American singer is the king of rock and roll. Elvis Presley

was the man who changed popular music in the 20th century. His creative heritage huge - discs with his previously unreleased recordings are still being released. He was a multi-talented man - a singer, arranger, actor and athlete. He managed to fulfill the Great American Dream - the “guy from the slums” became a millionaire. Despite public attention to Elvis, most people only saw beautiful image, not realizing what kind of person is hidden underneath. And the further the 20th century moves away from us, the more mysterious the figure of a simple boy who conquered half the world with his voice becomes.

Hundreds of books and thousands of articles have been written about Elvis, and twice a year (in January and August) his name is mentioned almost more often than any other. Even the singer's most inveterate detractors admit that Presley was a figure whose equal is unlikely to appear in the world of pop music in the foreseeable future. Well, for fans, Elvis was and is number 1 of all time. And it’s not just a matter of blind adoration - it’s just that rare case when brilliant talent, exceptional ability to work and incredible luck were combined in one person.

From rags to riches

The beginning of Elvis's life, as it should be in classic stories this kind of thing was modest. By American standards, this was not just poverty - misery. The future legend of world music was born on January 8, 1935 in the southern town of Tupelo, Mississippi, in a small hut, for the sake of decency called a house. Such houses were called shotgun-houses - they were made of plywood, and a good load from a shotgun could shoot right through them. In such houses lived the poor, not just the poor, but “white trash” - the lower class of white southerners, people who were unable, and most importantly, not particularly willing, to take a decent place in society.

It must be said that Elvis's father, Vernon, fully justified this definition- He did odd jobs. When Elvis was three years old, his father went to prison for forging a check. Elvis's mother, Gladys Presley, was forced to move in with her husband's parents. When Vernon was released from prison 8 months later, he, to his credit, did not resume his old ways, but he could not get a decent job, and the family constantly moved from place to place, counting every cent.

Actually, Gladys gave birth to two sons on January 8, 1935, but Elvis' twin brother, named Jesse Garon, died at birth. The other surviving child was named Elvis, after his father's middle name, Vernon Elvis Presley. The name Elvis itself has Norwegian roots - in the original it sounds like “Alvis”. It was extremely unusual for America in the 1930s. Later, when Elvis began to gain popularity, many initially laughed at such a strange name, but in the end it served the singer well - there are few people in the world who are recognized only by their first name, without adding a surname.

Elvis mixed a lot of different bloods - Cherokee Indians, Irish, Scots, Germans and Anglo-Saxons. Such a “hot” mixture had to manifest itself sooner or later. Elvis's family was deeply religious. In the South, the most fundamentalist region of America, in many families knowledge of the Holy Scriptures was mandatory, and not attending church was out of the question. Religious chants were an integral part of life here, and little Elvis and youth imbued with these hymns.

At the age of 8, he won a competition for young talents, and at the age of 11 he was given his first guitar, on which the teenager played both church hymns and simple ballads, and it was not difficult for him to reproduce by ear any melody that sounded on the radio.

In 1948, something happened in the life of the family an important event- Elvis's parents finally moved from the rural outback of Mississippi to the city of Memphis, Tennessee. The family managed to escape poverty, but still did not reach the level of the middle class. Elvis grew up as an ordinary teenager, of which there are 12 out of a dozen in any poor area of any American city - he went to school, played American football, talked with girls. He saw his upcoming life as simple and unpretentious: somehow make his way into the people, and if he was lucky, then become a policeman, a respected member of society, the personification of law and order.

After finishing school, Elvis got a job as a truck driver for a local company. At the same time, the young man did not forget about his passion - music. And one day in the summer of 1953, he stopped by a local recording studio, located at 706 Union Avenue, to record a song in own performance. Such entertainment was not that expensive, and Elvis did not need the record with the recording for the sake of vanity - he wanted to present it as a gift to his mother.

The studio was owned by a disc jockey from Alabama, one Sam Phillips. The studio (which bore the unofficial name Sun) was not professional - Phillips made any recordings at the request of the customer: a ceremonial speech, a wedding greeting, whatever. Anyone could walk in off the street, pay $4, and receive an acetate disc with their voice on it. But at the same time, Phillips dreamed of finding some talented boy to make a star out of him. And then the star appeared.

Phillips’ assistant remembered the 18-year-old guy with an unusual style of singing and made a note in her notebook just in case. Later she convinced her boss that this young talent it’s worth taking a closer look - there was something about the guy that couldn’t be explained in words, but certainly grabbed the listener. In the summer of 1954, Phillips persuaded Presley to make several recordings. One of them later turned into business card rock and roll blues "That's All Right", sounded in a completely new arrangement and performed in a powerful voice, unlike either white or black, became a local hit.

I got lucky

In the 1950s in the American South, segregation permeated almost every aspect of society, including music. There was white music and black music. Within each of these musical areas there were divisions - there were country singers whose audience was mainly from rural areas, there was pop music which was listened to mainly by city dwellers, there were various forms of jazz - and there was little interpenetration between them.

Elvis blew up existing order of things. For whites, his voice sounded completely black, and black musicians considered him, albeit strange, but white. Elvis was too bluesy for country, and his country style hurt the ears of bluesmen. But Sam Philips already realized that the guy would be successful - this singer manages to combine the incongruous.

Elvis Presley's band began to make small local tours, playing in small taverns and taking part in group concerts. But for now, the singer remained a local star, his popularity limited to a few states. During one of the tours, the rising star was noticed by the energetic and tenacious show business businessman Tom Parker, who preferred to be called “Colonel” (a traditional honorary title accepted in some places in the South). If he had a talent, it was certainly for making money. Parker sensed that with the right presentation and proper promotion, the singer would become a national figure. And Parker decided to take on Elvis.

In 1955, the singer's contract with the Sun studio was bought by the recording company RCA for an unprecedented sum - 40 thousand dollars, of which 5 thousand were intended for Elvis personally. RCA also bought all the material that Elvis had recorded from Sam Philips and began vigorously promoting the new star.

Since 1956, Elvis has been firmly on the path to success. The first gold single, the first gold album, the first lines in the charts, an appearance on a TV show, the first movie role... In one year, the singer went from a local country star to a singer popular throughout the country. America began to embrace the spirit of Elvis Presley.

A charming, charismatic, talented young man drove young people crazy. The girls at his concerts simply went crazy - it’s hard to find another word to describe their reaction to Elvis’s appearance on stage. For young people, he was the personification of the rebellious spirit - a protest against something unclear, but definitely a protest. Elvis had a special way of being on stage; his smooth and at the same time explosive body movements, combined with an attractive voice, produced the effect of a bomb exploding. He was free, relaxed and sexy.

