Blog

When the teenage Elvis Presley first walked into Sun Studios, he said two things which go a long way toward explaining both who he was musically and why he became so successful. When asked who he sounded like, Elvis responded, “I don’t sound like nobody”. Asked what kind of music he sang, the reply was “I sing all kinds”. These two statements go a long way toward expressing what was so special about Elvis. He truly sounded like nobody else. That voice stayed in one’s mind and made his sound instantly recognizable. He also mastered idiomatic vocal styles for many varied kinds of music, from the most nitty-gritty rock ‘n’ roll to the most reverent gospel. Along the way to mastering all these different styles, Elvis became the symbol of a whole generation of teenagers around the world, easily earning the title of King of Rock and Roll. In 1956, his wonder year, he personified the generation gap, a reputation that would cling to him until his return from the Army in 1960. During all the ups and downs of his career from that time until his death in 1977, Elvis became a versatile entertainer due to the addition of millions of new fans from his film years and to his ever more eclectic performances. But as his famous 1968 TV special showed, the core of his appeal remained rooted in Rock and Rhythm and Blues. Whatever else happened along the way, Elvis remained the King of Rock and Roll until the end.