Last update: 18.11.2018
Forty years have passed since his death, and we pay tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. When Elvis Aaron Presley died at age 42 on August 16, 1977, he was wearing gold pajamas. This wasn't the only thing about the King of Rock and Roll, as he was called. One evening, Elvis Presley picked up a Triumph Bonneville 750, loved it, and insisted that a dozen be delivered to his Bel Air home by midnight so his friends could tear through the streets that night. Presley remained the man of the Harley-Davidson Electra Glade itself.
Eager to deliver a personal letter to President Richard Nixon, he approached security guards at the White House wearing a "dark blue karate-style Gabardine two-piece suit over a high-collared shirt, a coat over his shoulders, a gold medallion around his neck, and a gold-handled cane in his hand." , as his friend, Jerry Schilling, recalled. It had pockets cut out of the trousers to provide a smoother, tighter fit. And as a gorgeous teenager, he, according to a contemporary, "combed his hair in the morning using three different hair oils: wax for the front, one kind of oil for the hair at the top, another for the hair at the back." He used cloth wax so that when he performed, his hair would fall a certain way.”
On film set"It Happened at the World's Fair" with Colonel Tom Parker, 1963
And when that hair fell... Roy Orbison, who watched Elvis Presley's first performances in early 1955, said: "I can't overstate how shocked he looked and seemed. He was this punk boy, just a real cat, singing like a bird. And he moved in a way that no one had ever seen before. His lips began to mock, and his legs shook, jerking and pushing, of their own accord. As his guitarist Scotty Moore said, "I think with those loose pants we wore, you were shaking your leg and it looked like all hell was going down there." To a student nurse who saw one of the King's shows in May 1955, he was "just a big, beautiful piece of forbidden fruit."
Elvis Presley was born at 4:35 a.m. on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. His twin brother, Jesse Garon, was stillborn. His father, Vernon Presley, was a truck driver, his mother, Gladys Presley, a housewife. The family moved to Memphis when Elvis Presley was 13. The Presleys were poor and, as Kevin Kern said of Presley, "denim reminded Elvis that he was poor, so he didn't wear jeans like adults."
Presley began to fill the family's pockets when he appeared on Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Service on July 5, 1954. At first he sang, not very well, some ballads. Then he sang "It's Okay, Mommy" and that changed everything. His voice trembled with passion. He was exciting, dangerous. He was, the headlines screamed: “the libertine of youth,” his actions “too indecent to mention in every detail.” When he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, he was only shown from the waist up. “It’s like electricity flowing through you,” Presley said. “It’s like making love, but it’s stronger. Sometimes I think my heart will explode."
At the Milton Berle show, June 1956
In 1956 it all came out: "Heartbreak Hotel", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", all in 1956. They tried to emasculate him. On the Steve Allen Show, Presley wore a white tie and tails and sang “Hound Dog.” But at the Milton Berle show in June 1956 it was the real deal, legs doubled, pelvis thrust, microphone his toy. Movies beckoned, and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, a former carnival barker and dog catcher, introduced him to Hollywood. Elvis Presley filmed "Love Me Tender" in 1956. And then he began courting Natalie Wood (of West Side Story fame), whom he took back to Memphis.
Natalie Wood, Memphis, October 1956
"Jailhouse Rock" was released in 1957. The seats were torn. The world was Presley's oyster. And then the US government developed it, or "brought it out" as he later told an audience in Las Vegas. What if the police had intervened? Don't know. But within two years, Presley lost his hair and his freedom by listening to Uncle Sam.
Three things followed as a result. One of them was "GI Blues," a high-powered but cheesy musical that set the tone for too many of Presley's films, even as he gravitated toward deeper, more demanding roles. For example, he loved Beckett and once challenged his chief producer, Hal Wallis: "When will I get my Beckett?" When Barbra Streisand offered him the male lead role in her remake of A Star Is Born in 1975, Colonel Parker caused difficulties. Elvis Presley hoped this might be his From Here To Eternity, the film that saved Frank Sinatra's career, but it wasn't.
At the end military service Friedberg, Germany, March 1960
The second side effect of the war was his marriage to Priscilla Beaulieu, the adopted daughter of an army officer. She was only 14 years old when the King met her. They grinned, a little too much for Ms. Beaulieu when, at age 18, she visited her now-discharged suitor in Memphis. “Wait,” Presley said. “Things can get out of control.” The following year he said, "I want this to be something to look forward to" when she returned to live with her parents and continue her studies. "There's a desire there." Instead, she dyed her hair to match his blue and black locks while wearing school uniform and posed for Polaroids.
She, too, had her ups and downs, just like the King, and it was the third thing Presley picked up in the army, from a sergeant on maneuvers. Like his comrades who surrounded him, the Colonel's gang was dubbed the Memphis Mafia. It was not easy for the girl to share her man with a platoon of ever-present bantering friends, but Beaulieu managed. Until, finally, on May 1, 1967, Presley and Beaulieu flew Sinatra's private jet from Palm Springs to Las Vegas, paid $15 for a marriage license and tied the knot at the Aladdin Hotel. The banquet station then included bratwurst and oysters Rockefeller. And some of the Memphis Mafia accompanied the loving couple to honeymoon, reports Peter Guralnick in his master's biography, Careless Love.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley after their wedding, Las Vegas, 1967
Married bliss reached, Presley got down to business. He liked the phrase “take care of business,” and on the tail of his private Convair 880 jet was the TCB logo, which he bought in 1975 and named Lisa Marie in honor of his cherished daughter (who later married Michael Jackson). Not that Presley was idle. Between 1960 and the end of 1967, he made 21 films, including Blue Hawaii, and released 44 singles.
None of the films were worthy of his intensity. Of the singles, well, there's "Little Sister" and "Return To Sender", but there's also "Do The Clam" and "You Never Never Walk Alone". Of course he was revered. The Beatles visited in 1965 and paid tribute, although things were rough at first. “If you just sit and look at me, I’ll go to sleep,” said the King. John Lennon later asked Schilling to "tell Elvis that if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have done anything."