The older generation, naturally, saw this as a threat to the world order. Elvis was called a libertine and a molester, the embodiment of obscenity, awakening the basest instincts in young people. Elvis was not shown on TV below the waist - his body movements were considered too indecent in the puritanical America of the 1950s. “Down with the hooligan,” the fathers and mothers shouted, “Elvis is our everything,” the sons and daughters screamed back.

The “debaucher and hooligan” himself was such only on stage. In his life, Presley was an example of everything that a good American family can be proud of - the young man believed in God, was a patriot of his country, did not drink or smoke, addressed older people exclusively as “sir” and “ma’am” and was very upset that They see him as some kind of fiend from hell, and he didn’t understand why - after all, he just wanted to give people music.

Gradually, Elvis's popularity spread beyond the United States and spread throughout the world. In 1957, The New York Times published an article, “Presley's Recordings Are the Hottest Thing in the USSR,” which reported that Elvis' songs recorded on X-ray photographs were being sold on the black market in Leningrad for 50 rubles.

There was no trace left of his past poor life - Elvis bought a decent mansion in Memphis, he could afford to stay in good hotels, he was paid a lot of money for performances and appearances on TV, the films with his participation were extremely successful. Elvis gained a multimillion-dollar army of fans who regularly bought not only the singer’s records, but also various souvenirs and paraphernalia that were somehow related to him.

How"s the world treating you

And then Elvis received a summons from the army! It turned out that Elvis Aron Presley is first and foremost a citizen of his country, and only secondarily an idol of teenagers throughout America, and therefore, Mr. Soldier, please come to the assembly point. A wave of protest arose in the country (Beethovens, they say, cannot be taken into the army!), and the case of Presley’s conscription for active duty military service was even considered at the very top, but the singer decided to pay his debt to his homeland - mom, I must serve like everyone else.

The two-year separation from the public, which, it would seem, should have put an end to the singer’s career, did not frighten Presley’s managers - Elvis managed to record enough material so that the audience would not forget him during this time. The service of Private 53310761 was not remembered for anything outstanding - Elvis, like his fellow soldiers, went into uniform and performed other army duties.

However, two events that happened during this time had a dramatic impact on Elvis's life. First, his mother died - the only person to whom Elvis was truly attached. Some biographers even claim that it was Gladys Presley who was the only woman whom Elvis loved with all his heart, and therefore could not find a real life partner. And secondly, while serving in Germany (where his unit was transferred in 1958), Elvis met a girl who later became his wife.

In 1961, another Elvis returned from the army. Instead of a rebel in a TV show Frank Sinatra a decent young man appeared, whom the older generation looked at with approval. The repertoire also changed - instead of wild rock and rolls, ballads and popular songs appeared on the discs. Concert activities stopped - instead the singer focused on cinema.

During the 1960s, Elvis starred in nearly thirty films. It cannot be said that all of them were complete failures, but even the most liberal film critic would not risk classifying most of them as masterpieces of cinematic art. Almost all the films boiled down to a standard set of comedic situations, weak and unmemorable songs, and close-ups depicting Elvis from all sides - this is how he can drive a car, this is how he can swim, this is how he sings, and this is how he kisses.

And this despite the fact that Elvis’s acting talent was noted even by his ill-wishers. The singer had all the makings of a truly strong actor, as evidenced by his early roles, and, had fate turned out differently, Elvis could well have won the Oscar. Instead, he spent seven years on cheap movie production.

Since 1963, the same girl whom the young soldier met in Germany, Priscilla Beaulieu, has settled at Elvis’s estate in Graceland. The press was interested in what she was doing there? But he just lives. She is not his wife, but she doesn’t seem to be his mistress either - they just live under the same roof, and they seem to be comfortable with each other. Finally, in 1967, the news spread around the world - Elvis and Priscilla got married. Exactly 9 months later (which was especially emphasized by the press) their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was born.

Elvis and Priscilla lived together for 5 years, which, given the lifestyle that Elvis led, was an incredibly long time. Then Priscilla filed for divorce, took her daughter and left, because she could not stand either the rhythm or the habits of her husband - she wanted to have a person next to her, albeit an outstanding one, who fit into some average framework, and she found it impossible to live with a bright talent within power.

Softly as I leave you

In 1968, America experienced the second coming of Elvis Presley. By that time, his former audience had grown up and became a little disillusioned with their former idol, and for the new generation Elvis was no longer such a charismatic figure, so the risk of failure was great. However, the NBC-TV Special hit America like a hurricane. The audience saw a new Elvis - matured and mature, filled not with youthful energy, but with the powerful strength of a mature man. A series of concerts in 1969 confirmed that Elvis's potential was still great - it was in the late 1960s and early 1970s, according to most critics, that Elvis recorded his best things.

The 1970s were marked by an endless series of concerts. Sometimes the singer gave more than 300 of them in a year, flying by plane from one American town to another. On January 14, 1973, Elvis gave his famous Hawaiian concert - this TV show was watched by more than 1 billion viewers. By the way, fewer people watched astronaut Armstrong’s landing on the moon.

However, the new extreme of Elvis's manager, Colonel Parker - "Elvis on tour" instead of "Elvis at the movies" - turned out to be just as dead-end. Yes, the halls are invariably full, yes, the singer is successful in any place, but gradually Presley becomes increasingly imbued with disappointment. The divorce from Priscilla became a serious psychological trauma for the singer. And my health began to gradually decline. In addition, the exhausting touring schedule forced the singer to take various medications: stimulants and antidepressants.

On August 16, 1977, Elvis's girlfriend discovered his unconscious body in the bathroom. Arriving doctors confirmed death from acute heart failure. After some time, the radio said: “Elvis Presley has died.” For America it was a shock, comparable only to the news of the death of President Kennedy - some were sincerely saddened, some were surprised, some did not believe it at all, but his death left no one indifferent. On August 18, he was buried next to his mother. Ironically, they both passed away at the same age - 42 years old.

Puzzles

Almost immediately after Elvis' death, rumors arose that he was not actually dead. Gradually, they became an integral part of “American national folklore” - “reliable” reports that Elvis was seen in one corner or another of America are still treated with a knowing smile, since such reports sometimes number up to 100 cases a year. However, some facts really make skeptics think...

It is known that by the mid-1970s, Elvis repeatedly said that he was not averse to ending his singing career. Firstly, he was very disappointed with his life - to put it simply, he was tired and would like to live like an ordinary person, and not a pop idol, whom the media and viewers greedily follow. Moreover, no further take-off in his career was expected - what kind of take-off is there at the age of 42, when you have to dye your hair every week to hide gray hair, and no amount of training can remove the emerging fullness. But a man like Elvis could not leave the stage as a fat wreck - he was too proud for that.

