Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley (1935–1977), Elvis Aaron Presley, was an American singer and actor, widely known as "the King of Rock and Roll," who helped bring rock and roll to a worldwide audience in the 1950s. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, he grew up singing gospel music in church. The turning point came in 1954, when his recordings for Sam Phillips at Sun Records blended country, blues and gospel into a new sound. "Heartbreak Hotel" (1956) became his first number-one hit, followed by "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender" and many more, along with a long series of films. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1960, and his 1968 television special renewed his career. His three competitive Grammy Awards all honored gospel recordings, and his Memphis home, Graceland, is preserved as a museum.

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Icons of Popular Culture, 1950s–1970s

From the 1950s to the 1970s, records, films and television carried popular culture around the world. Elvis Presley brought rock and roll to a global audience, and all three of his competitive Grammy Awards came for gospel recordings. John Lennon, who named Elvis as an early inspiration, co-founded The Beatles. Bruce Lee introduced Chinese martial arts and their philosophy to filmgoers everywhere with Enter the Dragon (1973), and Bob Marley carried Jamaican reggae worldwide.

  1. John Lennon

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  2. Bruce Lee

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  3. Bob Marley

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