THE GREENWOOD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF

ROCK HISTORY

The Early Years, 1951-1959

ELVIS PRESLEY: "ALLSHOOK UP"

THE MAN AND HIS MUSIC

Elvis Presley is the most celebrated individual not only in '50s rock and roll,but perhaps in the history of the genre. He was the first rock and roll superstar.With his extravagant lifestyle and innovative music performances, he shat-tered both societal and musical barriers, changing American culture forever.Presley revolutionized American popular music by brilliantly melding country,gospel, pop, and blues while fusing these black and white genres to create hisunique sound. With his music, he blurred racial borders that dissolved as if theynever existed in music, while performing with a natural sexuality that madehim a teen idol and a role model for generations of rockers.

Perhaps the most controversial musician in_rpck histojry, Presley not onlythrilled but also threatened American society by journeying to the greatest ex-tremes with his ability to imitate black blues singers and his nerve to cross colorborders, combined with his flamboyant, uninhibited performance behaviors.His love of roots music and respect for the past, along with his rejection of itand his demand for uniqueness, combined with his desire to raise his financialand social status to give him an intense drive to succeed. Presley signaled to'50s society that it was time to be liberated, that it was okay to listen to andpartake in exciting rock and roll music. He helped launch the '50s youth cul-ture as teenagers acquired their own radios and record players. With Presley,"popular music began to challenge conventional tastes, and exhilarating rockand roll music began to dominate society.

Ever since his amazing ascendance in the mid-1950s, every rock and roll per-former has been measured against Presley. Today, many years after his death,

1951-1959

In 1957, as his popularity soared and hebecame the most famous young man in theworld, Presley purchased Graceland, a man-sion on the outskirts of Memphis, wherehe and his parents could have privacy fromthe fans who were becoming unbearable.On the large estate, Gladys returned to hersimple life of gardening and raising chickens;in this huge house, isolated with servants,her health deteriorated. Depressed and ner-vous about her son, she always worried forhis safety. Presley, constantly away filmingmovies and touring, occasionally returnedto Graceland for visits, though not oftenenough for his mother. Also in 1957, hisfriends and backup musicians, ScottyMoore and Bill Black (already excludedfrom future royalties thanks to Parker) werephased out, eventually resigning becauseof financial stress. They recorded with himonly sporadically during the 1960s. Al-though the two were essential to develop-ing Presley's musical style and sound,Parker and RCA preferred to hire studiomusicians to accompany Presley (thoughdrummer D. J. Fontana continued to per-form with him through 1968). The King'simpressive list of 1957 hits included "PoorBoy," "Too Much," "Playing for Keeps,""All Shook Up," "(There'll Be) Peace inthe Valley (for Me)" (his first gospel re-

lease), "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear," "Loving You," "Jailhouse Rock," and"Treat Me Nice."

Drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1957, Presley reported for duty inMarch 1958, unhappy and fearing his career would end during his two-yearabsence. However, Parker, who urged Presley to enter regular military duty todisplay patriotism, intentionally kept Presley out of Special Services (whichwould have used his talents as an entertainer). He took measures to maintainPresley's career and make sure he was not forgotten, promoting Presley as a pa-triotic, honorable man performing his duty and fostering an all-American im-age for him. Parker occasionally released singles recorded by Presley before heentered the army (that sold millions) and would not allow him to performwhile in the army (to create even more of a demand for him). After basic

Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock, 1957. Courtesy of the Libraryof Congress.