Secondly, Elvis had special reasons for trying to "lay low." Despite the external brilliance and calm, the singer’s life was in danger. Shortly before his death, Elvis got involved in a deal with a certain real estate company, which was a cover for one of the mafia structures, and lost more than 10 million dollars. Elvis began receiving threatening letters, including against his daughter. So Elvis had serious reasons to ask the government for help - if only to get into the witness protection program.

We should not forget that Elvis was related to law enforcement agencies, which means he could use his connections in this environment to escape. It is widely known that President Nixon presented Presley with a DEA federal agent badge. It is also known that Elvis had close ties to the police - he was an active deputy sheriff of Memphis and was an honorary member of many police associations. With the indirect help of Elvis, for example, several major drug busts were made in Tennessee. Already in the mid-1990s, the FBI confirmed that in the 1970s an FBI agent worked in Presley's group - although the agent's name, of course, was not named.

Theoretically, it is quite possible to assume that Elvis did not actually die, and his death was simply staged. Moreover, the circumstances of this death also raise some questions.

On the gravestone at Graceland, Elvis's name is misspelled: "Elvis Aaron Presley", with two "a"s in the middle of the name. Meanwhile, his name was "Aron", and all his life Elvis insisted on spelling it with one "a". It is unlikely that Elvis's father (who died only in 1979) was so careless that he would allow such a typo to be made on the gravestone if his son was really dead.

Oddities were also noted at the funeral. Elvis's coffin was unusually heavy and weighed about 400 kilograms. Even if the singer himself weighed 113 kilograms at the end of his life, what did the remaining 300 account for? Some are inclined to explain this by the fact that inside the coffin there was a powerful refrigeration unit, and in the coffin itself lay a wax doll - in the Tennessee August heat, such measures are quite understandable.

Elvis's cousin Gene Smith, who knew his relative well, said in an interview with American journalist Gale Brewer-Giorgio that he noticed an absurdity: the body lying in the coffin had plump, soft hands, without visible damage. Meanwhile, shortly before August 16, 1977, Elvis injured his finger and was forced to wear a brace. In addition, it is known that Elvis was a good karateka - it is unlikely that the hands of a person who seriously practiced martial arts could be soft and plump.

There is also numerous evidence that one of the sideburns of a body lying in a coffin came unglued. As a rule, this does not happen with the dead, but with a wax mannequin it does... But, of course, no one can say unequivocally that Elvis did not die.

Another Elvis

The image of Elvis, disseminated by cinema and television, does not correspond to the person the singer was in reality. Elvis on stage is very different from Elvis in real life. There was nothing crude about him, nothing false. People who interacted closely with him saw a completely different person - kind, gentle, and sometimes shy. According to Elvis's cousin Billy Smith, "Elvis had a heart of gold. He had a lot of warmth."

However, as always happens with famous people, the public is of little interest in what its idol really is. The image created by the media is much more attractive and interesting. And the reason, as a rule, is one - this artificially tailored image is easier to sell. Today celluloid Elvis brings much more more money than the real Presley - during his lifetime. That is why the figure of Presley was buried under all sorts of rumors, gossip, speculation, legends and fantasies.

Rarely did anyone bother to look closely at the real Elvis, a man with a huge creative potential. Besides being a great singer, he was also an excellent arranger. While working in the studio, Elvis never needed music producer- the singer took over his functions. Elvis was amazingly efficient and could perfect a song 20 or 30 times, achieving the desired sound.

It is known that Elvis practiced karate. But few people know that almost half of his life was devoted to this sport. Elvis repeatedly admitted that it was karate that helped him achieve such success on stage. Elvis Presley became interested in martial arts while serving in the army, and after demobilization he met one of the outstanding American karatekas, Ed Parker, and remained his student until his death.

According to the testimony of multiple world champion Bill Wallace, who knew Elvis well, Presley was a karateka of a very decent level, especially considering that the singer constantly traveled around the country and did not have the opportunity for regular training. Elvis’s teacher Ed Parker was of the same opinion, believing that Presley, by any measure, wore a black belt for a reason.

Another aspect of Elvis that generally remained outside the public eye was his spirituality. Contrary to what the newspapers wrote about him (“Elvis doesn’t like to read!”), Elvis was seriously interested in philosophy, history and religion - his personal library on these issues alone numbered more than 100 books, and in total, according to biographers, he read more than 1000 books on this topic - a more than impressive number, given his lifestyle associated with concerts, filming and recordings. And shortly before his death, he was reading not Playboy magazine, but the book “The Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus.”

Elvis considered his most important recordings not rock and rolls or ballads, but gospel songs - religious chants. Elvis approached the recording of any song, even the most trivial one, extremely seriously, but he literally put his soul into gospel songs. Moreover, it was gospel songs that he loved to sing, as they say, “for the soul.” It was for the religious album "How Great Thou Art" that he received his first Grammy Award, of which he was extremely proud (his second Grammy also went to him for the gospel album "He Touched Me" - "He Overshadowed Me" ").

In one of the countless articles devoted to Elvis, he was once very aptly called the "rosebud" of American popular culture. The word rosebud refers to the Orson Welles film "Citizen Kane" about a millionaire whose identity was never understood by anyone. The same thing happened with Elvis - millions of people saw a handsome, successful singer in an embroidered gold suit, giving Cadillacs to his friends, but few tried to understand what was really behind this image.

However, a true artist reveals himself to the end only in his work. This is how he expresses himself, all his innermost feelings and experiences, and only in his creativity can one see what he really was like. Therefore, there is only one way to try to understand the real Elvis - listen to his songs.

Sergey Karamaev

Elvis Presley is a singer and film actor, the “King of Rock and Roll”, a symbol of the American dream that has become a reality.

Elvis Presley was born in the town of Tupelo, located in Mississippi. Vernon and Gladys Presley are Elvis's parents. It is known that Elvis had a twin brother named Jess Garon, who died immediately after birth.

Elvis's father had no profession and took on any job he could find. It is logical that financial disruptions did not allow the family too much pleasure. This situation worsened when Vernon was jailed for 2 years for fraud.

Elvis was brought up surrounded by religion and music. The boy regularly attended church and even sang in the church choir. And at home the radio was constantly playing, from where the child absorbed country songs, as well as traditional pop compositions. One day, a young musician performed the folk song Old Shep at the fair and received a prize. Deciding to encourage her son’s interest in music, Gladys gave the child his first guitar.

In 1948, the family moved to Tennessee, where it was easier for the head of the family to find work. The family settled in the city of Memphis. It was here that Elvis became acquainted with African-American styles of music - blues, boogie-woogie and rhythm and blues. This musical “school” influenced the performer’s vocal style. Like many teenagers, Elvis spent a lot of time in the company of friends with whom he sang to the guitar. famous hits country. Most of his childhood comrades will stay with him for a long time.

