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{prez'-lee}
Although Elvis Aron Presley, b. Tupelo, Miss., Jan. 8, 1935,
d. Aug. 16, 1977, did not invent rock 'n roll, he did more
than anyone to popularize it, and he was rock's most powerful
performer. From the mid-1950s, the "King's" vocal
mannerisms, sideburns, and attitude--a combination of sex
and sneer--made him an international hero of the young.
Presley's success began with his recording of the blues song
"That's All Right, Mama," written by the black singer
Arthur Crudup. Presley's rendition combined his potent, shouted
vocal style with a fast, hard, country-and-western-music instrumental
backing. It won considerable attention and eventually a recording
contract with RCA Victor. With national promotion, Presley's
subsequent recordings became instant hits: "Heartbreak
Hotel" in 1956, followed by "Hound Dog," "Don't
Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," and "All
Shook Up." His concerts and television appearances drew
huge audiences, and his 33 movies, which were minor films
at best, increased his fame.
Even after his death, Presley's cult continues, and Memphis,
Tenn., where he is buried, has become a place of pilgrimage.
The U.S. Postal Service released a stamp on Jan. 8, 1993,
the 58th anniversary of his birth. The printing of 500 million
was the largest commemorative issue in the postal service's
history.
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