Title: How Elvis Presley Changed Rock and Roll
The 1960’s saw the dawn of a new era in music mainly because of one man - Elvis Presley. Popularly known as ‘The King’, he managed to transform the world of music with his fine tunes and soothing voice. All rock and roll songs which were played on transistors and jukeboxes at the time resounded with his voice. During his entire musical career, he managed to amass a total of 14 Grammy nominations including three wins along with multiple gold, silver and platinum selling albums.
Globally, Elvis’s songs reached the Billboard Top 20 fifty times creating a frenzy with the audience wherever he went. His stage shows, movies, dancing and singing skills along with the now infamous pelvic thrust made him a hit amongst the public, especially with women and teenage girls. Contrary to musical idols of today's generations, his rise to stardom and popularity was accomplished without any cable or internet and by using just three national television channels. His real talent was discovered when top recording studios realized he was not just an excellent singer but a pianist, guitarist, vocalist and actor as well.
Even before the world knew who the Beatles were, Elvis Presley had introduced his contemporary blend of country, rock and blues music. By the time of his untimely and sudden death in 1977, he had already created a niche for his songs in the music industry which is proved by the fact that his music survived the 80’s folk tunes and 90’s rhythm & blues and even today manages to give competition to the modern world of rock and metal. Over the years, Elvis Presley gained international fame with hits such as “Jailhouse Rock”, “Hound Dog” and “Heartbreak Hotel” and so it is no surprise that he was named one of the Ten Most Outstanding Young Men of the nation in 1970. More than thirty years after his death, he still remains the King of Rock and Roll with hundreds of fans making a pilgrimage every day to his home in Graceland.
