Elvis Presley

Born in Mississippi, teenage Elvis moved to Memphis, a town which was already a cultural melting pot for blues country and gospel music.  After completing high school and embarking on a career as a truck driver, Elvis recorded demos with the Memphis’ Sun Label.  Sam Phillips, the owner of the Sun label at that time, was looking for a white singer to sing the blues.  Teamed with guitarist Scotty Moore his first single was a cover of the blues hit ‘That’s alright mama’

After the success of his subsequent five singles with Sam Phillips.  The singer took his controversial hip swivelling across America’s southern states.  He was subsequently sold by Sam Phillips to RCA for 35 thousand dollars.  A phenomenal fee at the time.

‘Heartbreak Hotel’ was his first single with RCA, it reached number one, but Elvis’s style had become more mainstream, he was no longer restricted to the country music charts.  His next release also reached number one and double sided follow up to that single ‘Hounddog/Don’t be cruel’ was the biggest selling single of the time.

By 1956 Elvis was starring in Hollywood movies, the movie roles continued until 1958 when Elvis served in the U.S army.  Despite this interruption, which meant Elvis spent the best part of two years living in Germany.  The Rock and Roll star was still unleashing his music on the charts.

After leaving the comforts of the army, Presley retired from live performances, choosing instead to churn out three movies a year and their accompanying soundtracks.  Little changed within the next few years and it wasn’t until 1968 that Elvis began performing to live audiences again, although he never left North America or Hawaii.

After 1972 Presley did not have another top ten hit.  He later became a recluse, only venturing outside his house to perform.  Drug addiction, obesity and divorce followed before he was found dead in 1977 at his Graceland mansion.  There is still speculation today about the cause of death.