The Rise of Elvis Presley - Report Example

THE RISE OF ELVIS PRESLEY: 1954 TO 1956 Number September 19, Introduction Elvis Presley was an American singer and actorwho came from Memphis. According to Hombach, “he is often referred to as the King of Rock and Roll or simply the King”.1 His music career began when he was around nineteen of age. Without any music training or background, he was able to sing and impress the people who listened to him sing. Elvis began recording in 1953 at the Memphis Sun studios.2 He first worked with Sam Phillips the owner of Sun records, alongside Scotty Moore as his guitarist and Bill Black as his bassist.3 His style was unique as it portrayed his life. His strong visual sense was portrayed on the way he presented himself on stage, his home, the cars he drove, the girls he dated and the people he associated with. Elvis was regarded as a shy, reserved, and respectful person to all. During the time Elvis was a youth, the American society was highly segregated and since Sam Phillips couldn’t find a black singer, he used Elvis who although white, his voice was similar to that of a black person. In regard to recording a hit together with his boss, guitarist and bassist, Elvis’s first recording was in 1954.4 In most of the hits he recorded thereafter, they focused on his personal life and sexual references. His music was successful, especially among the young people. It was a mixture of country-western, rhythms and blues. Elvis’s music reflected a cultural unity within the different cultures in the South. It brought together the divided South, which comprised of whites and blacks. The white Americans could listen to the African-American music. Success can sometimes be said to come from a particular talent that someone bears, like in the case of Elvis Presley who possessed an excellent talent in music. His new way, rock & roll was established by the young people, and the media played a role in popularizing the new sound. Radio stations attracted listeners by playing Elvis Presley’s rock and roll music. Televisions also played a role in the promotion of Elvis’s music. During the mid of 1950’s televisions were emerging and by the time Elvis started recording, about half of Americans owned a television set.5 Elvis’s performances on television shows were major public boost, which he needed to be a star and earn fame. Elvis’s music gave people the freedom to openly express themselves physically and sexually. He challenged the moral values of the upcoming generation and encouraged them to have freedom of expression. Aside from all the fame and fortune he got, Presley never forgot his roots and the values instilled in him from his humble upbringing. With his fame and money, Elvis had a task to fulfill so as to remain on the top. He worked hard to ensure that his music continued to top the Billboard chart. He lost his private life as fans followed him and paparazzi’s were everywhere watching his every move. Elvis continued enjoying his popularity among the youth, but the older generation was against his music and his style. Parents and church leaders were angered by his sexual appeal on the young generation and his proactive dancing styles. His new role in the film industry brought a different picture of Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley’s image was viewed as that of a rebellious rock and roll kid. The Rise of Elvis Presley in 1954 Parker states that 1954 marked the beginning of popular music.6 During that year, the purpose-built multi-track tape recorder and Stratocaster guitar were invented and Elvis Presley emerged as a popular musician. Elvis’s biggest breakthrough happened when he first released his first single ‘That’s All Right Mama,’ a song he dedicated to his mother and ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’. Arthur, a Black Country blue singer wrote and recorded ‘That’s All Right Mama’ for the singer, while ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ was recorded by Bill Monroe. Elvis sang the songs with a lot of passion and they sounded like the original versions. He sang the songs with a different style, giving them a different rendition. According to Rhea, Elvis recorded several demos for his mother; this was the time when he got a chance to record professionally.7 His first appearance was at the Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scout in 1954. At the beginning of his career, he didn’t have much exception, but he received a wild response from his fans. The crowd loved him during his first appearance on stage. In one of his songs, he used a unique style in which he combined the black and white style of Memphis. This was the time the city was experiencing a thriving country scene and this also gave rise to the black radio station. During the time when Elvis released his single, the country was facing racism. The white Americans couldn’t listen to black music, but Presley broke that racial barrier. The people in Memphis were excited about this young white boy who sang blues with so much style. Excitement filled the air every time Elvis sung an original black song. His songs were a success and it was at that time that Phillip laid down a strategy to help Elvis in showbiz. Kirchberg and Hendrickx assert that “it is difficult to speculate how long Sam expected his association with Elvis to last, but given his business savvy, he must have known that Presley was destined for bigger and better things than Sun Records could ever provide.”8 His first appearance in public was during his performance