Iconic Moments with Elvis: Jan 8, 1935 to Aug 16, 1977.

By J K Mullins

Introduction

Iconic Moments with Elvis: January 8, 1935, to August 16, 1977, describes a selection of iconic moments in the life of Elvis Presley.

For the first nineteen years of Elvis’ life, he was unknown. Then on July 5, 1954, that all began to change when he recorded an old blues song “That’s All Right” in a different style. The style fused white country music with the blues, creating what was originally called rockabilly. This then evolved into the rock ‘n’ roll style.

By 1956, Elvis had international stardom and was swamped by controversy and adoration in equal measure for the way he moved on stage. The USA was still a racially segregated nation then and the influence of black music on rock ‘n’ roll was seen by the white establishment as a dangerous threat. Elvis found himself at the forefront of all that.

In 1958, he went into the army serving in West Germany. His approach to army service silenced his critics and he won over even more Americans as a result. On his return rock ‘n’ roll had developed a softer sound for a period and, Elvis found himself starring in a succession of romantic, musical comedies for most of the sixties. This was much to his frustration. By the time he returned to live performance with a spectacular TV special in 1968 the world had changed. America had suffered several high-profile assassinations, civil unrest due to the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Music had changed too. British Groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones had become dominant, and folk singers such as Bob Dylan wrote songs with anti-war sentiment and messages of peace. Closing the TV special with “If I Can Dream”, a song of hope for the future, “where all my brothers can walk hand in hand”, put Elvis back where he belonged.

Las Vegas and endless tours followed producing many more iconic moments including the first live TV broadcast featuring a solo performer, “Aloha from Hawaii via satellite”. However, the price of immense fame proved to be very high for a man who despite his superhero public persona as “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, was privately insecure, shy and never really understood the impact that he had on the world. Struggling with sleep and the effects of an unhealthy, southern fried food diet, Elvis fell into the trap of addiction to prescription medications. He had given his all for over twenty years when he died suddenly on August 16, 1977.

Today his legacy is loved and respected the world over. There was no one like him at the time, there has been no one like him since and there will never be anyone like him again. Elvis lived through a period where popular culture changed more dramatically than at any other point in history. Elvis triggered all that.

Enjoy reading about the Iconic Moments in the life of the definitive modern legend, Elvis Presley.

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Chapter 1

Iconic Moments with Elvis: January 8, 1935, to August 16, 1977

By J K Mullins

Introduction

Contents

See also