It was true, but the moment came when Presley showed that he still had it. In 1968 he proved this. He made NBC special. He was wearing a black leather suit. He kicked off with “Heartbreak Hotel” and “All Shook Up.” He looked flexible and fast. He felt dangerous. He made his way through “Lawdy, Miss Clawd.” His hair fell in his face. He is back. He was a star. He was the King.
On the set of the film Blue Hawaii, April 1961
And he continued to produce. “In The Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds” went fast. So is Vegas: two shows over four weeks, in a 2,000-seat suite at the new International Hotel. Elvis Presley triumphed, in a white Cossack suit that nodded to the image of karate. “Jailhouse Rock” and “Don’t Be Cruel” brought Cary Grant to his feet. Priscilla Presley felt the energy: "I don't think I've felt myself in any entertainment since." Colonel Parker had tears in his eyes. It was the King.
And then, later, the wheels came off. There was a paternity suit. There was Presley's surreal visit to President Nixon, in search of a BNDD (Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) badge. There were more bejeweled costumes. And there were drugs, and doctors, and dentists, and pharmacists who dispensed them. Indeed, six days after his divorce was finalized on October 9, 1973, Presley was hospitalized in Memphis, his breathing terrible, his body swollen.
Landing on his private plane, Lisa Marie, in Cincinnati, May 1976
He hid a little. But his behavior on stage was erratic. He talked a lot and wildly. He did 15 minutes of karate. He seemed "sleepy." On stage he played with weapons and looked for love. He returned to the hospital to find himself attended to by nurse Marian Kok and nurse Kathy Simon. President Nixon called to wish him well, as did Sinatra. Suddenly he was touring. For Houston Press the show was terrible, "presented by a bloated, mumbling figure who didn't perform as the King of Everything." And so it went on.
But he was the King. He was handsome. He moved with an explosive sexuality that was unmatched by anyone. Elvis Presley changed the world. And to do so is a gift given to few. Everyone salutes Presley. Everyone salutes the King.
In the history of music, there are names that the public strongly associates with the genre they glorified. Elvis Presley remains the king of rock and roll decades later. It was this unspoken title that he received at the zenith of his career. Elvis passed away in 1977, but in all the years that the singer has not been with us, no one has been able to eclipse his glory. During this time, over 1 billion discs with recordings of the great performer were sold. Rock and roll chose its king back in the 50s, and has remained faithful to him for more than sixty years.
It all started in 1953, when 19-year-old Elvis decided to record several songs on music studio in Memphis - the city in which the family of the future star lived since 1948. By paying the established fee, the guy was able to fulfill his dream, and at the same time be remembered by the studio owner, who noted the vocal abilities of the young performer. While still a teenager, Elvis became interested in popular music, played in an amateur group and desperately dreamed of becoming famous singer. He was fascinated by blues and country music, although Elvis sang in a church choir from the age of 10. The combination of trendy melodies and gospel music formed Presley's special stylistic preferences: his repertoire will always contain echoes of both.
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However, recording at the Sun Records studio did not become an instant pass into the world for the young artist great music, even though the producer remembered his name. Six months later, Elvis decided to try his luck again and recorded two more songs. And again the singer’s expectations were not met: there was no job offer. Deciding to take a different path, Elvis tries to get a job at a music club and auditions for a position as a performer in a gospel quartet. But here, too, luck turns away from Presley: refusals follow one after another. Desperate, Elvis is already beginning to think that music is not his destiny. And when the guy was almost convinced that being a driver was the only thing he was capable of, he received a call from the Sun Records studio. Elvis was invited to record the song "Without You". The work was going very badly: studio owner Sam Phillips was dissatisfied with the result. In between recordings, Elvis began playing another composition - the song “That’s All Right” by Arthur Crudup. The musicians who participated in the work played along with Presley. Hearing the melody, Phillips realized that this was exactly what he wanted to hear and had been searching for a long time to no avail.
Having made a full recording, the producer took the song to the radio, where it was played several times a day. It was a success. Calls poured in: everyone wanted to know in more detail who performed the new hit. Offers from clubs began to arrive: the musician was invited to take part in the performance program. Elvis began to be invited to radio shows, where he instantly managed to win the favor of the audience. On the wave of his first success, Presley recorded several more singles, which immediately became popular.
But the real breakthrough happened in 1956, when the debut album was released under the simple name “ Elvis Presley" The record was released by the reputable label “RCA Records”, which shortly before signed a contract with the singer. Elvis Presley was the first true rock and roll album in music history. And although long before this event the genre was successfully developing and had its idols (in this sense, Elvis was not a pioneer), it was Presley’s debut album that became a real standard of style and the quintessence of all previous developments. The album included such great hits as "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Tutti Frutti". In addition, the Elvis Presley disc was released simultaneously with the single “Heartbreak Hotel” - one of the most famous songs artist, which it was decided to release as a separate album. The album and single immediately soared to the top of Billboard, which meant real full-scale success.
This event was followed by an invitation to television. In just a few months, Elvis went from a local celebrity to a national hero. Presley’s personal charisma also added fuel to the fire of popularity. Instantly, his bright style and unique manner of movement are recognized as true symbols of rock and roll. A general "pursuit" began - young people tried to be like their idol in everything, copying his image in everyday life.
In October 1956, Elvis received his famous title - Variety magazine was the first to call the singer the king of rock and roll, forever securing this title for him.
After the album's release, Elvis was bombarded with offers from film studios. Hollywood was eager to receive its dividends from the singer's fame. One after another, musicals with Presley's participation were released, which immediately became box office hits. Elvis recorded soundtracks for each film - no less popular than his full-length albums.
In 1958, Presley was drafted into the army, and he was forced to pause his career at the very peak. Despite the fact that the singer served in Germany, records that he prudently recorded during his vacation continue to be released in the States.
Returning from the army in 1960, Elvis began to make up for lost time: he was actively recording new songs. The album “Elvis Is Back!” is released, which took second place on the charts. At this time, the producers and the singer himself decided to bet on a film career - films with the singer’s participation were released one after another. In some of them, he performs songs that will forever go down in music history, including the famous “Can’t Help Falling In Love” and “Jailhouse Rock.”