at the Bon Air Club.9 Where he performed alongside Moore and Black, Elvis described this moment as an unforgettable experience. On July 30th, Elvis attended his first concert with a large crowd, at the Overton Park Shell.10 Stiff scared, Elvis appeared on stage. He was amazed at how the crowd received him; his fans where screaming and they wanted to know what the young man could bring. The crowd was the first to hear Elvis perform. He was received with so much excitement. After the concert, his single was ranked the highest on the billboard chat. He received positive comments calling him the strongest new talent. His rise wasn’t easy, as only his countrymen recognized him and took interest in his music. Elvis and his team members formed a group and named it the Blue Moon Boys.11 Elvis loved travelling and spent most of nights on the road as he toured different parts of the country. The fans loved his unique way of publicizing his music. As he toured different countries, his manager got him a show at the Grand Ole Opry. Despite his popularity, Elvis got a negative remark from Jim Denny as he auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry. After an audition at the Grand Ole Opry, he was to appear in the country’s most popular radio program. His show at the radio station was received worldwide and it marked a remarkable success. The Grand Ole Opry was a turning point for Elvis as it was the peak for his career.12 On August 28th, the Blue Moon of Kentucky got ranked on the billboard. During one of his performances, Elvis received a bad reception from his audience, a response he didn’t except. However, by the end of 1954, Billboard named him as the most promising country star and he was ranked 8th overall. Presley and his band continued to grow and regularly got gigs for the country music radio show Louisiana Hayride.13 During the Louisiana Hayride radio show, he received a good reputation for being a new and open artist. The audiences were open to new music and they enjoyed the music presented by the Blue moon Boys. This show exposed Elvis to the world. He auditioned for the Hayride show and he got a deal with Logan who offered him a chance on the show, but there was a condition that he needed to fulfill before performing. He was to perform successfully in several clubs associated to Hayride. Elvis impressed Logan with his performing and singing skills. Logan referred Elvis’s talent and gift as rare given that he could sing to any song. The Hayride management continued to appreciate Elvis’s talent. Whenever he held the microphone, Elvis turned into a superhero. When he sang, his shy and innocent personality disappeared. At the end of the year, Elvis and his band met Oscar Davis who took great interest in his music and invited him for the Ellis Auditorium, Eddy Arnold’s show on Sunday. Eddy was looking for fresh and new talent. An opportunity to attend the show gave Elvis a chance to meet famous stars. His fame grew massively during the period between 1954 and1955. Many people were unprepared for the impact Elvis had on the American culture. By the end of the year, Elvis was ranked 8th and the best country and western vocalist. His career continued to progress during the year. His career at the Sun Records was successful; he continued recording his music and getting acquitted with his life of fame and success. Elvis Presley in 1955 During this time, Elvis had grown from a local to a national sensation. His popularity had grown among the young generation, but the older generation disliked him because of his provocative dancing style. This posed a threat to the value system in the country. At the beginning of the year, he released more singles with his recording company Sun, such as Milk cow Blues Boogie, You’re a heartbreaker, I’m left, you’re right, She’s gone, Baby Let’s Play House and other. The Milk cow Blues Boogie and you’re heartbreaker was his worst selling records at the Sun records studios.14 In 1955, Dj Bob Neal became Elvis manager and Colonel Tom Parker became his advisor. Their goal was to improve Elvis’s image. Parker and Snow signed a management contract with Elvis. After the deal, parker wasted no time and Elvis and his band were on the road to Lubbock, Texas for their first tour.15 Elvis performance at the Hank snow Jamboree in Abilene was massive; the crowd screamed, waved hands and did things that he had never seen. Snow and Parker fell apart when snow felt cheated regarding the money that was used for Elvis’s tour. Neal’s attempted to improve Elvis image; he got for the young musician a Chevrolet on credit and advised him to dress in black when performing. Working with Neal was difficult as his singles declined one by one. People were unhappy about Elvis’s new look and they considered it not suitable for the young generation. Radio stations suddenly stopped playing his music. In November 1955, he recorded his last song, Mystery train with Sun records, and it was ranked top on the chart. After the massive decline in his music, Parker got Elvis a good deal with RCA, to produce his music. RCA was able to buy all the records that had previously been recorded from the Sun Label. He also signed a deal with Hill and Range Publishing Company and he could use these companies to record his music. His deal with RCA brought him riches and fame. With the money he received, he bought his family a house and reformed them from poverty. At this moment, Elvis was glad that he could even afford a suit for himself and help his family. In July 1955, he was first featured