Long Live the King… Of Rock

1. Long Live the King… Of Rock The History of Elvis Presley By: Nicole Casaday

2. Biography Elvis Presley was and is still to this day considered to have created the birth of rock and roll; and keeps his name on the golden plaque as the king of rock. Singing blues laced with country and country tinged with gospel, Elvis brought music together like nobody had ever before. This white Southerner became a shocking success to come out of such a small town in East Tupelo, Mississippi.

3. Growing Up… Gladys, Vernon & Elvis Presley • Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 and was the son of Gladys and Vernon Presley, a sewing machine operator and a truck driver. Presley had a twin brother named Jesse Garon who was a stillborn baby, making him grow up as an only child.

4. Teen Presley September 13, baby Elvis is all grown up and enrolls at L.C. Humes High School. Elvis worked in the school library during his sophomore year, and at the Loew’s State Theatre after school. In 1951, Presley receives his driver’s license, joins the ROTC and tried out for the high school football team, but unfortunately was cut, because he refused to trim back his side burns and ducktail. That right there says enough for a true rock star at heart.

5. SENIOR YEAR Presley’s 1st Car • In Presley’s senior year he gets his first car, none other then a 1942 Lincoln Zephyr, from Vernon. Then at eighteen he majored in Shop, History, and English in 1953. Soon after high school Elvis received a job at the Precision Tool Company with his father and was quickly promoted to a truck driver. Elvis was living the dream and had not the slightest clue that in a few short months he would be recording his very first song entitled “My Happiness”, and he would soon be the most famous rock star to have ever been known.

6. On January 4, 1954 Elvis recorded “Casual Love Affair” and “I’ll Never Stand in Your Way”, at which time he met Sam Phillips. Soon after he recorded “With out you”, as requested by Sam Phillips himself, and stated he had finally found what he was looking for, “a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel.” Phillips then enlisted Presley’s lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, and on July 5, 1954 they recorded their first song together as a band; “I Love You Because”, “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and “That’s All Right”. Then two days later “That’s all Right was being played on Phillips Red Hot and Blue show on radio station WHBO and was heard by hundreds. Scotty Moore became his manager and “That’s All Right” became his first local hit. Presley’s 1st Recordings

7. Presley Get’s Famous Presley made his first appearance on television in March of 1955; meanwhile “Good Rockin’ Tonight” became Memphis’ new jam. Not long after Moore started, by early 1955 he was no longer Presley’s manager, but continued to play with Presley for many years. A Memphis disc Jockey by the name of Bob Neal, became Presley’s new manager. That September Presley had his first #1 country record “Mystery Train”, which Presley made $5,000 from and used to buy his darling mother Gladys a pink Cadillac.

8. Presley goes to Nashville & VEGAS! After becoming a big hit with the RCA Presley became a national star in 1956. He went to Nashville to record his first records for RCA. Among them is one of my personal favorites, “Heartbreak Hotel”. In March Parker became Presley’s next and last manager for all time, receiving a solid 25% off all of Presley’s talent. Presley continued to appear on TV show after TV shows, making himself known worldwide. That April Presley made his debut in Las Vegas at the New Frontier Hotel, but was cancelled after a poor audience response, which I found terribly shocking. In August Presley filmed his first film, “Love me Tender”, released three months later. He then had all of greatest singles known today release one after another and taking him straight to the top.

9. Presley joins the ARMY In December of 1957 Elvis Presley was drafted into the military, but was given 30 days to finish his film King Creole. One March 24, 1958, Presley was officially entered into the Army. Then next months saw number one hits with “Don’t “ and “I Beg You. “. Gladys Presley died the day after his arrival home in Memphis on August 14, 1958. Presley would say his mother’s death was the greatest tragedy of his life. He then after returned to the Army and was shipped off to West Germany. In 1960 he was promoted to Sergeant, and discharged soon after. During his duties serving in the Army Presley continued to write songs as Parker continued to produce others earning him a whopping two million dollars during his absence in the Army.

