Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (1935–1977) is one of America's most prominent cultural icons. Dubbed "The King of Rock and Roll," Presley recorded more than eight hundred songs during his career and was a primary catalyst for introducing R&B music to mainstream American popular culture. As with many artists of early rock music, Presley covered songs originally recorded by other artists. His first hit single, "That's All Right" (1954), was a cover of blues singer Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (1905–1974), which became a regional hit around Memphis, Tennessee, where Presley lived. Because the song appeared on Sun Records, a label known in the area for promoting black artists such as Jackie Brenston (1930–1979), Rufus Thomas (1917–2001), B. B. King, Rosco Gordon (1928–2002), and Howlin' Wolf, the general public assumed sight-unseen that Elvis was African American. The B-side of the single was Elvis's rockabilly version of "Blue Moon of Kentucky," a song originally recorded by bluegrass icon Bill Monroe (1911–1996). This rendition helped him to secure gigs at venues that highlighted country music, such as the Grand Ole Opry, where his stage presence and energetic vocals captivated audiences. Within a year of recording with Sun, Elvis was offered a lucrative contract with RCA, where he recorded his first No. 1 U.S. chart-topping single, "Heartbreak Hotel," which sold more than one million copies. He followed with sixteen more No. 1 singles between 1956 and 1961. His final No. 1 hit, "Suspicious Minds," came several years later, in 1969, on the heels of his infamous 1968 NBC television comeback special, Elvis.
