 |access-date=November 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705162924/http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/5392211/1969_rolling_stone_covers/photo/13 |archive-date=July 5, 2008 }} | |||
* {{Cite magazine |date=January 1, 2023 |title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/elvis-presley-18-1234643185/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |ref={{sfnref|Rolling Stone|2023}} |archive-date=October 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024005113/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/elvis-presley-18-1234643185/ |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Rose |first=Lacey |title=Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |date=October 24, 2006 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/10/23/celebrities-earnings-fame-tech-media-06deadcelebs-cx_lr_topearnintro.html |access-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208153548/http://www.forbes.com/2006/10/23/celebrities-earnings-fame-tech-media-06deadcelebs-cx_lr_topearnintro.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last1=Rose |first1=Lacey |last2=Pomerantz |first2=Dorothy |last3=Greenburg |first3=Zack O'Malley |last4=Paine |first4=Jake |title=In Pictures: The 13 Top-Earning Dead Celebs{{snd}}No. 2 Elvis Presley |date=October 25, 2010 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/10/21/michael-jackson-elvis-presley-tolkien-business-entertainment-dead-celebs-10_slide_3.html |access-date=June 5, 2011 |ref={{sfnRef|Rose et al.|2010}} |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730101503/http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/21/michael-jackson-elvis-presley-tolkien-business-entertainment-dead-celebs-10_slide_3.html |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |publisher=W. W. Norton |title=The Norton/Grove Concise Encyclopedia of Music |year=1994 |editor-last=Sadie |editor-first=Stanley |edition=Revised |isbn=978-0-393-03753-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/nortongroveconci0000sadi}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Salisbury |first=Harrison |title=Presley Records a Craze in Soviet |date=February 3, 1957 |newspaper=The New York Times}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Scherman |first=Tony |title=Elvis Dies |date=August 16, 2006 |magazine=American Heritage |url=http://www.southingtonschools.org/file.cfm?resourceid=5339&filename=The%20Death%20of%20Elvis.docx |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008211539/https://www.southingtonschools.org/file.cfm?resourceid=5339&filename=The%20Death%20of%20Elvis.docx |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite journal |last=Segré |first=Gabriel |title=Le rite de la Candlelight |date=2002 |journal=Ethnologie française |volume=32 |page=149 |doi=10.3917/ethn.021.0149|doi-access=free |issn=0046-2616}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Sexton |first=Paul |magazine=Billboard |title=New Presley Reissue Campaign Aimed at U.K. |date=August 3, 2007 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050223/new-presley-reissue-campaign-aimed-at-uk |access-date=January 21, 2018 |archive-date=May 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510082108/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050223/new-presley-reissue-campaign-aimed-at-uk |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Sexton |first=Paul |magazine=Billboard |title=The King Reigns Again as Elvis Presley Takes U.K. Album Honors |date=October 28, 2016 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7557774/elvis-presley-wonder-of-you-uk-charts-little-mix |access-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111130125/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7557774/elvis-presley-wonder-of-you-uk-charts-little-mix |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Slater |first=Nigel |title=Grease Is the Word |date=August 11, 2002 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/11/elvis25yearson.elvispresley6 |access-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-date=January 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121072058/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/11/elvis25yearson.elvispresley6 |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Slaughter |first1=Todd |last2=Nixon |first2=Anne E. |year=2004 |title=The Elvis Archives |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-1-84449-380-7}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Smith |first=Liz |title=Ain't Nothin' but a Chow Hound |date=November 10, 2002 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/10/magazine/ain-t-nothin-but-a-chow-hound.html |access-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824100751/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/10/magazine/ain-t-nothin-but-a-chow-hound.html |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{Cite web|url=https://people.com/music/elvis-presley-former-fiancee-ginger-alden-pays-tribute-lisa-marie-presley-you-were-loved/|title=Elvis Presley's Former Fiancée Ginger Alden Pays Tribute to Lisa Marie: 'You Were Loved' |website=People|last=Speakman|first=Kimberlee|date=January 13, 2023}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Stanley |first1=David |last2=Coffey |first2=Frank |year=1998 |title=The Elvis Encyclopedia |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=978-0-7535-0293-8}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Stein |first=Ruthe |title=Girls! Girls! Girls! |date=August 3, 1997 |website=] |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Girls-Girls-Girls-From-small-town-women-to-2814423.php |access-date=December 29, 2009 |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830125539/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Girls-Girls-Girls-From-small-town-women-to-2814423.php |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Szatmary |first=David |year=1996 |title=A Time to Rock: A Social History of Rock 'n' Roll |publisher=Schirmer Books |isbn=978-0-02-864670-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/timetorocksocial00szat}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Tasker |first=Yvonne |year=2007 |title=Genre, Gender, Race, and World Cinema: An Anthology |publisher=Blackwell |chapter=Cowgirl Tales |editor=Codell, Julie F. |isbn=978-1-4051-3232-9}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Tennant |first=Forest |magazine=Practical Pain Management |title=Elvis Presley: Head Trauma, Autoimmunity, Pain, and Early Death |date=June 2013 |url=https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/pain/other/brain-injury/elvis-presley-head-trauma-autoimmunity-pain-early-death |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028004415/https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/pain/other/brain-injury/elvis-presley-head-trauma-autoimmunity-pain-early-death |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Tillery |first=Gary |year=2013 |title=The Seeker King: A Spiritual Biography of Elvis Presley |publisher=Quest Books |access-date=February 2, 2018 |isbn=978-0-8356-0915-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fFdbBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT40 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321182438/https://books.google.com/books?id=fFdbBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT40#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Elvis Presley's Billboard Chart Records |date=January 8, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/elvis-presleys-billboard-chart-records/#! |access-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405152304/https://www.billboard.com/pro/elvis-presleys-billboard-chart-records/#! |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=January 1, 2019 |title=Elvis Presley Earns Highest-Charting Billboard Hot 100 Hit Since 1981 as 'Blue Christmas' Jingles In at No. 40 |magazine=] |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8491989/elvis-presley-highest-charting-hot-100-hit-since-1978-blue-christmas-debut |access-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101173530/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8491989/elvis-presley-highest-charting-hot-100-hit-since-1978-blue-christmas-debut |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Drake & 21 Savage's 'Jimmy Cooks' Soars in at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 |date=June 27, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/drake-21-savage-jimmy-cooks-number-1-hot-100-1235106933/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701055305/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/drake-21-savage-jimmy-cooks-number-1-hot-100-1235106933/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Adds 12th Week Atop Hot 100, Nat King Cole Hits Top 10 |date=January 3, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-12-weeks-number-one-nat-king-cole-top-10-1235192947/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103152607/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-12-weeks-number-one-nat-king-cole-top-10-1235192947/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Turner |first=John Frayn |year=2004 |title=Frank Sinatra |publisher=Taylor Trade Publications |isbn=978-1-58979-145-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/franksinatra00john}} | |||
* {{cite book |date=March 5, 1960 |title=Presley, Elvis Aron; DD 214: Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge |publisher=] |ref={{sfnRef|US Department of Defense|1960}} }} | |||
* {{cite magazine |magazine=Variety |year=2005 |title=100 Icons of the Century |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=variety100 |access-date=December 29, 2009 |ref={{sfnRef|Variety|2005}} |archive-date=December 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230082420/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=variety100 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite web |publisher=VH1 |year=1998 |title=100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1998/vh1artists.htm |access-date=December 29, 2009 |ref={{sfnRef|VH1|1998}} |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119191122/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1998/vh1artists.htm |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Victor |first=Adam |year=2008 |title=The Elvis Encyclopedia |publisher=Overlook Duckworth |isbn=978-1-58567-598-2}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Wadey |first=Paul |title=Jake Hess |date=January 8, 2004 |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jake-hess-549231.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713025605/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jake-hess-549231.html |archive-date=July 13, 2010}} | |||
* {{cite web |last=Walker |first=Howard |title=Elvis Presley's Dilapidated Private Jet Sat in the Desert for 40 Years. It Just Sold for $260,000. |date=January 9, 2023 |website=Robb Report |url=https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/elvis-presley-private-jet-sells-mecum-collector-car-auction-1234792793/ |access-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216195254/https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/elvis-presley-private-jet-sells-mecum-collector-car-auction-1234792793/ |url-status=live}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Warwick |first1=Neil |last2=Kutner |first2=Jon |last3=Brown |first3=Tony |year=2004 |title=The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles & Albums |edition=3rd |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-1-84449-058-5}} | |||
* {{cite journal |last=Waters |first=Lindsay |date=Spring 2003 |title=Come Softly, Darling, Hear What I Say: Listening in a State of Distraction{{snd}}A Tribute to the Work of Walter Benjamin, Elvis Presley, and Robert Christgau |journal=Boundary 2 |volume=30 |pages=199–212 |doi=10.1215/01903659-30-1-199 |s2cid=161635612 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/41348 |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518012109/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/41348 |url-status=live }} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=1993 |title=Billboard Top 1000 Singles 1955–1992 |publisher=Billboard Books |isbn=978-0-7935-2072-5}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=2006 |title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits |edition=2nd |publisher=Billboard Books |isbn=978-0-8230-8291-9}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=2010 |title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits |publisher=Billboard Books |edition=9th |isbn=978-0-8230-8554-5}} | |||
* {{cite news |last=Williams |first=Todd |title=Why I Stopped Hating Elvis Presley |date=August 20, 2012 |newspaper=Creative Loafing |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-153575-why-i-stopped-hating-elvis-presley |access-date=January 20, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704192651/http://clatl.com/cribnotes/archives/2012/08/20/why-i-stopped-hating-elvis-presley |archive-date=July 4, 2016}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Williamson |first=Joel |year=2015 |title=Elvis Presley: A Southern Life |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-986317-4}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Bee |year=2010 |title=Sandwich: A Global History |publisher=Reaktion |isbn=978-1-86189-771-8}} | |||
* {{cite book |last=Wolfe |first=Charles |year=1994 |title=Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances |publisher=CD Booklet RCA/BMG. UPC 7863664212}} | |||
* {{cite web |last1=Woolley |first1=John T. |last2=Peters |first2=Gerhard |title=Jimmy Carter: Death of Elvis Presley Statement by the President |date=August 17, 1977 |website=American Presidency Project |publisher=University of California, Santa Barbara |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/243942 |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=March 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321182640/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-the-president-the-death-elvis-presley |url-status=live}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
== Further reading == | |||
<!--Other languages--> | |||
{{refbegin|30em}} | |||
] | |||
* Allen, Lew (2007). ''Elvis and the Birth of Rock''. Genesis. {{ISBN|978-1-905662-00-5}}. | |||
] | |||
* {{cite news |last=Bennet |first=Mark |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170815/news/308159978 |title=Elvis impersonator reviews his career highlights, wardrobe |date=August 15, 2017 |newspaper=] |access-date=February 2, 2018 |ref=none |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504232317/http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170815/news/308159978 |url-status=live}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite magazine |magazine=Billboard |year=2018 |title=Elvis Presley: Chart History – Classical Albums |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/elvis-presley/chart-history/coa/ |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507043025/https://www.billboard.com/music/elvis-presley/chart-history/classical-albums |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |url-status=deviated |url-access=subscription |ref=none}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite magazine |last=Bloom |first=Nate |year=2010 |title=The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs |url=https://18doors.org/the_jews_who_wrote_christmas_songs_2012/ |access-date=February 6, 2011 |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109001825/http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/The_Jews_Who_Wrote_Christmas_Songs_2010.shtml |archive-date=November 9, 2011 |ref=none}} | |||
] | |||
* Cantor, Louis (2005). ''Dewey and Elvis: The Life and Times of a Rock 'n' Roll Deejay''. University of Illinois Press. {{ISBN|978-0-252-02981-3}}. | |||
] | |||
* Dickerson, James L. (2001). ''Colonel Tom Parker: The Curious Life of Elvis Presley's Eccentric Manager''. Cooper Square Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8154-1267-0}}. | |||
] | |||
* {{Cite book |first1=Kimberly |last1=Gatto |first2=Victoria |last2=Racimo |title=All the King's Horses: the Equestrian Life of Elvis Presley. |year=2017 |publisher=Regnery History |isbn=978-1-62157-603-7 |ref=none}} | |||
] | |||
* ] (1981). ''Elvis.'' McGraw-Hill. {{ISBN|978-0-07-023657-8}}. | |||
] | |||
* Goldman, Albert (1990). ''Elvis: The Last 24 Hours.'' St. Martin's. {{ISBN|978-0-312-92541-3}}. | |||
] | |||
* Klein, George (2010). ''Elvis: My Best Man: Radio Days, Rock 'n' Roll Nights, and My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley''. Virgin Books. {{ISBN|978-0-307-45274-0}} | |||
] | |||
* Marcus, Greil (1991). ''Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural Obsession''. Doubleday. {{ISBN|978-0-385-41718-1}}. | |||
] | |||
* Marcus, Greil (2000). ''Double Trouble: Bill Clinton and Elvis Presley in a Land of No Alternative''. Picador. {{ISBN|978-0-571-20676-6}}. | |||
] | |||
* {{cite web |last=Mawer |first=Sharon |date=2007a |title=Album Chart History{{snd}}1974 |publisher=Official Charts Company |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217123646/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php |archive-date=December 17, 2007 |ref=none }} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite web |last=Mawer |first=Sharon |date=2007b |title=Album Chart History{{snd}}1977 |publisher=Official Charts Company |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1977.php |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415042918/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1977.php |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |ref=none }} | |||
] | |||
* Nash, Alanna (2010). ''Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him''. It Books. {{ISBN|978-0-06-169984-9}}. | |||
] | |||
* Roy, Samuel (1985). ''Elvis: Prophet of Power''. Branden, {{ISBN|978-0-8283-1898-3}}. | |||
] | |||
* {{cite news |agency=Voice of America |date=October 27, 2009 |title=Southern Genealogy Yields Surprises |url=http://www.voanews.com/content/a-13-2007-07-25-voa66-66720472/560593.html |access-date=January 19, 2018 |ref=none |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419205537/http://www.voanews.com/content/a-13-2007-07-25-voa66-66720472/560593.html |url-status=live}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite book |last=Wertheimer |first=Neil |title=Total Health for Men |publisher=Rodale Press |year=1997 |ref=none}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=2007 |title=Joel Whitburn Presents the Billboard Albums |edition=6th |publisher=Record Research |isbn=978-0-89820-166-6 |ref=none}} | |||
] | |||
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |year=2008 |title=Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007 |publisher=Record Research |isbn=978-0-89820-173-4 |ref=none}} | |||
] | |||
* Red West, Sonny West, and Dave Hebler as told to ] (1977). '']'' Bantam Books. {{ISBN|978-0-345-27215-7}}. | |||
] | |||
{{refend}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
== External links == | |||
] | |||
{{Commons category}} | |||
] | |||
{{Wikiquote}} | |||
] | |||
<!-- Please do not add more external links without discussing it on the talk page first. --> | |||
] | |||
{{colbegin}} | |||
] | |||
* at ] | |||
] | |||
* {{IMDb name|id=0000062|name=Elvis Presley}} | |||
* {{TCMDb name}} | |||
] | |||
* official record label site | |||
] | |||
* on officially sanctioned Elvis Australia site | |||
] | |||
* episode of 1968 ''Pop Chronicles'' radio series | |||
] | |||
{{colend}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
{{Elvis Presley|state=expanded}} | |||
{{Elvis Presley singles}} | |||
{{Navboxes | |||
] | |||
| title = Awards for Elvis Presley | |||
] | |||
| list = | |||
{{American Music Award of Merit}} | |||
{{UK best-selling singles (by year)}} | |||
{{1990s Country Music Hall of Fame}} | |||
{{Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}} | |||
{{1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Portal bar|1950s|Biography|Film|Mississippi|Pop music|Rock music|Rhythm and blues|Television|Tennessee|United States}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Presley, Elvis}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 20:32, 22 December 2024
American singer and actor (1935–1977) For other uses, see Elvis Presley (disambiguation). "Elvis" and "King of Rock and Roll" redirect here. For other uses, see Elvis (disambiguation) and King of Rock and Roll (disambiguation).
Elvis Presley | |
---|---|
A publicity photograph for the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock | |
Born | Elvis Aaron Presley (1935-01-08)January 8, 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S. |
Died | August 16, 1977(1977-08-16) (aged 42) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
Resting place | Graceland, Memphis 35°2′46″N 90°1′23″W / 35.04611°N 90.02306°W / 35.04611; -90.02306 |
Other names | King of Rock and Roll |
Occupations |
|
Works | |
Spouse |
Priscilla Beaulieu
(m. 1967; div. 1973) |
Children | Lisa Marie Presley |
Relatives | Riley Keough (granddaughter) Brandon Presley (second cousin) Harold Ray Presley (first cousin once removed) |
Awards | Full list |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 1953–1977 |
Labels | |
Musical artist | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1958–1960 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Unit | Headquarters Company, 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor, 3d Armored Division |
Awards | Good Conduct Medal |
Signature | |
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), known mononymously as Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Known as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Presley's energized performances and interpretations of songs, and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, brought both great success and initial controversy.
Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi; his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, when he was 13. His music career began there in 1954, at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American music to a wider audience. Presley, on guitar and accompanied by lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who managed him for the rest of his career. Presley's first RCA Victor single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the US. Within a year, RCA Victor would sell ten million Presley singles. With a series of successful television appearances and chart-topping records, Presley became the leading figure of the newly popular rock and roll; though his performative style and promotion of the then-marginalized sound of African Americans led to him being widely considered a threat to the moral well-being of white American youth.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, he relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. Presley held few concerts, however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. Some of Presley's most famous films included Jailhouse Rock (1957), Blue Hawaii (1961), and Viva Las Vegas (1964). In 1968, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed NBC television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. However, years of prescription drug abuse and unhealthy eating severely compromised his health, and Presley died unexpectedly in August 1977 at his Graceland estate at the age of 42.
Presley is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with sale estimates ranging from 500 million records to over a billion worldwide. He was commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, rock and roll, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, adult contemporary, and gospel. He won three Grammy Awards, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. He holds several records, including the most RIAA-certified gold and platinum albums, the most albums charted on the Billboard 200, the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the UK Albums Chart, and the most number-one singles by any act on the UK Singles Chart. In 2018, Presley was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Life and career
1935–1953: early years
Main article: Early life of Elvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Gladys Love (née Smith) and Vernon Presley. Elvis' twin Jesse Garon was delivered 35 minutes before, stillborn. Presley became close to both parents, especially his mother. The family attended an Assembly of God church, where he found his initial musical inspiration. Vernon moved from one odd job to the next, and the family often relied on neighbors and government food assistance. In 1938, they lost their home after Vernon was found guilty of altering a check and was jailed for eight months.
In September 1941, Presley entered first grade at East Tupelo Consolidated, where his teachers regarded him as "average". His first public performance was a singing contest at the Mississippi–Alabama Fair and Dairy Show on October 3, 1945, when he was 10; he sang "Old Shep" and recalled placing fifth. A few months later, Presley received his first guitar for his birthday; he received guitar lessons from two uncles and a pastor at the family's church. Presley recalled, "I took the guitar, and I watched people, and I learned to play a little bit. But I would never sing in public. I was very shy about it."
In September 1946, Presley entered a new school, Milam, for sixth grade. The following year, he began singing and playing his guitar at school. He was often teased as a "trashy" kid who played hillbilly music. Presley was a devotee of Mississippi Slim's radio show. He was described as "crazy about music" by Slim's younger brother, one of Presley's classmates. Slim showed Presley chord techniques. When his protégé was 12, Slim scheduled him for two on-air performances. Presley was overcome by stage fright the first time but performed the following week.
In November 1948, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Enrolled at L. C. Humes High School, Presley received a C in music in eighth grade. When his music teacher said he had no aptitude for singing, he brought in his guitar and sang a recent hit, "Keep Them Cold Icy Fingers Off Me". He was usually too shy to perform openly and was occasionally bullied by classmates for being a "mama's boy". In 1950, Presley began practicing guitar under the tutelage of Lee Denson, a neighbor. They and three other boys, including two future rockabilly pioneers, brothers Dorsey and Johnny Burnette—formed a loose musical collective.
During his junior year, Presley began to stand out among his classmates, largely because of his appearance: he grew his sideburns and styled his hair. He would head down to Beale Street, the heart of Memphis' thriving blues scene, and admire the wild, flashy clothes at Lansky Brothers. By his senior year, he was wearing those clothes. He competed in Humes' Annual "Minstrel" Show in 1953, singing and playing "Till I Waltz Again with You", a recent hit for Teresa Brewer. Presley recalled that the performance did much for his reputation:
I wasn't popular in school ... I failed music—only thing I ever failed. And then they entered me in this talent show ... when I came onstage, I heard people kind of rumbling and whispering and so forth, 'cause nobody knew I even sang. It was amazing how popular I became in school after that.
Presley, who could not read music, played by ear and frequented record stores that provided jukeboxes and listening booths. He knew all of Hank Snow's songs, and he loved records by other country singers such as Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Ted Daffan, Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmie Davis, and Bob Wills. The Southern gospel singer Jake Hess, one of his favorite performers, was a significant influence on his ballad-singing style. Presley was a regular audience member at the monthly All-Night Singings downtown, where many of the white gospel groups that performed reflected the influence of African American spirituals. Presley listened to regional radio stations, such as WDIA, that played what were then called "race records": spirituals, blues, and the modern, backbeat-heavy rhythm and blues. Like some of his peers, he may have attended blues venues only on nights designated for exclusively white audiences. Many of his future recordings were inspired by local African-American musicians such as Arthur Crudup and Rufus Thomas. B.B. King recalled that he had known Presley before he was popular when they both used to frequent Beale Street. By the time he graduated high school in June 1953, Presley had singled out music as his future.
1953–1956: first recordings
Sam Phillips and Sun Records
See also: List of songs recorded by Elvis Presley on the Sun labelIn August 1953, Presley checked into Memphis Recording Service, the company run by Sam Phillips before he started Sun Records. He aimed to pay for studio time to record a two-sided acetate disc: "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin". He later claimed that he intended the record as a birthday gift for his mother, or that he was merely interested in what he "sounded like". Biographer Peter Guralnick argued that Presley chose Sun in the hope of being discovered. In January 1954, Presley cut a second acetate at Sun—"I'll Never Stand in Your Way" and "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You"—but again nothing came of it. Not long after, he failed an audition for a local vocal quartet, the Songfellows, and another for the band of Eddie Bond.
"That's All Right" Presley transformed not only the sound but the emotion of the song, turning what had been written as a "lament for a lost love into a satisfied declaration of independence."Problems playing this file? See media help.
Phillips, meanwhile, was always on the lookout for someone who could bring to a broader audience the sound of the black musicians on whom Sun focused. In June, he acquired a demo recording by Jimmy Sweeney of a ballad, "Without You", that he thought might suit Presley. The teenaged singer came by the studio but was unable to do it justice. Despite this, Phillips asked Presley to sing other numbers and was sufficiently affected by what he heard to invite two local musicians, guitarist Winfield "Scotty" Moore and upright bass player Bill Black, to work with Presley for a recording session. The session, held the evening of July 5, proved entirely unfruitful until late in the night. As they were about to abort and go home, Presley launched into a 1946 blues number, Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right". Moore recalled, "All of a sudden, Elvis just started singing this song, jumping around and acting the fool, and then Bill picked up his bass, and he started acting the fool, too, and I started playing with them." Phillips quickly began taping; this was the sound he had been looking for. Three days later, popular Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips (no relation to Sam Phillips) played "That's All Right" on his Red, Hot, and Blue show. Listener interest was such that Phillips played the record repeatedly during the remaining two hours of his show. Interviewing Presley on-air, Phillips asked him what high school he attended to clarify his color for the many callers who had assumed that he was black. During the next few days, the trio recorded a bluegrass song, Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky", again in a distinctive style and employing a jury-rigged echo effect that Sam Phillips dubbed "slapback". A single was pressed with "That's All Right" on the A-side and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" on the reverse.
Early live performances and RCA Victor contract
The trio played publicly for the first time at the Bon Air club on July 17, 1954. Later that month, they appeared at the Overton Park Shell, with Slim Whitman headlining. Here Elvis pioneered "Rubber Legs", his signature dance movement. A combination of his strong response to rhythm and nervousness led Presley to shake his legs as he performed: His wide-cut pants emphasized his movements, causing young women in the audience to start screaming. Moore recalled, "During the instrumental parts, he would back off from the mic and be playing and shaking, and the crowd would just go wild."
Soon after, Moore and Black left their old band to play with Presley regularly, and disc jockey/promoter Bob Neal became the trio's manager. From August through October, they played frequently at the Eagle's Nest club, a dance venue in Memphis. When Presley played, teenagers rushed from the pool to fill the club, then left again as the house western swing band resumed. Presley quickly grew more confident on stage. According to Moore, "His movement was a natural thing, but he was also very conscious of what got a reaction. He'd do something one time and then he would expand on it real quick." Amid these live performances, Presley returned to Sun studio for more recording sessions. Presley made what would be his only appearance on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry on October 2; Opry manager Jim Denny told Phillips that his singer was "not bad" but did not suit the program.
Louisiana Hayride, radio commercial, and first television performances
In November 1954, Presley performed on Louisiana Hayride—the Opry's chief, and more adventurous, rival. The show was broadcast to 198 radio stations in 28 states. His nervous first set drew a muted reaction. A more composed and energetic second set inspired an enthusiastic response. Soon after the show, the Hayride engaged Presley for a year's worth of Saturday-night appearances. Trading in his old guitar for $8, he purchased a Martin instrument for $175 (equivalent to $2,000 in 2023) and his trio began playing in new locales, including Houston, Texas, and Texarkana, Arkansas. Presley made his first television appearance on the KSLA-TV broadcast of Louisiana Hayride. Soon after, he failed an audition for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on the CBS television network. By early 1955, Presley's regular Hayride appearances, constant touring, and well-received record releases had made him a regional star.
In January, Neal signed a formal management contract with Presley and brought him to the attention of Colonel Tom Parker, whom he considered the best promoter in the music business. Having successfully managed the top country star Eddy Arnold, Parker was working with the new number-one country singer, Hank Snow. Parker booked Presley on Snow's February tour.
By August, Sun had released ten sides credited to "Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill"; the latest recordings included a drummer. Some of the songs, like "That's All Right", were in what one Memphis journalist described as the "R&B idiom of negro field jazz"; others, like "Blue Moon of Kentucky", were "more in the country field", "but there was a curious blending of the two different musics in both". This blend of styles made it difficult for Presley's music to find radio airplay. According to Neal, many country-music disc jockeys would not play it because Presley sounded too much like a black artist and none of the R&B stations would touch him because "he sounded too much like a hillbilly." The blend came to be known as "rockabilly". At the time, Presley was billed as "The King of Western Bop", "The Hillbilly Cat", and "The Memphis Flash".
Presley renewed Neal's management contract in August 1955, simultaneously appointing Parker as his special adviser. The group maintained an extensive touring schedule. Neal recalled, "It was almost frightening, the reaction that came to Elvis from the teenaged boys. So many of them, through some sort of jealousy, would practically hate him. There were occasions in some towns in Texas when we'd have to be sure to have a police guard because somebody'd always try to take a crack at him." The trio became a quartet when Hayride drummer Fontana joined as a full member. In mid-October, they played a few shows in support of Bill Haley, whose "Rock Around the Clock" track had been a number-one hit the previous year. Haley observed that Presley had a natural feel for rhythm, and advised him to sing fewer ballads.
At the Country Disc Jockey Convention in early November, Presley was voted the year's most promising male artist. After three major labels made offers of up to $25,000, Parker and Phillips struck a deal with RCA Victor on November 21 to acquire Presley's Sun contract for an unprecedented $40,000. Presley, aged 20, was legally still a minor, so his father signed the contract. Parker arranged with the owners of Hill & Range Publishing, Jean and Julian Aberbach, to create two entities, Elvis Presley Music and Gladys Music, to handle all the new material recorded by Presley. Songwriters were obliged to forgo one-third of their customary royalties in exchange for having Presley perform their compositions. By December, RCA had begun to heavily promote its new singer, and before month's end had reissued many of his Sun recordings.
1956–1958: commercial breakout and controversy
First national TV appearances and debut album
On January 10, 1956, Presley made his first recordings for RCA Victor in Nashville. Extending his by-now customary backup of Moore, Black, Fontana, and Hayride pianist Floyd Cramer—who had been performing at live club dates with Presley—RCA Victor enlisted guitarist Chet Atkins and three background singers, including Gordon Stoker of the popular Jordanaires quartet. The session produced the moody "Heartbreak Hotel", released as a single on January 27. Parker brought Presley to national television, booking him on CBS's Stage Show for six appearances over two months. The program, produced in New York City, was hosted on alternate weeks by big band leaders and brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. After his first appearance on January 28, Presley stayed in town to record at RCA Victor's New York studio. The sessions yielded eight songs, including a cover of Carl Perkins' rockabilly anthem "Blue Suede Shoes". In February, Presley's "I Forgot to Remember to Forget", a Sun recording released the previous August, reached the top of the Billboard country chart. Neal's contract was terminated and Parker became Presley's manager.
RCA Victor released Presley's self-titled debut album on March 23. Joined by five previously unreleased Sun recordings, its seven recently recorded tracks included two country songs, a bouncy pop tune, and what would centrally define the evolving sound of rock and roll: "Blue Suede Shoes"—"an improvement over Perkins' in almost every way", according to critic Robert Hilburn—and three R&B numbers that had been part of Presley's stage repertoire, covers of Little Richard, Ray Charles, and The Drifters. As described by Hilburn, these
were the most revealing of all. Unlike many white artists ... who watered down the gritty edges of the original R&B versions of songs in the '50s, Presley reshaped them. He not only injected the tunes with his own vocal character but also made guitar, not piano, the lead instrument in all three cases.
It became the first rock and roll album to top the Billboard chart, a position it held for ten weeks. While Presley was not an innovative guitarist like Moore or contemporary African American rockers Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry, cultural historian Gilbert B. Rodman argued that the album's cover image, "of Elvis having the time of his life on stage with a guitar in his hands played a crucial role in positioning the guitar ... as the instrument that best captured the style and spirit of this new music."
Milton Berle Show and "Hound Dog"
On April 3, Presley made the first of two appearances on NBC's The Milton Berle Show. His performance, on the deck of the USS Hancock in San Diego, California, prompted cheers and screams from an audience of sailors and their dates. A few days later, Presley and his band were flying to Nashville, Tennessee for a recording session when an engine died and the plane almost went down over Arkansas. Twelve weeks after its original release, "Heartbreak Hotel" became Presley's first number-one pop hit. In late April, Presley began a two-week residency at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The shows were poorly received by the conservative, middle-aged hotel guests, "like a jug of corn liquor at a champagne party", a Newsweek critic wrote. Amid his Vegas tenure, Presley, who had acting ambitions, signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures. He began a tour of the Midwest in mid-May, covering fifteen cities in as many days. He had attended several shows by Freddie Bell and the Bellboys in Vegas and was struck by their cover of "Hound Dog", a hit in 1953 for blues singer Big Mama Thornton by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It became his new closing number.
After a show in La Crosse, Wisconsin, an urgent message on the letterhead of the local Catholic diocese's newspaper was sent to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. It warned that
Presley is a definite danger to the security of the United States. ... actions and motions were such as to rouse the sexual passions of teenaged youth. ... After the show, more than 1,000 teenagers tried to gang into Presley's room at the auditorium. ... Indications of the harm Presley did just in La Crosse were the two high school girls ... whose abdomen and thigh had Presley's autograph.
Presley's second Milton Berle Show appearance came on June 5 at NBC's Hollywood studio, amid another hectic tour. Milton Berle persuaded Presley to leave his guitar backstage. During the performance, Presley abruptly halted an up-tempo rendition of "Hound Dog" and launched into a slow, grinding version accentuated with exaggerated body movements. His gyrations created a storm of controversy. Jack Gould of The New York Times wrote,
Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. ... His phrasing, if it can be called that, consists of the stereotyped variations that go with a beginner's aria in a bathtub. ... His one specialty is an accented movement of the body ... primarily identified with the repertoire of the blond bombshells of the burlesque runway.
Ben Gross of the New York Daily News opined that popular music "has reached its lowest depths in the 'grunt and groin' antics of one Elvis Presley. ... Elvis, who rotates his pelvis ... gave an exhibition that was suggestive and vulgar, tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and bordellos". Ed Sullivan, whose variety show was the nation's most popular, declared Presley "unfit for family viewing". To Presley's displeasure, he soon found himself being referred to as "Elvis the Pelvis", which he called "childish".
Steve Allen Show and first Sullivan appearance
The Berle shows drew such high ratings that Presley was booked for a July 1 appearance on NBC's The Steve Allen Show in New York. Allen, no fan of rock and roll, introduced a "new Elvis" in a white bowtie and black tails. Presley sang "Hound Dog" for less than a minute to a basset hound wearing a top hat and bowtie. As described by television historian Jake Austen, "Allen thought Presley was talentless and absurd ... set things up so that Presley would show his contrition". Allen later wrote that he found Presley's "strange, gangly, country-boy charisma, his hard-to-define cuteness, and his charming eccentricity intriguing" and worked him into the "comedy fabric" of his program. Just before the final rehearsal for the show, Presley told a reporter, "I don't want to do anything to make people dislike me. I think TV is important so I'm going to go along, but I won't be able to give the kind of show I do in a personal appearance." Presley would refer back to the Allen show as the most ridiculous performance of his career. Later that night, he appeared on Hy Gardner Calling, a popular local television show. Pressed on whether he had learned anything from the criticism of him, Presley responded, "No, I haven't... I don't see how any type of music would have any bad influence on people when it's only music. ... how would rock 'n' roll music make anyone rebel against their parents?"