In August 1953, Elvis graduated from high school, and soon found himself in the Memphis Recording Service studio to sing a couple of songs for a record as a gift for his mother. The choice fell on My Happiness and That’s When Your Heartaches Begin. After some time, the American recorded another single there, after which studio owner Sam Phillips promised to invite the singer for a professional recording.

At this time, Presley works as a truck driver and participates in all ongoing vocal competitions and auditions for musical groups, and also regularly receives refusals. The leader of the Songfellows quartet even directly told the future king of rock and roll that he had no vocal abilities.

Music and cinema

In the summer of 1954, Sam Phillips finally contacted the singer and offered to participate in the recording of the song Without You. The result did not suit anyone - neither Elvis, nor the musicians, nor the owner of the company, who realized that this performer needed a different repertoire. During the break, to calm his nerves, Elvis began playing the song That's All Right, Mama, but in a non-standard rhythm, expressive and unusual. Thus, Elvis Presley’s first hit was born completely by accident. It was followed by the song Blue Moon of Kentucky, recorded in the same manner. The collection with these songs took 4th place in the hit parade.

By mid-1955, the singer already had 10 singles, each of which was enthusiastically received by young people, and videos and clips for the compositions became popular in North America and Europe. The new style of music that Elvis Presley created had the effect of an exploding bomb. With the help of producer Tom Parker, Elvis signs a contract with record giant RCA Records. True, for Presley himself the contract was terrible, since the musician received 5% of song sales.

Nevertheless, this studio releases the famous songs of Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Tutti Frutti, Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel, I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Jailhouse Rock and Can't Help Falling In Love and Love Me Tender. “Elvisomania” begins in America, the artist’s hits take leading positions in the American music charts, and each concert attracts crowds of fans.

Presley is one of the few rock performers who served in the army while at the peak of his popularity. His service took place in the third tank division, which was stationed in Germany. However, even during the service, discs were released with songs recorded in advance. And Hard Headed Woman even topped the American hit parade.

After demobilization, Elvis and his producer focused on cinema, and the records are now only soundtracks for films. But the films “Soldier's Blues”, “King Creole”, “Flaming Star”, “Savage” and others were not successful at the box office, and albums with music from these films were not particularly popular. But singles with non-Hollywood songs conquered the charts over and over again. The rock star's photo appeared on the cover of the best publications on the planet.

The full-length records His Hand in Mine, Something for Everybody, Pot Luck were also successful, as here the singer continued to successfully experiment with musical genres, mixing blues, gospel, country and rockabilly.

The success of another film called “Blue Hawaii” played a cruel joke on Elvis Presley. Producer Tom Parker now demanded only identical roles and songs in the style of "Hawaii". Since 1964, interest in Presley's music has been declining, and soon the American's songs leave the charts. Starting with the film "Speedway", the filming budget turns out to be higher than the profit generated.

Presley's last films were Charro! and A Change of Habit, released in 1969, attempted to change the perception of Elvis as a one-man actor, exclusively a character in romantic comedies. Two good dramas appeared, but the damage was already irreparable.

The same failure awaited musical recordings, which resulted in Elvis Presley’s refusal to record records. It was only in 1976 that the singer was persuaded to make a new recording. The album was released, and the songs immediately returned to the top of the world charts. But Presley did not record his voice anymore, each time citing illness. The last record in the official discography of the “King of Rock and Roll” was the album Moody Blue, composed of previously recorded but unreleased songs.

About 40 years have passed since then, but Elvis Presley’s record (146 songs in the top 100 of the Billboard hit parade) has never been broken.

Personal life

While serving in Germany, Elvis met Priscilla Bouillet, who was 14 years old at the time. In 1963, the girl moved to America, and the couple began to meet regularly. After another 3 years, Elvis Presley proposes to the woman. The wedding took place in May 1967. This marriage brought Elvis his only daughter, Lisa Marie, who would later become his first wife.

But due to her husband’s publicity, frequent depression and regular absences, Priscilla decided to leave. The divorce officially took place in 1972, although the couple did not live together for more than a year.

Since the summer of 1972, Elvis Presley was in a civil marriage with Linda Thompson, who had previously won the Tennessee beauty pageant. The couple separated at the end of 1976. During the last months of her life, Presley's companion was actress and fashion model Ginger Alden.

It is known that the singer's best friend was Colonel Tom Parker. He traveled with Elvis to concerts and on national tours. Researchers of the musician’s life and work claim that Elvis’s behavior was influenced by Parker, who allegedly instilled in the musician a passion for money and made the celebrity selfish and domineering. At the same time, the colonel was the only person with whom Presley communicated in the last years of his life without fear of being deceived. Tom never betrayed Elvis and remained faithful even in difficult times.

Death

The beginning of the 70s - the most terrible period in Presley's biography. Sonny West, the singer's bodyguard and biographer, in an interview with American journalists, said that Elvis could drink three bottles of whiskey in the morning, shoot into the empty rooms of his house and shout from the balcony that they wanted to kill him. According to West, Elvis loved gossip and also enjoyed plotting against his staff.

The cause of death of the “King of Rock and Roll” haunted American society for a long time. On the morning of August 15, 1977, Elvis Presley visited the dentist, where he took a quantity of painkillers and sedatives. He arrived home to his Graceland villa after 12 o’clock at night and spent a long time talking on the phone with the producer, discussing the details of the concert, which was supposed to take place in a few days. Then he talked with his friend Ginger Alden about a possible engagement.

The singer could not sleep, he took sleeping pills and started reading a book. Then, closer to the morning, he took another dose of pills and went to bed in the bathroom, where such an opportunity was provided. At about two o'clock in the afternoon, Ginger discovered the celebrity's body, and at 16 o'clock the ambulance officially recorded the death of Elvis Presley.

It is known that Elvis Presley’s entourage earned millions of dollars on the performer’s name. After the musician’s death, the staff actively gave interviews to the press, published their memories, and bought copyrights to some of the singer’s compositions. Even dead Elvis brought in mind-blowing income.

According to a survey conducted in the United States, the majority of Americans call Presley a symbol of the twentieth century, a real embodiment of the fairy tale about Cinderella.

Discography

1956 - Elvis Presley
1956 - Elvis
1958 - King Creole
1960 - His Hand In Mine
1961 - Something For Everybody
1962 - Pot Luck
1967 - How Great Thou Art
1969 - From Elvis In Memphis
1975 - Promised Land
1976 - From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
1977 - Moody Blue
Filmography
1956 - Love me tenderly
1957 - Prison Rock
1958 - King Creole
1960 - Soldier's Blues
1961 - Savage
1961 - Blue Hawaii -
1968 - Speedway -
1969 - Charro! -
1969 - Change of habit

Today is the 75th anniversary of the birth of the man who revolutionized the music world. “In the world of rock and roll before Elvis there was only emptiness,” John Lennon once noted. You can, of course, argue with this, but is it worth it?

