Skylar Ewing College Prep English Dr. Watkins Research Paper February 28, 2017 Shaking the Nation Up: Elvis Presley’s Contributions Phil Spector, an American record producer, once said, “You have no idea how great he is, really you don’t. You have no comprehension - it’s absolutely impossible. I can’t tell you why he’s so great, but he his. He’s sensational.” Spector, like most Americans, was impressed by Elvis Presley’s abilities. He was able to realize that Presley was special, but he did not know what made Presley appealing. Elvis Presley’s unusual style in life and music gave black musicians jobs, made rock ‘n roll music acceptable, and changed America's views positively. Elvis Presley’s early childhood years had influences that affected him as a person. When Presley was born in January of 1935, his twin brother died. This left Presley’s mother’s heart broken, but the death of Presley’s brother created a bond between Presley and his mother (Paraire 57).The bond Presley made with his mother played an important role in his life. American writer and radio commentator Ed Ward writes, "On June 3, 1953, Elvis Aron Presley graduated from Humes High School in Memphis” (Ward 73).After he finished high school,Presley went straight to the work force; he found a job as a truck driver. The two most important things to Presley were his music and his mother (Paraire 57). Althoughhe did not enjoy his job, Presley continued to work to earn money for his mother. Presley took all possible opportunities to get his voice heard. When Presley was only 18 years old, he got his first chance to record a song (Kallen 19).Presley's voice was unique for his time period. Presley’s influences on his voice were white gospel quartets like Statesmen (Davis par. 22). He used his uniqueness to get a record deal.Ward discusses Presley’s decision to let Bob Neal become his manager: "On January 1, 1955, Elvis had signed a management deal with Bob Neal” (Ward 96).Presley’s music career gained attention and was successful rather quickly.Once Presley got his name out on the radio and records, Americans became fans. Presley had a successful music and eventually a successful career in films, and American’s loved him. In 1958, over 130 family members, close friends, and supportive fans sent Presley off to the Army when he got drafted (Ward 196-7). Americans had become fans of Presley and wanted to be there for him when he left to start his time in the Army. Unfortunately, when he returned from the Army his career suffered. According to the author of “50 Years of Rock Music” Philippe Paraire, “While the Beatles and the Rolling stones were reaching for the stars, Elvis was growing older and fatter in his Memphis estate” (Paraire 60).Presley’s career was coming to an end and he did not know how to handle it. With the loss of his mother and a harmful addiction to pills Presley discovered in Germany, his music began to suffer (Ward 189; 230).Elvis was missed immediately by Americans: "When Elvis Presley died Aug. 16, 1977, at his cherished Memphis home, a crowd gathered instantly at the the whimsical gates of Graceland" (Della Cava and Mansfield par. 1). When he died, Presley left behind a legacy. Presley was remembered as a great and iconic musician. Presley made such a lasting impression to Americans that he was honored years after his death. Authors Dafydd Rees and Luke Cramton prove just how important Presley was to the American citizens: “On what would have been Elvis' 46th birthday, the Governor of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia declare "Elvis Presley Day" in their respective states” (Rees and Crampton 788).Americans realized shortly after Presley’s death how much he had changed society. Book writers began writing about Presley and events in his life (Davis par. 13).Some of the most memorable events in Presley’s life include his music, mother, films, and style. Presley made history: “With 32 films made between 1957 and 1972, the King holds sort of rock record” (Paraire 61). He was often referred to as the King of Rock ‘n Roll. Presley was like no one else in music during his time period (Davis par. 9).This only gave Presley an advantage to gain more attention from Americans. Presley used his fame and time in the spotlight to change music and society. Presley made many contributions before he passed away,including how Americans viewed African Americans and their music.Jazz critic, American journalist and writer, Francis Davis claims, “He was accepting of blacks but most American still were not at this time” (Davis par. 22).Presley never lied about his influences and what types of music he listened to on his own. Davis also writes, “The key to his originality may have been his enthusiasm for so many different kinds of music and his refusal to distinguish among them” (Davis par. 9).Among these influences were many African American artists. When Presley’s first record came out, it featured an African American artist’s song on the opposite side. This was unusual for the time, but Presley used his firsthand experiences to add a twist