The next day, Presley recorded "Hound Dog", "Any Way You Want Me" and "Don't Be Cruel". The Jordanaires sang harmony, as they had on The Steve Allen Show; they would work with Presley through the 1960s. A few days later, Presley made an outdoor concert appearance in Memphis, at which he announced, "You know, those people in New York are not gonna change me none. I'm gonna show you what the real Elvis is like tonight." In August, a judge in Jacksonville, Florida, ordered Presley to tame his act. Throughout the following performance, he largely kept still, except for wiggling his little finger suggestively in mockery of the order. The single pairing "Don't Be Cruel" with "Hound Dog" ruled the top of the charts for eleven weeks—a mark that would not be surpassed for thirty-six years. Recording sessions for Presley's second album took place in Hollywood in early September. Leiber and Stoller, the writers of "Hound Dog", contributed "Love Me".
Allen's show with Presley had, for the first time, beaten The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings. Sullivan booked Presley for three appearances for an unprecedented $50,000. The first, on September 9, 1956, was seen by approximately 60 million viewers—a record 82.6 percent of the television audience. Actor Charles Laughton hosted the show, filling in while Sullivan was recovering from a car accident. According to legend, Presley was shot only from the waist up. Watching clips of the Allen and Berle shows, Sullivan had opined that Presley "got some kind of device hanging down below the crotch of his pants—so when he moves his legs back and forth you can see the outline of his cock. ... I think it's a Coke bottle. ... We just can't have this on a Sunday night. This is a family show!" Sullivan publicly told TV Guide, "As for his gyrations, the whole thing can be controlled with camera shots." In fact, Presley was shown head-to-toe. Though the camerawork was relatively discreet during his debut, with leg-concealing closeups when he danced, the studio audience reacted with screams. Presley's performance of his forthcoming single, the ballad "Love Me Tender", prompted a record-shattering million advance orders. More than any other single event, it was this first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that made Presley a national celebrity.
Accompanying Presley's rise to fame, a cultural shift was taking place that he both helped inspire and came to symbolize. The historian Marty Jezer wrote that Presley began the "biggest pop craze" since Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra and brought rock and roll to mainstream culture:
As Presley set the artistic pace, other artists followed. ... Presley, more than anyone else, gave the young a belief in themselves as a distinct and somehow unified generation—the first in America ever to feel the power of an integrated youth culture.
Crazed crowds and film debut
The audience response at Presley's live shows became increasingly fevered. Moore recalled, "He'd start out, 'You ain't nothin' but a Hound Dog,' and they'd just go to pieces. They'd always react the same way. There'd be a riot every time." At the two concerts he performed in September at the Mississippi–Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, fifty National Guardsmen were added to the police detail to prevent a ruckus. Elvis, Presley's second RCA Victor album, was released in October and quickly rose to number one. The album includes "Old Shep", which he sang at the talent show in 1945, and which now marked the first time he played piano on an RCA Victor session. According to Guralnick, "the halting chords and the somewhat stumbling rhythm" showed "the unmistakable emotion and the equally unmistakable valuing of emotion over technique." Assessing the musical and cultural impact of Presley's recordings from "That's All Right" through Elvis, rock critic Dave Marsh wrote that "these records, more than any others, contain the seeds of what rock & roll was, has been and most likely what it may foreseeably become."
"We're gonna do a sad song ..." Presley's definition of rock and roll included a sense of humor—here, during his second Sullivan appearance, he introduces one of his signature numbers.Problems playing this file? See media help.
Presley returned to The Ed Sullivan Show, hosted this time by its namesake, on October 28. After the performance, crowds in Nashville and St. Louis burned him in effigy. His first motion picture, Love Me Tender, was released on November 21. Though he was not top-billed, the film's original title—The Reno Brothers—was changed to capitalize on his latest number-one record: "Love Me Tender" had hit the top of the charts earlier that month. To further take advantage of Presley's popularity, four musical numbers were added to what was originally a straight acting role. The film was panned by critics but did very well at the box office. Presley would receive top billing on every subsequent film he made.
On December 4, Presley dropped into Sun Records, where Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis were recording, and had an impromptu jam session along with Johnny Cash. Though Phillips no longer had the right to release any Presley material, he made sure that the session was captured on tape. The results, none officially released for twenty-five years, became known as the "Million Dollar Quartet" recordings. The year ended with a front-page story in The Wall Street Journal reporting that Presley merchandise had brought in $22 million on top of his record sales, and Billboard's declaration that he had placed more songs in the top 100 than any other artist since records were first charted. In his first full year at RCA Victor, then the record industry's largest company, Presley had accounted for over fifty percent of the label's singles sales.
Leiber and Stoller collaboration and draft notice
Presley made his third and final Ed Sullivan Show appearance on January 6, 1957—on this occasion indeed shot only down to the waist. Some commentators have claimed that Parker orchestrated an appearance of censorship to generate publicity. In any event, as critic Greil Marcus describes, Presley "did not tie himself down. Leaving behind the bland clothes he had worn on the first two shows, he stepped out in the outlandish costume of a pasha, if not a harem girl. From the make-up over his eyes, the hair falling in his face, the overwhelmingly sexual cast of his mouth, he was playing Rudolph Valentino in The Sheik, with all stops out." To close, displaying his range and defying Sullivan's wishes, Presley sang a gentle black spiritual, "Peace in the Valley". At the end of the show, Sullivan declared Presley "a real decent, fine boy". Two days later, the Memphis draft board announced that Presley would be classified 1-A and would probably be drafted sometime that year.
Each of the three Presley singles released in the first half of 1957 went to number one: "Too Much", "All Shook Up", and "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear". Already an international star, he was attracting fans even where his music was not officially released: The New York Times reported that pressings of his music on discarded X-ray plates were commanding high prices in Leningrad. Presley purchased his 18-room mansion, Graceland, on March 19, 1957. Before the purchase, Elvis recorded Loving You—the soundtrack to his second film, which was released in July. It was his third straight number-one album. The title track was written by Leiber and Stoller, who were then retained to write four of the six songs recorded at the sessions for Jailhouse Rock, Presley's next film. The songwriting team effectively produced the Jailhouse sessions and developed a close working relationship with Presley, who came to regard them as his "good-luck charm". "He was fast," said Leiber. "Any demo you gave him he knew by heart in ten minutes." The title track became another number-one hit, as was the Jailhouse Rock EP.
Presley undertook three brief tours during the year, continuing to generate a crazed audience response. A Detroit newspaper suggested that "the trouble with going to see Elvis Presley is that you're liable to get killed". Villanova students pelted the singer with eggs in Philadelphia, and in Vancouver the crowd rioted after the show ended, destroying the stage. Frank Sinatra, who had inspired the swooning and screaming of teenage girls in the 1940s, decried rock and roll as "brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious. ... It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phoney and false. It is sung, played and written, for the most part, by cretinous goons. ... This rancid-smelling aphrodisiac I deplore." Asked for a response, Presley said:
I admire the man. He has a right to say what he wants to say. He is a great success and a fine actor, but I think he shouldn't have said it. ... This is a trend, just the same as he faced when he started years ago.
Leiber and Stoller were again in the studio for the recording of Elvis' Christmas Album. Toward the end of the session, they wrote a song on the spot at Presley's request: "Santa Claus Is Back in Town", an innuendo-laden blues. The holiday release stretched Presley's string of number-one albums to four and would become the best-selling Christmas album ever in the United States, with eventual sales of over 20 million worldwide. After the session, Moore and Black—drawing only modest weekly salaries, sharing in none of Presley's massive financial success—resigned, though they were brought back on a per diem basis a few weeks later.
On December 20, Presley received his draft notice, though he was granted a deferment to finish the forthcoming film King Creole. A couple of weeks into the new year, "Don't", another Leiber and Stoller tune, became Presley's tenth number-one seller. Recording sessions for the King Creole soundtrack were held in Hollywood in mid-January 1958. Leiber and Stoller provided three songs, but it would be the last time Presley and the duo worked closely together. As Stoller later recalled, Presley's manager and entourage sought to wall him off. A brief soundtrack session on February 11 marked the final occasion on which Black was to perform with Presley.
1958–1960: military service and mother's death
Main article: Military career of Elvis PresleyOn March 24, 1958, Presley was drafted into the United States Army at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. His arrival was a major media event. Hundreds of people descended on Presley as he stepped from the bus; photographers accompanied him into the installation. Presley announced that he was looking forward to his military service, saying that he did not want to be treated any differently from anyone else.
Between March 28 and September 17, 1958, Presley completed basic and advanced training at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was temporarily assigned to Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor. During the two weeks' leave between his basic and advanced training in early June, he recorded five songs in Nashville. In early August, Presley's mother was diagnosed with hepatitis, and her condition rapidly worsened. Presley was granted emergency leave to visit her and arrived in Memphis on August 12. Two days later, she died of heart failure at age 46. Presley was devastated and never the same; their relationship had remained extremely close—even into his adulthood, they would use baby talk with each other and Presley would address her with pet names.
On October 1, 1958, Presley was assigned to the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor, 3d Armored Division, at Ray Barracks, West Germany, where he served as an armor intelligence specialist. On November 27, he was promoted to private first class and on June 1, 1959, to specialist fourth class. While on maneuvers, Presley was introduced to amphetamines and became "practically evangelical about their benefits", not only for energy but for "strength" and weight loss. Karate became a lifelong interest: he studied with Jürgen Seydel, and later included it in his live performances. Fellow soldiers have attested to Presley's wish to be seen as an able, ordinary soldier despite his fame, and to his generosity. He donated his Army pay to charity, purchased television sets for the base, and bought an extra set of fatigues for everyone in his outfit. Presley was promoted to sergeant on February 11, 1960.
While in Bad Nauheim, Presley, aged 24, met 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu. They would marry after a seven-and-a-half-year courtship. In her autobiography, Priscilla said that Presley was concerned that his 24 months in the military would ruin his career. In Special Services, he would have been able to perform and remain in touch with the public, but Parker had convinced him that to gain popular respect, he should serve as a regular soldier. Media reports echoed Presley's concerns about his career, but RCA Victor producer Steve Sholes and Freddy Bienstock of Hill and Range had carefully prepared: armed with a substantial amount of unreleased material, they kept up a regular stream of successful releases. Between his induction and discharge, Presley had ten top-40 hits, including "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", the bestselling "Hard Headed Woman", and "One Night" in 1958, and "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" and the number-one "A Big Hunk o' Love" in 1959. RCA Victor also generated four albums compiling previously issued material during this period, most successfully Elvis' Golden Records (1958), which hit number three on the LP chart.
1960–1968: focus on films
See also: Elvis Presley on film and televisionElvis Is Back
"It's Now or Never" Presley broke new stylistic ground and displayed his vocal range with this number-one hit. The quasi-operatic ballad ends with Presley "soaring up to an incredible top G sharp."Problems playing this file? See media help.
Presley returned to the U.S. on March 2, 1960, and was honorably discharged three days later. The train that carried him from New Jersey to Tennessee was mobbed all the way, and Presley was called upon to appear at scheduled stops to please his fans. On the night of March 20, he entered RCA's Nashville studio to cut tracks for a new album along with a single, "Stuck on You", which was rushed into release and swiftly became a number-one hit. Another Nashville session two weeks later yielded a pair of bestselling singles, the ballads "It's Now or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", along with the rest of Elvis Is Back! The album features several songs described by Greil Marcus as full of Chicago blues "menace, driven by Presley's own super-miked acoustic guitar, brilliant playing by Scotty Moore, and demonic sax work from Boots Randolph. Elvis' singing wasn't sexy, it was pornographic." The record "conjured up the vision of a performer who could be all things", according to music historian John Robertson: "a flirtatious teenage idol with a heart of gold; a tempestuous, dangerous lover; a gutbucket blues singer; a sophisticated nightclub entertainer; raucous rocker". Released only days after recording was complete, it reached number two on the album chart.
Presley returned to television on May 12 as a guest on The Frank Sinatra Timex Special. Also known as Welcome Home Elvis, the show had been taped in late March, the only time all year Presley performed in front of an audience. Parker secured an unheard-of $125,000 for eight minutes of singing. The broadcast drew an enormous viewership.
G.I. Blues, the soundtrack to Presley's first film since his return, was a number-one album in October. His first LP of sacred material, His Hand in Mine, followed two months later; it reached number 13 on the U.S. pop chart and number 3 in the United Kingdom, remarkable figures for a gospel album. In February 1961, Presley performed two shows in Memphis, for a benefit for twenty-four local charities. During a luncheon preceding the event, RCA Victor presented him with a plaque certifying worldwide sales of over 75 million records. A twelve-hour Nashville session in mid-March yielded nearly all of Presley's next studio album, Something for Everybody. According to John Robertson, it exemplifies the Nashville sound, the restrained, cosmopolitan style that would define country music in the 1960s. Presaging much of what was to come from Presley over the next half-decade, the album is largely "a pleasant, unthreatening pastiche of the music that had once been Elvis' birthright". It would be his sixth number-one LP. Another benefit concert, for a Pearl Harbor memorial, was staged on March 25 in Hawaii. It was to be Presley's last public performance for seven years.
Lost in Hollywood
Parker had by now pushed Presley into a heavy filmmaking schedule, focused on formulaic, modestly budgeted musical comedies. Presley initially insisted on pursuing higher roles, but when two films in a more dramatic vein—Flaming Star (1960) and Wild in the Country (1961)—were less commercially successful, he reverted to the formula. Among the twenty-seven films he made during the 1960s, there were a few further exceptions. His films were almost universally panned; critic Andrew Caine dismissed them as a "pantheon of bad taste". Nonetheless, they were virtually all profitable. Hal Wallis, who produced nine, declared, "A Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood."
Of Presley's films in the 1960s, fifteen were accompanied by soundtrack albums and another five by soundtrack EPs. The films' rapid production and release schedules—Presley frequently starred in three a year—affected his music. According to Jerry Leiber, the soundtrack formula was already evident before Presley left for the Army: "three ballads, one medium-tempo , one up-tempo, and one break blues boogie". As the decade wore on, the quality of the soundtrack songs grew "progressively worse". Julie Parrish, who appeared in Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966), says that Presley disliked many of the songs. The Jordanaires' Gordon Stoker describes how he would retreat from the studio microphone: "The material was so bad that he felt like he couldn't sing it." Most of the film albums featured a song or two from respected writers such as the team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. But by and large, according to biographer Jerry Hopkins, the numbers seemed to be "written on order by men who never really understood Elvis or rock and roll".
In the first half of the decade, three of Presley's soundtrack albums were ranked number one on the pop charts, and a few of his most popular songs came from his films, such as "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1961) and "Return to Sender" (1962). However, the commercial returns steadily diminished. From 1964 through 1968, Presley had only one top-ten hit: "Crying in the Chapel" (1965), a gospel number recorded in 1960. As for non-film albums, between the June 1962 release of Pot Luck and the November 1968 release of the soundtrack to the television special that signaled his comeback, only one LP of new material by Presley was issued: the gospel album How Great Thou Art (1967). It won him his first Grammy Award, for Best Sacred Performance. As Marsh described, Presley was "arguably the greatest white gospel singer of his time really the last rock & roll artist to make gospel as vital a component of his musical personality as his secular songs".
Shortly before Christmas 1966, more than seven years since they first met, Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu. They were married on May 1, 1967, in a brief ceremony in their suite at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. The flow of formulaic films and assembly-line soundtracks continued. It was not until October 1967, when the Clambake soundtrack LP registered record low sales for a new Presley album, that RCA Victor executives recognized a problem. "By then, of course, the damage had been done", as historians Connie Kirchberg and Marc Hendrickx put it. "Elvis was viewed as a joke by serious music lovers and a has-been to all but his most loyal fans."
1968–1973: Comeback
Elvis: the '68 Comeback Special
Main article: Singer Presents...ElvisPresley's only child, Lisa Marie, was born on February 1, 1968, during a period when he had grown deeply unhappy with his career. Of the eight Presley singles released between January 1967 and May 1968, only two charted in the top 40, none higher than number 28. His forthcoming soundtrack album, Speedway, would rank at number 82. Parker had already shifted his plans to television: he maneuvered a deal with NBC that committed the network to finance a theatrical feature and broadcast a Christmas special.
Recorded in late June in Burbank, California, the special, simply called Elvis, aired on December 3, 1968. Later known as the '68 Comeback Special, the show featured lavishly staged studio productions as well as songs performed with a band in front of a small audience—Presley's first live performances since 1961. The live segments saw Presley dressed in tight black leather, singing and playing guitar in an uninhibited style reminiscent of his early rock and roll days. Director and co-producer Steve Binder worked hard to produce a show that was far from the hour of Christmas songs Parker had originally planned. The show, NBC's highest-rated that season, captured forty-two percent of the total viewing audience. Jon Landau of Eye magazine remarked:
There is something magical about watching a man who has lost himself find his way back home. He sang with the kind of power people no longer expect of rock 'n' roll singers. He moved his body with a lack of pretension and effort that must have made Jim Morrison green with envy.
Marsh calls the performance one of "emotional grandeur and historical resonance".
By January 1969, the single "If I Can Dream", written for the special, reached number 12. The soundtrack album rose into the top ten. According to friend Jerry Schilling, the special reminded Presley of what "he had not been able to do for years, being able to choose the people; being able to choose what songs and not being told what had to be on the soundtrack. ... He was out of prison, man." Binder said of Presley's reaction, "I played Elvis the 60-minute show, and he told me in the screening room, 'Steve, it's the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. I give you my word I will never sing a song I don't believe in.'"