in a magazine.16 In the Magazine, Elvis talked about his influence on the heavy rhythms and blues music. In mid-1955, Elvis was popular and received fame, but it was limited to the south. The song Heartbreak hotel was written in 1955, by Mae Boren Axton a high school teacher.17 Elvis received most of his support from RCA. With this support, he was able to break out nationally. His popularity increased and he became a role model for the upcoming musicians, who had a vision to be as successful as him. Elvis song your heartbreak was written by Phillip the owner of the Sun records.18 The song was about the lost opportunities he had with Elvis because he didn’t own the rights to his records. The Jordanaires were a gospel quartet group, that helped Elvis with his studio during the 4th RCA session and they toured together. By this time, Elvis Presley has already been known across the country. His music was the trend among the teenagers and youth. His unique style, music and appearance were to reckon for many young people. He received a lot of admiration from girls, while the men were on their mirrors to change their style to emulate his style. By the start of 1956, Elvis didn’t require any introduction. He had already made a name for himself. Elvis Presley in 1956 At the beginning of the year, his first single Heartbreak Hotel was recorded by the American rock and roll musicians. This single topped the Billboard’s Top 100 chart. It became Elvis’s first million deal and it became the bestselling single.19 The lyrics were about a lonely man who committed suicide by jumping from a hotel window because of love. This single topped the Billboard for Seven weeks. After some months, the song was ranked number one. It received three billboard charts and stayed at the top for close to twenty seven weeks. Heartbreak Hotel sold millions of copies. The Recording industry Association of America certified the song as double platinum hit. Elvis first performed the song Heartbreak hotel during the Louisiana Hayride show. In March 1956, the song Heartbreak Hotel was ranked 68 in the Billboard chart and 9 in the western .This song brought about the new style of music rhythm and blues: rock ‘n’ roll. On July 1st 1956, Elvis attained his success. Film makers, radio stations and televisions quickly recognized Elvis’s talent. As his music career continued to grow, he began appearing on television programs. CBS stage show was the first appearance he made.20 During the Milton Berle show, his music brought a lot of controversy in his career. His hit song Hound Dog caused a lot of disgust among the American; this was because of his dancing routines that many parents didn’t approve off. His vulgar and provocative dances and music were a major concern for the people. Nevertheless, his fans continued to adore and acknowledge his music. After the Milton show, he got a chance to appear in the Steve Allen Show. Allen hated rock & roll and people were against him appearing on the show, but he still attended. Allen used Presley to boost his show, because he knew that many people loved his music and in return, the show would receive recognition among the young generation.21 In September 1956, he was scheduled for another television show, The Ed Sullivan Show. His performance broke the rating and he became the highlight of the television show. During his performance in the show, his dancing styles were censored, showing only his waist upwards. His performance gained him fame and continued appearing on the show. Before his failure as a singer, Presley had showed interest in the field of acting.22 As a young boy, he worked as an usher in the cinema. In his interviews during his rise to fame, he spoke about his interest in acting. He wanted to take film seriously and didn’t want the role of singing in the films. Elvis’s television appearance increased his popularity and made him begin his career as an actor in Hollywood. In 1956, Elvis signed a deal with Hollywood two multi-pictures. His acting career started on a high tone because people already recognized his talent.23 People regarded his acting as a cultural experience. His program was watched by people of all ages. His potential was recognized when he underwent a three day testing, and it included performing two scenes from the script the Rainmaker and Blue Suede Shoes. In April 1956, Paramount and producer Hal Wallis signed a seven year contract. Wallis, a producer of Casablanca, and Little Caesar had great plans for the upcoming actor/singer. He was given a role in the film The Rat Race, a film about an innocent naïve boy, who was struggling to make it as a musician in the town of Manhattan. Parker continued to manage his acting and singing career. Wallis failed to get a good script for the young actor; his manager changed to another studio. Love me Tender was his first film with the Twentieth Century Fox. It was originally called The Reno Brothers, but later changed. After the release, it became a major hit and everyone enjoyed the movie. Presley got $100,000 with the 20th century fox for his first film Love me Tender. Parker’s ambition on Elvis’s career played the studio and he insisted on an increase for Elvis’s salary in the future contract. Paramount studio lost their actors Martin and Lewis and needed a quick replacement. Wallis watched Elvis movies that year and realized that he needed the rock and roll aspect in his films. On November 15, Love me Tender premiered in the New York Theaters.24 The movie was ranked number 2, getting $540,000 and selling millions of copies. The film was not welcomed positively by many critics. After the release of the film, Presley expressed regrets for making it and was unhappy that the songs had expressed his career in Hollywood. Despite the negative comments he received, Elvis never gave up on his acting career. During the 1950s, music that was available pleased only the older generation. With the rise of Elvis, the young generation was excited about music. He became a role model for the youth, and many of them could reckon to his music. 