Elvis Presley is a descendant of poor people, a native of a small town in the south of America, who became “overnight” a superstar and an idol of millions. A man who did not write a single song, but ascended to the musical Olympus. A man who not only left a mark, but completely entered the history of musical culture. A man who did not graduate from a special professional institution, but knew how to sing in a way that touched a nerve, to sing the way he felt it. A man who knew how to give songs an emotional coloring, skillfully placing accents, maneuvering his voice. A man who captivates with his spontaneity and naturalness, natural ease, without pretense or pomposity. Not God (although, as it turned out, a new religion appeared, where Elvis a separate category worshiped as a saint), but an ordinary mortal, who is characterized by doubts and mistakes and shortcomings. Not a genius, but definitely talented person. A person who believes in himself and carried this faith through his life, which actually helped him to realize himself. After all, a whole year passed between his first amateur recording at the Sun studio and his first professional recording made there! A man who loved different types of music, but who recognized that gospel music occupied a special place in his life. He grew up on this music. A man who was looking for ways of spiritual improvement, interested in occult and metaphysical literature, but remained devoted to God in his faith.

Today is the anniversary of the king of rock and roll - Elvis Presley. Today is the 75th anniversary of the birth of the man who revolutionized the music world. It seems that the title of king of rock and roll is forever assigned to Presley.

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, PC. Mississippi, in the family of Vernon and Gladys Presley (Elvis's twin, Jess Garon, died during childbirth). The Presley family was quite poor; the situation worsened when the future singer's father went to prison on charges of check forgery in 1938 (he was released only two years later). From childhood, Elvis grew up surrounded by music and religion: attending church and participating in the church choir was mandatory. Presley's mother especially monitored her son's manners, instilling in him throughout his life exceptional politeness and respect for elders.

When Elvis turned 10, his mother decided to give him a gift. “Elvis saw a gun on the shelf, but his mother said no. The boy began to cry, and the seller, deciding to calm him down, took out a guitar from the display case. Elvis held the instrument and after a couple of minutes replied: “Yes, mom, buy me a guitar.”

In September 1948, the Presley family was forced to move to Memphis (Tennessee), where there were more opportunities for Presley's father to find work. It was in Memphis that Elvis began to become more consciously interested in modern music, on the radio he listened to country music, traditional pop music, as well as programs with black music (blues, boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues). He also often visited the Beale Street neighborhoods in Memphis, where he personally observed the play of black bluesmen (for example, B.B. King knew Presley when he was still a teenager) and wandered through the black shops, under the influence of which Elvis developed his own, which clearly distinguished him fashion style.

After graduating from school in the summer of 1953, 18-year-old Presley got a job as a truck driver. It was then that he decided to go to the recording studio owned by Sam Phillips and record a couple of songs with a guitar for eight dollars. The double-sided record with the songs “My Happiness” and “That’s When My Heartache Begins” was printed in one copy and was formally a belated gift from Presley’s mother, although the real reason for this step was Presley’s desire to hear his voice on record. By that time, he already definitely wanted to become a musician, but did not know what genre - whether to perform gospel and church hymns or play country music. He also managed, a few months earlier, to perform in a club and at several amateur concerts. Phillips's studio secretary recorded the data of Presley, who seemed curious to her (when asked which performer his singing was most similar to, Presley replied that “there is no such thing”). Presley asked her to call him as soon as Phillips's company, which had its own Sun Records label, needed a singer. After that, he repeatedly stopped at the studio office, hoping to get a job (Presley recorded another record for himself in early 1954).

There are many memoirs about Elvis Presley where he is represented in different ways. If, according to some of his close friends, Elvis never apologized, and preferred to give gifts instead of apologizing, you see, it was difficult for him to simply say sorry. According to others, Elvis simply could not help but apologize if he offended anyone, no matter who it was. Otherwise it would haunt him. Elvis himself spoke about himself in an interview like this: “... I am proud that I was brought up with respect and trust in people. When they push me, yes, I forget myself - to such an extent that I don’t understand what I’m doing... [I don’t explode] very often. In fact, I can count such cases on my fingers. But when I lose my temper, it always ends badly - but this does not happen often, and who does not get irritated from time to time - and later I hate myself."
Elvis Presley is a man who achieved fame and fame, such popularity that at times it could destroy him physically. Fans literally tore him apart. So in Vancouver, a group of mounted police failed to restrain a crowd of 25 thousand and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, literally dragged Elvis backstage. George Klein (Elvis's friend): "But Elvis worked for forty or forty-five minutes, and the last thing we saw before he left was the stage turning: sheet music flying in the air, the audience grabbing microphone stands, instruments, drumsticks, everything... what they can reach. In short, it wasn’t a pleasant evening.” And once, speaking in front of an audience of 14 thousand, Elvis defended: “Girls, I’m waiting for you all backstage,” after which the crowd rushed after him, so the police had to lock him in the basement, where some fans still managed to get through an open window . Mae Boren Axton: “I heard a wild roar and immediately after that the voice of Elvis ... I rushed there along with several police officers, there were already several hundred people there, well, maybe not so many, but decently. Elvis was sitting on top of one of the shower stalls and looked scared and confused... All that was left of his shirt was rags, and his jacket was completely torn into pieces. Someone even managed to grab his belt, socks and small cute shoes. He sat there in only his pants, and the fans tried to climb up. take them off him too."
But despite such “adoration” from the fans, Elvis was always loyal to them. "I don't have the 'Get these people out of here' attitude that I've been told. I don't sign autographs, pictures, etc. to increase my popularity or make my fans like me. I do it because they are sincere in their desire, and if you don't, you will hurt their feelings. When you get into show business, your life is no longer yours, because people want to know what you do, where you live, what you wear, what you eat. , - and you must take into account the wishes of these people."