From Elvis in Memphis and the International
"Power of My Love" Beginning with his American Sound recordings, soul music became a central element in Presley's fusion of styles. Here, he revels in lyrics full of sexual innuendos.Problems playing this file? See media help.
Buoyed by the experience of the Comeback Special, Presley engaged in a prolific series of recording sessions at American Sound Studio, which led to the acclaimed From Elvis in Memphis. Released in June 1969, it was his first secular, non-soundtrack album from a dedicated period in the studio in eight years. As described by Marsh, it is "a masterpiece in which Presley immediately catches up with pop music trends that had seemed to pass him by during the movie years. He sings country songs, soul songs and rockers with real conviction, a stunning achievement." The album featured the hit single "In the Ghetto", issued in April, which reached number three on the pop chart—Presley's first non-gospel top ten hit since "Bossa Nova Baby" in 1963. Further hit singles were culled from the American Sound sessions: "Suspicious Minds", "Don't Cry Daddy", and "Kentucky Rain".
Presley was keen to resume regular live performing. Following the success of the Comeback Special, offers came in from around the world. The London Palladium offered Parker US$28,000 (equivalent to $233,000 in 2023) for a one-week engagement. He responded, "That's fine for me, now how much can you get for Elvis?" In May, the brand-new International Hotel in Las Vegas, boasting the largest showroom in the city, booked Presley for fifty-seven shows over four weeks, beginning July 31. Moore, Fontana, and the Jordanaires declined to participate, afraid of losing the lucrative session work they had in Nashville. Presley assembled new, top-notch accompaniment, led by guitarist James Burton and including two gospel groups, The Imperials and Sweet Inspirations. Costume designer Bill Belew, responsible for the intense leather styling of the Comeback Special, created a new stage look for Presley, inspired by his passion for karate. Nonetheless, Presley was nervous: his only previous Las Vegas engagement, in 1956, had been dismal. Parker oversaw a major promotional push, and International Hotel owner Kirk Kerkorian arranged to send his own plane to New York to fly in rock journalists for the debut performance.
Presley took to the stage without introduction. The audience of 2,200, including many celebrities, gave him a standing ovation before he sang a note and another after his performance. A third followed his encore, "Can't Help Falling in Love" (which would be his closing number for much of his remaining life). At a press conference after the show, when a journalist referred to him as "The King", Presley gestured toward Fats Domino, who was taking in the scene. "No," Presley said, "that's the real king of rock and roll." The next day, Parker's negotiations with the hotel resulted in a five-year contract for Presley to play each February and August, at an annual salary of $1 million. Newsweek commented, "There are several unbelievable things about Elvis, but the most incredible is his staying power in a world where meteoric careers fade like shooting stars." Rolling Stone called Presley "supernatural, his own resurrection." In November, Presley's final non-concert film, Change of Habit, opened. The double album From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis came out the same month; the first LP consisted of live performances from the International, the second of more cuts from the American Sound sessions. "Suspicious Minds" reached the top of the charts—Presley's first U.S. pop number-one in over seven years, and his last.
Cassandra Peterson, later television's Elvira, met Presley during this period in Las Vegas. She recalled of their encounter, "He was so anti-drug when I met him. I mentioned to him that I smoked marijuana, and he was just appalled." Presley also rarely drank—several of his family members had been alcoholics, a fate he intended to avoid.
Back on tour and meeting Nixon
Presley returned to the International early in 1970 for the first of the year's two-month-long engagements, performing two shows a night. Recordings from these shows were issued on the album On Stage. In late February, Presley performed six attendance-record–breaking shows at the Houston Astrodome. In April, the single "The Wonder of You" was issued—a number one hit in the UK, it topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart as well. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) filmed rehearsal and concert footage at the International during August for the documentary Elvis: That's the Way It Is. Presley was performing in a jumpsuit, which would become a trademark of his live act. During this engagement, he was threatened with murder unless US$50,000 (equivalent to $392,000 in 2023) was paid. Presley had been the target of many threats since the 1950s, often without his knowledge. The FBI took the threat seriously and security was increased for the next two shows. Presley went onstage with a Derringer in his right boot and a .45 caliber pistol in his waistband, but the concerts succeeded without any incidents.
That's the Way It Is, produced to accompany the documentary and featuring both studio and live recordings, marked a stylistic shift. As music historian John Robertson noted,
The authority of Presley's singing helped disguise the fact that the album stepped decisively away from the American-roots inspiration of the Memphis sessions towards a more middle-of-the-road sound. With country put on the back burner, and soul and R&B left in Memphis, what was left was very classy, very clean white pop—perfect for the Las Vegas crowd, but a definite retrograde step for Elvis.
After the end of his International engagement on September 7, Presley embarked on a week-long concert tour, largely of the South, his first since 1958. Another week-long tour, of the West Coast, followed in November.
On December 21, 1970, Presley engineered a meeting with U.S. President Richard Nixon at the White House, where he explained how he believed he could reach out to the hippies to help combat the drug culture he and the president abhorred. He asked Nixon for a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge, to signify official sanction of his efforts. Nixon, who apparently found the encounter awkward, expressed a belief that Presley could send a positive message to young people and that it was, therefore, important that he "retain his credibility". Presley told Nixon that the Beatles, whose songs he regularly performed in concert during the era, exemplified what he saw as a trend of anti-Americanism. Presley and his friends previously had a four-hour get-together with the Beatles at his home in Bel Air, California, in August 1965. Paul McCartney later said that he "felt a bit betrayed. ... The great joke was that we were taking drugs, and look what happened to him", a reference to Presley's early death linked to prescription drug abuse.
The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce named Presley one of its annual Ten Most Outstanding Young Men of the Nation on January 16, 1971. Not long after, the City of Memphis named the stretch of Highway 51 South on which Graceland is located "Elvis Presley Boulevard". The same year, Presley became the first rock and roll singer to be awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (then known as the Bing Crosby Award). Three new, non-film Presley studio albums were released in 1971. Best received by critics was Elvis Country, a concept record that focused on genre standards. The biggest seller was Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas. According to Greil Marcus,
In the midst of ten painfully genteel Christmas songs, every one sung with appalling sincerity and humility, one could find Elvis tom-catting his way through six blazing minutes of "Merry Christmas Baby", a raunchy old Charles Brown blues. If sin was his lifelessness, it was his sinfulness that brought him to life.
Marriage breakdown and Aloha from Hawaii
See also: Aloha from Hawaii via SatelliteMGM filmed Presley in April 1972 for Elvis on Tour, which went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary Film for that year's Golden Globe Awards. His gospel album He Touched Me, released that month, would earn him his second Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance. A fourteen-date tour commenced with an unprecedented four consecutive sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. The evening concert on July 10 was issued in LP form a week later. Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden became one of Presley's biggest-selling albums. After the tour, the single "Burning Love" was released—Presley's last top ten hit on the U.S. pop chart. "The most exciting single Elvis has made since 'All Shook Up'", wrote rock critic Robert Christgau.
Presley and his wife had become increasingly distant, barely cohabiting. In 1971, an affair he had with Joyce Bova resulted—unbeknownst to him—in her pregnancy and an abortion. He often raised the possibility of Joyce moving into Graceland. The Presleys separated on February 23, 1972, after Priscilla disclosed her relationship with Mike Stone, a karate instructor Presley had recommended to her. Priscilla related that when she told him, Presley forcefully made love to her, declaring, "This is how a real man makes love to his woman". She later stated in an interview that she regretted her choice of words in describing the incident, and said it had been an overstatement. Five months later, Presley's new girlfriend, Linda Thompson, a songwriter and one-time Memphis beauty queen, moved in with him. Presley and his wife filed for divorce on August 18. According to Joe Moscheo of the Imperials, the failure of Presley's marriage "was a blow from which he never recovered". At a rare press conference that June, a reporter had asked Presley whether he was satisfied with his image. Presley replied, "Well, the image is one thing and the human being another ... it's very hard to live up to an image."
In January 1973, Presley performed two benefit concerts for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in connection with a groundbreaking television special, Aloha from Hawaii, which would be the first concert by a solo artist to be aired globally. The first show served as a practice run and backup should technical problems affect the live broadcast two days later. On January 14, Aloha from Hawaii aired live via satellite to prime-time audiences in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as to U.S. servicemen based across Southeast Asia. In Japan, where it capped a nationwide Elvis Presley Week, it smashed viewing records. The next night, it was simulcast to twenty-eight European countries, and in April an extended version aired in the U.S., receiving a fifty-seven percent share of the TV audience. Over time, Parker's claim that it was seen by one billion or more people would be broadly accepted, but that figure appeared to have been sheer invention. Presley's stage costume became the most recognized example of the elaborate concert garb with which his latter-day persona became closely associated. As described by Bobbie Ann Mason, "At the end of the show, when he spreads out his American Eagle cape, with the full stretched wings of the eagle studded on the back, he becomes a god figure." The accompanying double album, released in February, went to number one and eventually sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. It was Presley's last U.S. number-one pop album during his lifetime.
At a midnight show that same month, four men rushed onto the stage in an apparent attack. Security personnel came to Presley's defense, and he ejected one invader from the stage himself. Following the show, Presley became obsessed with the idea that the men had been sent by Mike Stone to kill him. Though they were shown to have been only overexuberant fans, Presley raged, "There's too much pain in me ... Stone die." His outbursts continued with such intensity that a physician was unable to calm him, despite administering large doses of medication. After another two full days of raging, Red West, his friend and bodyguard, felt compelled to get a price for a contract killing and was relieved when Presley decided, "Aw hell, let's just leave it for now. Maybe it's a bit heavy."
1973–1977: health deterioration and death
Medical crises and last studio sessions
Presley's divorce was finalized on October 9, 1973. By then, his health was in serious decline. Twice during the year he overdosed on barbiturates, spending three days in a coma in his hotel suite after the first incident. In late 1973, he was hospitalized from the effects of a pethidine addiction. According to his primary care physician, George C. Nichopoulos, Presley "felt that by getting drugs from a doctor, he wasn't the common everyday junkie getting something off the street". Since his comeback, he had staged more live shows with each passing year, and 1973 saw 168 concerts, his busiest schedule ever. Despite his failing health, he undertook another intensive touring schedule in 1974.
Presley's condition declined precipitously that September. Keyboardist Tony Brown remembered his arrival at a University of Maryland concert: "He fell out of the limousine, to his knees. People jumped to help, and he pushed them away like, 'Don't help me.' He walked on stage and held onto the mic for the first thirty minutes like it was a post. Everybody's looking at each other like, 'Is the tour gonna happen'?" Guitarist John Wilkinson recalled:
He was all gut. He was slurring. He was so fucked up. ... It was obvious he was drugged. It was obvious there was something terribly wrong with his body. It was so bad the words to the songs were barely intelligible. ... I remember crying. He could barely get through the introductions.
On July 13, 1976, Vernon Presley—who had become deeply involved in his son's financial affairs—had fired "Memphis Mafia" bodyguards Red West (Presley's friend since the 1950s), Sonny West, and David Hebler, citing the need to "cut back on expenses". Presley was in Palm Springs at the time, and some suggest the singer was too cowardly to face the three himself. Another associate of Presley's, John O'Grady, argued that the bodyguards were dropped because their rough treatment of fans had prompted too many lawsuits. However, Presley's stepbrother David Stanley has claimed that the bodyguards were fired because they were becoming more outspoken about Presley's drug dependency.
RCA began to grow anxious as his interest in the recording studio waned. After a session in December 1973 that produced eighteen songs, enough for almost two albums, Presley made no official studio recordings in 1974. Parker delivered RCA another concert record, Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis. Recorded on March 20, it included a version of "How Great Thou Art" that won Presley his third and final Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance. All three of his competitive Grammy wins – out of fourteen total nominations – were for gospel recordings. Presley returned to the recording studio in March 1975, but Parker's attempts to arrange another session toward the end of the year were unsuccessful. In 1976, RCA sent a mobile recording unit to Graceland that made possible two full-scale recording sessions. However, the recording process had become a struggle for him.
Final months and death
See also: Elvis sightings "Hurt" An R&B hit for Roy Hamilton in 1955 and a pop hit for blue-eyed soul singer Timi Yuro in 1961, Presley's deep soul version was picked up by country radio in 1976.Problems playing this file? See media help.
After Presley's relationship with Linda Thompson ended, he began dating Ginger Alden in November 1976; he proposed marriage to Alden two months later.
Journalist Tony Scherman wrote that, by early 1977, "Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Grossly overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts." According to Andy Greene of Rolling Stone, Presley's final performances were mostly "sad, sloppy affairs where a bloated, drugged Presley struggled to remember his lyrics and get through the night without collapsing ... Most everything from the final three years of his life is sad and hard to watch." In Alexandria, Louisiana, he was on stage for less than an hour and "was impossible to understand". On March 31, he canceled a performance in Baton Rouge, unable to get out of his hotel bed; four shows had to be canceled and rescheduled.
Despite the accelerating deterioration of his health, Presley fulfilled most of his touring commitments. According to Guralnick, fans "were becoming increasingly voluble about their disappointment, but it all seemed to go right past Presley, whose world was now confined almost entirely to his room and his spiritualism books". Presley's cousin, Billy Smith, recalled how he would sit in his room and chat for hours, sometimes recounting favorite Monty Python sketches and his past escapades, but more often gripped by paranoid obsessions.
"Way Down", Presley's last single issued during his lifetime, was released on June 6, 1977. That month, CBS taped two concerts for a television special, Elvis in Concert, to be broadcast in October. In the first, shot in Omaha on June 19, Presley's voice, Guralnick writes, "is almost unrecognizable, a small, childlike instrument in which he talks more than sings most of the songs, casts about uncertainly for the melody in others, and is virtually unable to articulate or project". Two days later, in Rapid City, South Dakota, "he looked healthier, seemed to have lost a little weight, and sounded better, too", though, by the conclusion of the performance, his face was "framed in a helmet of blue-black hair from which sweat sheets down over pale, swollen cheeks". Presley's final concert was held in Indianapolis at Market Square Arena, on June 26, 1977.
The book Elvis: What Happened?, co-written by the three bodyguards fired a year prior, was published on August 1. It was the first exposé to detail Presley's years of drug misuse. He was devastated by the book and tried unsuccessfully to halt its release by offering money to the publishers. By this point, he suffered from multiple ailments: glaucoma, high blood pressure, liver damage, and an enlarged colon, each magnified—and possibly caused—by drug abuse.
On August 16, 1977, Presley was scheduled on an evening flight out of Memphis to Portland, Maine, to begin another tour. That afternoon, however, his fiancée Ginger Alden discovered him unresponsive on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion. Attempts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital at 3:30 p.m.; he was 42.
President Jimmy Carter issued a statement that credited Presley with having "permanently changed the face of American popular culture". Thousands of people gathered outside Graceland to view the open casket. One of Presley's cousins, Billy Mann, accepted US$18,000 (equivalent to $91,000 in 2023) to secretly photograph the body; the picture appeared on the cover of the National Enquirer's biggest-selling issue ever. Alden struck a $105,000 (equivalent to $528,000 in 2023) deal with the Enquirer for her story, but settled for less when she broke her exclusivity agreement. Presley left her nothing in his will.
Presley's funeral was held at Graceland on August 18. Outside the gates, a car ploughed into a group of fans, killing two young women and critically injuring a third. About 80,000 people lined the processional route to Forest Hill Cemetery, where Presley was buried next to his mother. Within a few weeks, "Way Down" topped the country and UK singles chart. Following an attempt to steal Presley's body in late August, the remains of both Presley and his mother were exhumed and reburied in Graceland's Meditation Garden on October 2.
Cause of death
While an autopsy undertaken the same day Presley died was still in progress, Memphis medical examiner Jerry Francisco announced that the immediate cause of death was cardiac arrest and declared that "drugs played no role in Presley's death". In fact, "drug use was heavily implicated" in Presley's death, writes Guralnick. The pathologists conducting the autopsy thought it possible, for instance, that he had suffered "anaphylactic shock brought on by the codeine pills he had gotten from his dentist, to which he was known to have had a mild allergy". Lab reports filed two months later strongly suggested that polypharmacy was the primary cause of death; one reported "fourteen drugs in Elvis' system, ten in significant quantity". In 1979, forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht reviewed the reports and concluded that a combination of depressants had resulted in Presley's accidental death. Forensic historian and pathologist Michael Baden viewed the situation as complicated: "Elvis had an enlarged heart for a long time. That, together with his drug habit, caused his death. But he was difficult to diagnose; it was a judgment call."
The competence and ethics of two of the centrally involved medical professionals were seriously questioned. Francisco had offered a cause of death before the autopsy was complete; claimed the underlying ailment was cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that can be determined only in a living person; and denied drugs played any part in Presley's death before the toxicology results were known. Allegations of a cover-up were widespread. While a 1981 trial of Presley's main physician, George C. Nichopoulos, exonerated him of criminal liability, the facts were startling: "In the first eight months of 1977 alone, he had more than 10,000 doses of sedatives, amphetamines, and narcotics: all in Elvis' name." Nichopoulos' license was suspended for three months. It was permanently revoked in the 1990s after the Tennessee Medical Board brought new charges of over-prescription.
