Chapter 13: Rock and Roll Pt. 1
Elvis Presley (1935–1977) remains one of the most iconic and influential figures in the history of American popular music. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, into a working-class family, Presley was shaped from an early age by a diverse array of musical influences. He grew up listening to white gospel music in Pentecostal churches, rhythm and blues on the radio, country and western tunes, and postwar pop crooners such as Dean Martin. At the age of eight, he won a talent contest singing the country ballad "Old Shep," foreshadowing the genre-blending style that would later define his career.
In 1948, Presley and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they lived in a federally funded housing project. Attending a predominantly lower-income high school, Presley remained somewhat of an outsider. He stood out for his flamboyant clothing, love for Black musical styles, and slicked-back ducktail hairstyle—traits that aligned him more closely with Black and lower-class white youth cultures than with mainstream white middle-class norms. Though an average student, Presley was admired for his musical performances at school events, which revealed his deep connection to a broad spectrum of musical traditions, including R&B, Black and white gospel, bluegrass, western swing, country, and pop.
In 1953, shortly after graduation while he worked as a truck driver while nurturing dreams of becoming a movie star, Presley visited the Memphis Recording Service (which also housed Sun Records) to make a recording as a gift for his mother. Marion Keisker, Sam Phillips's secretary, was present and later introduced Presley to Phillips. Phillips, who had recorded several Black R&B and country artists, had long envisioned discovering a white artist who could capture the emotional depth and rhythmic vitality of Black music. As he famously put it, "If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars."
After signing Presley to Sun Records in July 1954, Phillips paired him with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. The trio produced a series of groundbreaking singles that reflected the biracial origins of rock and roll. Presley's first Sun release featured an R&B cover, "That's All Right (Mama)," on one side and a bluegrass classic, "Blue Moon of Kentucky," on the other. These stripped-down recordings, often lacking drums, combined country, R&B, and gospel elements in a style later dubbed rockabilly. Despite being marketed as a country act, Presley's music defied easy classification. Some white radio stations even refused to play his records, mistakenly assuming he was Black.
Presley was billed as "The Hillbilly Cat" and "The King of Country Bop," monikers that emphasized his unusual hybrid style. His performances, marked by energetic stage presence and sexually suggestive dance moves, captivated teenage audiences and unnerved more conservative listeners. His image—a mix of rebellious fashion, racially ambiguous musicality, and defiant sensuality—challenged existing norms and generated fervent fan responses, especially from young women.