Elvis Presley By: Leann Boisvert

“The King of Rock and Roll” In what ways did Elvis represent a challenge to the status quo of the 1950s and 60s? Elvis Presley represented the challenged status quo of his time period by introducing a black sound to a white audience and a white singer to a black audience. *link to Elvis video log from Official Elvis Website http://videos.elvis.com/

Background Information Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and grew up in the ghettos of Memphis, Tennessee He attended a gospel church (Pentecostal Church) Presley was discovered when he went to Sun Studios in Memphis to record a song for his mom, a song entitled “That’s All Right Mama” For many teens Elvis represented a low class southerner who sang black music, wore black clothes, and danced suggestively The gospel church was his inspiration for his earliest music Elvis was a mamma’s boy but looked at as a rebel because of his clothes and the way he danced That debut album became an instant hit…after that his popularity just kept growing *link to Elvis and Lisa Marie “In The Ghetto” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWg2vLEyRZc&feature=fvst

Elvis’s Style of Music Elvis drew from country and western, bluegrass, R&B, and gospel for his musical style His style made teens want to dance closer and in a more sexual fashion He was nicknamed “Elvis the Pelvis” He had a “daringly sexual performing style” (LaBlanc) Presley’s dancing was loose and passionate; it was said to be suggestive and led to teen promiscuity In his 1956 performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, Presley was only shot from the waist up by cameras because many Americans thought his hip gyrations were inappropriate His dancing was said to be the symbol of awakening female sexuality Elvis drew from his sexual background to create a sexually rhythmic style of music that was known as Rock and Roll. “Critics attacked his provocative stage performances; which were famous for his sexually suggestive pelvis thrusts” (Cramer). Elvis made people conscience of the seduction of rock ballads and aroused primitive urges amongst his fans.

Black and White Elvis “bridged the gap between so-called white music and black music” (Cramer). Elvis worked with many prominent African American artists such as BBKing (at right) His style of music appealed to both whites and blacks His concerts were desegregated; black and white teens danced and listened to Elvis together His style of music as well as his appearance faded the lines between white and black The South began to slowly change and desegregation spread across the country “Critics attacked the racial background of his music” (Cramer)

Elvis and His Appearance Elvis’s clothing reflected the changing teen image He wore clothing bought from stores that tailored to African Americans He wore tight-fitted black leather suits and motorcycle/gang jackets His hair was dramatically combed back; some saw his ‘long’, loose hair as a symbol of rebellion White teens wanted to wear ‘black‘ clothing; they wanted to look more like Elvis Parents feared that their kids would end up in gangs because they wore ‘gang’ apparel

“Jailhouse Rock” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI His song lyrics contained emotions never before expressed in music of this period “Jailhouse Rock” is a song written to get teens to dance and listen to Rock ‘n’ Roll; it is a rebellious song The setting of the song and music video is a jailhouse and the song talks about gangs and jailbreaks ; Elvis makes being in jail seem fun “Party in the county jail,” “prison band,” “let’s rock, everybody, let’s rock,” “dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock, ” “no one’s lookin’ now’s our chance to make a break…I wanna stick around,” “everybody in the whole cell block was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock” “Q: Elvis, we've heard newspaper accounts of some scuffles you've been in where the other fellow seemed to get the end of your fist, what about these newspaper reports, are they accurate? EP: Uh, yes sir, I would imagine. Q: What happened? Did you lose your temper? EP: Well, it's just a case of get them or be got. You know? Q: What started the incidents most of the time? EP: Somebody hitting me or trying to hit me. I mean, I can take all the, you know, I can take ridicule and slander, and I've been called names you know right to my face and everything - that I can take. But I've had a few guys who try to take a swing at me and naturally you can't just stand there, you've got to do something” (Simpson). Lyrics to Jailhouse Rock: “The warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail. The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing. You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing. Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock. Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone, Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone. The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang, the whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang. Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock. Number forty-seven said to number three: "You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see. I sure would be delighted with your company, come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me." Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock. The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone way over in the corner weepin' all alone. The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square. If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair." Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock. Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake, no one's lookin', now's our chance to make a break." Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix nix, I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks." Let's rock, everybody, let's rock. Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.” *Video of “Jailhouse Rock” music video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iycWGvpih4 “Heartbreak Hotel” “Heartbreak Hotel” is a song about heart-ache and the pain of a bad break-up White singers did not usually write about the sadness life can have (drawn from gospel and R&B) The song has words that are very sad and discuses the loneliness a person might feel after being dumped by the one they love “Since my baby left me,” “place to dwell,” “end of lonely street at Heartbreak Hotel,” “so lonely I could die,” “broken hearted lovers cry away their gloom,” “dressed in black,” “if your baby leaves you and you got a tale to tell just take a walk down lonely street to Heartbreak Hotel” “dressed in black” – like someone died “if your baby leaves you…Hotel” – invites others to join in the heart-ache Lyrics to Heartbreak Hotel: “Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell. It's down at the end of lonely street at Heartbreak Hotel. You make me so lonely baby, I get so lonely, I get so lonely I could die. And although it's always crowded, you still can find some room. Where broken hearted lovers do cry away their gloom. You make me so lonely baby, I get so lonely, I get so lonely I could die. Well, the Bell hop's tears keep flowin', and the desk clerk's dressed in black. Well they been so long on lonely street They ain't ever gonna look back. You make me so lonely baby, I get so lonely, I get so lonely I could die. Hey now, if your baby leaves you, and you got a tale to tell. Just take a walk down lonely street to Heartbreak Hotel” *Video of live performance by Elvis singing “Heartbreak Hotel”