However, despite being in demand, Elvis gradually began to lose his popularity. New names are beginning to appear in music, including such cult names as “The Beatles”. Presley's songs began to be perceived as echoes of the past, and his film works ceased to be profitable. In the late 60s, the king of rock and roll made an attempt to change his style: Elvis filmed a very successful television concert and received an engagement for a series of performances in Las Vegas. Elvis invented for himself especially for the upcoming concerts a new style: he began to appear in a white flared jumpsuit with elaborate decor of rhinestones and stones. At this time, the king of rock and roll was actively touring, but almost never recorded in the studio. True, over time, endless shows became increasingly difficult for Elvis. Health problems that arose due to addiction to medications began to take their toll. Elvis gained weight, became suspicious, and was tormented by chronic illnesses.
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In 1977, the great singer died suddenly at the age of 42, leaving behind hundreds of beautiful songs and the legend that his death was just a staged act. To this day, thousands of fans around the world are confident that Elvis is alive. Well, be that as it may, one thing remains obvious: the songs of the king of rock and roll remain popular to this day, which means that Elvis Presley really continues to live in each of his recordings, sounding in different parts of the world.
Seems, no matter how much time passes and no matter how tastes change, a huge number of people will love this music, listen to it and dance to it. Today we celebrate an unusual holiday - World Beatles Day. On this day, I propose to remember the songs that make us spin and twirl. In a word, the most rock and roll songs.
Rock and roll originated in America in the 50s. It was formed from living in the neighborhood, but completely different musical styles: rhythm and blues, performed by black musicians, and country music by white farmers. P got style like a child from mixed marriage, turned out to be a talented and cute brainchild.
Bill Haley - "Rock Around the Clock" 1954
One of the first rock and roll hits was the song "Rock Around the Clock". Although rock and roll was then considered a rebellious youth style, it was written by middle-aged people at that time - Max Friedman and James Myers, and performed by 28-year-old Bill Haley, who looked little like a young man, a rebel, or, especially, a black man. However, who cares if the single was included in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the best-selling.
True, success did not come immediately - at first few people were interested in the song. But a year after recording, it was featured in a youth film and became a real hit. And how could it even be missed?
Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti", 1955
"Little" Richard without undue modesty called himself the founder, king and architect of rock and roll, leaving Elvis Presley the modest role of "builder".
It must be said that Little Richard was an ideal rebel - a black homosexual with an inimitable stage image and violent behavior on stage. He sold the song, which became a rock 'n' roll classic, to a record label for just $50.
Carl Perkins - "Blue Suede Shoes", 1955-1956
Many people are more familiar with this song from Elvis Presley's cover, but it was written by a poor boy, Carl Perkins, who learned to play a homemade guitar made from a cigar box, a mop and wire. He wrote the words on a potato bag - there was no writing paper in his house. TO then how could a not real poor man seriously sing and dream of blue suede shoes?
The song became an instant hit, but Perkins himself did not enjoy the success for long. Car accident, long recovery. Then Elvis covered his song and the real author was gradually forgotten in the USA. But in England Perkins was greeted with delight - It turned out that in the Old World he is remembered and loved not only by ordinary music lovers, but also by the young, although already wildly popular, Beatles.
Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog", 1956
No matter what Little Richard says, Only Elvis Presley could become the king in the kingdom of rock and roll. Everything somehow came together in it: voice, appearance, manner of performance and dancing - all this is so inimitable that for more than half a century it has generated a huge number of imitators. Producer Sam Phillips believed that the image of the new music would best be expressed by a white musician with “the voice and soul of a black man.” He found such a guy in a young truck driver, Elvis Presley.
Elvis himself did not write the music. The song “Hound Dog” was not the first - it was originally written for the blues singer Big Mama Thornton, then covered by several country groups, then performed by the team in a rock and roll manner Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, and only after that he took Presley into his hands. It's funny that on all the charts this song was in three categories: "pop", "country" and "rhythm and blues", because the rock and roll category did not yet exist.
Jerry Lee Lewis - , 1957
Jerry Lee Lewis is a man who can sing, play the piano and dance at the same time. His creative biography has seen many downfalls and scandals, which does not prevent the musician from still giving concerts from time to time.
Recorded by him song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" took first place in the charts simultaneously as “rhythm and blues” and “country”. And this mixture is real rock and roll.
Chuck Berry - "Johnny B. Good", 1958
According to the film version Back to the Future this song came out of a time loop. Marty played it on graduation party their parents, and one of the listeners at that moment called on the phone and said to the interlocutor: "Chuck, have you been looking for a new sound? Listen to this!"
This song is one of the most fun and playful on a cosmic scale. Seriously, scientists even sent it beyond the solar system, recording it on the Voyager Golden Record along with other samples of human culture.
Ritchie Valens - "La Bamba", 1958
The life of this musician was tragic. He didn’t really have time to do anything - his musical career lasted only eight months.Ritchie Valens didn't live to see his 18th birthday- the small plane that was taking him on tour crashed, killing three musicians at once: Wales, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper . Since then, February 3, 1959 in the United States has been called "the day the music died."
But the rock and roll version of the Mexican folk song"La Bamba", recorded by Valens, is still alive and popular today and is ranked among the greatest songs in rock and roll.
The Beatles - "Rock And Roll Music", 1964
When rock and roll was already being buried in America, it suddenly returned from England in the persons of the famous Fab Four. The fact that in the Old World everything comes with some delay has benefited the music. And although “Rock And Roll Music” is a cover of a Chuck Berry song, the Beatles performed it with amazing drive and artistry.
Do you like rock and roll?
Today is the 75th anniversary of the birth of the man who revolutionized the music world. “In the world of rock and roll before Elvis there was only emptiness,” John Lennon once noted. You can, of course, argue with this, but is it worth it?
Elvis Presley is a descendant of poor people, a native of a small town in the south of America, who became “overnight” a superstar and an idol of millions. A man who did not write a single song, but climbed to musical Olympus. A man who not only left a mark, but completely entered the history of musical culture. A man who did not graduate from a special professional institution, but knew how to sing in a way that touched a nerve, to sing the way he felt it. A man who knew how to give songs an emotional coloring, skillfully placing accents, maneuvering his voice. A man who captivates with his spontaneity and naturalness, natural ease, without pretense or pomposity. Not God (although, as it turned out, a new religion has appeared, where Elvis is revered by a separate category of fans like a saint), but an ordinary mortal, who is characterized by doubts, mistakes and shortcomings. Not a genius, but certainly a talented person. A person who believes in himself and carried this faith through his life, which actually helped him to realize himself. After all, a whole year passed between his first amateur recording at the Sun studio and his first professional recording made there! A man who loved different types of music, but who recognized that gospel music occupied a special place in his life. He grew up on this music. A man who was looking for ways of spiritual improvement, interested in occult and metaphysical literature, but remained devoted to God in his faith.