Single "That's All Right" (from "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" on back side) was released on July 19, 1954 and sold twenty thousand copies, thanks to the almost continuous play of the song on Memphis radio stations. Following the formula of the first record (recording one side based on blues, recording the other side based on country), within a year the singles "Good Rockin' Tonight" (September 1954), "Milkcow Blues Boogie" (January 1955), "Baby, Let's Play House" (April 1955), "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" (August 1955). All these songs became not only an undeniable artistic achievement for the singer himself, but also classics of rock and roll, which owed its development in no small part to the work of Elvis Presley for Sun Records. It is worth noting that his early records were not then called rock and roll (this term was still rarely used), but were considered a new kind of country, which is why Elvis Presley’s nickname in those years was “Hillbilly Cat”; “ Hillbilly" is one of the outdated names of country music). Presley's early music caused controversy, since radio listeners of that time were not clear whether a white performer was singing or a black one (racial segregation was then the norm of life in the American South), the genre was unclear (popular music, since the beginning of the century, was also clearly categorized), namely this mixture of all elements of American culture is credited to Elvis Presley.
The summer of 1954 also saw the first performances of Presley, Moore and Black (on posters they were collectively called the “Blue Moon Boys”). Despite the failure of the popular country music radio concert the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville that September, the Blue Moon Boys' performances were increasingly successful. They toured extensively throughout the South, especially Texas, sometimes accompanied by Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, rising stars at Sun Records. Since October 1954, the musicians have become regular participants in the Saturday "Louisiana Hayride" radio concerts held in Louisiana. It was then that Presley's signature choreography of stage movements was born, consisting of frantic swaying of the hips combined with emotional movements of the arms and body, causing unprecedented excitement among the audience.
These performances, as well as new singles, contributed to the singer’s growing fame in the South of the United States, and by the end of 1955, on a national scale (the single “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” took 1st place in the Billboard magazine country chart). . This attracted the attention of Colonel Tom Parker, a business-minded Southerner who was taking care of country star Hank Snow at the time. Parker kept an eye on Presley for a year before signing a contract with the singer in August 1955 to manage his affairs (although Presley's former impresario, Bob Neal, technically remained his manager for another year). Parker understood limited opportunities Sun Records and was looking for a major label outlet. Finally, RCA Records showed interest and signed a contract with Presley on November 20, 1955. RCA also had the foresight to purchase Presley's entire catalog of recordings from Sun Records for $40,000, of which $5,000 was for Presley personally).

The song “Love Me Tender” performed by American singer Elvis Aaron Presley conquered the world in 1956. It is unknown when this incomparable American melody was born, because folk compositions have no birth dates. We can only talk about the dates of rebirth, of which there were several. During civil war between North and South, this melody became the favorite song of the United Army - after all love theme It is especially appreciated in difficult times, when many are not at all sure that they will see their home again. However, a true revival took place in 1956. The young but already very famous Elvis Presley was preparing to star in his debut film. During the selection musical material a musical notation of an old song fell into his hands, and Elvis immediately realized a possible prospect. In his arrangement, “Love Me Tender” acquired the form in which the whole world knows it today. The separately released “test” single was a resounding success, becoming the first million-seller in the history of recording. Subsequently, the song was regularly re-released both during Elvis's lifetime and after his death. And since then, it has been sung by professionals, amateurs, drunken people on the streets, and even the speechless poor. For example, keeping in mind the song’s military past, Frank Sinatra played it in his show dedicated to Elvis Presley’s return from the army. But no matter who tries to surpass Elvis, the standard is the standard: only one person raised a simple ballad to universal heights, and despite the stunning immensity of his repertoire, he is primarily identified with this song. The same can be said about the song itself: as he sang it from the blue screen to a simple six-string, this performance remains the best to this day. This is probably why over the years the song “Love Me Tender” sounds more and more like a declaration of love to oneself.

Love me Tender

Love me Tender,
Love me honey
Never let Me Go.
You filled my whole life
And I love you so much.

Love me Tender,
Love me faithfully
After all, all my dreams have come true.
Because I love you, honey
And I will always love you.

Love me Tender,
Love me long
Place it in your heart.
After all, that's where I belong
We will never leave each other.

Love me Tender,
Love, dear,
Tell me that you are mine.
I'll be yours all these years
Until life ends.

On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army. The news of Presley's departure to the army caused protests in the country among young people: letters were sent to the army and the president demanding that the singer cancel his service. Meanwhile, this was a mutually beneficial enterprise: for Presley, to increase his reputation among the wider population (although he himself was internally worried that his career would come to an end), for the army, to thus raise the prestige of the service and attract new soldiers. In the fall of 1958, Presley was sent to the 3rd Panzer Division, stationed in West Germany, at Friedberg near Frankfurt. But before that, a tragedy occurred in the singer’s personal life: on August 14, his mother died in Memphis. In the army, Presley performed regular duties like other privates. Nevertheless, he spent his free time on a scale inaccessible to other soldiers: he visited cabarets in Paris, traveled to Italy, bought cars (and only once, in June 1958, recorded in a studio). Presley lived in a separate apartment with his friends. A little later, the constant entourage of friends and relatives received the nickname “Memphis Mafia” in the press. Some members of the “mafia” knew Elvis from school, some appeared during his military service. Gradually, the backbone of the “Memphis Mafia” was formed, to which new members were periodically added. They surrounded Presley throughout his subsequent life day and night, performing various functions: bodyguards, lackeys, concert promoters, musicians, and, finally, just friends, without whom Presley could not do. It was they who introduced him to 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu at one of the parties in Germany, who would soon occupy an important place in Elvis’s life.

In March 1960, Presley returned from the army. While Elvis served, and he rose to the rank of sergeant, the Colonel, meanwhile, worked tirelessly, taking care of the affairs of his ward, so Presley, who returned from the army, had a lot of things to do.

In March 1963, Priscilla Bouillet was brought to Presley's estate, Graceland, with whom Presley continued to communicate all the time after leaving Germany. Under an agreement between her parents and Presley, 17-year-old Priscilla was allowed to remain at Graceland, with the condition that she attend a private Catholic school daily. At the same time, Presley himself spent all his time in Hollywood, acting in films and throwing parties with the “Memphis mafia.” At the end of 1966, under pressure from his parents and Colonel Presley, he was finally forced to propose. The wedding took place on May 1, 1967. At first, Presley clearly enjoyed family life, but soon after the birth of his daughter Lisa Marie in February 1968, he began to move away from Priscilla and eventually returned to his usual lifestyle.

By the mid-1960s. Beatlemania also became a phenomenon of American life. On his first visit to America in early 1964 of the year The The Beatles were greeted live on the Ed Sullivan Show with a telegram from Presley. From that very moment, attempts began to arrange a meeting between the Fab Four and the idol of their youth. Finally, on August 27, 1965, the meeting took place at Presley's home in California. The entire event was held in the strictest secrecy: no photographs, press releases, etc. The musicians exchanged gifts, and an hour later they were engrossed in playing guitars (The Beatles were surprised to discover that at that time Presley was fond of playing the bass guitar) . McCartney later recalled that he first saw a television remote control in Presley's house. The meeting with Presley made a deep impression on The Beatles. Presley himself, despite his sincere interest and hospitality, had mixed feelings: in the end, it was The Beatles who unwittingly caused American pop music to cease to be popular. Presley later transferred his rejection of hippie culture and their music to The Beatles, seeing them as the source of everything anti-American (however, this did not stop him from performing their songs at his concerts).

Published in 1969, From Elvis in Memphis covered several musical genres. In fact, the record was 12 different from each other musical portraits Elvis. The beautiful compositions "Long Black Limousine", "Any Day Now", "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Mind" were reminiscent of the Presleys of yore. Even the films of the late 60s ("Charro", "A Change of Habit") turned out to be much higher quality work than one might expect.

