For many musicians, there is a moment that changes everything for them; they get that one big hit or that one chance to make it happen for them, and they do not even realize it at the time. It may not be how they imagined it or it may not have been what they had wanted for their life, but there were chances to take and go for it.
Elvis was an awkward kid growing up, having lost his twin and being close to his mother and his father, and having his own issues to deal with. He found ways to come out his shell, but what he was really passionate about was music. Growing up, he found ways to get into music, singing with the church choir or to himself, he knew that music was it for him.
When he was ten years old, he sang for a contest in the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in Tupelo.1 He was still too short to reach the microphone so he had to stand on a stool to help him reach. Even though he had no musical accompaniment, he got up and performed; he came in fifth place.2 Even though he lost, he continued to explore music, and eventually he became Elvis. But how did that happen?
For his birthday, his mother Gladys gave him a guitar. His uncle taught him chords, and Frank Smith, a preacher at an Assembly of God Church, also gave him lessons on how to play.3 He was fortunate to have these people to show him how to play, something that would come in handy later in his life. He would later become a regular performer at the Country Music Jamboree outside the Tupelo courthouse.4 He had his guitar and would take it with him to school every day, even though his classmates would make faces and ridicule him for the music he played. He still continued to do what he loved.5 Elvis ignored them and did what he wanted; he had set a goal for himself, and he was going for it.
When Elvis was thirteen, his father moved the family to Memphis; there, Elvis would hear the music coming from the black neighborhood, although he had heard some similar sounds in Tupelo.6 He was always hearing sounds; he had a talent for picking up sounds.7
Nobody thought he would have gotten to that point; he had failed music class in high school, and a teacher had even rejected him from joining the glee club. He was also rejected by a gospel quartet he was set on joining.8 It was a big disappointment for him, and he seemed to be discouraged by everyone around him, even his own father.
In August 1953, Elvis had finally gotten up the nerve to go the Memphis Recording Service; he claimed that he wanted to record a song for his mother. An associate of Sam Phillips was there that day, who liked what he heard and kept a copy of the recording Elvis had done.9 Elvis was discovered when he had already graduated from high school. His breakout occurred late in the evening on July 5, 1954 during a late-night recording session that had proved unfruitful, until Elvis started improvising on the 1940s blues song, “That’s All Right (Mama).” Sam Phillips, the head of Sun Records, happened to be in the studio to hear the improvisation of Elvis with two other local musicians. Elvis had the sound that Phillips said he could make a billion dollars, “if he could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel.”10 Elvis had that sound.11 It was then, at that moment, that Elvis just happened. He was new, something that people were not used to yet. He was not like every other star. Though once he was discovered, he was awkward, self-conscious, nervous, he mumbled, but he was making it.12 No matter, this was the step that Elvis needed in order to be headed in the direction of greatness. He was going to make it, though in those first sessions, they were not successful; they kept on trying to achieve that sound only Elvis had, and finally it all worked out. It came out of nowhere; he did it himself. This time was only stepping stones for him, but nonetheless it was what needed to be taken; heading the direction toward the person we know today as the King of Rock n Roll.
- Bobbie Ann Mason, Elvis Presley (New York: Viking Books, 2003), 17. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 18. ↵
- Glen Jeansonne, David Luhrssen, and Dan Sokolovic, Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel: His Life and Our Times (Praeger, 2011), 11. ↵
- Glen Jeansonne, David Luhrssen, and Dan Sokolovic, Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel: His Life and Our Times (Praeger, 2011), 11. ↵
- Peter Guralnick, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley (Little, Brown & Company, 1994), 27. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 19. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 20. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 23. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 25. ↵
- James Miller, Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947-1977 (Fireside, 2000), 72. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 21. ↵
- Mason, Elvis Presley, 23. ↵
77 comments
Daniela Duran
When we get to think about the great life stories of people as Elvis, we often forget their roots and all the effort that it took for them to get where they are. It is amazing to read about how everyone around him discouraged him as he attempted to pursue his dream (including his father!); this only demonstrates that as we walk tough life, we don’t need other people to believe in us, it is enough when we believe in ourselves like he did. I absolutely did not know that he had been rejects form joining the glee group, nor that he hadn’t been accepted into the gospel quartet, and I bet all of them now regret the fact the discouraged such a great star. perhaps sometimes in our lives we do that too…. we discourage other people and force them into believing their dreams aren’t achievable. This is something we should all reflect upon. I was very impressed by the fact that he was made fun of simply because he carried his guitar to school every day, or because of the type of music he played. I wonder if this ever affected Elvis emotionally… I really consider this was very interesting article that gave an unusual insight into the human or mortal aspect of a great star’s life.
