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Introduction Part 1
Elvis, the "King of Rock" changed the way rock artists performed. He got his first break at Sun Records. A year later, he released his first single, “That’s All Right”. However, at first, many white people wouldn’t play his music because they thought he was black. He was known for his provocative dancing because at the time, when artists performed they were very formal. Fans went crazy over his hip movements as a result, he was only shown from his waist up. -
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Introduction Part 2
His first #1 single, “Heartbreak Hotel”, was also his first million selling single. Fans were crazed for him. They screamed, danced, and even fainted for him. When Elvis was drafted, his fans were devastated. They believed when they cut his hair, they were taking away his beauty. Just weeks before his death he did his last performance, people who knew him were saddened by him as he wasn’t the Elvis they knew. On August 17, 1977, he died. Over 80,000 fans came to his funeral to honor him. -
Debut Single "That's All Right"
Artifact: Song “That’s All Right”
Date: 1954
Material: Vinyl
Dimensions: 7”,45 RPM
Description:
“That’s all right” was originally written and sung by Arthur Crudup. Elvis’s version is credited by some as the first Rock record. It sold 20,000 copies and hit number 4 on the local Memphis charts.
The single comes in a brown paper bag, is black around the edge, and yellow towards the center. It has the words “SUN”, “That's All Right”, and “Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill” written in brown. -
First #1 Hit "Heartbreak Hotel"
Artifact: Single, “Heartbreak Hotel”
Date: 1956
Material: Vinyl
Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 0.2 in.
Description:
This was his first #1 hit. This song captivated Elvis’s fans and it quickly became a million-selling single. It spent 27 weeks on the top 100 charts and sold 300,000 copies in its first week.
The album cover features a photo of Elvis playing his guitar, the words, “Elvis, Heartbreak Hotel, I Was The One”, and “collectors series limited edition”. The Words were written in pink and blue. -
Fan Reacting to Elvis Perform
Artifact: Photo of Fan’s Reaction
Date: 1957
Material: Photo
Dimensions: 4 x 6
Description:
There had never been such huge fan reactions before Elvis. He was the first widely known performer to dance so provocatively. Girls would do crazy things when Elvis would perform.
In the photo there is a young girl standing up from her chair, arching her back, and screaming for Elvis. The other fans seemed unsure about her actions. -
Elvis got his GI cut
Artifact: Photo of Elvis
Date: 1958
Material: Photo
Dimensions: 4 x 6
Description:
When Elvis was drafted into the war, his fans were devastated. Not only was he being sent to war, but he was forced to cut off his iconic hair. While this may seem trivial, it devastated his fans. They believed that they were taking away his beauty.
In the black and white photo, Elvis is getting his hair cut by an army barber. There are chunks of his hair laying on him and there is a mirror with hair products. -
His Last Performance
Artifact: Photo of Elvis
Date: 1977
Material: Photo
Dimensions: 4 x 6
Description:
During his last performance, many who knew him were saddened because he wasn’t acting like the Elvis they knew. He had struggled with drug abuse. This caused him to not be as enthusiastic with his performance as he used to be.
The photo is of Elvis singing in one of his iconic suits. He looks tired and sweaty compared to how he usually looked when he performed. -
Graceland After Elvis's Death
Artifact: Photo of a crowd at Graceland
Date: 1977
Material: Photo
Dimensions: 4 x 6
Description:
Around 80,000 fans lined up mourning at his home for his funeral. This was the biggest turn out for a celebrity's funeral ever.
His death rocked the world. Even President Jimmy Carter made a point to address his death. He said that Elvis “permanently changed the face of American pop culture”.
In the photo there are thousands of devastated fans and a cameraman on top of a brick fence. -
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Conclusion - Part 1
Elvis created an environment that was foreign to his audience. From his first single to his last performance, his fans went crazy for him. They loved everything about him down to his hair. This is evident when he got his GI cut and his fans expressed their devastation. When he died his fans mourned like someone they deeply knew had died. That is how intensely Elvis impacted his fans. -
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Conclusion - Part 2
Even 46 years after his death, his fans are still affected by him. They celebrate him in an event called “Elvis Week”. Which takes place from Aug. 9 - 17 this year (2023) at his home Graceland. “There are over 500,000 visitors at Graceland each year.” (#1 American Attraction | Graceland). Even people born after his death are fans of him and his music. -
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Citations
Grunge. “What It Was Really Like To Be An Elvis Presley Fan In The 1950s - Grunge,” January 20, 2021. https://www.grunge.com/316670/what-it-was-really-like-to-be-an-elvis-presley-fan-in-the-1950s/. Peacock, Caroline. “What Happened at Elvis Presley’s Last Concert in 1977?” The US Sun, February 24, 2023. https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/7482143/what-elvis-presley-last-concert-1977/. -
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Citations
1 American Attraction | Graceland. “#1 American Attraction | Graceland,” n.d. https://www.graceland.com/about-graceland#:~:text=Graceland%20welcomes%20over%20500%2C000%20visitors,National%20Register%20of%20Historic%20Places. Time. “When Elvis Got Drafted, So Did His Hair,” March 24, 2015. https://time.com/3746935/elvis-drafted-hair/.