Marlena+T.

As you research your selected guitarist, you will need to note some specific information from his or her life and career. Include the following in your final writing: Details for your written assignment: ,
 * Introduction
 * Biography
 * Discography
 * Legacy
 * Conclusion

Elvis, Presley

Elvis Presley made a great difference to the world of music today. He started off singing songs that were said to be country or hillbilly/ country-western, and because of these country roots mixed with southern gospel, black soul, and blues he was able to create something totally new, which is now a popular style called Rock and Roll. His music was quickly seen as a work of a genius because it showed the roots of American culture. This style is still very popular today, and is played in a wide variety of venues.

Elvis Presley was born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi.When Elvis was a child, he didn't have very much money, so his family moved to Memphis Tennessee. His father was in jail a few times for money issues, which made him become closer to his mother. He went to church constantly and was actively involved in the church choir. He showed great musical talents throughout his childhood, and entered in his school talent show, where he earned first place. After high school, Presley wanted to make money to help support his family, so right after he graduated high school, he became a truck driver, and studied at night to become an electrician. It was just a regular afternoon in the summer of 1953 when Elvis stopped by Memphis Recording Studio, which is now known as Sun Studio. He stopped by this recpording studio to record two cover songs by the Ink Spots which may have been for his mother as a birthday gift. The owner of what is now Sun Studios herd Elvis singing and immediately loved what he heard. He teamed Elvis up with other fantastic musicians who made hit songs together. There on July 5, 1954, he recorded his first single, "That's all right Mama", which would change his life forever. He first appeared as a country artist and played on things like the famous Louisiana Hayride radio show and country fairs in the south. The years 1955-1958 were the most important of Elvis' career. In 1955, Phillips, the owner of Sun Studios sold Elvis' record for $35,000, which was an amazing amount of money at that time. In early 1956, he released "Heartbreak Hotel". It sold 300,000 copies in the first week of release and eventually sold over one million copies, making it his first gold album ever. Before he was famous, he used cheap "bubble gum" acoustic guitars, but once he was famous, he used both Martin and Gibson models. In December of 1956, the cover page of the Wall Street Journal said that sales of Elvis Presley merchandise had exceeded $22 million. Presley wanted to expand into the filmmaking business, and signed a contract with Paramount Studios. He made thirty-three movies in total, including //Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, and King Creole.// This gave him the chance to showcase his dramatic abilities. These earlier films were more successful, though, as the later films were very repetitive. In 1957, he purchased an estate in Memphis, Tennessee which he named "Graceland" In March of 1958, Elvis entered the United States army. As he was training, he received notice that his mother, Gladys Presley, died. This made Elvis deeply depressed because of the very close connection he had with his mother. //Graceland//, the huge mansion he gave to her would become his home for the rest of his life. Elvis returned to the army, and was soon stationed in Germany. While in Germany he met Priscilla, and officer's teenage daughter. They were married May 1, 1967. Exactly nine months later, their first and only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was born. He left the army in 1960 and was worried that because he wans't involved in the music world for so long, that he would lose popularity. He was definitely proved wrong as he began to get back to his public performances. Elvis' tour schedule was jam-packed as he performed very well though out concerts.Unfortunately, because of this hectic tour schedule and "irreconcilable differences", Elvis and Priscilla were forced to get a divorce in 1973. After these traumatic events like the death of his mother and the divorce, Ellvis' behavior began to spiral out of control. He relied on many unneeded drugs, along with the medicinees he did need to get him through his concerts. He planned to start another national tour on August 17, 1977, but on August 16, he was found unconscious, and later said to be dead.

He released many great songs, including //Love Me Tender// and //Hound Dog.// Gospel music definitely influenced him, since he was around it so much as a child. Also, country music influenced him, since he lived in both Mississippi and Tennessee when he was younger. He also had a background in black soul and blues, which helped him to later form Rock and Roll, because he combined those styles.

Elvis has won multiple awards and gotten many honors, including being inducted into th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, Rockability Hall of Fame, recorded 140 top 40 hits and 41 gold albums. These are just some of his accomplishments, and there are many more. He is the King of Rock and Roll, because of him combining different types of music, including country and blues to create Rock and Roll and become its most influential performer. It is a very popular style of music that is still played today.

It is amazing how Elvis Presley was brought up in a family that didn't have much money, but became such an important part of music history anyway. We still refer to him as the King of Rock and Roll and he will always be remembered as a very famous, influential performer in music history for being an incredibly successful singer, actor, and member of the army, who changed music history forever and will be remembered as one of the most famous people who ever lived.

Works Cited Sources : Include the source information for all of the articles or web sites that were used to complete your project. Source information is found at the end of each article in iCONN.They should also be listed in alphabetical order by the first word of the source citation. //sample:// "Carol Kaye." //Contemporary Musicians//. Vol. 22. Detroit: Gale, 1998. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 8 Jan. 2012. "Selected Websites on Carol Kaye's Life and Works." //Gale Biography in Context//. Detroit: Gale, 2008. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 8 Jan. 2012

. Works Cited Witkoski, Michael, and Witkoski Michael. "Elvis Presley." //Great Lives From History: The Twentieth Century// (2008): 1. //Biography Reference Center//. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