In 1994, the Presley autopsy report was reopened. Joseph Davis, who had conducted thousands of autopsies as Miami-Dade County coroner, declared at its completion, "There is nothing in any of the data that supports a death from drugs. In fact, everything points to a sudden, violent heart attack." More recent research has revealed that Francisco did not speak for the entire pathology team. Other staff "could say nothing with confidence until they got the results back from the laboratories, if then." One of the examiners, E. Eric Muirhead,
could not believe his ears. Francisco had not only presumed to speak for the hospital's team of pathologists, he had announced a conclusion that they had not reached. ... Early on, a meticulous dissection of the body ... confirmed Elvis was chronically ill with diabetes, glaucoma, and constipation. As they proceeded, the doctors saw evidence that his body had been wracked over a span of years by a large and constant stream of drugs. They had also studied his hospital records, which included two admissions for drug detoxification and methadone treatments.
1977–present: posthumous developments
Between 1977 and 1981, six of Presley's posthumously released singles were top-ten country hits. Graceland was opened to the public in 1982. Attracting over half a million visitors annually, it became the second-most-visited home in the United States, after the White House. The residence was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
Presley has been inducted into five music halls of fame: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1998), the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001), the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (2007), and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame (2012). In 1984, he received the W. C. Handy Award from the Blues Foundation and the Academy of Country Music's first Golden Hat Award. In 1987, he received the American Music Awards' Award of Merit.
A Junkie XL remix of Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" (credited as "Elvis Vs JXL") was used in a Nike advertising campaign during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It topped the charts in over twenty countries and was included in a compilation of Presley's number-one hits, ELV1S, which was also an international success. The album returned Presley to the top of the Billboard chart for the first time in almost three decades.
In 2003, a remix of "Rubberneckin'", a 1969 recording, topped the U.S. sales chart, as did a 50th-anniversary re-release of "That's All Right" the following year. The latter was an outright hit in Britain, debuting at number three on the pop chart; it also made the top ten in Canada. In 2005, another three reissued singles, "Jailhouse Rock", "One Night"/"I Got Stung", and "It's Now or Never", went to number one in the UK. They were part of a campaign that saw the re-release of all eighteen of Presley's previous chart-topping UK singles. The first, "All Shook Up", came with a collectors' box that made it ineligible to chart again; each of the other seventeen reissues hit the British top five.
In 2005, Forbes magazine named Presley the top-earning deceased celebrity for the fifth straight year, with a gross income of $45 million. He was placed second in 2006, returned to the top spot the next two years, and ranked fourth in 2009. The following year, he was ranked second, with his highest annual income ever—$60 million—spurred by the celebration of his 75th birthday and the launch of Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis show in Las Vegas. In November 2010, Viva Elvis: The Album was released, setting his voice to newly recorded instrumental tracks. As of mid-2011, there were an estimated 15,000 licensed Presley products, and he was again the second-highest-earning deceased celebrity. Six years later, he ranked fourth with earnings of $35 million, up $8 million from 2016 due in part to the opening of a new entertainment complex, Elvis Presley's Memphis, and hotel, The Guest House at Graceland.
In 2018, RCA/Legacy released Elvis Presley – Where No One Stands Alone, a new album focused on Presley's love of gospel music. Produced by Joel Weinshanker, Lisa Marie Presley and Andy Childs, the album introduced newly recorded instrumentation along with vocals from singers who had performed in the past with Elvis. It included a reimagined duet with Lisa Marie, on the album's title track.
In 2022, Baz Luhrmann's film Elvis, a biographical film about Presley's life, was released. Presley is portrayed by Austin Butler and Parker by Tom Hanks. As of August 2022, the film had grossed $261.8 million worldwide on a $85 million budget, becoming the second-highest-grossing music biopic of all-time behind Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and the fifth-highest-grossing Australian-produced film. For his portrayal of Presley, Butler won the Golden Globe and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor. In January 2023, his 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar sold at an auction for $260,000.
Artistry
Influences
Presley's earliest musical influence came from gospel. His mother recalled that from the age of two, at the Assembly of God church in Tupelo attended by the family, "he would slide down off my lap, run into the aisle and scramble up to the platform. There he would stand looking at the choir and trying to sing with them." In Memphis, Presley frequently attended all-night gospel singings at the Ellis Auditorium, where groups such as the Statesmen Quartet led the music in a style that, Guralnick suggests, sowed the seeds of Presley's future stage act:
The Statesmen were an electric combination ... featuring some of the most thrillingly emotive singing and daringly unconventional showmanship in the entertainment world ... dressed in suits that might have come out of the window of Lansky's. ... Bass singer Jim Wetherington, known universally as the Big Chief, maintained a steady bottom, ceaselessly jiggling first his left leg, then his right, with the material of the pants leg ballooning out and shimmering. "He went about as far as you could go in gospel music," said Jake Hess. "The women would jump up, just like they do for the pop shows." Preachers frequently objected to the lewd movements ... but audiences reacted with screams and swoons.
As a teenager, Presley's musical interests were wide-ranging, and he was deeply informed about both white and African-American musical idioms. Though he never had any formal training, he had a remarkable memory, and his musical knowledge was already considerable by the time he made his first professional recordings aged 19 in 1954. When Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller met him two years later, they were astonished at his encyclopedic understanding of the blues, and, as Stoller put it, "He certainly knew a lot more than we did about country music and gospel music." At a press conference the following year, he proudly declared, "I know practically every religious song that's ever been written."
Musicianship
Presley played guitar, bass, and piano; he received his first guitar when he was 11 years old. He could not read or write music and had no formal lessons, and played everything by ear. Presley often played an instrument on his recordings and produced his own music. Presley played rhythm acoustic guitar on most of his Sun recordings and his 1950s RCA Victor albums. Presley played piano on songs such as "Old Shep" and "First in Line" from his 1956 album Elvis. He is credited with playing piano on later albums such as From Elvis in Memphis and "Moody Blue", and on "Unchained Melody", which was one of the last songs that he recorded. Presley played lead guitar on one of his successful singles called "Are You Lonesome Tonight". At one point during the '68 Comeback Special, Elvis took over on lead electric guitar, the first time he had ever been seen with the instrument in public, playing it on songs such as "Baby What You Want Me to Do" and "One Night". The album Elvis is Back! features Presley playing a lot of acoustic guitar on songs such as "I Will Be Home Again" and "Like a Baby".
Musical styles and genres
Presley was a central figure in the development of rockabilly, according to music historians. "Rockabilly crystallized into a recognizable style in 1954 with Elvis Presley's first release, on the Sun label," writes Craig Morrison. Paul Friedlander described rockabilly as "essentially ... an Elvis Presley construction", with the defining elements as "the raw, emotive, and slurred vocal style and emphasis on rhythmic feeling the blues with the string band and strummed rhythm guitar country". In "That's All Right", the Presley trio's first record, Scotty Moore's guitar solo, "a combination of Merle Travis–style country finger-picking, double-stop slides from acoustic boogie, and blues-based bent-note, single-string work, is a microcosm of this fusion". While Katherine Charlton calls Presley "rockabilly's originator", Carl Perkins, another pioneer of rock'n'roll, said that " Phillips, Elvis, and I didn't create rockabilly". According to Michael Campbell, the first major rockabilly song was recorded by Bill Haley. In Moore's view, "It had been there for quite a while, really. Carl Perkins was doing basically the same sort of thing up around Jackson, and I know for a fact Jerry Lee Lewis had been playing that kind of music ever since he was ten years old."
At RCA Victor, Presley's rock and roll sound grew distinct from rockabilly with group chorus vocals, more heavily amplified electric guitars, and a tougher, more intense manner. While he was known for taking songs from various sources and giving them a rockabilly/rock and roll treatment, he also recorded songs in other genres from early in his career, from the pop standard "Blue Moon" at Sun Records to the country ballad "How's the World Treating You?" on his second RCA Victor LP to the blues of "Santa Claus Is Back in Town". In 1957, his first gospel record was released, the four-song EP Peace in the Valley. Certified as a million-seller, it became the top-selling gospel EP in recording history. Presley would record gospel periodically for the rest of his life.
"Run On" From How Great Thou Art (1967), a traditional song popular in the black gospel tradition. The arrangement evokes "the percussive style of the 1930s Golden Gate Quartet."Problems playing this file? See media help.
After his return from military service in 1960, Presley continued to perform rock and roll, but the characteristic style was substantially toned down. His first post-Army single, the number-one hit "Stuck on You", is typical of this shift. RCA Victor publicity referred to its "mild rock beat"; discographer Ernst Jorgensen calls it "upbeat pop". The number five "She's Not You" (1962) "integrates the Jordanaires so completely, it's practically doo-wop". The modern blues/R&B sound captured with success on Elvis Is Back! was essentially abandoned for six years until such 1966–67 recordings as "Down in the Alley" and "Hi-Heel Sneakers". Presley's output during most of the 1960s emphasized pop music, often in the form of ballads such as "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", a number-one in 1960. "It's Now or Never", which also topped the chart that year, was a classically influenced variation of pop based on the Neapolitan song "'O sole mio" and concluding with a "full-voiced operatic cadence". These were both dramatic numbers, but most of what Presley recorded for his many film soundtracks was in a much lighter vein.
While Presley performed several of his classic ballads for the '68 Comeback Special, the sound of the show was dominated by aggressive rock and roll. He recorded few new straight rock and roll songs thereafter; as he explained, they had become "hard to find". A significant exception was "Burning Love", his last major hit on the pop charts. Like his work of the 1950s, Presley's subsequent recordings reworked pop and country songs, but in markedly different permutations. His stylistic range now began to embrace a more contemporary rock sound as well as soul and funk. Much of Elvis in Memphis, as well as "Suspicious Minds", cut at the same sessions, reflected this new rock and soul fusion. In the mid-1970s, many of his singles found a home on country radio, the field where he first became a star.
Vocal style and range
The developmental arc of Presley's singing voice, as described by critic Dave Marsh, goes from "high and thrilled in the early days, lower and perplexed in the final months." Marsh credits Presley with the introduction of the "vocal stutter" on 1955's "Baby Let's Play House". When on "Don't Be Cruel", Presley "slides into a 'mmmmm' that marks the transition between the first two verses," he shows "how masterful his relaxed style really is." Marsh describes the vocal performance on "Can't Help Falling in Love" as one of "gentle insistence and delicacy of phrasing", with the line "'Shall I stay' pronounced as if the words are fragile as crystal".
Jorgensen calls the 1966 recording of "How Great Thou Art" "an extraordinary fulfillment of his vocal ambitions", as Presley "crafted for himself an ad-hoc arrangement in which he took every part of the four-part vocal, from bass intro to the soaring heights of the song's operatic climax", becoming "a kind of one-man quartet". Guralnick finds "Stand by Me" from the same gospel sessions "a beautifully articulated, almost nakedly yearning performance", but, by contrast, feels that Presley reaches beyond his powers on "Where No One Stands Alone", resorting "to a kind of inelegant bellowing to push out a sound" that Jake Hess of the Statesmen Quartet had in his command. Hess himself thought that while others might have voices the equal of Presley's, "he had that certain something that everyone searches for all during their lifetime." Guralnick attempts to pinpoint that something: "The warmth of his voice, his controlled use of both vibrato technique and natural falsetto range, the subtlety and deeply felt conviction of his singing were all qualities recognizably belonging to his talent but just as recognizably not to be achieved without sustained dedication and effort."
Marsh praises his 1968 reading of "U.S. Male", "bearing down on the hard guy lyrics, not sending them up or overplaying them but tossing them around with that astonishingly tough yet gentle assurance that he brought to his Sun records." The performance on "In the Ghetto" is, according to Jorgensen, "devoid of any of his characteristic vocal tricks or mannerisms", instead relying on the exceptional "clarity and sensitivity of his voice". Guralnick describes the song's delivery as of "almost translucent eloquence ... so quietly confident in its simplicity". On "Suspicious Minds", Guralnick hears essentially the same "remarkable mixture of tenderness and poise", but supplemented with "an expressive quality somewhere between stoicism (at suspected infidelity) and anguish (over impending loss)".
Music critic Henry Pleasants observes that "Presley has been described variously as a baritone and a tenor. An extraordinary compass ... and a very wide range of vocal color have something to do with this divergence of opinion." He identifies Presley as a high baritone, calculating his range as two octaves and a third, "from the baritone low G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D-flat. Presley's best octave is in the middle, D-flat to D-flat, granting an extra full step up or down." In Pleasants' view, his voice was "variable and unpredictable" at the bottom, "often brilliant" at the top, with the capacity for "full-voiced high Gs and As that an opera baritone might envy". Scholar Lindsay Waters, who figures Presley's range as two-and-a-quarter octaves, emphasizes that "his voice had an emotional range from tender whispers to sighs down to shouts, grunts, grumbles, and sheer gruffness that could move the listener from calmness and surrender, to fear. His voice can not be measured in octaves, but in decibels; even that misses the problem of how to measure delicate whispers that are hardly audible at all." Presley was always "able to duplicate the open, hoarse, ecstatic, screaming, shouting, wailing, reckless sound of the black rhythm-and-blues and gospel singers", writes Pleasants, and also demonstrated a remarkable ability to assimilate many other vocal styles.
Public image
Relationship with the African-American community
When Dewey Phillips first aired "That's All Right" on Memphis' WHBQ, many listeners who contacted the station to ask for it again assumed that its singer was black. From the beginning of his national fame, Presley expressed respect for African-American performers and their music, and disregard for the segregation and racial prejudice then prevalent in the South. Interviewed in 1956, he recalled how in his childhood he would listen to blues musician Arthur Crudup—the originator of "That's All Right"—"bang his box the way I do now, and I said if I ever got to the place where I could feel all old Arthur felt, I'd be a music man like nobody ever saw." The Memphis World, an African-American newspaper, reported that Presley "cracked Memphis' segregation laws" by attending the local amusement park on what was designated as its "colored night". Such statements and actions led Presley to be generally hailed in the black community during his early stardom. In contrast, many white adults "did not like him, and condemned him as depraved. Anti-negro prejudice doubtless figured in adult antagonism. Regardless of whether parents were aware of the Negro sexual origins of the phrase 'rock 'n' roll', Presley impressed them as the visual and aural embodiment of sex."
Despite the largely positive view of Presley held by African Americans, a rumor spread in mid-1957 that he had announced, "The only thing Negroes can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes." A journalist with the national African American weekly Jet, Louie Robinson, pursued the story. On the set of Jailhouse Rock, Presley granted Robinson an interview, though he was no longer dealing with the mainstream press. He denied making such a statement:
I never said anything like that, and people who know me know that I wouldn't have said it. ... A lot of people seem to think I started this business. But rock 'n' roll was here a long time before I came along. Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people. Let's face it: I can't sing like Fats Domino can. I know that.
Robinson found no evidence that the remark had ever been made, and elicited testimony from many individuals indicating that Presley was anything but racist. Blues singer Ivory Joe Hunter, who had heard the rumor before he visited Graceland, reported of Presley, "He showed me every courtesy, and I think he's one of the greatest." Though the rumored remark was discredited, it was still being used against Presley decades later.
The persistence of such attitudes was fueled by resentment over the fact that Presley, whose musical and visual performance idiom owed much to African-American sources, achieved the cultural acknowledgement and commercial success largely denied his black peers. Into the twenty-first century, the notion that Presley had "stolen" black music still found adherents. Notable among African-American entertainers expressly rejecting this view was Jackie Wilson, who argued, "A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the black man's music, when in fact, almost every black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis." Moreover, Presley acknowledged his debt to African-American musicians throughout his career. Addressing his '68 Comeback Special audience, he said, "Rock 'n' roll music is basically gospel or rhythm and blues, or it sprang from that. People have been adding to it, adding instruments to it, experimenting with it, but it all boils down to ." Nine years earlier, he had said, "Rock 'n' roll has been around for many years. It used to be called rhythm and blues."
Sex symbol
Presley's physical attractiveness and sexual appeal were widely acknowledged. "He was once beautiful, astonishingly beautiful", according to critic Mark Feeney. Television director Steve Binder reported, "I'm straight as an arrow and I got to tell you, you stop, whether you're male or female, to look at him. He was that good looking. And if you never knew he was a superstar, it wouldn't make any difference; if he'd walked in the room, you'd know somebody special was in your presence." His performance style was equally responsible for Presley's eroticized image. Critic George Melly described him as "the master of the sexual simile, treating his guitar as both phallus and girl". In his Presley obituary, Lester Bangs credited him with bringing "overt blatant vulgar sexual frenzy to the popular arts in America". Ed Sullivan's declaration that he perceived a soda bottle in Presley's trousers was echoed by rumors involving a similarly positioned toilet roll tube or lead bar.
