Legends of Rock & Roll - Elvis Presley

"It's All About the Music!"

Welcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.

It's time to talk about the undisputed King of Rock & Roll - Elvis Presley.

Elvis is a name that is as well known today as it was 36 years ago when he died. Why another book on Elvis? This book, like the others, is a labor of love
for the author. Music has been a guiding factor in my life for the past 50 years and Elvis was a big part of that. I love sharing my feelings about the music and about the man.

Elvis Presley was born dirt poor and through talent and shear will power, became a multi-millionaire and helped create a genre of music which still exists today.

This book is about Elvis the man and Elvis the singer, but even more importantly, it's about the music. This series is my way of honoring the people that have brought so much joy to our lives over the years. Elvis defined the meaning of rock and roll for a generation.

This is an unauthorized fan tribute.

Inside you'll find:

Introduction - My feelings about Elvis in general and a kick-off for the book.
Growing Up Dirt Poor - His early life in Tupelo, Mississippi
Starting to Learn His Craft - A shy child, Elvis begins to learn to sing and play the guitar and starts coming out of his shell
Developing His Own Style - Who else sounds like Elvis? The answer is, of course, nobody.
Sun Records - How did Elvis really get started with Sun Records?
First Time on the Radio - A disc jockey in Memphis plays his first record and the phone lines lit up.
The Girls Went Wild - Everyone knows the girls went crazy over Elvis.
Colonel Tom Parker - Elvis meets the man who would control the rest of his life.
“Heartbreak Hotel” - His first super-hit. This song set the stage for all the others.
First Album: “Elvis Presley” - RCA releases his first album
“A Danger to National Security” - There were people who felt Elvis was endangering the morals of our teenage girls. Was he?
Ed Sullivan - Three famous appearances on television which brought him to the masses.
“Love Me Tender” - A great love song and his first movie.
The Million Dollar Quartet - The meeting of four superstars from Sun Records.
The Memphis Mafia - Elvis was always surrounded by family and people who loved him, and some who didn't.
“Loving You” - Elvis's second movie, the movie set a pattern that would be followed for many years.
First Christmas Album - Elvis releases his first Christmas Album containing two of his most famous songs.
Drafted - Uncle Sam came calling and off to the Army he went.
Priscilla Beaulieu - How did Elvis meet the love of his life?
“Elvis is Back” - After the military, Elvis came back with a vengeance.
Lost in Hollywood - Elvis starred in 31 movies.
Movie Career Starts Winding Down - People are tired of the formula movies. Sales decline.
Marriage to Priscilla - He finally marries the love of his life. But it doesn't last long.
The Comeback - After eight years of making movies, he comes back to performing.
“Suspicious Minds” - His last number one song.
Back On Tour - Elvis starts touring again after years off the road.
“Merry Christmas, Baby” - One of his more famous Christmas songs.
“Aloha from Hawaii” - His second huge television concert.
The Beginning of the End - Drugs start to take over his life and his health.
The Last Year - The last year of his life and his eventual death.
Is Elvis Still Alive? - There have been hundreds of sightings and many that say he is still alive. Is he?
Legacy of Elvis Presley - Every Legends book has a Legacy section where we review the awards and contributions of the artist.
Afterword - My closing thoughts.
Films - A list of the films in which Elvis starred.
Selected Discography - A list of the major works by Elvis Presley.