Your Source List: Petersen, Jennifer B. "Elvis Presley." //Elvis Presley// (2005): 1. //Biography Reference Center//. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Guitarist Research Notes Table
//cells will expand as you enter your findings// || There, on July 5, 1954, he recorded his first single "That's All Right, Mama" at the famed Sun Studio, and life was never the same. "It excited the life out of me," said Sun owner Sam Phillips about the way Elvis could combine blues, country, and gospel into something new called rock & roll With his background in southern gospel, black soul and blues, and traditional country music, Presley was able to forge something new yet totally familiar. His music was instantly recognized as the work of genius, even if the work was denounced as obscene or attacked as primitive. In its truest sense, it was primitive, because it went to the very roots of American culture. || The immediate success of his recording led to further recordings and tours. At first, Elvis was viewed as a "country artist", appearing on the famous Louisiana Hayride radio show and playing country fairs and festivals in the south. But, he began to attract bigger audiences and the attention of a well known country-music promoter "Colonel" Tom Parker. || Elvis could combine blues, country, and gospel into something new called rock & roll hillbilly or country-western singer; || He was an only child || In the summer of 1953, Presley stopped by the Memphis Recording Service, which would later be known as Sun Records. He spent four dollars to make a recording of two cover songs by the Ink Spots -- "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin." It has been said that he was making the recording as a gift for his mother, but this may or may not be true. The owner of what is now sun studios heard the songs and teamed Elvis up with other musicians who made great hit songs. In late 1955, Phillips sold Presley's record for a then-incredible amount of $35,000 Presley released "Heartbreak Hotel" which sold 300,000 copies in the first week of release and eventually sold over one million copies, making it his first gold album, and was later followed by his next hit //Hound Dog/Don't Br Cruel//
 * ** Information Feature ** ||= **Your Findings**
 * The guitar style I am researching is: || Rock and Roll ||
 * The artist I am researching is: || Elvis Presley ||
 * This guitarist lived from ___ to__ _ || 1935-1977 ||
 * Define and describe the guitar style you are researching. || He was the king of Rock and Roll once he was famous, but before that, he sang gospel music in his church.
 * What kind of musical training did the guitarist have? || He had no formal training before he was famous. At the age of 11, he taught himself how to play the guitar ||
 * What types of music influenced this artist? || He was very religious as a child and sang gospel music in church and songs like "Old Sheep" in talent shows.
 * Name some musicians who influenced the guitarist you are researching. || Several weeks worth of recording sessions ensued with a band consisting of Presley, guitarist Scotty Moore, and bassist Bill Black. Their repertoire consisted of the kind of material for which Presley would become famous: blues and country songs, Tin Pan Alley ballads, and gospel hymns ||
 * Has this guitarist played more than one style? If so, what other styles? || With his background in southern gospel, black soul and blues, and traditional country music, Presley was able to forge something new yet totally familiar.
 * What type of guitar does this musician play? || his first guitar was an acoustic, but he used both Martin and Gibson models as he performed. ||
 * What are some interesting facts about your guitarist’s childhood? || He didn't have much money as a child and was very involved with his church. His father was also I jail for money issues, so he was very close to his mother.
 * What did this guitarist do before he became famous? || Since he didn't have much money when he was young, after graduating high school, he became a truck driver and studied at night to become an electrician ||
 * List two interesting facts about the guitarist’s life. || In early 1956, Presley released "Heartbreak Hotel" which sold 300,000 copies in the first week of release and eventually sold over one million copies, making it his first gold album

1957 was another great year for him,he made He is known for mixing the legacies of black and white music to create rock and roll and be it's most influential performer In December of 1956, the cover page of the Wall Street Journal reported that sales of Elvis Presley merchandise had exceeded $22 million. In the spring of 1957, Presley purchased an estate in Memphis for himself and his large family. The estate was named "Graceland." Presley's method of performing was considered inapropriate during these years and proved to be controversial, given the conservative nature of entertainment at the time. In late 1957, Presley received his draft notice and in March of 1958 he entered the US Army. Although his death was apparently drug-related, the official statement gave the cause as heart disease. His body was viewed by thousands as he lay in state in his mansion, and thousands more formed the miles-long procession to the cemetery. His body was later moved to Graceland, where he was buried beside his mother. Elvis Presley was forty-two years old when he died. Some attributed these actions to regret over the failure of his marriage or to a long-standing depression at the death of his mother; other observers blamed the peculiar lifestyle imposed on such a hugely popular entertainer, or the influence of drugs. || Hound Dog || What do you like about his/her style? || It is a popular style of music today that is played by many bands and a variety of other singers and famous musicians. I like how the style is upbeat and makes you want to get up and dance || First posthumous recipient of the American Music Awards’ Award of Merit, 1987 ; Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, 1998 ; Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, 2001 ; Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1986 ; Inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, 1997 ; Presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1960 ; Received the Academy of Country Music’s first Golden Hat Award, 1984 ; Received the W. C. Handy A ward, 1984 During his career, Elvis recorded an astonishing 114 Top 40 hits and 41 gold albums. He also made 33 films that generally featured him singing (and romancing an attractive female co-star) in exotic locales. ||
 * List two albums or songs your artist released, the dates they were released and why they are important. || Presley signed a seven-year movie contract with Paramount Pictures in April 1956. Six months later, his first motion picture, "Love Me Tender," was released.
 * Who is playing this style of music today?
 * What legacy has this guitarist left to the world of music? || He is known for mixing the legacies of black and white music to create rock and roll and be it's most influential performer.