Indhira Mata
Always reading the story of an artist is interesting because you get to see their career struggles like not being able to find a music label or a contract. Here in Elvis’ story I learned that his music was being rejected from an earlier stage by many people. Usually you here how an artist was in music clubs in high school, but Elvis was never in one because he was not seemed fit. I believe his love and his growth of determination is what got him to be a forever lasting music icon.
Maisie Favila
I really love Elvis and his music. His song, ” Can’t Help Falling In Love”, was the first song I learned to play on the piano. He continued to express himself through his music without worrying about what others had to say about it. Rejection is a huge problem for artists, but in the end they eventually overcome it and become even more successful then whoever they wanted to join. I enjoyed this reading because I didn’t really know much about Elvis and his history, I really just appreciated his music.
Raymond Munoz
If I’m being completely honest this article is not as strong as the first because it feels like there is some constantly repeated notions that only need to be mentioned once. For example, in the last paragraph it says that “…this was the step that Elvis needed in order to be headed in the direction of greatness.” and then the last sentence states that “…nonetheless it was what needed to be taken; heading the direction toward the person we know today as the King of Rock n Roll.” I can understand where the author would want to keep consistency in the notion of how Elvis progressed, but the similar sentence structure makes the both quotes lose their momentum in influencing the reader. In spite of the redundancy I still feel that this story is influential in the aspects of perseverance and heart because Elvis kept pushing for his dream. If we all could have half the strength of Elvis our spirits and dreams would grow so much more.
Alexandria Zapata
I’ve never knew too much about Elvis, so reading about him and learning about his was definitely interesting. I never knew how Elvis got his start or anything about his background. I am so glad that he decided to stick with music, despite everybody that he knew telling him not to, and getting rejected from school clubs and church choir. He is the person that we all know because Elvis took those words and let them push him to becoming the King of Rock and Roll.
Daniela Cardona
It was interesting to read an article on Elvis’ life before he was famous. It, to me, came across as a motivational read. We know Elvis Presley as one of the most iconic artists of all time, many of us know nothing about any struggle he had to get there. In fact, speaking for myself at least, I assumed it was easy for him. Hearing how he struggled to make it, failed a music class, got denied from glee club and made fun of for his music was shocking. It’s an eye opener to see just how much passion and hard work can prevail. Elvis continued to do what he loved in his own way and never gave up. He made it a point to record a song and it wasn’t until he made it his own the he was successful. Knowing how genuine his career was makes it that much more impactful.
Kimberly Simmons
Reading about Elvis’ start in music is very intriguing. Picturing him as a little boy, standing on a chair to reach the microphone is just a priceless image. I love that he continued to persevere even when people tried to bring him down. His story is inspiring – it’s comforting to know that not every star had it easy, but that they, too, have to work hard for what they want.
Hanadi Sonouper
This was an interesting backstory to Elvis, he is regarded as one of the greatest musicians ever. His legacy comes in to play because it was such a revolutionary essence and sound to our growing cultural foundation. The author illustrated his story very well, and shining light on his past. Before reading this article I would have never guessed that Elvis had his shares of disappointment and rejection in music, however that is what made it essentially interesting, because more individuals can relate to his story as well. Overall, the story was very well written and the author did a phenomenal job.
Fumei P.
I was surprised to learn that Elvis was denied so many times before he became the King of rock and roll. He knew that he loved music, and even though he failed music class and got ridiculed by his peers he still continued to do pursue music. He never gave up despite what other people said about him, and because he didn’t give up he found himself at the right place at the right time.
Marlene Lozano
I love how detailed this article is. I was surprised to find out that Elvis was rejected so many times. The fact that even though he was rejected so many times he did not get discouraged is inspiring. I like the fact that the song that got him discovered was a song about his mother. This article really did him justice by telling important parts oh his life in detail.