While Presley was marketed as an icon of heterosexuality, some critics have argued that his image was ambiguous. In 1959, Sight and Sound's Peter John Dyer described his onscreen persona as "aggressively bisexual in appeal". Brett Farmer places the "orgasmic gyrations" of the title dance sequence in Jailhouse Rock within a lineage of cinematic musical numbers that offer a "spectacular eroticization, if not homoeroticization, of the male image". In the analysis of Yvonne Tasker, "Elvis was an ambivalent figure who articulated a peculiar feminised, objectifying version of white working-class masculinity as aggressive sexual display."
Reinforcing Presley's image as a sex symbol were the reports of his dalliances with Hollywood stars and starlets, from Natalie Wood in the 1950s to Connie Stevens and Ann-Margret in the 1960s to Candice Bergen and Cybill Shepherd in the 1970s. June Juanico of Memphis, one of Presley's early girlfriends, later blamed Parker for encouraging him to choose his dating partners with publicity in mind. Presley never grew comfortable with the Hollywood scene, and most of these relationships were insubstantial.
Legacy
Further information: Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, Cultural depictions of Elvis Presley, Elvis has left the building, and List of songs about or referencing Elvis Presley—Robert ChristgauI know he invented rock and roll, in a manner of speaking, but ... that's not why he's worshiped as a god today. He's worshiped as a god today because in addition to inventing rock and roll he was the greatest ballad singer this side of Frank Sinatra—because the spiritual translucence and reined-in gut sexuality of his slow weeper and torchy pop blues still activate the hormones and slavish devotion of millions of female human beings worldwide.
December 24, 1985
Presley's rise to national attention in 1956 transformed the field of popular music and had a huge effect on the broader scope of popular culture. As the catalyst for the cultural revolution that was rock and roll, he was central not only to defining it as a musical genre but in making it a touchstone of youth culture and rebellious attitude. With its racially mixed origins—repeatedly affirmed by Presley—rock and roll's occupation of a central position in mainstream American culture facilitated a new acceptance and appreciation of black culture.
In this regard, Little Richard said of Presley, "He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music." Al Green agreed: "He broke the ice for all of us."
President Jimmy Carter remarked on Presley's legacy in 1977: "His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture." Presley also heralded the vastly expanded reach of celebrity in the era of mass communication: within a year of his first appearance on American network television, he was regarded as one of the most famous people in the world.
Presley's name, image, and voice are recognized around the world. He has inspired a legion of impersonators. In polls and surveys, he is recognized as one of the most important popular music artists and influential Americans. American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein said, "Elvis Presley is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century. He introduced the beat to everything and he changed everything—music, language, clothes." John Lennon said that "Nothing really affected me until Elvis." Bob Dylan described the sensation of first hearing Presley as "like busting out of jail".
For much of his adult life, Presley, with his rise from poverty to riches and fame, had seemed to epitomize the American Dream. In his final years, and following the revelations about his circumstances after his death, he became a symbol of excess and gluttony. Increasing attention was paid to his appetite for the rich, heavy Southern cooking of his upbringing, foods such as chicken-fried steak and biscuits and gravy. In particular, his love of fried peanut butter, banana, and (sometimes) bacon sandwiches, now known as "Elvis sandwiches", came to symbolize this characteristic.
Since 1977, there have been numerous alleged sightings of Presley. A long-standing conspiracy theory among some fans is that he faked his death. Adherents cite alleged discrepancies in the death certificate, reports of a wax dummy in his original coffin, and accounts of Presley planning a diversion so he could retire in peace. An unusually large number of fans have domestic shrines devoted to Presley and journey to sites with which he is connected, however faintly. On the anniversary of his death, thousands of people gather outside Graceland for a candlelight ritual. "With Elvis, it is not just his music that has survived death", writes Ted Harrison. "He himself has been raised, like a medieval saint, to a figure of cultic status. It is as if he has been canonized by acclamation."
On the 25th anniversary of Presley's death, The New York Times asserted:
All the talentless impersonators and appalling black velvet paintings on display can make him seem little more than a perverse and distant memory. But before Elvis was camp, he was its opposite: a genuine cultural force. ... Elvis' breakthroughs are underappreciated because in this rock-and-roll age, his hard-rocking music and sultry style have triumphed so completely.
He was ranked third on Rolling Stone's list of greatest artists. Bono wrote in appreciation:
In Elvis, you have the blueprint for rock & roll. The highness — the gospel highs. The mud — the Delta mud, the blues. Sexual liberation. Controversy. Changing the way people feel about the world. It's all there with Elvis.
Not only Presley's achievements but his failings as well, are seen by some cultural observers as adding to the power of his legacy, as in this description by Greil Marcus:
Elvis Presley is a supreme figure in American life, one whose presence, no matter how banal or predictable, brooks no real comparisons. ... The cultural range of his music has expanded to the point where it includes not only the hits of the day, but also patriotic recitals, pure country gospel, and really dirty blues. ... Elvis has emerged as a great artist, a great rocker, a great purveyor of schlock, a great heart throb, a great bore, a great symbol of potency, a great ham, a great nice person, and, yes, a great American.
Achievements
See also: List of accolades received by Elvis PresleyWith a billion estimated record sales, Guinness World Records ranks Presley as the best-selling solo artist of all time. Presley's rankings for top ten and number-one hits vary depending on how the double-sided "Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel" and "Don't/I Beg of You" singles, which precede the inception of Billboard's unified Hot 100 chart, are analyzed. According to Whitburn's analysis, Presley holds the record with 38, tying with Madonna; per Billboard's current assessment, he ranks second with 36. Whitburn and Billboard concur that the Beatles hold the record for most number-one hits with 20, and that Mariah Carey is second with 19. Whitburn has Presley with 18: Billboard has him third with 17. According to Billboard, Presley has 79 cumulative weeks at number one: alone at 80, according to Whitburn and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with only Mariah Carey having more with 91 weeks. He holds the records for most number-one singles on the UK chart with 21 and singles reaching the top ten with 76.
As an album artist, Presley is credited by Billboard with the record for the most albums charting in the Billboard 200: 129, far ahead of second-place Frank Sinatra's 82. He also holds the record for most cumulative weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 for a male solo artists: 67 weeks In 2015 and 2016, two albums setting Presley's vocals against music by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, If I Can Dream and The Wonder of You, both reached number one in the UK. This gave him a new record for number-one UK albums by a solo artist with 13, and extended his record for longest span between number-one albums by anybody—Presley had first topped the British chart in 1956 with his self-titled debut.
As of 2023, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) credits Presley with 146.5 million certified album sales in the US, third all time behind the Beatles and Garth Brooks. He holds the records for most gold albums (101, nearly double second-place Barbra Streisand's 51), and most platinum albums (57). His 25 multi-platinum albums is second behind the Beatles' 26. His total of 197 album certification awards (including one diamond award), far outpaces the Beatles' second-best 122. He has the 9th-most gold singles (54, tied with Justin Bieber), and the 16th-most platinum singles (27).
In 2012, the spider Paradonea presleyi was named in his honor. In 2018, President Donald Trump awarded Presley the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.
There is a street named after Presley in San Antonio, Texas.
Discography
Main articles: Elvis Presley albums discography, Elvis Presley singles discography, and List of songs recorded by Elvis PresleyA vast number of recordings have been issued under Presley's name. The number of his original master recordings has been variously calculated as 665 and 711. His career began and he was most successful during an era when singles were the primary commercial medium for pop music. For his albums, the distinction between "official" studio records and other forms is often blurred.
Filmography
Main article: Elvis Presley on film and television- Films starred
- Love Me Tender (1956)
- Loving You (1957)
- Jailhouse Rock (1957)
- King Creole (1958)
- G.I. Blues (1960)
- Flaming Star (1960)
- Wild in the Country (1961)
- Blue Hawaii (1961)
- Follow That Dream (1962)
- Kid Galahad (1962)
- Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
- It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
- Fun in Acapulco (1963)
- Kissin' Cousins (1964)
- Viva Las Vegas (1964)
- Roustabout (1964)
- Girl Happy (1965)
- Tickle Me (1965)
- Harum Scarum (1965)
- Frankie and Johnny (1966)
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
- Spinout (1966)
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
- Double Trouble (1967)
- Clambake (1967)
- Stay Away, Joe (1968)
- Speedway (1968)
- Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
- Charro! (1969)
- The Trouble with Girls (1969)
- Change of Habit (1969)
- Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)
- Elvis on Tour (1972)
- TV concert specials
- Elvis (1968)
- Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite (1973)
- Elvis in Concert (1977)
See also
- Elvis Presley Enterprises
- List of artists by number of UK Albums Chart number ones
- List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones
- List of bestselling music artists
- Personal relationships of Elvis Presley
Explanatory notes
- ^ Although some pronounce his surname /ˈprɛzli/ PREZ-lee, Presley himself pronounced it /ˈprɛsli/ PRESS-lee, as did his family and those who worked with him.
The correct spelling of his middle name has long been a matter of debate. The physician who delivered him wrote "Elvis Aaron Presley" in his ledger. The state-issued birth certificate reads "Elvis Aron Presley". The name was chosen after the Presleys' friend and fellow congregation member Aaron Kennedy, though a single-A spelling was probably intended by Presley's parents to parallel the middle name of Presley's stillborn brother, Jesse Garon. It reads Aron on most official documents produced during his lifetime, including his high school diploma, RCA Victor record contract, and marriage license, and this was generally taken to be the proper spelling. In 1966, Presley expressed the desire to his father that the more traditional biblical rendering, Aaron, be used henceforth, "especially on legal documents". Five years later, the Jaycees citation honoring him as one of the country's Outstanding Young Men used Aaron. Late in his life, he sought to officially change the spelling to Aaron and discovered that state records already listed it that way. Knowing his wishes for his middle name, Aaron is the spelling his father chose for Presley's tombstone, and it is the spelling his estate has designated as official.
- ^ The estimates of Elvis Presley's record sales vary from 500 million – 1 billion records worldwide.
- Of the $40,000, $5,000 covered back royalties owed by Sun.
- In 1956–57, Presley was also credited as a co-writer on several songs where he had no hand in the writing process: "Heartbreak Hotel"; "Don't Be Cruel"; all four songs from his first film, including the title track, "Love Me Tender"; "Paralyzed"; and "All Shook Up". (Parker, however, failed to register Presley with such musical licensing firms as ASCAP and its rival BMI, which eventually denied Presley annuity from songwriter's royalties.) Presley received credit on two other songs to which he did contribute: he provided the title for "That's Someone You Never Forget" (1961), written by his friend and former Humes schoolmate Red West; they collaborated with another friend, guitarist Charlie Hodge, on "You'll Be Gone" (1962).
- VH1 ranked Presley No. 8 among the "100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll" in 1998. The BBC ranked him as the No. 2 "Voice of the Century" in 2001. Rolling Stone placed him No. 3 in its list of "The Immortals: The Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004. CMT ranked him No. 15 among the "40 Greatest Men in Country Music" in 2005. The Discovery Channel placed him No. 8 on its "Greatest American" list in 2005. Variety put him in the top ten of its "100 Icons of the Century" in 2005. The Atlantic ranked him No. 66 among the "100 Most Influential Figures in American History" in 2006. Rolling Stone ranked him No. 17 on its 2023 list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
- Whitburn follows actual Billboard history in considering the four songs on the "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" and "Don't/I Beg of You" singles as distinct. He tallies each side of the former single as a number-one (Billboard's sales chart had "Don't Be Cruel" at number one for five weeks, then "Hound Dog" for six) and reckons "I Beg of You" as a top ten, as it reached number eight on the old Top 100 chart. Billboard now considers both singles as unified items, ignoring the historical sales split of the former and its old Top 100 chart entirely. Whitburn thus analyzes the four songs as yielding three number ones and a total of four top tens. Billboard now states that they yielded just two number ones and a total of two top tens, voiding the separate chart appearances of "Hound Dog" and "I Beg of You".
References
Citations
- ^ US Department of Defense 1960.
- Elster 2006, p. 391.
- ^ Nash 2005, p. 11.
- ^ Guralnick 1994, p. 13.
- ^ Adelman 2002, pp. 13–15.
- ^ Billboard writer Arnold Shaw, cited in Denisoff 1975, p. 22.
- Brown & Broeske 1997, p. 55.
- Eames 2022a.
- Eames 2022b.
- Earl 2017.
- ^ Guralnick 1994, pp. 12–14.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 11–12, 23–24.
- Victor 2008, p. 419.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 15–16.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 17–18.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 19.
- Dundy 2004, p. 101.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 23.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 23–26.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 19–21.
- Dundy 2004, pp. 95–96.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 32–33.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 36.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 35–38.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 40–41.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 44, 46, 51.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 52–53.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 171.
- Matthew-Walker 1979, p. 3.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 46–48, 358.
- Wadey 2004.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 47–48, 77–78.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 38–40.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 51.
- ^ Guralnick 2004.
- Bertrand 2000, p. 205.
- Szatmary 1996, p. 35.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 54.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 8.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 62–64.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 65.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 77.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 83.
- Marcus 1982, p. 174.
- Miller 2000, p. 72.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 10–11.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 94–97.
- Ponce de Leon 2007, p. 43.
- ^ Guralnick 1994, pp. 100–101.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 102–104.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 105, 139.
- Miller 2021.
- Rodman 2013, p. 151.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 106, 108–111.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 110.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 139.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 119.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 117–127, 131.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 128–130.
- Mason 2007, pp. 37–38.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 127–128, 135–142.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 152, 156, 182.
- ^ Guralnick 1994, pp. 144, 159, 167–168.
- ^ Nash 2003, pp. 6–12.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 163.
- Bertrand 2000, p. 104.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 53.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, p. 45.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 29.
- Rogers 1982, p. 41.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 217–219.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 31.
- ^ Stanley & Coffey 1998, pp. 28–29.
- Escott 1998, p. 421.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 36, 54.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 35, 51, 57, 61, 75.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 157–158, 166, 168.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 29.
- ^ Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 30.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 235–136.
- Slaughter & Nixon 2004, p. 21.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, pp. 50, 54, 64.
- Hilburn 2005.
- Rodman 1996, p. 28.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 262–263.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 267.
- Koch, Manning & Toplikar 2008.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 274.
- ^ Victor 2008, p. 315.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, pp. 72–73.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 273, 284.
- Fensch 2001, pp. 14–18.
- ^ Burke & Griffin 2006, p. 52.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 49.
- Gould 1956.
- ^ Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, p. 73.
- ^ Marcus 2006.
- Marsh 1982, p. 100.
- Austen 2005, p. 13.
- Allen 1992, p. 270.
- Rock 'N Roll Stars 1956, p. 5.
- Keogh 2004, p. 73.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 51.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, pp. 80–81.
- Whitburn 1993, p. 5.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 60–65.
- ^ Austen 2005, p. 16.
- Edgerton 2007, p. 187.
- Brown & Broeske 1997, p. 93.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 338.
- ^ Gibson 2005.
- ^ Victor 2008, p. 439.
- Jezer 1982, p. 281.
- Moore & Dickerson 1997, p. 175.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 343.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 335.
- Marsh 1980, p. 395.
- O'Malley 2016.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 71.
- Palladino 1996, p. 131.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 37.
- Clayton & Heard 2003, pp. 117–118.
- Keogh 2004, p. 90.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, p. 95.
- Salisbury 1957, p. 4.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 395–397.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 406–408, 452.
- Fox 1986, p. 178.
- Leigh 2017, p. 187.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 399–402, 428–430, 437–440.
- ^ Guralnick 1994, p. 400.
- ^ Guralnick 1994, p. 430.
- Turner 2004, p. 104.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 437.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 431.
- Grein 2008.
- Caulfield 2016.
- Baird 2017.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 431–435.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 448–449.
- ^ Fox 1986, p. 179.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 99, 105.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 461–474.
- Victor 2008, p. 27.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 106–111.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 474–480.
- Neibaur 2014, p. 51.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 21.
- Tillery 2013, p. 60.
- Eiland 2018.
- Corcoran 1998.
- Tillery 2013, Chapter 5: Patriot.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 47, 49, 55, 60, 73.
- Clayton & Heard 2003, p. 160.
- Jeffrey & Kaplan 2022.
- Presley 1985, p. 40.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 107.
- Whitburn 2010, p. 520.
- Marcus 1982, p. 278.
- Matthew-Walker 1979, p. 49.
- Slaughter & Nixon 2004, p. 54.
- Matthew-Walker 1979, p. 19.
- Slaughter & Nixon 2004, p. 57.
- Marcus 1982, pp. 279–280.
- Robertson 2004, p. 50.
- "Red Carpet" 1960.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 124–127, 414.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 44, 62–63.
- Gordon 2005, pp. 110, 114.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 148.
- Robertson 2004, p. 52.
- Gordon 2005, pp. 110, 119.
- Ponce de Leon 2007, p. 133.
- Caine 2005, p. 21.
- Fields 2007.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 449.
- Kirchberg & Hendrickx 1999, p. 67.
- Lisanti 2000, pp. 19, 136.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 201.
- Hopkins 2002, p. 32.
- Marsh 2004, p. 650.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 261–263.
- Kirchberg & Hendrickx 1999, p. 73.
- ^ Keogh 2004, p. 263.
- Rolling Stone 2009.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 171.
- Whitburn 2010, p. 521.
- Kubernick 2008, p. 4.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 293, 296.
