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
Briana Bustamante
What a great follow-up article. I found your first article very informative and interesting. This second part went above it. What’s interesting to know is; Elvis Presley would perform in a contest, have difficulties along the way, perform without music and would place fifth. I now have a higher admiration for Elvis. I admire his work ethic and how he never gave up. His passion and love for music was so deep that he kept trying and pushing. His determination and hard work would lead him to be remembered as the Kind of Rock n Roll.
Alyssa Valdez
Just as interesting as the first the first article! I believe Elvis Presley really changed music and would not be the way it is now if it wasn’t for him. Although many music groups rejected Elvis and his music I think that’s what made him an even better musician. Instead of quitting he continued to work on his music and eventually became the king of rock!
Luke Trevino
Amazing article!!! I loved every piece of it! I am personally a big fan of Elvis and had never known his career story. I never knew he was rejected multiple times and had troubles starting. It’s amazing how going into a recording studio for something as simple as a song for mom, turned into a legendary lifetime career.
Aaron Jaramillo
This is a great article! It was well written, well organized, and packed with great sources. Growing up my grandmother would always play Elvis when I would go over. I was thought of him as “The King”. I never knew he had faced complications so early in his career. What if these complications would have stop “The King”? Overall, great article.
Irene Astran
I use to be a big fan of Elvis, however, after learning that he, among many other artists, took the work of African American musicians and claimed it as his own I lost some interest in him. This was a common practice. Anyone who could get their recording and their money to a disc jockey first could claim the work as their own. For example, Elvis’s famous version of the song “Hound Dog” was originally written and performed by an artist named Big Mama Thornton. I still enjoy his music, but now I am more conscious about my oldies music selection. If I know that it was the work of another I try to do some research to find the original artist. Oftentimes I have found that the original versions are much better.
Yesenia Cardenas
I had no idea that Elvis faced so much rejection during his early years. I wonder how he would have felt if he decided to quit-glad he did not.
Danielle Garza
i never figured or i always forget that these legendary people were just regular people with fears. It’s good to know that Elvis this heartthrob to many people at the time had insecurities like the rest of us. i never figured that the music industry was what he had always wished to be in his whole life, but his talent was found out coincidence.
Jacob Hall
What a great article, personally I’ve not heard many of his song. That being said my mom and I love to watch the movies he stared in. I guess who would have thought that Elvis would become the king of rock? I mean clearly not his teacher or school, I find that so funny that he was rejected from all those music groups. However I have to wonder if he had made it into those groups would he have the same drive to become the King of Rock, who knows just something to think about I guess. I think this article was really good and that it is also really motivational too, awesome work.
George Manzanares
Amazing article! Well done on illustrating the humble beginnings if Elvis. I had no idea that he had so many obstacles on his route to fame. I just assumed he was a musician of natural talent. Although I myself am not from that era, I do love listening to his music. He continues to be alive today through his music. Needless to say, he has influenced many people with his music. Good job!
Mariana Sandoval
This comment is in regards to your part 1 of Elvis (it wouldn’t let me post on it for some reason):
You picked really nice quotes for this article.
I think it’s interesting that Elvis was so shy in his early life and later became this god-like figure in his later career- he seemed larger than life and super confident. Even though I visited his home in Memphis (Graceland) and they gave a “history” of Elvis’s early childhood, I think your article gives a better history of what his early childhood was like and it’s inspiring to see how far he came.