The sounds of the world教案
after five groundbreaking singles, presley's contract was sold to rca records and his career quickly took off. "i forgot to remember to forget" - his last single for sun and first for rca - went to #1 on the country charts. "heartbreak hotel," a haunting ballad, became his first across-the-board hit, holding down the top spot for eight weeks. presley's hip-shaking performances on a series of tv variety shows, including ed sullivan's, generated hysteria and controversy. from blistering rockers to aching balladry, presley captivated and liberated the teenage audience. his historic string of hits in 1956 and ?7 included "don't be cruel," "hound dog," "love me tender," "all shook up" and "jailhouse rock."
presley's career momentum was interrupted by a two-year army stint in germany, where he met his future wife, priscilla. for much of the sixties, he occupied himself with movie-making and soundtrack-recording. his albums of sacred songs, such as how great thou art, stand out from this otherwise fallow period. presley's standing as a rock and roller was rekindled with an electrifying tv special, simply titled elvis and broadcast on december 3, 1968. he followed this mid-career renaissance with some of the most mature and satisfying work of his career. recording in memphis, he cut such classic tracks as "in the ghetto, "suspicious minds" and "kentucky rain" with the soulful, down-home musicians at american studio.
if the fifties were devoted to rock and roll and the sixties to movies, the seventies represent the performing chapter in presley's career. he toured constantly, performing to capacity crowds around the country until his death. presley died of a heart attack at graceland, his memphis mansion, on august 16, 1977. he was 42 years old. how big was elvis?
statistically, he holds records for the most top forty hits (107), the most top ten hits (38), the most consecutive #1 hits (10) and the most weeks at #1 (80). as far as his stature as a cultural icon, which continues to grow even in death, writer lester bangs said it best: "i can guarantee you one thing - we will never again agree on anything as we agreed on elvis."
inductee timeline
january 8, 1935
elvis aron presley is born to gladys and vernon presley in a two-room cabin on north saltillo road in east tupelo, mississippi.
summer 1953
elvis presley stops at memphis recording service to record two songs, "my happiness" and "that's when your heartaches begin," as a birthday present for his mother. phillips notes that presley has a good feel for ballads and should be invited back.