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Although he died in 1977, Elvis Presley still lives on to his legions of fans as “The King of Rock and Roll.” Presley was America’s first real rock star and was one of the country’s most popular entertainers in the mid to latter half of the 20th Century, perhaps eclipsed only by Frank Sinatra. Presley sung the blues and laced it with both gospel and country music elements, leading to his nickname “The Hillbilly Cat.” His voice has been described as having a unique tonality and extraordinary range, giving him the ability to tackle an array of songs and melodies that none of his contemporaries could conquer. In performing his music, Presley exuded sexuality and swagger, becoming a role model for generations of young rebels.

Elvis was born on January 8, 1935, in East Tupelo, Mississippi. He was the son of Gladys and Vernon Presley, a sewing machine operator and a truck driver. Presley’s twin brother Jesse Garon was stillborn, and Elvis grew up as an only child. Presley cut his first recordings–the songs “My Happiness” and “That’s When the Your Heartaches Begin”– in 1953 at Memphis Recording Studios, a sideline record producer Sam Phillips had started at his Sun Records studios, where anyone could record a ten inch album for four dollars. After recording several more songs for Phillips, the record producer is said to have found what he was looking for”a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel”. After signing with RCA in 1956 and recording “Heartbreak Hotel” Elvis became a national star. On January 28, 1956, he made his television debut on the Dorsey brothers’ Stage Show, followed by six consecutive appearances. In March, Colonial Thomas Parker became Elvis’ manager. He would receive 25% of Elvis’ earnings through a contract that lasted the singer’s lifetime and beyond.

By the 1960’s Elvis had become a pop culture icon. He toured and played old songs and new hits on the road and in Las Vegas, where he was known for his sartorial splendor and highly electric performances. He started to break all sorts of entertainment records including those for concert attendance, television ratings, and records sales, becoming one of the best-selling artists in music history. Elvis continued to perform until he passed away at age 42 from a combination of obesity, depression and abuse of prescription drugs. Although Elvis has been gone for three decades, his popularity has remained in tact. Thousands make the pilgrimage to Graceland each year to pay tribute to the king of modern rock.

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http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/looking-back-on-elvis-70554.html

Elvis often enjoyed causal meetings with celebrities like Marty Allen, Tom Jones, Bobby Darin, Jack Lord, Buddy Hacket, and Jean Rivers.

In the early days Elvis also enjoyed the company of Sammy Davis Jr. and in later years enjoyed the company of Sammy Davis Jr. and his wife.

At one of Elvis’s movie nights in Memphis, he met Eric Clapton, but Elvis had no idea who Eric Clapton was, therefore being totally unaware of who Eric was Elvis had to be told by one of the boys, that Eric Clapton is known to be one of the finest blues and Rock guitarists in the world. Elvis really liked Eric.

On many occasions after Elvis’s shows in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, backstage in his dressing room, fellow entertainers and celebrities would call by, among the celebrities were singers like Barbra Streisand, Glen Campbell, Vicki Carr, Leon Russell, Wayne Newton and Ann-Margret, Elvis was loved and respected as a person and performer from those involved in the show Business.

Others that also held Elvis in high regard and friends that would visit him backstage were, Gregory Peck, Liza Minnelli, Kirk Douglas and Rod Steiger.

Muhammad Ali also would visit backstage after the show, Alice Copper would at times appear from nowhere or George Harrison might pop in

Fellow entertainers and celebrities would take the opportunity when Elvis performed shows in Las Vegas to catch up after the show, because he was a warm friendly man who had the reputation of wanting them to come backstage to visit.

Often in those backstage visits, people passing through made a point to stop in and congratulate Elvis on the great show they thought he did.

Theresea Hughes
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/backstage-with-elvis-60227.html