From hillbilly to soldier, husband, father... and rock sensation
1950s
Elvis began the decade a poor ‘hillbilly’ and ended it the most famous face on the planet. Working odd jobs, from cinema usher to truck driver, he began exploring the Memphis music scene on Beale Street, home to the R&B clubs. Slicking back his long hair with Vaseline he cut an eccentric figure, often singled out for ridicule. In 1953, he recorded an acetate of My
Happiness at Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios in downtown Memphis. ‘Who do you sound like?’ he was asked. ‘I don’t sound like nobody,’ he replied. A year later, on July 5, 1954, Presley was back to record his version of That’s Alright Mama – and everything changed forever.
The song was a sensation. A string of hysteria-fuelled local shows and regional hits followed. Signing to RCA in 1956 was the final step. Heartbreak Hotel and
Hound Dog unleashed international Elvismania, accelerated by his teen-corrupting gyrations on The Ed Sullivan Show. The same year, Elvis made the first of 33 feature films, Love Me Tender, and in the next 24 months scored 10 No.1 singles. The momentum barely ceased when he was drafted for military service in March 1958. He spent two years stationed in Germany, but manager Colonel Tom Parker ensured there was enough product stockpiled to keep Elvis flying high.
1960s
John Lennon’s quote that ‘Elvis died when he went into the army’ was typically barbed but not entirely baseless. In the Sixties, Presley could no longer convince as a rebel. After completing his military service in 1960, his first TV appearance was with Frank Sinatra in a tuxedo, while the conveyor belt of formulaic movies rendered him tame and predictable compared to The Beatles and Bob Dylan.
Yet there was no shortage of highlights. In 1967 he married Priscilla Beaulieu. A year later their daughter Lisa-Marie arrived.
There were many unforgettable songs, a handful of decent films and the legendary 1968 Comeback Special, in which the King reclaimed his throne. From Elvis In Memphis, his best album, was released in June 1969, while his run of hits included If I Can Dream, In The Ghetto and Suspicious Minds – some of his greatest songs.