Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley is one of the biggest-selling artists of all-time, but mere numbers cannot begin to explain the colossal cultural impact he had in the mid-20th Century. He was a central figure in the transformation of the grey, conservative 50s into the technicolour 60s through the liberalising effect of rock and pop music. Frank Sinatra had proved extremely popular in the 40s with young adults, but Elvis attracted teenagers who had money for the first time because of the post-war economic boom. In doing so, the 'teenager' became a real concept for music-makers, a market to aim for that revolutionised the dominant style of music from the easy-listening croons of Sinatra and Bing Crosby to the new varied styles of rock'n'roll. His on-stage hip-shaking was hugely controversial among worried parents, who labelled him a danger to American society while their teenage daughters swooned at such flagrant sexuality. Meanwhile, his rockabilly musical sound borrowed liberally from the rhythm & blues style strongly associated with black American communities. Elvis' teenage fans ignored that old-fashioned concept of racially segregating musical styles, a crucial first-step towards acceptance of blacks by young white America that enabled the civil rights movement of the 60s to succeed. The teenagers who were inspired by Elvis in the 50s grew into the young adults of the liberal 60s, and the pop, rock and film stars who effected further cultural progress in that decade. More so than any other individual person, Elvis was a catalyst to the social changes that put light-years between today's broad-minded attitudes and the conservative social norms of five decades ago.

Although Elvis has sold over 750 million records and had a career spanning more than twenty years, he is often viewed as more of a culturally significant icon than an important musician. His breakthrough period, through 55-58, brought together styles in a similar way as other early rock'n'rollers like Bill Haley and Fats Domino: all three were able to merge 'white' country & western music with 'black' rhythm & blues. Elvis was by far the most successful and quickly became a national phenomenon, with hits like "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock". The national outrage over his 'obscene gyrations' and 'evil music' just served to stoke the fires of curiosity among young listeners, which in turn increased his popularity.

In 1958, Elvis was summoned to serve with the US Army. When he returned, he left rock'n'roll by the wayside to pursue his film acting career, which had started as early as 1956 with Love Me Tender. Throughout the 60s he concentrated on an acting career that involved starring in films to showcase his new musical style. Usually comprising a series of Elvis-led musical numbers joined by a wafer-thin plot, the movies were routinely panned by critics, but die-hard fans continued to buy millions of soundtracks.

Ironically, by the late 60s Elvis was seen by many others as too clean cut, and his music as irrelevant in comparison to the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. In 1968 he made a live appearance on NBC that was later referred to as his 'comeback special', as it reinvigorated his career. His new songs were far superior to most of the material he had been given in the 60s, and made him a critical and commercial success again. He resumed touring, playing nearly 1200 shows between 1969 and his eventual death in 1977, many during famous residencies in Las Vegas. When he was on form, his shows were spectacular and frequently won him praise and admiration from old fans and new. However, during the 70s Elvis' behaviour became more erratic as he became addicted to prescription drugs and binged on fatty foods. By 1977, he was seriously overweight and his live shows -- if they went ahead at all - were often shambolic. On August 16 1977, Elvis Presley was found dead on the floor of his Graceland mansion. Years of prescription drug misuse and his terrible diet had combined to cause a sudden heart attack.