But the most important step at this stage of Elvis Presley's career was his return to Las Vegas with concerts. In August 1969, he took Las Vegas by storm, performing for four weeks at the International Hotel. Is it worth mentioning that every show was sold out? In the early 70s, the musician toured the United States several times, while continuing to tour and record new songs. As a result of the tour, a documentary film "That"s the Way It Is" and an album of the same name were released, including many cover versions.
In 1973, Presley wrote another important page in the history of television and show programs. More than a billion people in forty countries around the world were glued to their television screens during the broadcast of the special program "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii."

World tours continued throughout the 70s, to the delight of his fans, who looked at the inspired and temperamental showman. His repertoire of this period consisted mainly of ballads, which were invariably touching and exciting for audiences of all ages. In music, Elvis confessed about his spiritual conflicts and personal problems - in 1973 he divorced his wife. The sentimental song "Don't Cry Daddy", dedicated to a failed family life, also became a number one hit.

Presley adored the stage, communicating with the audience, traveled a lot, appearing on stage in luxurious bright suits, tied with a belt studded with precious stones. This new excessive bias towards concert activity led over the years to the same creative exhaustion that he experienced when he plunged headlong into cinema. Instead of recording new material in the studio, Presley was content with a string of live albums. As one might expect, these releases eventually turned into a routine that was difficult to surprise anyone with. It got to the point that he no longer took part in the last studio sessions, which took place in Nashville in January 1977.

Elvis lived under the tragic pressure of his own fate. In any case, he has already achieved more success than anyone before him. It was huge psychological problem, the main obstacle to once again challenging fate and creatively turning oneself around.

Elvis Presley's life in recent years has turned into agony stretched out over time. Broken family life, depression, alcohol and drugs, progressive obesity... And yet he continued to go on stage, despite the fact that he lost consciousness several times during concerts.
On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley's tormented heart gave out. The official medical report lists the cause of death as a heart attack. But this was just a consequence of a chaotic lifestyle and many years of abuse of barbiturates. Even Presley's death became a show that was watched by millions, if not billions of people. It was hard to miss this sight: behind the hearse with the coffin of the departing King, not only friends and relatives, but also dozens of his orphaned Cadillacs were moving in the funeral column.
Meanwhile, the music continued to do its job. The records Elvis set are countless. In the US alone, 132 of his releases - both albums and singles - received gold and platinum certifications. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: as a rock, country and gospel singer. Only official circulation His records worldwide exceed one billion copies!
25 years separate us from the day of the King's death. And to this day his figure remains one of the most important and influential cultural phenomena of the West. Published in 2002, the collection of 30 number one hits instantly topped the sales charts in America, Great Britain and dozens of other countries. The furor created by Elvis in the USA is included in the top twenty most shocking musical events of the 20th century.

A quarter of a century after Elvis Presley passed away, the greatness of the path he traveled is becoming more and more obvious every year. No one has yet been able to eclipse his glory. This is a character who still excites the imagination of the entire music world, as well as people far from show business. The first issue of the British magazine "Q" in 2003 published a list of the most influential songs of all time. Interviewed show business professionals, journalists and musicians named “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles, “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols, and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana among the epoch-making works of the 20th century. But the song “That’s All Right Mama” came in first place. debut single Elvis Presley, released almost 50 years ago.

The myth that Elvis is alive and that he was seen in different parts of the world is only proof of the performer’s worldwide fame. The musician himself did not like being called the king of rock and roll, but what can you do, fans couldn’t have any other name for Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley - legendary American singer and a film actor whose name is associated with the rise of rock and roll in the mid-twentieth century. Post-war youth needed the fiery rhythms of new music, free and energetic, like air. The embodiment of this musical freedom was the idol of millions, Elvis Presley.

His hits from half a century ago are incredibly popular even today. And while the memory of the singer who literally blew up music world with their temperamental songs, the true spirit of rock and roll is alive and well.

Childhood and adolescence

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in the tiny town of Tupelo (Mississippi). Together with him, his twin brother Jesse Garon was born, who died shortly after his birth.

Elvis's father, Vernon Presley, was a descendant of immigrants from Germany and Scotland; mother, Gladys Presley, had a richer pedigree: her ancestors were Scots, Irish, Normans, and Cherokee Indians.

The Presleys lived extremely modestly, since Vernon could not find a permanent job, and after his imprisonment (he was accused of forging checks), the family's financial situation worsened even more.

Despite financial restrictions, Elvis considered his childhood to be happy: Gladys loved her son dearly, spoiling him as much as possible. The boy always remembered how his mother, not having enough money to give him a much-desired bicycle, bought what she had enough money for - a guitar, which ultimately determined the main occupation of Elvis's entire life.

The boy loved music, which accompanied him constantly: all family members were believers, so for Elvis it was mandatory not only to regularly attend services, but also to rehearse in the church choir.

First steps towards your dream

It is not surprising that after moving to Memphis, Tennessee in November 1948, the teenage Elvis began to delve consciously and with deep interest into the features of pop music that sounded on the radio day and night. He listened to country melodies, comparing them with black blues, boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues and traditional pop music. Frequently visiting dance evenings and concerts of famous singers, Elvis already at the age of 14 realized that he also wanted to become a pop singer.

After graduating from high school, young Elvis worked as a truck driver, while simultaneously learning to become an electrician at evening courses. But such a high workload did not prevent the young man from devoting a lot of time to singing and polishing his masterful guitar playing. The first and most grateful listener of the aspiring singer was his mother, to whom Elvis dedicated songs as his closest friend in those years.

The turning point in the fate of the future King of Rock can confidently be called the young man’s accidental acquaintance with Sam Phillips, the owner music studio, instantly appreciated huge talent and sensual voice young man. The producer’s instincts didn’t let him down, who later became famous as the “discoverer” of Elvis Presley.

Soon Sam Phillips brought the young singer together with local musicians - double bassist Bill Black and guitarist Scotty Moore, and together they recorded those dynamic, catchy compositions that brought Presley deafening popularity.

Variety and cinematic activities

Elvis Presley's fame grew and expanded thanks to new recordings combined with continuous tours throughout the southern states. From the beginning of 1955, Tom Parker, who received the title of Colonel in the South of the United States, began promoting the singer. This experienced producer had a solid wealth of useful connections in American show business, so his patronage was a real success for the aspiring performer.

In the summer of 1955, the demand for Presley's records exceeded the boundaries of the province: the most prominent music observers in the American capital called the singer a rising country star, which Parker did not fail to take advantage of. He persistently advised the management of the large recording company RCA Records to pay attention to the talented young man. And on November 21, 1955, the contract with Presley was finally signed. This important point in Elvis's life can well be noted as the vertical takeoff of his career.

