There are few figures in the history of American entertainment as iconic as the King. He took the emerging styles of rock and roll and rhythm and blues and made them mainstream, becoming a true sensation in the process. He pioneered many of the things that define rock stardom, such as the raunchy stage performances with his pelvic thrusts and the young audiences that went wild for it.
There was greater depth to his work than Elvis mania and his stylish image. His talent owes a great debt to the black musicians that influenced him, including B.B. King and Fats Domino, and Elvis was progressive in crediting these influences in a still segregated America. He even hired the great black songwriter Claude Demetrius, pushing the industry towards greater integration.
He is even credited as having “opened the door for black music” by Little Richard. He had a range of styles though, with country, gospel, and rockabilly all coming into the King’s musical gumbo pot.
Elvis did not just become huge for his records and live performances, but also for his films, and he truly became the defining figure of American youth in that era. Many wanted to look just like him at the time, and many still do today, as even many decades after his death there are leagues of Elvis impersonators out there who make a living by mimicking the King. This is especially true in Las Vegas, a city whose identity seems linked with the image of Elvis.
Elvis’ home Graceland in Memphis has become a pilgrimage spot for fans, and it sees half a million visitors a year. His music is still known today, with songs such as Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock being burnt into our collective pop-culture memory. The influence of his work cannot be overstated, as all of the pop music owes it a debt. “Before Elvis, there was nothing,” said John Lennon. He opened the floodgates of rock and roll, and the world is a happier place because of it.