to his music; therefore making him a teens favorite (Davis par. 4, 23). Americans gave Presley a chance even after they learned about his different influences. AfterPresley got Americans to make the small adjustment to his music and how it was different than what was common for the time period, Americans continued to explore more music. Presley blended “white music” with “black music” (Paraire 58). This stopped Americans from separating the two types of music. Once American’s gave African American musicians a chance more African American artists released music. Presley made artist like Bill Monroe and Bill Haley famous and popular (Paraire 58). Eventually Presley’s contributions to discarding racism led to racial integration (Della Cava and Mansfield par. 3).He was able to bring awareness to racism in the country through his music. Along with changing views on African American musicians, he was able to make Rock ‘n Roll music a more popular option. Presley’s music began to climb to the top of the charts (Kallen 20). His music was popular, however, his style of music was not. Not only the Americans that were listening to Presley’s music but also his fellow musicians were taken by shock when he was on stage. Davis explains the sensation,“The reaction of Presley's fellow musicians to his performance is amusing. They go along with him at first, but after a while you can almost hear them wondering why he's making such a fuss. They're a little bit like that girlfriend, though not so much embarrassed for him as puzzled” (Davis par. 12). The energy and responses Presley created when he was on stage brought up controversy.Ward talks about the controversy and the effects of Presley’s performances: “Some towns banned his concerts; anti-rock 'n roll societies started to emerge” (Ward 58).It was not just his music, but also his demeanor that the towns were banning. If being banned was not bad enough, papers began criticizing him for his appearance (Davis par. 11).Americans did not appreciate the change Presley was bringing to music at the time. As Presley continued his career,more Americans were beginning to accept his different voice and style. However, it was not until 1957, that Rock ‘n Roll really grew in popularity (Ward 171). The music was still considered controversial to most American’s.According to Paraire, “Elvis systematically developed a rockabilly style that owed much to black music; his whole appearance was more provocative” (Paraire 58). With his different style he brought a new attention to Rock ‘n Roll. Presley’s music and style inspired teens (Kallen 22). Giving teens their own kind of music, instead of them listening to their parent’s music, was another contribution Presley made to increase Rock ‘n Roll’s popularity.As teens interest in Rock ‘n Roll increased and Presley continued to bring a new style to Rock ‘n Roll, it was only time before it became a national phenomenon. Presley used his style and uniqueness as a turning point for American’s views. Prior toPresley's career, most Americans were into Jazz music and other artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. To Presley, family was always first, however, he used his fame to bring attention to problems in society (Davis par. 19). He chose to take the attention he was receiving and point it toward other issues.Presley showed how an artist can create a different feeling: "Presley's first single was a minor hit in Memphis, but when he played his songs onstage, he created a sensation unlike any seen before" (Kallen 19).Fans did not truly understand the sensation until they witness him on stage. Americans took Presley's actions and style and changed their views on what is acceptable and racism. Americans learned quickly that Presley was going to change the nation. Overall Presley had a positive effect on American society. He was able to decrease racism during his career just by using his personal experiences influences from early in his life. He was also able to make Americans more accepting of music and styles that were not common at the time Presley was starting his career.Elvis Presley contributed to giving black musicians jobs, making Rock ‘n Roll music acceptable, and changing American’s views positively.
Works Cited Davis, Francis. “His Own Jukebox: Elvis Presley's Career, Beginning and End, Depended on His Extraordinary Gifts as a Mimic.” The Atlantic, Oct. 1994, p. 108. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A15740013/OVIC?u=chil38234&xid=07efb85b. Accessed 26 Jan. 2017. Della Cava, Marco R., and Brian Mansfield. “30 Years After His Death, The King Lives on in Digital Age.” USA Today, 14 Aug. 2007, p. 01A. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A167604499/OVIC?u=chil38234&xid=54cf3f4b. Accessed 26 Jan. 2017. Kallen, Stuart A.The History of Rock and Roll. San Diego, Lucent Books, 2003. Paraire, Philippe. 50 Years of Rock Music. Edinburgh, Chambers, 1992. Rees, Dafydd, and Luke Crampton.Rock Stars Encyclopedia. New York, DK Pub., 1999. Ward, Ed.The History of Rock & Roll. one , New York, Flatiron Books, 2016.