Recorded on RCA Records, the debut album “Elvis Presley” and the single “Heartbreak Hotel” took leading positions in the American National Hit Parade. The discs, released in more than a million copies, were instantly sold out.

Elvis Presley - "Blue Suede Shoes" (1956)

Presley's first performance on central television created a real sensation, and the singer's name became known throughout the country. Invitations to participate in various shows came from all television studios. Without refusing these tempting offers, Elvis at the same time recorded new singles one after another, and also toured a lot, invariably causing an incredible stir with his person.

The widespread hysteria over Elvis Presley and his work is explained by the organic combination of the incendiary, clear rhythm of the singer’s compositions with the inexpressible charisma of his nature. The King of Rock and Roll, who was natural and relaxed on stage, revived the thirst for self-expression in the souls of his listeners. His songs are a synergy of feeling and energy that had an irresistible effect on the audience, which always filled the concert halls to capacity.

Top 10 Elvis Presley songs

Abroad, Presley was also widely known to fans of pop music: by the end of the 50s of the last century, his singles took first place in the charts in Canada, Germany, England, Italy, Australia, South Africa. He was well known even in the USSR, despite the complete lack of Elvis Presley records on sale during the years of his worldwide popularity.

Elvis Presley in the movie "Love Me Tender"

Large Hollywood companies did not ignore the singer with their favorable attention. He was offered roles in such films as Love Me Tender (1956); "Prison Rock" (1957); "King Creole" (1958); "Blazing Star" (1960); "Blue Hawaii" (1961) and others. In total, more than 30 films were shot with Presley’s participation, almost each of which featured his unique music, and, most importantly, his unique organic nature and charisma were forever captured on film.

Personal life of Elvis Presley

In the late 50s (December 20, 1957) Presley was called to army service. He was assigned to the 2nd Panzer Division, which was located in West Germany, and it was there that Elvis met his future wife, Priscilla Bouillet, who was then only 14 years old.
Presley's companion last months his life was Ginger Alden, a fashion model and actress.

Premature death

The life of the King of Rock and Roll ended on August 16, 1977. Being in severe mental decline, he took an excessive dose of sedatives - and Presley’s heart stopped forever.

Perhaps the singer would have been able to cope with his next depressive state, as he had managed before, but the situation worsened due to the betrayal of loved ones.

The singer's father fired Presley's closest friends, Red and Sonny West, along with David Gebler, who acted as bodyguards. In retaliation, they published a book detailing the singer’s aggressive escapades on tour, his addiction to drugs and bouts of morbid suspicion.

Elvis, shocked by this merciless blow to the back, plunged into a maelstrom of terrible experiences. Due to sad thoughts, he began to suffer from insomnia, so he decided to resort to medication. An excessive dose of drugs caused Elvis to fall asleep forever...

Elvis Presley. In the power of rock

However, for his loyal fans, Presley and his music remain alive to this day!

Akbota Khudaykulova

Both today and before, young people were included in the subculture to satisfy the needs for communication and self-affirmation. Another function of the youth subculture is the implementation of forms of behavior prohibited by society. So rock and roll became the rebellion of the younger generation. For a teenager in the 50s, rock and roll was a revolution in literally everything: in the style of dressing, speaking, walking, dancing, in the way you look at the world and at yourself. What is this youth movement?

Rock and roll is a genre popular music, which became widespread in the mid-1950s. North American content, namely the USA, is deservedly considered the birthplace of rock and roll. Once upon a time, rock and roll was truly a subculture, and not just a style of music genre. The young people wanted to change the world, and they tried in every possible way to “bend it to suit themselves,” to make life brighter and better. They firmly believed that they had the power to “turn over” the system. If you try to literally translate “rock ‘n’ roll”, you get “swing and roll,” and now it becomes clear why rock and roll was destined to become the youth revolution of the 50s.

Rock and roll is a wild mixture of different styles of American music that was popular in the United States at the time. At first no one famous musicians began mixing boogie-woogie, country and rhythm and blues and achieved a completely new sound. The hallmarks of rock and roll include fast tempo, clear rhythm and freedom of musical performance.

It is impossible to name the exact date of the emergence of rock and roll, but you can name the year - 1952, and the person who popularized the name of the new music - disc jockey Alan Freed. One popular song included the phrase “We'll rock, we'll roll,” which was used by Alan Freed to describe the music he broadcast on the radio in 1952. Both words that made up the term “rock and roll” were borrowed from Negro slang and have been appearing on records among the black population for several years. It cannot be said that it was Alan Freed who connected the two words together, but something else is indisputable: he introduced this concept into everyday colloquial speech. Alan Freed began to be called Mr.Rock&Roll, Alan became a real star rock and roll. However, he was not a performer, and rock and roll needed a singing star, and a “white” one, because for a long time this musical direction was considered “black” music.

Bill Haley becomes the “white” star of “black” music. By then, Haley was already an artist raised on country music. While traveling around the country, he made a discovery for himself: schoolchildren and students began to adopt the street slang and cheeky dance manners of young blacks. Bill Haley was well acquainted with the musical characteristics of blacks and, in addition, he liked their beat. At this moment, Bill realizes that he wants to create a new musical “dish”. Then he chooses two styles - rhythm and blues and country - mixing them, adding a pinch of slang. The end result is a delightful result, which we have come to call rock and roll. His popular hits are “Rock around the clock” and “Shake, rattle and roll”. Bill Haley was given the title Father of Rock&Roll.

If Alan Freed and Bill Haley are remembered by history as the founder and father of rock and roll, then it made Elvis Presley the real king of rock and roll. He, along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Fats Domino, formed the classic rock and roll sound that occurred in 1954-1955. Each performer of rock and roll was unique in his own way: Elvis Presley boldly mixed country and blues, Fats Domino proved that his piano boogie-woogie was rock and roll, Chuck Berry became the idol of many thanks to his brilliant lyrics and guitar chords, and Little Richard amazed everyone with the frantic screams of the pianist. Elvis Presley's stylish way of dressing and moving had a great influence on the younger generation of America, and after such commercial success of the rock and roll star, this musical direction began to attract the attention of an increasing number of film and sound producers.

In 1956-57, new rock and roll stars emerged, such as Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Eddie Cochran. Despite the rapid development, by 1960, many performers and stars of rock and roll stopped playing for various reasons: Chuck Berry was sentenced to prison, Elvis Presley was drafted into the army, and after his return in 1960 he went into the world of cinema, Little Richard left rock and roll after 2 years of amazing success. But rock and roll is not dead; even today it often “comes to visit” and gives us a cheerful mood. To complete the history of this wonderful, in my opinion, musical direction, it would be worthwhile with the words of a modern member of the rock band Lemmy Kilmster: “Some people claim that rock and roll is dead, but this is not so. He will never die because good songs will never go out of style. Rock 'n' roll will live happily ever after."