Elvis Presley Biography Quotes 57 Report mistakes
Attr: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
| 57 Quotes | |
| Born as | Elvis Aaron Presley |
| Occup. | Musician |
| From | USA |
| Born | January 8, 1935 Tupelo, Mississippi, USA |
| Died | August 16, 1977 Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Cause | Cardiac arrhythmia |
| Aged | 42 years |
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Presley. He was the surviving twin; his brother, Jesse Garon Presley, was stillborn. Raised in a modest household, he absorbed the sounds of gospel at the family's Assemblies of God church, the blues and rhythm he heard in African American neighborhoods, and the country music prevalent across the South. When he was a child, he received a guitar, an instrument that became a constant companion as his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948. At Humes High School he was shy but attentive to style and sound, soaking up Beale Street influences while dreaming of a professional future in music.
First Recordings and Breakthrough
In 1953 Elvis visited Sun Studio to cut a personal acetate, a small step that brought him to the attention of producer Sam Phillips. The following year, Phillips paired him with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. Their 1954 recording of That's All Right, propelled by a slapping bass and Elvis's exuberant vocal, ignited local radio. With drummer D.J. Fontana soon joining, the young singer blended country, blues, and gospel into an energetic style that many would call rock and roll. He signed with RCA Victor in 1955 under the management of Colonel Tom Parker, whose business instincts turbocharged Elvis's exposure. In 1956, singles like Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, and Don't Be Cruel, along with television appearances on programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show, created a national sensation. Backing vocals by the Jordanaires and the guidance of songwriters like Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller shaped the sound that defined his early hits.
Film Stardom and National Icon
The mid-to-late 1950s brought rapid expansion. Elvis's first film, Love Me Tender (1956), was followed by Jailhouse Rock and King Creole, which showcased a charismatic screen presence. His performances stirred debate for their erotic charge, yet the magnetism was undeniable to audiences. Fans lined up across the country, while critics argued over the music's origins and the crossover of African American styles into mainstream pop. Parker's marketing, records, films, and extensive merchandising, helped transform Elvis into a cultural brand.
Military Service and Transformation
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958, Elvis served in Germany, a period that broadened his world while maintaining public interest in his career. In Germany he met Priscilla Beaulieu, who would later become his wife. The service, which many feared would derail his momentum, instead deepened his public image as a responsible American figure. Upon his discharge in 1960, he returned to a changed musical landscape but continued to score hits and moved decisively into Hollywood.
Hollywood Years and Creative Frustrations
During the 1960s, Elvis starred in a string of musical films including G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii, Viva Las Vegas (noted for its chemistry with Ann-Margret), and others. While commercially successful, many of these projects constrained him artistically, relying on formulaic scripts and lightweight soundtracks. The demands of the film schedule limited his live performances and eclipsed the raw edge of his early recordings. Producer Felton Jarvis, session players in Nashville at RCA Studio B, and longtime associates worked to sustain quality, but the era left Elvis increasingly restless about his musical direction.
Comeback and Live Renaissance
The 1968 television special commonly called the '68 Comeback Special, produced with Steve Binder, reintroduced Elvis as a vibrant, guitar-slinging performer. Clad in black leather, he revisited his roots with a crackling intimacy that startled viewers and critics. Reinvigorated, he assembled a new live band and began a residency in Las Vegas in 1969, fronting what became the TCB Band with guitarist James Burton, drummer Ronnie Tutt, and others. Backed at times by the Sweet Inspirations and the Imperials, Elvis brought a dynamic mix of rock, gospel, and balladry to stages across the United States. The 1973 Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite concert expanded his global reach, demonstrating enduring star power.
Personal Life
Elvis married Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967; their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was born in 1968. Friends and associates, sometimes called the Memphis Mafia, including Red West and Sonny West, formed an inner circle that managed logistics and companionship but also created a bubble around him. At Graceland, his Memphis home purchased in 1957, he cultivated a private world of family, friends, and around-the-clock activity, balancing generosity with increasing isolation.
Challenges, Health, and Final Years
The 1970s brought both triumph and strain. Extensive touring and pressure compounded personal difficulties. He and Priscilla divorced in 1973, although they remained connected through their daughter. Health problems, including dependence on prescription medications, grew more serious as the decade advanced. Despite continued sellouts and moments of vocal brilliance, his performances varied. On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley died at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Official reports cited heart-related causes, with the role of prescription drugs widely discussed in the aftermath. His passing triggered an outpouring of grief that underscored how deeply his music and persona had taken root.
Artistry and Influence
Elvis's singing drew on gospel fervor, blues feeling, and country phrasing, anchored by an instinct for rhythmic drive. He moved fluidly from rock shouters to tender ballads and spirituals, earning multiple Grammy Awards for his gospel recordings and receiving a lifetime achievement honor early in his career's later phase. Critics and scholars have debated questions of cultural appropriation, paying close attention to the African American sources that helped shape his sound. Elvis himself repeatedly acknowledged his debt to the music he heard growing up. His success broke barriers on radio and television, helping to bring Southern vernacular styles to a mass audience.
Legacy
Elvis Presley's impact on popular music is vast. He was a catalyst for the rock and roll era that influenced artists from the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen and beyond. He bridged country, rhythm and blues, and pop, redefining what a mainstream singer could sound and look like. Inductions into major music halls of fame, continued sales across decades, and the preservation of Graceland as a public site attest to his enduring place in culture. More than a catalogue of hits, his legacy rests on a voice that could be intimate or explosive, a stage presence that reimagined performance, and a career that tracked the aspirations and contradictions of postwar America. Through collaborators like Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, James Burton, the Jordanaires, and the Sweet Inspirations, and under the complex stewardship of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley helped shape the sound and spectacle of modern popular music.
Our collection contains 57 quotes who is written by Elvis, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Motivational - Truth - Puns & Wordplay - Music.
Other people realated to Elvis: Bob Dylan (Musician), Johnny Cash (Musician), Bruce Springsteen (Musician), Carl Perkins (Musician), Bruno Mars (Musician), Alvin Lee (Musician), Nancy Sinatra (Musician), Phil Ochs (Musician), Elvis Costello (Musician), Charley Pride (Athlete)
Source / external links