- ^ Kubernick 2008, p. 26.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 215.
- Marsh 2004, p. 649.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 277.
- Marsh 1980, p. 396.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 419.
- Gordon 2005, p. 146.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 283.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 343.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 346–347.
- Gordon 2005, pp. 149–150.
- Cook 2004, p. 39.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, pp. 259, 262.
- Moyer 2002, p. 73.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 287.
- Whitburn 2010, pp. 521–522.
- ^ Stein 1997.
- Mason 2007, p. 81.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 94.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 95.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 253.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 254.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 96.
- Robertson 2004, p. 70.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 99.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 419–422.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 284, 286, 307–308, 313, 326, 338, 357–358.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 420.
- The Beatles 2000, p. 192.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 321.
- McPhate 2017.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, pp. 299–300.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 319.
- Marcus 1982, pp. 284–185.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, p. 308.
- Marcus 1982, p. 283.
- Williamson 2015, pp. 253–254.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 451, 446, 453.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 456.
- Marsh 2015.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 291.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 474.
- Moscheo 2007, p. 132.
- Keogh 2004, pp. 234–235.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 478.
- Hopkins 2002, pp. 61, 67, 73.
- Hopkins 2002, p. 73.
- Victor 2008, p. 10.
- Brown & Broeske 1997, p. 364.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 475.
- Fessier 2013.
- Sun, Bruce Fessier. "Director remembers landmark Elvis Presley performance". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
Those figures now seem dubious. Aloha was transmitted to 38 nations, the combined populations of those countries was 1.3 billion. The Guinness Book of World Records says the largest TV audience for a performance was the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show by Michael Jackson, which drew 133.4 million viewers.
- Mason 2007, p. 141.
- RIAA 2010.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 422–425.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 488–490.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, p. 329.
- ^ Higginbotham 2002.
- Keogh 2004, p. 238.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 481, 487, 499, 504, 519–520.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 547.
- Hopkins 1986, p. 136.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 50, 148.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 601–4.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 139.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 354.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 140.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 560.
- Guralnick & Jorgensen 1999, p. 336.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 381.
- ^ Grammy 2014.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 584–585.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 593–595.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 595.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 397.
- Gostin 2023.
- Speakman 2023.
- Scherman 2006.
- Greene 2018.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 628.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 628–630.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 634.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 212, 642.
- ^ Guralnick 1999, p. 638.
- Harrison 2016, p. 23.
- Stanley & Coffey 1998, p. 148.
- Humphries 2003, p. 79. sfn error: no target: CITEREFHumphries2003 (help)
- Alden 2014.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 645–648.
- Harrison 2016, p. 242.
- ^ Woolley & Peters 1977.
- Hopkins 2007, p. 386.
- ^ Guralnick 1999, p. 660.
- Victor 2008, pp. 581–582.
- Matthew-Walker 1979, p. 26.
- Pendergast & Pendergast 2000, p. 108.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 273.
- Warwick, Kutner & Brown 2004, pp. 860–866.
- ^ Ramsland 2010.
- Guralnick 1999, pp. 651–653.
- ^ Baden & Hennessee 1990, p. 35.
- Tennant 2013, p. 2.
- ^ Williamson 2015, pp. 11–14.
- Brown & Broeske 1997, p. 433.
- National Park Service 2010.
- Cook 2004, p. 33.
- Garrity 2002.
- Bronson 2004, p. 1.
- "Hits of the World" 2004.
- Sexton 2007.
- Goldman & Ewalt 2007.
- Rose 2006.
- Goldman & Paine 2007.
- Hoy 2008.
- Pomerantz et al. 2009.
- Rose et al. 2010.
- Baillie 2010.
- Bouchard 2010.
- Lynch 2011.
- Pomerantz 2011.
- Greenburg 2017.
- Legacy 2018.
- Box Office Mojo.
- Walker 2023.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 14.
- Guralnick 1994, pp. 47–48.
- Bertrand 2000, p. 211.
- Graceland Blog 2015.
- Osborne 2017, p. 73.
- Duffett 2018, p. 189.
- Murray 1961, p. 65.
- Marcus 2015, p. 341.
- Eder 2013, p. 149.
- Morrison 1996, p. x.
- ^ Friedlander 1996, p. 45.
- Charlton 2006, p. 103.
- Jancik 1998, p. 16.
- Campbell 2009, p. 161.
- Guralnick 1989, p. 104.
- Gillett 2000, p. 113.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 39.
- Wolfe 1994, p. 14.
- Wolfe 1994, p. 22.
- Keogh 2004, p. 184.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 123.
- Marsh 1982, p. 145.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 213, 237.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 65.
- Jorgensen 1998, pp. 142–143.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 343.
- Ponce de Leon 2007, p. 199.
- Marsh 1982, p. 234.
- Marsh 1989, p. 317.
- Marsh 1989, p. 91.
- Marsh 1989, p. 490.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 212.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 232.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 231.
- Marsh 1989, p. 424.
- Jorgensen 1998, p. 271.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 332.
- Guralnick 1999, p. 335.
- ^ Pleasants 2004, p. 260.
- Waters 2003, p. 205.
- Williams 2012.
- ^ Pilgrim 2006.
- Guralnick 1994, p. 426.
- ^ Kolawole 2002.
- Ushe, Naledi (June 30, 2022). "Appropriation or appreciation? How 'Elvis' highlights his complicated history with Black music". USA Today. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- Myrie 2009, pp. 123–124.
- Masley 2002.
- Osborne 2000, p. 207.
- Bertrand 2000, p. 198.
- ^ Feeney 2010.
- Ashley 2009, p. 76.
- Rodman 1996, p. 58.
- Rodman 1996, pp. 58–59.
- Garber 1997, p. 366.
- Dyer 1959–1960, p. 30.
- Farmer 2000, p. 86.
- Tasker 2007, p. 208.
- Kirchberg & Hendrickx 1999, p. 109.
- Christgau 1985.
- Collins 2002.
- Sadie 1994, p. 638.
- Bertrand 2000, p. 94.
- Rodman 1996, p. 193.
- ^ Victor 2008, p. 356.
- Arnett 2006, p. 400.
- Doss 1999, p. 2.
- Lott & Uebel 1997, p. 192.
- VH1 1998.
- BBC News 2001.
- Rolling Stone 2004.
- CMT 2005.
- Discovery Channel 2005.
- Variety 2005.
- Atlantic 2006.
- Rolling Stone 2023.
- Keogh 2004, p. 2.
- Davies 1996, p. 19.
- Nash 2005, p. xv.
- Harrison 2016, p. 149.
- Cosby 2016, p. 144.
- Doll 2016, p. 186.
- ^ Martin 2000.
- Smith 2002.
- Dundy 2004, pp. 227, 256.
- Wilson 2010, p. 121.
- Slater 2002.
- Harrison 1992, pp. 42, 157–160, 169.
- Clarke 2006, pp. 77, 80.
- Harrison 1992, pp. 159–160.
- ^ Harrison 2016, p. 10.
- Segré 2002.
- New York Times 2002.
- Bono 2010, "Elvis".
- Marcus 1982, pp. 141–142.
- Reuters 2022.
- Liz Nickles, Savita Iyer. Brandstorm: Surviving and Thriving in the New Consumer-Led Marketplace. Macmillan Publishers. p. 77.
- "An iconic guitar from Elvis Presley's Comeback Special is up for auction". CNN. March 14, 2021.
- "Best-selling solo artist". www.guinnessworldrecords.com. Guinness World Records. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
Elvis Presley (USA) is the best-selling solo artist, with 1 billion sales worldwide (129.5 million in the USA).
- ^ Whitburn 2010, p. 875.
- Hasty 2008.
- Trust 2022.
- Moody 2008.
- Whitburn 2010, p. 876.
- RRHF 2010.
- Trust 2023.
- Myers 2022.
- Myers 2021.
- Trust 2015.
- Sexton 2016.
- RIAA 2020a.
- RIAA 2020b.
- RIAA 2020c.
- RIAA 2020d.
- Lewis 2017.
- RIAA 2020e.
- RIAA 2020f.
- Miller et al. 2012.
- BBC News 2018.
- Brown, Merrisa (September 30, 2014). "San Antonio street names and groupings". mysanantonio.com.
- Victor 2008, p. 438.
General sources
- Adelman, Kim (2002). The Girls' Guide to Elvis: The Clothes, the Hair, the Women, and More!. Random House. ISBN 978-0-7679-1188-7.
- Alden, Ginger (2014). Elvis & Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiancée and Last Love Finally Tells her Story. Berkeley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-101-61613-0.
- Allen, Steve (1992). Hi-Ho, Steverino!: My Adventures in the Wonderful Wacky World of TV. Thorndike Press. ISBN 978-1-56054-521-7.
- Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (2006). Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach (3rd ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-195071-9.
- Ashley, Martin (2009). How High Should Boys Sing?. Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-6475-8.
- "The Top 100". The Atlantic. December 2006. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- Austen, Jake (2005). TV-A-Go-Go: Rock on TV from American Bandstand to American Idol. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-55652-572-8.
- Baden, Michael M.; Hennessee, Judith Adler (1990). Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner. Ballantine. ISBN 978-0-8041-0599-6.
- Baillie, Russell (November 6, 2010). "Album Review: Elvis Presley Viva Elvis The Album". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- Baird, Robert (December 23, 2017). "Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic". Stereophile. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- "Sinatra Is Voice of the Century". BBC News. April 18, 2001. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- "Elvis Presley gets US Presidential Medal of Freedom". BBC News. November 16, 2018. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- The Beatles (2000). The Beatles Anthology. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-2684-6.
- Bertrand, Michael T. (2000). Race, Rock, and Elvis. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-02586-0.
- Bono (December 3, 2010). "100 Greatest Artists". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- Bouchard, Dany (November 5, 2010). "Priscilla Presley Keeps King Alive". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- "Elvis (2022)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- Bronson, Fred (July 3, 2004). "Chart Beat". Billboard. p. 57.
- Brown, Peter Harry; Broeske, Pat H. (1997). Down at the End of Lonely Street: The Life and Death of Elvis Presley. Signet. ISBN 978-0-451-19094-9.
- Duffett, Mark (2018). Counting Down Elvis: His 100 Finest Songs. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-4805-2.
- Burke, Ken; Griffin, Dan (2006). The Blue Moon Boys: The Story of Elvis Presley's Band. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-55652-614-5.
- Caine, Andrew (2005). Interpreting Rock Movies: The Pop Film and Its Critics in Britain. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-7190-6538-5.
- Campbell, Michael (2009). Popular Music in America (3rd ed.).
- Caulfield, Keith (November 25, 2016). "Popular Demand". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- Charlton, Katherine (2006). Rock Music Styles: A History (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-312162-8.
- Christgau, Robert (December 24, 1985). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- Clarke, Steve (2006). "Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Theorizing". In Coady, David (ed.). Conspiracy Theories: The Philosophical Debate. Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-5250-2.
- Clayton, Dick; Heard, James (2003). Elvis: By Those Who Knew Him Best. Virgin Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7535-0835-0.
- "40 Greatest Men in Country Music". CMT. 2005. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- Coffey, Frank (1997). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Elvis. Alpha Books.
- Collins, Dan (August 7, 2002). "How Big Was The King?". CBS News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 23, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- Cook, Jody (2004). Graceland National Historic Landmark Nomination Form (PDF). United States Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- Corcoran, John (March 1, 1998). "The King and Karate". Black Belt. pp. 48–54. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- Cosby, James A. (2016). Devil's Music, Holy Rollers and Hillbillies: How America Gave Birth to Rock and Roll. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6229-9.
- Davies, Hunter (1996). The Beatles (2nd rev. ed.). W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-31571-4.
- Denisoff, R. Serge (1975). Solid Gold: The Popular Record Industry. Transaction Books. ISBN 978-0-87855-586-4.
- "Greatest American". Discovery Channel. 2005. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- Doll, Susan (2016). Understanding Elvis: Southern Roots vs. Star Image. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-8153-3164-3.
- Doss, Erika Lee (1999). Elvis Culture: Fans, Faith, and Image. University of Kansas Press. ISBN 978-0-7006-0948-2.
- Dundy, Elaine (2004). Elvis and Gladys (2nd ed.). University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-57806-634-6.
- Dyer, Peter John (Winter 1959–1960). "The Teenage Rave". Sight and Sound.
- Eames, Tom (May 20, 2022a). "Who was Elvis Presley's father Vernon and what happened to him after his son's death?". Smooth Radio. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- Eames, Tom (May 20, 2022b). "Who was Elvis Presley's mother Gladys? The heartbreaking story behind her life and death". Smooth Radio. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- Earl, Jennifer (February 14, 2017). "19 celebrities you didn't know were twins (Elvis and Jesse Presley)". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- Eder, Mike (2013). Elvis Music FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the King's Recorded Works. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-580-4.
- Edgerton, Gary R. (2007). The Columbia History of American Television. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12165-1.
- Eiland, Murray (2018). "Elvis Presley's Coat of Arms". The Armiger's News. Vol. 41, no. 1. p. 6. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2022 – via academia.edu.
- Elster, Charles Harrington (2006). The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-618-42315-6.
- Escott, Colin (1998). "Elvis Presley". In Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517608-7.
- Farmer, Brett (2000). Spectacular Passions: Cinema, Fantasy, Gay Male Spectatorships (2nd ed.). Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-2589-5.
- Feeney, Mark (January 3, 2010). "Elvis at 75: Can We Ever Again See the Performer, Not the Punch Line?". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- Fensch, Thomas (2001). The FBI Files on Elvis Presley. New Century Books. ISBN 978-0-930751-03-6.
- Fessier, Bruce (May 10, 2013). "Director Remembers Landmark Elvis Presley Performance". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- Fields, Curt (August 3, 2007). "A Whole Lotta Elvis Is Goin' to the Small Screen". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- Fox, Ted (1986). In the Groove: The People Behind the Music. St Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-01776-7.
- Friedlander, Paul (1996). Rock and Roll: A Social History. Westview. ISBN 978-0-8133-2725-9.
- Garber, Marjorie (1997). Vested Interests: Cross-Dressing and Cultural Anxiety. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-91951-7.
- Garrity, Brian (October 12, 2002). "King's Crown Shines: First No. 1 Debut". Billboard. pp. 1, 3.
- Gibson, Christine (December 6, 2005). "Elvis on Ed Sullivan: The Real Story". American Heritage. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- Gillett, Charlie (2000). "The Five Styles of Rock'n'Roll". In McKeen, William (ed.). Rock and Roll Is Here To Stay: An Anthology. W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-04700-4.
- Goldman, Lea; Ewalt, David M. (October 29, 2007). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
- Goldman, Lea; Paine, Jake (October 29, 2007). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- Gordon, Robert (2005). The King on the Road. Bounty Books. ISBN 978-0-7537-1088-3.
- Gostin, Nicki (June 27, 2023). "Elvis Presley's ex slams step-brother's claim that singer killed himself". Page Six. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023.
- Gould, Jack (June 6, 1956). "TV: New Phenomenon – Elvis Presley Rises to Fame as Vocalist Who Is Virtuoso of Hootchy-Kootchy" (PDF). The New York Times. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- "Elvis Presley, the Musician". Graceland Blog. December 3, 2015. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- "Elvis Presley". Grammy Awards. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (October 30, 2017). "The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities of 2017". Forbes. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- Greene, Andy (July 31, 2018). "Flashback: Elvis Presley's 'Aloha From Hawaii' Marks His Final Truly Great Moment". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- Grein, Paul (December 5, 2008). "Chart Watch Extra: The Top 40 Christmas Albums". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- Guralnick, Peter (1989). Lost Highway: Journeys & Arrivals of American Musicians. Vintage. ISBN 978-0-394-75215-0.
- Guralnick, Peter (1994). Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-33225-5.
- Guralnick, Peter (1999). Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley. Back Bay Books. ISBN 978-0-316-33297-2.
- Guralnick, Peter (January 8, 2004). "How Did Elvis Get Turned into a Racist?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2007.
- Guralnick, Peter; Jorgensen, Ernst (1999). Elvis Day by Day: The Definitive Record of His Life and Music. Ballantine. ISBN 978-0-345-42089-3.
- Harrison, Ted (1992). Elvis People: The Cult of the King. Fount. ISBN 978-0-00-627620-3.
- Harrison, Ted (2016). The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley. Reaktion. ISBN 978-1-78023-637-7.
- Hasty, Katie (May 7, 2008). "Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 with 7th No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- Higginbotham, Alan (August 11, 2002). "Doctor Feelgood". The Observer. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- Hilburn, Robert (February 6, 2005). "From the Man Who Would Be King". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
- Hilburn, Robert (October 30, 2007). "This Fan of Charts Is No. 1, with a Bullet". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 30. July 24, 2004. p. 62.
- Hopkins, Jerry (1986). Elvis: The Final Years. Berkley. ISBN 978-0-425-08999-6.
- Hopkins, Jerry (2002). Elvis in Hawaii. Bess Press. ISBN 978-1-57306-142-1.
- Hopkins, Jerry (2007). Elvis – The Biography. Plexus. ISBN 978-0-85965-391-6.
