Elvis Presley - The Real Life Hero

By: Anirban Bhattacharya
Submitted: 2007-01-17 11:30:40
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Elvis Presley is certainly one of the most renowned names behind music. Even today, we are absolutely obsessed about this sensation who ruled the world for more than a decade.

Elvis, in his childhood, was brought up in modest family in close association with his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. He got his first taste of music while attending the Assembly of God Church. He was 10 when he made his first performance at the Mississippi and Alabama Fair in a talent contest.

In the meantime, his family, struggling money-wise, decided to move to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, hoping for a better life. Things were quite hard in those days, forcing Elvis to work while attending LC Humes High School to help his family.

However, music was something that was already embedded within Elvis. He started developing his own style while in high school, winning the high school talent competition and even playing an encore in between.

Elvis graduated high school in 1953 and began working at a mechanics shop. The following summer he recorded his first album at The Memphis Recording Service "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" and "My Happiness.” He changed jobs frequently and started to go to night school to be an electrician. While working at Crown Electric Elvis contracted with the recording service at Memphis, released and started to perform at local events and bars. He was even booked on The Grand Ole Opry, although it was dubbed a disaster.

Later in 1954 Elvis signed on with KWKH radio for a year. Here he met 'Colonel' Tom Parker, renowned for managing artists including Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. Soon after, Colonel Parker became Elvis’ manager, the first association that worked that started working.

Parker sold Elvis' Sun contract (The Memphis Recording Service) to RCA. In the meantime, Elvis caught the attention of Hill and Range Publishing Company, who helped create Elvis Presley Music Inc. With this, Elvis and the publishing company shared ownership of his songs.

Elvis recorded "Heartbreak Hotel" with RCA and teamed up with the Jordanaires, a gospel quartet. "Heartbreak Hotel" was released on January 27, 1956 shot up to number one on Billboard's pop singles chart for eight weeks and hit number one on the country chart and number five on the R&B chart. Presley and the Jordanaires worked together well into the late 1960s.

Elvis' road to stardom and fame started with "Heartbreak Hotel." The next 20 years were filled with music, movies, military marriage, and divorce. Elvis Presley died August 16 1977 due to heart failure at the age of 42.

Article source: Expert Articles