The King of Rock and Roll, the King, everybody knows the great Elvis Presley. He was considered one of the most iconic musical artists not only in the United States but all over the world. He started his career at the age of nineteen, pioneering the rock and roll style rockabilly, upbeat fusion of rhythm and blues and country music, together with lead guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist Bill Black, and drummer D.J. Fontana. By 1995 the King and his quartet signed a contract with RCA Victor in a deal that was arranged by his manager Colonel Tom Parker who will continue to manage him for the next two decades.
His first single “Heartbreak Hotel” was released by RCA in January 1956 and instantly became a hit around the United States. With this song and a bunch of TV appearances and chart-topping records, he quickly became the face and voice of rock and roll.
From then on, his career bloomed, and he became world-renowned, even delving into acting. Sadly by the 1970s, because of prescription drug abuse, his health was greatly compromised. Despite that, though, he continued with his tour until his very last moments.
On the 14th of January in 1973, he performed what can be argued as his greatest concert ever. The legendary “Aloha From Hawaii” concert was the first-ever concert by a single artist to be broadcasted around the world. It was held in Honolulu, and the King performed many of his greatest hits like “Hound Dog,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “I can’t stop loving you” and many more, but one of the most iconic songs he played is one that another legendary artist made famous in 1969, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. It is considered one of the greatest singles, even outranking Sinatra’s version in the Billboard’s Hot 100. Watch his live performance below and fall in love again with the King!
Elvis Presley made a huge impact on the music industry that, to this day, his songs are popular even with young people.