- Hoy, Peter (October 27, 2008). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- Jancik, Wayne (1998). The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders.
- Jeffrey, Joyann; Kaplan, Anna (June 27, 2022) . "Priscilla Presley and Elvis Presley's relationship story, in their own words". Today. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- Jezer, Marty (1982). The Dark Ages: Life in the United States 1945–1960. South End Press. ISBN 978-0-89608-127-7.
- Jorgensen, Ernst (1998). Elvis Presley – A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions. St Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0-312-18572-5.
- Keogh, Pamela Clarke (2004). Elvis Presley: The Man, The Life, The Legend. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-5603-6.
- Kirchberg, Connie; Hendrickx, Marc (1999). Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon, and the American Dream. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-0716-3.
- Koch, Ed; Manning, Mary; Toplikar, Dave (May 15, 2008). "Showtime: How Sin City evolved into 'The Entertainment Capital of the World'". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- Kolawole, Helen (August 15, 2002). "He Wasn't My King". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- Kubernick, Harvey (2008). The Complete '68 Comeback Special. CD Booklet RCA/BMG. UPC 88697306262.
- "Groundbreaking New Elvis Presley Album, 'Where No One Stands Alone', To Be Released August 10". Legacy. Sony Music Entertainment. June 21, 2018. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- Leigh, Spencer (2017). Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap. McNidder and Grace. ISBN 978-0-85716-166-6.
- Lewis, Randy (August 16, 2017). "40 Years After His Death, Elvis Presley Is Still the King in the YouTube Age". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- Lisanti, Tom (2000). Fantasy Femmes of 60s Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-0868-9.
- Lott, Eric; Uebel, Michael (1997). "All the King's Men: Elvis Impersonators and White Working-Class Masculinity". In Stecopoulos, Harry (ed.). Race and the Subject of Masculinities. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-1966-5.
- Lynch, Rene (August 16, 2011). "Elvis Presley, Who Died 34 Years Ago Today, Spurs Fresh Tears". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- Marcus, Greil (1982). Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music (Revised ed.). E.P. Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-47708-2.
- Marcus, Greil (2006). Elvis Presley: The Ed Sullivan Shows. DVD Booklet Image Entertainment. UPC 01438137302. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- Marcus, Greil (2015). Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music. Plume. ISBN 978-0-14-218158-4.
- Marsh, Dave (1980). "Elvis Presley". In Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John (eds.). The Rolling Stone Record Guide (2nd ed.). Virgin. ISBN 978-0-907080-00-8.
- Marsh, Dave (1982). Elvis. Times Books. ISBN 978-0-8129-0947-0.
- Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-012108-7.
- Marsh, Dave (2004). "Elvis Presley". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
- Marsh, Stefanie (December 21, 2015). "Did Elvis indoctrinate me? Probably – but I don't see it as a bad thing". The Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- Martin, Douglas (June 5, 2000). "Mary Jenkins Langston, 78, Cook for Presley". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- Masley, Ed (August 15, 2002). "It's Good To Be King". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- Mason, Bobbie Ann (2007). Elvis Presley. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-303889-4.
- Matthew-Walker, Robert (1979). Elvis Presley. A Study in Music. Midas Books. ISBN 978-0-85936-162-0.
- McPhate, Tim (August 15, 2017). "Elvis: Do You Know These 5 Facts?". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- Miller, Jeremy A.; Griswold, Charles E.; Scharff, Nikolaj; Rezac, Milan; Szuts, Tamas; Marhabaie, Mohammad (May 18, 2012). "The velvet spiders: an atlas of the Eresidae (Arachnida, Araneae)". ZooKeys (195): 1–144. Bibcode:2012ZooK..195....1M. doi:10.3897/zookeys.195.2342. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3361087. PMID 22679386.
- Miller, James (2000). Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977. Fireside. ISBN 978-0-684-86560-7.
- Miller, Madison (March 23, 2021). "Elvis Presley: How the King of Rock 'n' Rolling Developed His Signature Dance Moves". Outsider. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (April 2, 2008). "Mariah Carey Surpasses Elvis in No. 1s". USA Today. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
- Moore, Scotty; Dickerson, James (1997). That's Alright, Elvis. Schirmer Books. ISBN 978-0-02-864599-5.
- Morrison, Craig (1996). Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-02207-4.
- Moscheo, Joe (2007). The Gospel Side of Elvis. Center Street. ISBN 978-1-59995-729-6.
- Moyer, Susan M. (2002). Elvis: The King Remembered. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-58261-558-5.
- Murray, Don (October 1961). "One Million Times 98¢". HiFi/Stereo Review. Vol. 7, no. 4. Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. pp. 63–66.
- Myers, Justin (September 30, 2022). "Artists with the most Number 1 singles on the UK chart". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- Myers, Justin (September 17, 2021). "Artists with the most Top 10 singles in the UK". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- Myrie, Russell (2009). Don't Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin': The Authorized Story of Public Enemy. Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84767-182-0.
- Nash, Alanna (2003). The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-1301-1.
- Nash, Alanna (2005). Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. Aurum. ISBN 978-1-84513-128-9.
- "Graceland". National Park Service. 2010. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
- Neibaur, James L. (2014). The Elvis Movies. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-3074-3. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- "Long Live the King". The New York Times. August 16, 2002. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
- O'Malley, Sheila (April 4, 2016). "Love Me Tender". Bright Wall/Dark Room. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- Osborne, Jerry (2000). Elvis: Word for Word. Harmony. ISBN 978-0-609-60803-6.
- Osborne, Jerry (2017). Presleyana VIII – the Elvis Presley Record, CD, and Memorabilia Price Guide. Jerry Osborne Enterprises. ISBN 978-0-932117-97-7. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- Palladino, Grace (1996). Teenagers: An American History. Westview. ISBN 978-0-465-00766-0.
- Pendergast, Sara; Pendergast, Tom (2000). St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (4th ed.). St. James Press. ISBN 978-1-55862-404-7.
- Pilgrim, David (March 2006). "Question of the Month: Elvis Presley and Racism". Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
- Pleasants, Henry (2004). "Elvis Presley". In Frith, Simon (ed.). Popular Music: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies, Volume 3: Popular Music Analysis. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-33269-9.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy (October 25, 2011). "The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- Pomerantz, Dorothy; Lacey, Rose; Lauren, Streib; Thibault, Marie (October 27, 2009). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
- Ponce de Leon, Charles L. (2007). Fortunate Son: The Life of Elvis Presley. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-8090-1641-9.
- Presley, Priscilla (1985). Elvis and Me. G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 978-0-399-12984-1.
- Ramsland, Katherine (2010). "Cyril Wecht: Forensic Pathologist – Coverup for a King". TruTV. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013.
- "Top 100 Albums". Recording Industry Association of America. 2010. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- "Gold & Platinum: Top Artists (Albums)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Gold & Platinum: Artists – Albums/EPs (Gold)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Gold & Platinum: Artists – Albums/EPs (Platinum)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Gold & Platinum: Artists – Albums/EPs (Multi-Platinum)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Gold & Platinum: Artists – Singles (Gold)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Gold & Platinum: Artists – Singles (Platinum)". Recording Industry Association of America. 2020. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- "Red Carpet for Elvis LP". Billboard. April 18, 1960. p. 11.
- "Universal Music can't help falling for Elvis Presley, to manage song catalog". Reuters. April 12, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- Robertson, John (2004). Elvis Presley: The Complete Guide to His Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84449-711-9.
- "Elvis Presley". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2010. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
- "Elvis Presley: 'King of Rock'". Rock 'N Roll Stars. 1956. pp. 2–13. via Rabbers, Jans (July 11, 2013). "Rock 'N Roll Stars (1956)". Smelly Paper Vintage Magazines. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- Rodman, Gilbert B. (1996). Elvis After Elvis, The Posthumous Career of a Living Legend. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-11002-0.
- Rodman, Gilbert B. (2013). Elvis After Elvis The Posthumous Career of a Living Legend. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-15506-2.
- Rogers, Dave (1982). Rock 'n' Roll. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 978-0-7100-0938-8.
- "The Immortals: The First Fifty". Rolling Stone. April 15, 2004. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- "1969 Rolling Stone Covers". Rolling Stone. 2009. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- Rose, Lacey (October 24, 2006). "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- Rose, Lacey; Pomerantz, Dorothy; Greenburg, Zack O'Malley; Paine, Jake (October 25, 2010). "In Pictures: The 13 Top-Earning Dead Celebs – No. 2 Elvis Presley". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- Sadie, Stanley, ed. (1994). The Norton/Grove Concise Encyclopedia of Music (Revised ed.). W. W. Norton. ISBN 978-0-393-03753-1.
- Salisbury, Harrison (February 3, 1957). "Presley Records a Craze in Soviet". The New York Times.
- Scherman, Tony (August 16, 2006). "Elvis Dies". American Heritage. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- Segré, Gabriel (2002). "Le rite de la Candlelight". Ethnologie française. 32: 149. doi:10.3917/ethn.021.0149. ISSN 0046-2616.
- Sexton, Paul (August 3, 2007). "New Presley Reissue Campaign Aimed at U.K." Billboard. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
- Sexton, Paul (October 28, 2016). "The King Reigns Again as Elvis Presley Takes U.K. Album Honors". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- Slater, Nigel (August 11, 2002). "Grease Is the Word". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- Slaughter, Todd; Nixon, Anne E. (2004). The Elvis Archives. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84449-380-7.
- Smith, Liz (November 10, 2002). "Ain't Nothin' but a Chow Hound". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- Speakman, Kimberlee (January 13, 2023). "Elvis Presley's Former Fiancée Ginger Alden Pays Tribute to Lisa Marie: 'You Were Loved'". People.
- Stanley, David; Coffey, Frank (1998). The Elvis Encyclopedia. Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-0293-8.
- Stein, Ruthe (August 3, 1997). "Girls! Girls! Girls!". SFGate. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- Szatmary, David (1996). A Time to Rock: A Social History of Rock 'n' Roll. Schirmer Books. ISBN 978-0-02-864670-1.
- Tasker, Yvonne (2007). "Cowgirl Tales". In Codell, Julie F. (ed.). Genre, Gender, Race, and World Cinema: An Anthology. Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-3232-9.
- Tennant, Forest (June 2013). "Elvis Presley: Head Trauma, Autoimmunity, Pain, and Early Death". Practical Pain Management. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- Tillery, Gary (2013). The Seeker King: A Spiritual Biography of Elvis Presley. Quest Books. ISBN 978-0-8356-0915-9. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- Trust, Gary (January 8, 2015). "Elvis Presley's Billboard Chart Records". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- Trust, Gary (January 1, 2019). "Elvis Presley Earns Highest-Charting Billboard Hot 100 Hit Since 1981 as 'Blue Christmas' Jingles In at No. 40". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- Trust, Gary (June 27, 2022). "Drake & 21 Savage's 'Jimmy Cooks' Soars in at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- Trust, Gary (January 3, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Adds 12th Week Atop Hot 100, Nat King Cole Hits Top 10". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- Turner, John Frayn (2004). Frank Sinatra. Taylor Trade Publications. ISBN 978-1-58979-145-9.
- Presley, Elvis Aron; DD 214: Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge. United States Department of Defense. March 5, 1960.
- "100 Icons of the Century". Variety. 2005. Archived from the original on December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- "100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll". VH1. 1998. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- Victor, Adam (2008). The Elvis Encyclopedia. Overlook Duckworth. ISBN 978-1-58567-598-2.
- Wadey, Paul (January 8, 2004). "Jake Hess". The Independent. Archived from the original on July 13, 2010.
- Walker, Howard (January 9, 2023). "Elvis Presley's Dilapidated Private Jet Sat in the Desert for 40 Years. It Just Sold for $260,000". Robb Report. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles & Albums (3rd ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84449-058-5.
- Waters, Lindsay (Spring 2003). "Come Softly, Darling, Hear What I Say: Listening in a State of Distraction – A Tribute to the Work of Walter Benjamin, Elvis Presley, and Robert Christgau". Boundary 2. 30: 199–212. doi:10.1215/01903659-30-1-199. S2CID 161635612. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- Whitburn, Joel (1993). Billboard Top 1000 Singles 1955–1992. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-7935-2072-5.
- Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits (2nd ed.). Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-8230-8291-9.
- Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (9th ed.). Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-8230-8554-5.
- Williams, Todd (August 20, 2012). "Why I Stopped Hating Elvis Presley". Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- Williamson, Joel (2015). Elvis Presley: A Southern Life. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-986317-4.
- Wilson, Bee (2010). Sandwich: A Global History. Reaktion. ISBN 978-1-86189-771-8.
- Wolfe, Charles (1994). Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances. CD Booklet RCA/BMG. UPC 7863664212.
- Woolley, John T.; Peters, Gerhard (August 17, 1977). "Jimmy Carter: Death of Elvis Presley Statement by the President". American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
Further reading
- Allen, Lew (2007). Elvis and the Birth of Rock. Genesis. ISBN 978-1-905662-00-5.
- Bennet, Mark (August 15, 2017). "Elvis impersonator reviews his career highlights, wardrobe". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- "Elvis Presley: Chart History – Classical Albums". Billboard. 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- Bloom, Nate (2010). "The Jews Who Wrote Christmas Songs". 18Doors. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
- Cantor, Louis (2005). Dewey and Elvis: The Life and Times of a Rock 'n' Roll Deejay. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-02981-3.
- Dickerson, James L. (2001). Colonel Tom Parker: The Curious Life of Elvis Presley's Eccentric Manager. Cooper Square Press. ISBN 978-0-8154-1267-0.
- Gatto, Kimberly; Racimo, Victoria (2017). All the King's Horses: the Equestrian Life of Elvis Presley. Regnery History. ISBN 978-1-62157-603-7.
- Goldman, Albert (1981). Elvis. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-023657-8.
- Goldman, Albert (1990). Elvis: The Last 24 Hours. St. Martin's. ISBN 978-0-312-92541-3.
- Klein, George (2010). Elvis: My Best Man: Radio Days, Rock 'n' Roll Nights, and My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley. Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-307-45274-0
- Marcus, Greil (1991). Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural Obsession. Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-41718-1.
- Marcus, Greil (2000). Double Trouble: Bill Clinton and Elvis Presley in a Land of No Alternative. Picador. ISBN 978-0-571-20676-6.
- Mawer, Sharon (2007a). "Album Chart History – 1974". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- Mawer, Sharon (2007b). "Album Chart History – 1977". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- Nash, Alanna (2010). Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him. It Books. ISBN 978-0-06-169984-9.
- Roy, Samuel (1985). Elvis: Prophet of Power. Branden, ISBN 978-0-8283-1898-3.
- "Southern Genealogy Yields Surprises". Voice of America. October 27, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- Wertheimer, Neil (1997). Total Health for Men. Rodale Press.
- Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents the Billboard Albums (6th ed.). Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-166-6.
- Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-173-4.
- Red West, Sonny West, and Dave Hebler as told to Steve Dunleavy (1977). Elvis: What Happened? Bantam Books. ISBN 978-0-345-27215-7.
External links
- Elvis Presley at Curlie
- Elvis Presley at IMDb
- Elvis Presley at the TCM Movie Database
- Elvis The Music official record label site
- Elvis Presley Interviews on officially sanctioned Elvis Australia site
- "The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the Rock-a-billies" episode of 1968 Pop Chronicles radio series
Awards for Elvis Presley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
- 1950s
- Biography
- Film
- Mississippi
- Pop music
- Rock music
- Rhythm and blues
- Television
- Tennessee
- United States
- Elvis Presley
- 1935 births
- 1950s in American music
- 1977 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century Protestants
- Accidental deaths in Tennessee
- Activists for African-American civil rights
- Activists from Mississippi
- Activists from Tennessee
- American baritones
- American blues singers
- American car collectors
- American country singers
- American gospel singers
- American Kenpo practitioners
- American male film actors
- American male karateka
- American male singers
- American performers of Christian music
- American philanthropists
- American rhythm and blues singers
- American rock singers
- American rockabilly musicians
- American twins
- American ballad musicians
- Blues musicians from Mississippi
- Blues musicians from Tennessee
- Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Country musicians from Mississippi
- Country musicians from Tennessee
- Deaths from cardiomyopathy
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners
- Harrison family of Virginia
- Humes High School alumni
- Las Vegas shows
- Male actors from Hesse
- Male actors from Memphis, Tennessee
- Male actors from Mississippi
- Male Western (genre) film actors
- Military personnel from Mississippi
- Military personnel from Tennessee
- Military personnel of the Cold War
- Mississippi Blues Trail
- Musicians from Las Vegas
- Musicians from Palm Springs, California
- Obscenity controversies in music
- Paramount Pictures contract players
- Pentecostals from Mississippi
- Pentecostals from Tennessee
- People associated with firearms
- People from Bad Nauheim
- People from Tupelo, Mississippi
- Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
- Presley family
- Priscilla Presley
- RCA Victor artists
- Rock and roll musicians
- Singers from Memphis, Tennessee
- Singers from Mississippi
- Southern gospel performers
- Sun Records artists
- Tank personnel
- Traditional pop music singers
- Twin musicians
- United States Army non-commissioned officers
- World record holders
- Westgate Las Vegas