Today is the anniversary of the king of rock and roll - Elvis Presley. Today is the 75th anniversary of the birth of the man who revolutionized the music world. It seems that the title of the king of rock and roll is forever assigned to Presley.
Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, PC. Mississippi, in the family of Vernon and Gladys Presley (Elvis's twin, Jess Garon, died during childbirth). The Presley family was quite poor; the situation worsened when the future singer's father went to prison on charges of check forgery in 1938 (he was released only two years later). From childhood, Elvis grew up surrounded by music and religion: attending church and participating in the church choir was mandatory. Presley's mother especially monitored her son's manners, instilling in him throughout his life exceptional politeness and respect for elders.
When Elvis turned 10, his mother decided to give him a gift. “Elvis saw a gun on the shelf, but his mother said no. The boy began to cry, and the seller, deciding to calm him down, took out a guitar from the display case. Elvis held the instrument and after a couple of minutes replied: “Yes, mom, buy me a guitar.”
In September 1948, the Presley family was forced to move to Memphis (Tennessee), where there were more opportunities for Presley's father to find work. It was in Memphis that Elvis began to become more consciously interested in modern music; on the radio he listened to country music, traditional pop music, as well as programs with black music (blues, boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues). He also often visited the Beale Street neighborhoods in Memphis, where he personally observed the play of black bluesmen (for example, B.B. King knew Presley when he was still a teenager) and wandered through the black shops, under the influence of which Elvis developed his own, which clearly distinguished him fashion style.
After graduating from school in the summer of 1953, 18-year-old Presley got a job as a truck driver. It was then that he decided to go to the recording studio owned by Sam Phillips and record a couple of songs with a guitar for eight dollars. The double-sided record with the songs “My Happiness” and “That’s When My Heartache Begins” was printed in one copy and was formally a belated gift from Presley’s mother, although the real reason for this step was Presley’s desire to hear his voice on record. By that time, he already definitely wanted to become a musician, but did not know what genre - whether to perform gospel and church hymns or play country music. He also managed, a few months earlier, to perform in a club and at several amateur concerts. Phillips's studio secretary recorded the data of Presley, who seemed curious to her (when asked which performer his singing was closest to, Presley replied that “there is no such thing”). Presley asked her to call him as soon as Phillips's company, which had its own Sun Records label, needed a singer. After that, he repeatedly stopped at the studio office, hoping to get a job (Presley recorded another record for himself in early 1954).
There are many memoirs about Elvis Presley where he is represented in different ways. If, according to some of his close friends, Elvis never apologized, and preferred to give gifts instead of apologizing, you see, it was difficult for him to simply say sorry. According to others, Elvis simply could not help but apologize if he offended anyone, no matter who it was. Otherwise it would haunt him. Elvis himself spoke about himself in an interview like this: “... I am proud that I was brought up with respect and trust in people. When they push me, yes, I forget myself - to such an extent that I don’t understand what I’m doing... [I don’t explode] very often. In fact, I can count such cases on my fingers. But when I lose my temper, it always ends badly - but this does not happen often, and who does not get irritated from time to time - and later I hate myself."
Elvis Presley is a man who achieved fame and fame, such popularity that at times it could destroy him physically. Fans literally tore him apart. So in Vancouver, a group of mounted police failed to restrain a crowd of 25 thousand and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, literally dragged Elvis backstage. George Klein (Elvis's friend): "But Elvis worked for forty or forty-five minutes, and the last thing we saw before he left was the stage turning: sheet music flying in the air, the audience grabbing microphone stands, instruments, drumsticks, everything... what they can reach. In short, it wasn’t a pleasant evening.” And once, speaking in front of an audience of 14 thousand, Elvis defended: “Girls, I’m waiting for you all backstage,” after which the crowd rushed after him, so the police had to lock him in the basement, where some of the fans still managed to get through open window. Mae Boren Axton: “I heard a wild roar and immediately after that the voice of Elvis ... I rushed there along with several police officers, there were already several hundred people there, well, maybe not so many, but decently. Elvis was sitting on top of one of the shower stalls and looked scared and confused... All that was left of his shirt was rags, and his jacket was completely torn into pieces. Someone even managed to grab his belt, socks and small cute shoes. He sat there in only his pants, and the fans tried to climb up. take them off him too."
But despite such “adoration” from the fans, Elvis was always loyal to them. "I don't have the 'Get these people out of here' attitude that I've been told. I don't sign autographs, pictures, etc. to increase my popularity or make my fans like me. I do it because they are sincere in their desire, and if you don't, you will hurt their feelings. When you get into show business, your life is no longer yours, because people want to know what you do, where you live, what you wear, what you eat. , - and you must take into account the wishes of these people."
Single "That's All Right" (from "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" on back side) was released on July 19, 1954 and sold twenty thousand copies, thanks to the almost continuous play of the song on Memphis radio stations. Following the formula of the first record (recording one side based on blues, recording the other side based on country), within a year the singles "Good Rockin' Tonight" (September 1954), "Milkcow Blues Boogie" (January 1955), "Baby, Let's Play House" (April 1955), "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" (August 1955). All these songs became not only an undeniable artistic achievement for the singer himself, but also classics of rock and roll, which owed its development in no small part to the work of Elvis Presley for Sun Records. It is worth noting that his early records were not then called rock and roll (this term was still rarely used), but were considered a new kind of country, which is why Elvis Presley’s nickname in those years was “Hillbilly Cat”; “ Hillbilly" is one of the outdated names of country music). Presley's early music caused controversy, since radio listeners of that time were not clear whether a white performer was singing or a black one (racial segregation was then the norm of life in the American South), the genre was unclear (popular music, since the beginning of the century, was also clearly categorized), namely this mixture of all elements of American culture is credited to Elvis Presley.
