Elvis Presley: The Story of Success

The best success stories are the ones built from nothing. The ones that had to know what it was like to be dirt poor, down on luck, not having enough to thrive or survive. Elvis Presley faced this as a child. He started as nothing, and built himself up to be one of the most famous figures the world has ever seen. The culture of America was altered due to the individuality, fearlessness and humbleness of Elvis Presley, making him a genuine American hero.

Elvis Aron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo Mississippi. He was born in a shotgun one bedroom house with hardly enough money to keep the household functioning. Elvis also had a twin who was named Jesse. Sadly enough, Jesse was stillborn. . Elvis never fully recovered from the death of his brother. It impacted the way he thought of life. He often experienced guilt. And more that that, he learned to treasure life, no matter how little or how much of it one has.

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Elvis's parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley were working class people with very little money and possessions. They wanted to provide the best for Elvis but with Vernon’s failing job search, it was becoming increasingly harder. Although Elvis didn't have much, he still mentions how he enjoyed his young childhood which was surrounded by many friends. Elvis always mentioned how his favorite snack from his childhood was peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Cheap and easy. On Elvis’s 11th birthday he received his first guitar.

A guitar that had cost his parent $6.95. Money they had been saving for a while. In today's currency rounding in at about $100. Using that guitar, Elvis on a whim played in his high school for his talent show and won to his surprise. It was the first time Elvis was appreciated for his music and his first validation of his growing talent.

On a normal day in 1954, Elvis had built up the courage to try for representation of a record label. He nervously walked to into Sun Records run by Sam Phillips. Phillips was on the hunt for a new sound of america. A sound that would integrate the amazing sounds of both African American underground music and popular rock and roll. He wanted a white man with soul, and a voice that could sing with african americans and with their music. Elvis walked into the studio and sung a slow ballad “Without You”. He sang in a high sentimental voice that Phillips liked, but wasn’t looking for. Elvis however, was requested by Phillips to sing another song, as he saw something in Elvis and wanted to crack his shell and find the treasure underneath. Elvis sang a soulful spin on an African American anthem “ That’s all Right”. A song that in his younger years he had listened to and loved from stepping in on african american churches and bars. A song that ended up being his first number one single and one of his most popular songs ever.

In the August of 1954, Elvis released his first record, “That’s All Right/ Blue Moon of Kentucky” That’s All Right was originally written and recorded by african american, jazz and blues singer, Arthur William “Big Boy” Crudup in 1946. Elvis publicly recited how Crudup had impacted his singing career. At the time, Elvis was a household name known by nearly everyone in America. In a more recent study, over 20 years after his death, more than 176 million Americans (84 percent) have in some way had their lives touched by Elvis Presley, according to a Harris Interactive poll. Over 71 million Americans consider themselves Elvis fans. 60 percent are female 70 percent are between the ages of 26 and 55 75 percent have purchased collectibles 80 percent are located in the United States.

Elvis Presley was at a career high when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958 and shipped off to Friedberg, Germany. Despite being offered the chance to enlist in Special Services to entertain the troops and live in priority housing, Presley decided to serve as a regular soldier. This earned him the respect of many of his fellow soldiers and people back home who had previously viewed him in a negative light. The drafting of Elvis Presley to the war brought outcry to the people of America. The US Draft Board started receiving countless angry letters from Elvis fans claiming the government was trying to rid the US youth of rock and roll as many adults at the time desperately wanted as”rock and roll was the root to all evil and the downfall of this country” and trying to sabotage Elvis’s climbing career so it doesn't escalate any further. This chain of events some call “Elvis Phenomenon” or “Elvis’s Drafting Phenomenon” inspired the plot of a well known Musical/ Movie “Bye Bye Birdie”.

A speculation that Elvis was secretly racist and only claimed to pose with African Americans for fame, spread around the United States as one claimed Elvis said in a private interview ”The only thing a Black woman can do for me is buy my records and shine my shoes.' It spread lots of hatred around the United States about Elvis. Elvis did many deeds for the African American community in and out of the public eye. Elvis, his main muses and friends being african american, was deeply hurt by these accusations. Though many african american artists backed Elvis up telling the public about how he was a true voice of the future, and a true friend, he still felt tremendous guilt. Especially in the eye of one of his major idols, Martin Luther King Jr. In the year 1968, just 2 months after the untimely death of a national leader Martin Luther King Jr, Elvis recorded the song “ If I Can Dream”, which was labeled as “a tribute to Martin Luther Kings Jr’s life”. Elvis himself never claimed to be a good songwriter, nor did he claim he wrote all his own songs. But he made it clear that he would only sing songs that resonated with him on a deep level. After Martin Luther King’s death, Elvis was searching for a way to show his passion and agreeance to one of his true inspirors. He turned to songwriter Walter Earl Brown. Together Walter and Elvis created the revolutionary civil rights anthem, If I can Dream. The death of Martin inspired the need for the song, but the song itself tackled many of the issues taking over the 1960’s. War in Vietnam, the assassination of John and Robert F Kennedy. (1963, 1968) It was obvious Presley and Brown took inspiration from King’s infamous “ I Have A Dream” speech. King’s image of “a great beacon light” reappears in Brown’s reference to “a beckoning candle.” King’s “solid rock of brotherhood” corresponds to Brown’s vision of “brothers” walking “hand in hand.” King’s “sunlit path of racial justice” prompts Brown’s invocation of “a warmer sun / Where hope keeps shining on everyone.”At the 68’ Comeback, (A show where Elvis made his comeback to live music after many years) Elvis saved the song If I Can Dream for the finale. Upon singing it for the first time, he became overwhelmed with emotion, tears and sweat. Viewers were moved by his devotion.

Elvis Presley rose almost at once and when he was up, all the eyes of America was on him, watching and becoming more and more excited by every note sung. Elvis inspired the youth of America to integrate and not hate through music. To stand up and be different, and not follow norms especially when you believe they are morally wrong.. To this day, Elvis’s songs remain iconic, his ideas affecting the youth now passed down to us. Ideas and songs that will continue to be passed.