Elvis Presley has been a major figure in rock and roll. He was born a white country boy who was poor. Peter Guralnick describes Elvis’ pop-out in this way: “so suddenly, his songs so new, his personality evocative enough that he was impossible to label”. Rock n’ Roll music was a popular genre before Elvis transformed it. Tupelo was his hometown and he started singing at local First Assembly of God Church with his parents. Elvis visited Memphis Recording Studio to record his song. A year after, Sam Phillips, the studio owner, called Elvis in order to uncover his hidden talent. Elvis’ style was unique and he demonstrated this through his values, dance moves and style. This challenged social standards and created a whole new generation. Elvis’ music broke down the racial boundaries in the South, where there was segregation. African American Music was introduced to white Americans. Elvis was not a follower of society’s norms, especially when it came to his fashion choices. He loved to wear oversized clothing. He also wore his hair with a lot of grease. It was an eye-catching sight, although few people noticed. His classmates, teachers and coworkers all looked at him with disgust. Elvis was threatened with termination if he refused to cut his hair… it didn’t help that Dixie’s Uncle had been telling Elvis for months to cut his hair. Although he was still able to maintain himself, the poor boy built a fence around his face in order to block any negative remarks. The more time passed, the more people noticed. While adults found it strange and disturbing at first, it gave teens an opportunity to express themselves. Elvis gave teens their own music and allowed them to express themselves in a way that previous generations could not. He stated in an interview that he did not perform any dirty movements. It was true that teens began dressing in ways they never thought possible. Elvis was not a negative figure, as many people thought. He started a new social movement where anyone could express sexuality in whatever way they chose. Elvis allowed kids to be themselves, separate from their parents. The South was more segregated than the rest of the U.S. at the time. The KKK was formed to separate whites from blacks. Many events in the 50s,60s etc. took place. The South’s white population did not appreciate this and kept them silent. Elvis helped change the culture of white society. Elvis became a hated figure for his music. Elvis “respect[ed] African American performers and music and he disregarded segregation, racism and prejudice that was prevalent in the South”. Elvis’ influence was significant because Americans had not been exposed to black culture. Elvis was a key figure in the development of this music, and he readily acknowledged that he had been inspired by African American music. “The colored people have been playing and singing it for many years, just as I am doing now. It was played in shanties in juke-joints and nobody cared until I made it louder. The music I play now is a direct result of what I learned from them. When I was in Tupelo (Mississippi), I used listen to Arthur Crudup’s box being played the way I did it then. They knew it and were not happy for their children’s music to be of this nature. Over time, white Americans started to appreciate African music. Indirectly he helped to open the doors for African American artist. As the popularity of African Americans and Elvis grew, so did social norms. Elvis revolutionized music, but that wasn’t all. His music helped to pave the way for a lot of upcoming artists. Susan Doll is of the opinion that the music from the 1960’s has always been the inspiration for today’s young people. Elvis is the inspiration for the sounds, beats and vibes of rock and roll. John Lennon once said “Before Elvis… there was no music.” Greil Marc believes that without Elvis’ success, the rock and roll craze would have only been a passing phase.
Elvis was asked “Who sound like you?” Elvis replied “I don’t sounded like anybody”. Who would have thought that this moment would define a generation in which the expression of one’s self is up to the individual? Elvis was called foul words, but his parents referred his music to devil music. People considered him a distasteful man who was perverted. It is still acceptable for adults to reject it. Elvis reworked the song and made it his own. He was able to challenge moral and social values at the time. Elvis, with his perfect mix of blues and gospel music, or what we now call modern rock n’roll was not just an artist but an inspiration for all. A light-bearer for those who have lost hope. Elvis Presley, a person who didn’t judge based on looks but rather by the soul. A man who helped the voiceless, a teenager who could be what they wanted to be. He was an unimaginable revolutionist. A boy, who began as a poor child who moved around with his family and lived in different places, became a legend by changing not only the music industry, but also American history. He gave to us the most precious gift, freedom. And upon his passing he spread this gift to many other artists.