The summer of 1954 also saw the first performances of Presley, Moore and Black (on posters they were collectively called the “Blue Moon Boys”). Despite the failure of the popular country music radio concert the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville that September, the Blue Moon Boys' performances were increasingly successful. They toured extensively throughout the South, especially Texas, sometimes accompanied by Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, rising stars at Sun Records. Since October 1954, the musicians have become regular participants in the Saturday "Louisiana Hayride" radio concerts held in Louisiana. It was then that Presley's signature choreography of stage movements was born, consisting of frantic swaying of the hips combined with emotional movements of the arms and body, causing unprecedented excitement among the audience.
These performances, as well as new singles, contributed to the singer’s growing fame in the South of the United States, and by the end of 1955, on a national scale (the single “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” took 1st place in the Billboard magazine country chart). . This attracted the attention of Colonel Tom Parker, a business-minded Southerner who was taking care of country star Hank Snow at the time. Parker kept an eye on Presley for a year before signing a contract with the singer in August 1955 to manage his affairs (although Presley's former impresario, Bob Neal, technically remained his manager for another year). Parker understood the limitations of Sun Records and was looking for a major label outlet. Finally, RCA Records showed interest and signed a contract with Presley on November 20, 1955. RCA also had the foresight to purchase Presley's entire catalog of recordings from Sun Records for $40,000, of which $5,000 was for Presley personally).
The song “Love Me Tender” performed by American singer Elvis Aaron Presley conquered the world in 1956. It is unknown when this incomparable American melody was born, because folk compositions have no birth dates. We can only talk about the dates of rebirth, of which there were several. During civil war between North and South, this melody became the favorite song of the United Army - after all love theme It is especially appreciated in difficult times, when many are not at all sure that they will see their home again. However, a true revival took place in 1956. The young but already very famous Elvis Presley was preparing to film his debut film. During the selection of musical material, a musical notation of an old song fell into his hands, and Elvis immediately realized a possible prospect. In his arrangement, “Love Me Tender” acquired the form in which the whole world knows it today. The separately released “test” single had resounding success, becoming the first million-seller in record history. Subsequently, the song was regularly re-released both during Elvis's lifetime and after his death. And since then, it has been sung by professionals, amateurs, drunken people on the streets, and even the speechless poor. For example, keeping in mind the song’s military past, Frank Sinatra performed it in his show dedicated to Elvis Presley’s return from the army. But no matter who tries to surpass Elvis, the standard is the standard: only one person raised a simple ballad to universal heights, and despite the stunning immensity of his repertoire, he is primarily identified with this song. The same can be said about the song itself: as he sang it from the blue screen to a simple six-string, this performance remains the best to this day. This is probably why over the years the song “Love Me Tender” sounds more and more like a declaration of love to oneself.
Love me Tender
Love me Tender,
Love me honey
Never let Me Go.
You filled my whole life
And I love you so much.
Love me Tender,
Love me faithfully
After all, all my dreams have come true.
Because I love you, honey
And I will always love you.
Love me Tender,
Love me long
Place it in your heart.
After all, that's where I belong
We will never leave each other.
Love me Tender,
Love, dear,
Tell me that you are mine.
I'll be yours all these years
Until life ends.
On March 24, 1958, Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army. The news of Presley's departure to the army caused protests in the country among young people: letters were sent to the army and the president demanding that the singer cancel his service. Meanwhile, this was a mutually beneficial enterprise: for Presley, to increase his reputation among the wider population (although he himself was internally worried that his career would come to an end), for the army, to thus raise the prestige of the service and attract new soldiers. In the fall of 1958, Presley was sent to the 3rd Panzer Division, stationed in West Germany, at Friedberg near Frankfurt. But before that in personal life The singer suffered a tragedy: on August 14, his mother died in Memphis. In the army, Presley performed regular duties like other privates. However, its free time he spent his time on a scale inaccessible to other soldiers: he visited cabarets in Paris, traveled to Italy, bought cars (and only once, in June 1958, recorded in a studio). Presley lived in a separate apartment with his friends. A little later, the constant entourage of friends and relatives received the nickname “Memphis Mafia” in the press. Some members of the “mafia” knew Elvis from school, some appeared during his military service. Gradually, the backbone of the “Memphis Mafia” was formed, to which new members were periodically added. They surrounded Presley throughout his subsequent life day and night, performing various functions: bodyguards, lackeys, concert promoters, musicians, and, finally, just friends, without whom Presley could not do. It was they who introduced him to 14-year-old Priscilla Bouillet at one of the parties in Germany, who would soon occupy an important place in Elvis’s life.
In March 1960, Presley returned from the army. While Elvis served, and he rose to the rank of sergeant, the Colonel, meanwhile, worked tirelessly, taking care of the affairs of his ward, so Presley, who returned from the army, had a lot of things to do.
In March 1963, Priscilla Bouillet was brought to Presley's estate, Graceland, with whom Presley continued to communicate all the time after leaving Germany. Under an agreement between her parents and Presley, 17-year-old Priscilla was allowed to remain at Graceland, with the condition that she attend a private Catholic school daily. At the same time, Presley himself spent all his time in Hollywood, acting in films and throwing parties with the “Memphis mafia.” At the end of 1966, under pressure from his parents and Colonel Presley, he was finally forced to propose. The wedding took place on May 1, 1967. At first, Presley clearly enjoyed family life, but soon after the birth of his daughter Lisa Marie in February 1968, he began to move away from Priscilla and eventually returned to his usual lifestyle.
By the mid-1960s. Beatlemania has also become a phenomenon American life. On their first visit to America in early 1964, The Beatles were welcomed live Ed Sullivan show telegram from Presley. From that very moment, attempts began to arrange a meeting between the Fab Four and the idol of their youth. Finally, on August 27, 1965, the meeting took place at Presley's home in California. The entire event was held in the strictest secrecy: no photographs, press releases, etc. The musicians exchanged gifts, and an hour later they were engrossed in playing guitars (The Beatles were surprised to discover that at that time Presley was fond of playing the bass guitar) . McCartney later recalled that it was the first time he saw the remote control. remote control TV in Presley's house. The meeting with Presley made a deep impression on The Beatles. Presley himself, despite his sincere interest and hospitality, had mixed feelings: in the end, it was The Beatles who unwittingly caused American pop music to cease to be popular. Presley later transferred his rejection of hippie culture and their music to The Beatles, seeing them as the source of everything anti-American (however, this did not stop him from performing their songs at his concerts).
