Elvis Presley King of Rock and Roll

Elvis, as the world knows was born in Tupelo Mississippi, in 1935.  His was a poor family and he was the only surviving child, as his twin brother Jesse Garon, had been stillborn.

Elvis was a shy gentle boy, who had a sweet singing voice but he didn’t have confidence to sing in public, in his younger days

He was devoted to his Mother, Gladys who equally adored him, because he was her only child. He was laughed at when in school because of his fondness for “hillbilly” music... But he loved country music. After leaving school he got a job as a truck driver.  By then the family were living in Memphis Tennessee, where Sam Phillips had his Sun Records studio.

Elvis made a demo record, at Sun, just to see what he sounded like as a singer…and to give a present to his Mother.   

So he attracted the attention of Sam Phillips who was trying to fuse “hillbilly” or country music, with Rhythm and blues - which was called at the time “race music”.  It was more “up-tempo” and “rocky” than country and was called Rockabilly…

When Elvis began to work for him, Sam believed that he had found exactly what he was looking for, a white boy who had the sort of voice and sound that would appeal to the white and African American markets. One of his first recordings was “That’s Alright Mama” by Arthur Crudup, which was perceived by country DJ’s as “black”, and some of them wouldn’t play it, and as “white and country” by R&B DJ’s. 

Phillips also signed Johnny Cash with his band, the Tennessee Two….who also played the rockabilly sound.   Elvis was nicknamed the “Hillbilly Cat” and sang country and rockabilly, often on the same bill as Johnny….The two young men were friends..  close in age and both from rural and impoverished backgrounds....  Johnny used to do a jokey Elvis impression, in his concerts, combing his hair, affecting a sneer and sometimes breaking a guitar......