“Love Me Tender” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBUb0ElnNY&feature=related “Love Me Tender” is the name of Elvis’s first featured film and is the title of the theme song for that movie The lyrics to the song are very sensitive and touching “Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go,” “made my life complete,” “love me true,” “I love you and I always will,” “love me long, take me to your heart,” “we’ll never part,” “love me dear, tell me you are mine,” “till the end of time” The words express the connection between the two lovers and how close they are to one another Elvis did not sing many slow songs but when he did, they were very passionate and meaningful In a way his songs sensitized American youth because it made teens know that if Elvis could express such deep emotions and thoughts and even cry, then it was alright for them to do the same Lyrics to Love Me Tender: “Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go. You have made my life complete, and I love you so. Love me tender, love me true, all my dreams fulfilled. For my darlin' I love you, and I always will. Love me tender, love me long, take me to your heart. For it's there that I belong, and we'll never part. Love me tender, love me dear, tell me you are mine. I'll be yours through all the years, till the end of time.” *Link to Music Video for Love Me Tender the movie song “Love Me Tender”

Elvis and the Status Quo Elvis represented the challenged status quo of the 1950s and ’60s through his style of music, his musical background (who he collaborated with), the way he dressed, the way he danced, and the emotions he conveyed in his songs He was a symbol for teenage rebellion and the awakening of teenage promiscuity His music helped erase the lines between blacks and whites

Image Citations http://ginavivinetto.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/15-elvis-presley-081407.jpg http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/Images/elvis-presley.jpg http://www.elvisinfonet.com/image-files/rare_bbking-claudiaivy.jpg http://www.texasexes.org/images/hs/hook/ElvisPresley.jpg http://benzbaby.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/elvis-hair.jpg http://www.anglonautes.com/voc_arts_music/voc_arts_music_rock_roll_1/voc_arts_music_rock_roll_1_pic_presley_jail.jpg http://www.sergent.com.au/elvis/Heartbreak%20Hotel%20EP.jpg http://www.moviefans.de/a-z/e/elvis/elvis-presley.jpg http://images.ask.com/fr?q=elvis+presley&desturi=http%3A%2F%2F http://www.tonyassante.com/gif/elvis_presley.jpg

BIBLIOGRAPHY 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America. History Channel: 2006, Film. Carlin, Richard. Rock and Roll 1955-1970. Facts on File, 1988. Print. Cramer, Alfred W. "Elvis Presley." Musicians and Composers of the 20th Century. 4. Pasadena, California: Salem Press, Print. LaBlanc, Michael. "Elvis Presley." Contemporary Musicians. 1. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1989. Print. Mercer, Johnny, and Floyd Tillman. "Presley, Elvis." The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. 3. England: Guinness Publishing LTD, 1992. Print. Orazi, Deborah. "ROCK OF AGES; THE SHRINES TO THE MUSIC OF YOUTH SHOW THAT ROCK 'N' ROLL IS, INDEED, HERE TO STAY." Sarasota Herald Tribune 6 Oct. 1996: 1G. General OneFile. Web. 9 June 2010. Simpson, Paul. "Interview with Elvis Presley - Press Conference Canada 1957 - Elvis Articles, By: Elvis Australia." Elvis Australia - Official Elvis Presley Fan Club. Web. 10 June 2010.<http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview_elvis_presley.shtml>.