Published in 1969, From Elvis in Memphis covered several musical genres. In essence, the record was 12 different musical portraits of Elvis. The beautiful compositions "Long Black Limousine", "Any Day Now", "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Mind" were reminiscent of the Presleys of yore. Even the films of the late 60s ("Charro", "A Change of Habit") turned out to be much higher quality works than one might expect.
But the most important step at this stage of Elvis Presley's career was his return to Las Vegas with concerts. In August 1969, he took Las Vegas by storm, performing for four weeks at the International Hotel. Is it worth mentioning that every show was sold out? In the early 70s, the musician toured the United States several times, while continuing to tour and record new songs. As a result of the tour, a documentary film "That"s the Way It Is" and an album of the same name were released, including many cover versions.
In 1973, Presley wrote another important page in the history of television and show programs. More than a billion people in forty countries around the world were glued to their television screens during the broadcast of the special program "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii."
World tours continued throughout the 70s, to the delight of his fans, who looked at the inspired and temperamental showman. His repertoire of this period consisted mainly of ballads, which were invariably touching and exciting for audiences of all ages. In music, Elvis confessed about his spiritual conflicts and personal problems - in 1973 he divorced his wife. The sentimental song "Don't Cry Daddy", dedicated to a failed family life, also became a number one hit.
Presley loved the stage, communicating with the audience, traveled a lot, appearing on stage in luxurious bright suits, tied with a belt studded with precious stones. This new excessive bias towards concert activity led over the years to the same creative exhaustion that he experienced when he plunged headlong into cinema. Instead of recording in the studio new material, Presley was content with a string of live albums. As one might expect, these releases eventually turned into a routine that was difficult to surprise anyone with. It got to the point that he no longer took part in the last studio sessions, which took place in Nashville in January 1977.
Elvis lived under the tragic pressure of his own fate. In any case, he has already achieved more success than anyone before him. This was a huge psychological problem, the main obstacle to once again challenging fate and creatively turning oneself around.
Elvis Presley's life in recent years has turned into agony stretched out over time. Broken family life, depression, alcohol and drugs, progressive obesity... And yet he continued to go on stage, despite the fact that he lost consciousness several times during concerts.
On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley's tormented heart gave out. The official medical report lists the cause of death as a heart attack. But this was just a consequence of a chaotic lifestyle and many years of abuse of barbiturates. Even Presley's death became a show that was watched by millions, if not billions of people. It was hard to miss this sight: behind the hearse with the coffin of the departing King, not only friends and relatives, but also dozens of his orphaned Cadillacs were moving in the funeral column.
Meanwhile, the music continued to do its job. The records Elvis set are countless. In the US alone, 132 of his releases - both albums and singles - received gold and platinum certifications. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: as a rock, country and gospel singer. Only the official circulation of his records worldwide exceeds one billion copies!
25 years separate us from the day of the King's death. And to this day his figure remains one of the most important and influential cultural phenomena of the West. Published in 2002, the collection of 30 number one hits instantly topped the sales charts in America, Great Britain and dozens of other countries. The furor created by Elvis in the USA is included in the top twenty most shocking musical events of the 20th century.
A quarter of a century after Elvis Presley passed away, the greatness of the path he traveled is becoming more and more obvious every year. No one has yet been able to eclipse his glory. This is a character that still excites everyone's imagination. musical world, as well as people far from show business. The first issue of the British magazine "Q" in 2003 published a list of the most influential songs of all time. Interviewed show business professionals, journalists and musicians named “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles, “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols, and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana among the epoch-making works of the 20th century. But in first place was the song “That’s All Right Mama,” Elvis Presley’s debut single, released almost 50 years ago.
The myth that Elvis is alive and that he was seen in different parts of the world is only proof of the performer’s worldwide fame. The musician himself did not like being called the king of rock and roll, but what can you do, fans couldn’t have any other name for Elvis Presley.
Elvis Presley became a star by copying and covering this black musician. James Brown repeated his performances and even impersonated him. His song “Tutti Frutti” seemed to David Bowie to be sung by the voice of God, and Keith Richards said that it seemed to turn the world from black and white into color. Pianist Reginald Dwight, having opened for this musician, changed his name and became Elton John. Bob Dylan and Freddie Mercury began their musical careers with covers of his songs, and Lou Reed and Patti Smith decided to become rock musicians under his influence. We tell the story of the rise to fame and greatness of the first King of Rock and Roll.
Leva Penniman became a mother at fifteen. She was seventeen when she gave birth to her third, the future king of rock and roll, Richard Wayne Penniman, on December 5, 1932. In total, Leva and Bud Penniman had twelve offspring. Bud Penniman was the son of a minister and a deacon in the church and made a good living selling moonshine during Prohibition. Repeatedly encountering the police, he always got away with it. He buried alcohol under the lawn of an elderly neighbor, and to ensure that no one would turn him in, he helped the entire black community with money. The Penniman family was not wealthy, but it was never poor either.
Richard was born with one leg shorter than the other and endured ridicule from his brothers and peers throughout his childhood because of this. But he was by no means a patient and compensated for the defect with mischief and even hooliganism. He was constantly beaten for his pranks - but if he got it for everything, he would not have survived childhood. One day, little Richard carefully wrapped his poop in gift wrapping, looked like an angel, came to his old neighbor’s birthday party and gave her a gift. When the birthday girl proudly unwrapped the gift in front of her friends, Richard ran away, experiencing unimaginable pleasure. Another time, while helping his mother in the kitchen, he slipped excrement into a box of jelly. He was beaten, of course, but he was freed from household duties forever.
