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Elvis Presley
Factors Contributing to the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll

Rich musical environment (early 1950s):

• Rhythm&Blues -- targeted a black audience
• Country&Western -- represented a white folk tradition
• Popular music -- 'easy listening' -- extensive audience

Post-World War II prosperity

• Teenagers had more leisure time and money.
• Movies were made for a teenage market.
• For example:
  • The Wild One (1954) Marlon Brando
  • Rebel Without a Cause (1955) James Dean
  • Blackboard Jungle (1955) introduced by Bill Haley's 'Rock Around the Clock

Technological impacts

• 1951 Colour television introduced in America
• Car radios become common (early 1950s)
• 45s replace 78s in 1954
• Electric guitars and basses become available

ELVIS PRESLEY
'The King of Rock'n'Roll'
1935-77

The first real rock'n'roll star. Discovered by Sam Phillips of Sun Records, Memphis, 1954. 'A white boy with a black sound'.

First hit record:  'That's All Right' (1954).

Became a national  star in 1956 under the management of Colonel Tom Parker, who died in January 1997. National television appearances on the Milton Berle,  Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan shows.

Gold hit singles from 1956 included 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'Hound Dog', 'My Baby Left Me', 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'Love Me Tender'.

Presley's irresistible performance style was a driving force to rock'n'roll music from 1955 to the 1960s.

Elvis continued making hit records and became a movie star in 1956 with the film Love Me Tender. He starred in the 1957 films Loving You andJailhouse Rock.

Was drafted  for military service in 1958. Returned to civilian life in 1960 and continued making films and hit  records until 1968 when his return to live performance was marked by a special TV appearance on NBC. Rock music today owes much to the artistic self-confidence of Elvis, and the unprecedented embodiment of rebel youth.