Elvis Essay -- essays research papers

On January 8, 1935 at 4:35 a.m., a little boy by the name of Elvis Aaron Presley was born to parents Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Presley in a two-room house located in Tupelo, Mississippi. Little did anyone know that this little boy would forever change the world of music and entertainment. Although this was a happy occasion for both of them, it was also a very sad one, too. Elvis had a twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, who was stillborn just a couple of hours before Elvis himself was born. Elvis was named after his father, Vernon, and Vernon’s best friend, Aaron Kennedy. Elvis’s parents, Vernon and Gladys, married on June 17, 1933. Gladys was 21 and Vernon was only 17. His mother worked as a sewing machine operator while his father was farm hand. When Elvis was 3 years old, his father was convicted of forgery, along with two other men, for a hog they had sold. Vernon was sent to Parchman Prison where he served 9 months. Due to family hardships, Elvis and his family had to move to Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis was raised in a religious home. He grew up surrounded by gospel music. As a boy he sang with his local Assembly of God church choir, which emulated the style of African-American psalm singing. At age ten Elvis placed first in a school singing contest. He then began to teach himself the rudiments of the guitar. In 1949, Elvis was enrolled in the L.C. Humes High School in Memphis. The total combined salary of both his parents was a mere $35 dollars a week, but they managed. In 1953, Elvis graduated from high school and began working as a truck driver while he studied evenings to become an electrician. One day, while driving a truck for his company, Elvis noticed a sign that read, "Memphis Recording Service-Make Your Own Records. Four Dollars for Two Songs." This sign would change his life forever. II. Career Elvis decided he was going to record some songs for his mother as a birthday gift. Upon doing this, he impressed the studio manager with his unique vocal style. He demonstrated outstanding range and influences of African American music. This experience led Elvis to recordings with the studio’s owner, Sam Phillips through his record label, Sun Records. At the age of 21, he recorded his first songs for a major record label, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). Included in these recordings, wa... ...is is regarded as one of the most important cultural figures of the twentieth century. So many people loved him, and he was an inspiration to many. IV. Comparison to an Important Person Today Elvis Presley was such a unique and influential person that it is hard to compare him to anyone today. In a way, he is in a class of his own. If he were to be compared to anyone in the spotlight today it would probably be someone like Garth Brooks. Garth Brooks is a country singer with thousands of fans around the world. Like Elvis, he has sold millions of records worldwide. Garth is in the music industry just like Elvis was. Although Garth is very popular, he cannot compare to the popularity of Presley. Presley still lives on as a legend today. He starred in 33 major motion pictures, and Garth hasn’t starred in any. It would be impressive to have someone in the spotlight today with the same fame and status as Elvis had. This concludes the story of the most famous and influential person of twentieth century popular culture. His name is Elvis Aaron Presley. His music and fame were, and still are, unprecedented. He is a legend that will forever live on in the hearts of many.