10. Movies & Marriage • After a live performance on March 25, 1961 Presley quit performing and spent the next eight years making movies. By the mid sixties Presley was making up to one million dollars per movie. • On May 1, 1967 Presley married Priscilla in Las Vegas; on February 1, 1968 their only child Lisa Marie was born. Presley continued to make music and films always coming out on top. His fans expanded by the day and more and more people began to fall in love with the king of rock.

11. On June 26, 1977 Presley gave his very last live performance in Indianapolis. On August 16, 1977 the day before his next scheduled concert, Presley was found dead in his bathroom at Graceland.Caused by heart failure. Thousands gathered at Graceland where his body lay in state before he was buried in a mausoleum at Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis. Presley may have passed on, but his music and films still continue to inspire thousands with his great talents and the twinkle in his eye, that stole America’s heart long ago. The King Passes On… “Elvis Presley had a heart of gold, he was an amazing songwriter, rock star, entertainer, actor, son, father and husband he did it all with good looks and attitude. He was kind to all those he met and still to this day puts smiles on people’s faces. Elvis grew old, his performances grew poorer and his pants tighter, but fans still supported him and loved all that he did.”

12. Composition History Elvis Presley was an amazing musician who performed unforgettable music. The songs I would like to focus on for my composition history are some of my personal favorites of Presley’s, including; Love me Tender, Suspicious Minds, Jailhouse Rock, and Can’t Help Falling In Love With You. I believe these are some of Presley’s most popular songs that brought tears and joy into so many lives.

13. The Elvis Presley version of the song topped charts in 1962 and is widely known for appearing in movies such as Coyote Ugly and Walt Disney’s Lilo and Stitchand most notably appeared on a live segment in 1968 on a NBC television special to sing this beautiful heartfelt song. “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” 3:01 Can’t Help Falling in Love was written by George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, and Luigi Creatore, and was originally first sung by Elvis, but for the next four decades it became irresistible to other artists. British reggae group UB40 being one of which whose version topped the U.S. and U.K. charts in 1993.

14. Jailhouse Rock was Presley’s first big hit, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (whom can be seen playing the piano in the film presentation of the song). The song was recorded in 1956 and released on September 24, 1957 as a 45rpm single to coincide with the release of Presley’s motion picture, Jailhouse Rock. “Jailhouse Rock” – 3:02 Jailhouse Rock proudly sits at #67 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”, not to mention was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The song was a US #1 hit for seven weeks straight in 1957, it even hit #2 on the country charts and had it’s stand in R&B, eventually selling four million copies in the US alone.

15. “Love Me Tender” – 2:41 • Love Me Tender was recorded August 24, 1956 and released October 6, 1956. The song was written by Vera Matson, George R Poulton, Ken Darby, and Elvis Presley himself. The song was performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956, as a début before the release of Love Me Tender, making it a gold record before it was even released. Just as most of Presley’s songs, it too of course was to accompany a movie entitled “Love Me Tender”. In the movie The Ken Darby Trio provided the musical backing with Red Roinson on drums, charles Prescott on bass, Vita Mumolo on guitar, and Jon Dodson on background vocals, with Presley of course on lead vocals.

16. “Suspicious Minds”4:22 • Last, but not lease I would like to show great appreciation for another favorite of mine, Suspicious Minds. This song was written by American songwriter Mark James, who had previously failed at his own recording and was introduced to Presley by producer Chips Moman. “Suspicious Minds” was widely regarded as the single that returned Presley’s career success, and was ranked #91 on Rolling Stones top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. • “Suspicious Minds” was recorded January of 1969 and was released August 26, 1969 on a 45rpm record. The song is about a mistrusting and dysfunctional relationship, and the need of the characters to overcome their issues in order to maintain it. I think this song could be very useful in today’s society with our high divorce rates, and affairs.

17. VIVA ELVIS. I believe that even though Elvis didn’t write any of his music that each song always had a particular influence on his life. Either way Elvis sang each song with such passion so beautifully that made every American fall in love with him.

18. WORKS CITED • http://www.elvis.com/ • http://rockhall.com/inductees/elvis-presley/ • http://www.google.com/images