Richard loved his mother very much and wanted to be like her. When she wasn't looking, he put on her dresses and applied makeup, coming to the conclusion that it was a shame that he was born a boy - it would have been better to be a girl. The desire to be a girl intensified when he fell in love with his brother's friend. And although Richard lost his virginity adult woman, he didn't particularly like it. Then his first contact with a man happened. It was a family friend whom everyone called Madame Up because of his open homosexuality. Madame Up paid men to let him give them blowjobs. When Richard found out that he could earn money, although he did not like the idea, the money turned out to be more expensive.
The religiosity of African Americans has always been strongly tied to music. At services in churches, in church circles, in Sunday schools- music and singing sounded everywhere. Richard began singing gospel music to a children's group organized by old Ma Sweetie. On Wednesdays, he and his brothers would come to her and sing Bible passages, prayers and hymns. Their singing could be heard for three blocks around. No one played instruments; they were accompanied by simple stamps and clapping. Singing accompanied people in all their everyday activities: someone was sweeping the yard and began to sing “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child”, the neighbors picked up - and now the whole street was singing in chorus another church hymn. Richard ran around the city and sang along with everyone at the top of his ability: he liked not just to sing, but to scream with all his might. Richard's whole family also performed as the Penniman Singers. They sang in churches and participated in so-called gospel battles with other family groups. Richard was called the War Hawk because the volume of his thin voice made it difficult for the rest of the choir to sing.
Richard wanted to be a priest and at the age of ten even worked as a healer. He came to the sick, sang a prayer, laid his hands on them and with a sly smile took payment, and the people were slightly relieved of their illness. But Richard's main income was selling Coca-Cola at concerts. It was there that he first heard the best musicians of the time and met his favorite performer, the founder of rock and roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Once, before her performance, Richard demonstratively sang one of her songs, then another. Rosetta appreciated his attempts and offered to sing with her that evening. This is how he earned his first money from music: 35 dollars - a fortune for a boy. Members of the black community in America tried to help each other: difficult conditions and racial discrimination marginalized blacks in the United States - but at the same time united them. Despite the fact that Richard did very poorly at school (which he never completed), he musical abilities recognized and began to teach him how to play the saxophone, and then took him into the school group.
Richard's homosexual tendencies progressed with age. This upset his father very much: “My father had seven sons, and I wanted seven sons. You ruined everything! You are only half a son!” - the father moaned and beat Richard. But he couldn’t help himself. At the age of fourteen, he left home and became a traveling musician, gradually gaining popularity until he ended up in the vaudeville show Sugarfoot Sam. There he performed for the first time as a girl - one of the singers fell ill, and Richard was put in as a replacement. He put on a dress and put on makeup, and since he didn’t know how to walk in heels, they simply put him in front of a microphone, the curtain rose, Richard sang in a high voice- and the curtain fell so that he would not have to take a single step in front of the public. Then Richard joined another vaudeville act and again performed as a woman - in this show many men dressed as women. He became part of the gay community and that was it more people recognized his musical abilities
The heyday of his early career found him in Atlantic City, where Richard successfully performed every night, although without a dress, but with makeup, which later became his signature feature. Richard was proud to wear makeup long before it became commonplace for men in American show business. In Atlantic City, Richard recorded his music in the studio for the first time and one of the songs, “Every Hour,” became a local hit on the radio. However, this did not bring him the expected fame, since soon his senior colleague, Lee Magid, recorded his version of Richard’s song with the same musicians and complete plagiarism of the vocals, calling it “Every Evening”. Magid's version eclipsed Richard's original. In upset feelings, he returned to his hometown to his parents.
Richard continued to perform and one day met a gay musician named Esquerita. Esquerita taught Richard to play the piano - and this skill made Richard a complete musician. Esquerita had huge hands with which he pounded the piano keys, producing an extremely deep and powerful sound. Richard, who sang very loudly, liked the equally loud piano playing, and this sonic excess became his signature feature.
The father, who rejected Richard for his sexual inclinations, eventually began to recognize his son's talent and even began to be proud of him - every evening he played his son's record on the jukebox. One day there was a fight in the bar and Richard's father was shot. The killer was never sent to prison because the family did not have money for a lawyer, and Richard had to become the family's breadwinner.
Every evening, the pomaded, eccentric Richard gave concerts in clubs, starting his performances with the words: “This is Little Richard, the King of the Blues,” and then adding: “And the Queen too.” By the age of twenty-one, Richard had become a confident musician, recorded several songs, which, however, failed in the charts - and was waiting for the opportunity to hit his stride. Richard's manager arranged for him to tour, but said that to be completely happy he needed to get a band. Richard found a drummer and two saxophonists. This is how it appeared group The Upsetters, with which Richard's career took off to a new level. He received recognition from other musicians and the love of the public. Still playing the blues, he began to develop the sound that would become rock and roll. One of the songs Richard wrote during this time was "Tutti Frutti": it became a cornerstone of rock and roll. Initially, the lyrics of this song openly played on homosexual love: “Tutti Frutti is a good ass: if it doesn’t fit, don’t push it - you need to lubricate it to make it easier” ( “Tutti Frutti good booty - if it don"t fit don"t force it - you can grease it, make it easy").
Richard's success allowed him not only to feed his family, but also to buy a black Cadillac and begin to lead a lifestyle worthy of an aspiring star. He did not drink or smoke at that time, but sex life behaved extremely eccentrically. Richard was a voyeur and often took girlfriends just to watch them have sex with other men. One of his girlfriends got into his car, spread her legs, and they drove around the city in search of willing men. Once in this form they encountered cops at a gas station. Richard was arrested and sent to prison. На суде адвокат добился освобождения Ричарда словами: «Этот ниггер уедет из города и никогда больше здесь не покажется». Fate pushed Richard out of his native place and forced him to take up his career with new enthusiasm.
Second World War brought several million African Americans from the provinces to large cities: the industrial machine was working at full speed, and factories needed workers. African Americans found decent jobs and salaries for those times, some of which they wanted to spend on entertainment. However, segregation still remained in society: blacks were not allowed into theaters, concert halls and to many nightclubs. Blacks wanted to hear music from blacks, so the demand for black musicians grew day by day, and separate music labels were formed. Their owners were still white, specializing in black music. One such label was Specialty Records in Hollywood. A musician named Bumps Blackwell worked for Specialty and scouted talented black musicians across the country, listening to hundreds of demos. He had to find an equivalent to Ray Charles, an aspiring star from Atlantic Records. He came across a demo recording of Little Richard: he didn’t look like Ray Charles, but he still sank into Bump’s soul. Bump tried to convince management that Richard was stellar material and needed to be recorded as soon as possible, but management had strong doubts. Then Richard himself got involved: he started calling the studio every two days and terrorizing management with the question “when will you record me?” After seven months of persuasion, the label gave in and decided to record an album. This is how one of the most important recordings in the history of music of the twentieth century appeared - the 1957 album “Here's Little Richard”.