25Since his first appearance on stage, Elvis became a cause of envy for many as the girls screamed and chased him. He influenced rebellion among the young generation. They would imitate his style; as he introduced a new style of dressing, music and language. He dressed in black slacks, pink jacket and gold lames, his side burns and excellent hair style. Many preachers preached about the dangers of his music and the influence he was having on the society. Despite the efforts to stop the youth from listening to his music, his music continued to influence the American culture. Not every preacher was against him, Reverend James of the Mullins Methodist Church in Memphis backed the young singer. He questioned the old generation about the men who drooled over Marilyn Monroe’s sexual appeals and asked why it was wrong for the young generation to dance and imitate the young musician. Elvis later responded to the criticism of the preachers and said his music wasn’t bad. He said he wasn’t against God and didn’t influence the youth negatively, he just wanted to express himself through music and the reaction he received was because the youth could identify with him. Extreme measures were taken to stop the young people from attending his concerts but they fell to deaf ear. In his interview, he explained the power behind his music; he said his music was influenced by the African American and their resistance to allow their children to listen to his music.26 The American culture changed; the white began listening and dancing to the African American music and the racial harmony exposed the untapped talent like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley. Elvis’s mix music allowed the American culture to accept and appreciate the black culture. His impact on the society was not just beyond his music, but also his changing aspects of time. He helped the African Americans not only in music but also in society. During his homecoming, he performed his greatest singles.27 He performed at the Mississippi-Alabama and Dairy show, where he received thousands and thousands of fans. Souvenir merchandising used his name, image and likeness to produce hats, t-shirts, jeans, sneaks and others items. At the end of the year, Presley ended it on a successful note. The year 1956 saw the success of Elvis’s career as an actor and musician. He sold huge records, making major appearances on television and introducing a new kind of music. He had been a role model for the youth. He had become a controversial figure, because of his unique blend of the white country, gospel music, black R &B and the unique style of rock & roll. 28 In conclusion, Elvis Presley was a young American actor and singer. His unique style of music influenced the young generation. He was known as the king rock & roll. His music contributed in eliminating discrimination, which in American. He started recording at a young age. His first single That’s All Right, was done at the Sun records and later, he got a chance to work at the RCA. While working at the RCA, his career took a turn and he received success and fame. Despite his popularity, he received criticism from the older generation because of his music and the way he dressed. This didn’t stop his popularity and he continued singing and influencing the young generation. He later got into the film industry and acted in several movies. To this day, Elvis’s music continues to influence many young people. Bibliography Browne, Ray Broadus and Pat Browne. The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2001. Dickerson, James L. Colonel Tom Parker: The Curious Life of Elvis Presleys Eccentric Manager. New York: Cooper Square Press, 2001. Doll, Susan. Understanding Elvis: Southern Roots Vs. Star Image. New York: Taylor &Francis, 1998. Hombach, Jean-Pierre. Elvis Presley: The King of Rock n Roll. Berlin-Kreuzberg: epubli, 2012. Jeansonne, Glen, Luhrssen, David and Dan Sokolovic. Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel: His Life and Our Times. California: ABC-CLIO, LLC, 2011. Kirchberg, Connie and Marc Hendrickx. Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon, and the American Dream. North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 1999. Morrison, Craig. Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1996. Patterson R. Gary. Take a Walk on the Dark Side: Rock and Roll Myths, Legends, and Curses. New York: Delta Haze Corporation, 2004. Parker, Nigel. Music Business: Infrastructure, Practice, and Law. London: Sweet &Maxwell Limited, 2004.   Rhea, Regan. Teen Obsession: Competing Images of Adolescents in American Culture, 1945-1963. Ann Arbor: ProQuest LLC, 2009. Spigel, Lynn and Jan Olsson. Television after TV: Essays on a Medium in Transition. Durham: Duke University Press, 2004. Wallace, Marcie. “Elvis Presley: A Revolutionist.” Accessed September 17, 2014, http://www.lagrange.edu/resources/pdf/citations/2012/11_Wallace_History.pdf. Watson, Stephanie. Elvis Presley: Rock & Rolls King. Minnesota: ABDO Publishing Company, 2013. Read More