At the time of recording his first album, Richard was already famous for his performances, but it turned out that without an audience he could not sing as well. Richard played the first half of the six-hour studio session without much enthusiasm. During the break, the whole team went to have lunch at the bar where there was a piano. And there Richard, inspired by the presence of the audience, suddenly played completely differently and sang a song that should not have been on the first album - “Tutti Frutti”. Richard's producer was indescribably delighted and realized that this was the very hit that could make the record gold. The only problem was the words: they were too obscene for the radio of that time. So the producer gave the sheet of paper with the words to a young girl, Dorothy La Bostry, for revision - she needed money and was working part-time at the studio. Fifteen minutes before the end of the studio session, Dorothy returned with a rewritten song. Richard refused to sing because after six o'clock his voice was already breaking. But the manager insisted. “Tutti Frutti” as we know it today was born.
Richard received $600 for recording the album. From the sale of each copy, under the standard contracts for black musicians of the time, the artist received one percent of ninety percent of the cost of the record. However, Richard's contract cut his fee in half: for each record sold, Richard received a shameful half a cent.
“The tragedy for blacks in show business at that time was that, like me, most of the performers were young, inexperienced and uneducated. We just wanted to leave our parents' house and travel around the country. So we were exploited, we were abused, we were cheated and we were just ripped off by the record companies and management who quickly realized the money that could be made in the early era of rock 'n' roll."
Little Richard
"Tutti Frutti" was a runaway hit on the black music charts, but it didn't make Richard much money. Moreover, the song was shamelessly covered by two aspiring white performers - Pat Boone and Elvis Presley. She instantly brought them millions and insane fame.
And yet Richard became more popular and richer. Despite the fact that Penniman received only half a penny for the records, sales volumes were so large that it brought in substantial money. And along with the popularity of the songs came a serious demand for concert performances, which were even more vibrant than the recordings. One day to music producer A sixteen-year-old girl came to Richard with a song for Little Richard. Her aunt is sick and she needs money to put her aunt in the hospital. The song's lyrics were written on a piece of toilet paper, but the girl "hasn't figured out the melody yet." The song told a real story: a young lady caught her uncle in the park with another woman, and when her aunt appeared in the park, her uncle hid in the bushes. Only three lines came out:
"Saw Uncle John with Long Tall Sally"
They saw Aunt Mary comin"
So they ducked back in the alley."
The story was told to Richard, and he undertook to help the girl. A couple of days later he wrote the music and the song “Long Tall Sally” was born. It became an even bigger hit than “Tutti Frutti”, finally established Little Richard as the king of rock and roll and brought him even more money.
Covers of Little Richard's simple songs and copying of his performance style made stars out of such musicians as Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly and a whole echelon of other white performers.
Little Richard's stage performances have gone down in history as the most wild and energetic rock concerts, often ending in mass hysteria. Already in the status of a rock star, Richard constantly competed with other musicians performing at group concerts: who would “fuck” the audience and lead the listeners into a greater frenzy. Jerry Lewis, Janis Joplin, The Doors and all the hottest stars of the time lost the competition and took off their hats to Richard. When John Lennon refused to give Richard the right to perform last (the most important musicians performed last), Richard gave such a performance that Lennon and Yoko Ono, who came on stage after him, were booed by the audience and began to leave the hall. Richard's concerts were often stopped by the police several times during the evening, because the audience fell into a violent rhythmic ecstasy and began to go wild: girls threw their underwear on the stage, people jumped from balconies
Richard paid a lot of attention to his stage image, costumes, makeup, and wore long hair combed up, which Elvis Presley later copied. Richard opened each show with the song "Lucille", which he wrote in honor of a drag queen from his city - everyone called him Queen Sonja. As the performance progressed, Richard became enraged and undressed, throwing clothes, watches and jewelry into the hall to the delight of the frenzied audience. Due to racial segregation in some states, black and white audiences were seated in different parts of the hall with a partition between them. By the end of Richard's concerts, the audience usually mixed, barriers crumbled. Critics wrote that "Richard's voice naturally takes listeners into ecstasy, as if they had snorted a gram of cocaine, drank a bottle of Jack Daniels and had an orgasm - all at the same time." Little Richard himself acquired bad habits much later than fame. His main dope was sex: on tour, he organized orgies in his rooms every evening, he had lovers and mistresses, and he himself admitted that he masturbated seven to eight times a day.
Richard became the first black rock musician to be featured in a movie. He sang in the rock musical "The Girl Can"t Help It" with rising star Jayne Mansfield. For teenagers around the world, Richard became a star on the level of Marlon Brando and James Dean. Richard was swimming in fame and money, which he did not keep track of and distributed to everyone. And there were many who wanted it: tens of thousands of dollars were simply stolen from Richard by lovers, mistresses and hangers-on. Despite the wild orgies that he organized, Richard carried the Bible with him everywhere and spent every morning after a night of fun reading the book out loud. The conflict between the depravity he had felt since childhood due to his sexual orientation and his religious upbringing made itself felt. One day he was resting after another tour, and a pastor from the Church of the Lord of the Ten Commandments called him at home. Richard frankly told him that he felt dirty, saw no point in show business and longed for the salvation of his soul. The pastor brought several more people of God's word into the dialogue, and a few months later Richard shocked millions of fans with the announcement that he was leaving music and devoting himself to serving the Lord. The final point of it musical career was the fireball that Richard saw flying over the stadium during one of the concerts of his farewell tour, on the day the Soviet Union launched the first satellite. After this, he decided to immediately cut off the tour and flew to America ten days ahead of schedule. The plane he was originally scheduled to fly on after the tour crashed over the Pacific Ocean. Richard retired from music and became a preacher.
