Rubberneckin with Elvis ‘The King’

Vineet Sharma

“When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times...I learned very early in life that: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.` So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you.” -Elvis PresleyThe eighth day of January 1935 saw the town of Mississippi usher in one of the most charismatic names the world would come across. It was the day Elvis Aaron Presley was born, a soul that would go on to enthrall audiences the world over and immortalise himself as the undisputed king of Rock ‘n’ Roll for eternity. He is still the ‘King’ for music enthusiasts who still swear by his music. For the statistical minded reader, his singing career began in 1954 when he was signed by Sun Records, a legendary firm that had harnessed an array of music greats of America. He went on to star in 33 extremely successful films, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. From being a mere mortal, he went on to become an immortal name in the world of music and sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36, and his being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, he honorably served his country in the US Army. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977. The one thing that this storehouse of talent had unique to him was his brand of music, he carried it with him everywhere he went and shared it generously with his audience. He was one of those rare artists who enjoyed a great chemistry with his audience. He gave the world a new sound, a sound that crossed borders and amalgamated people from different cultures. His music was symbolic of the maveric ideology sweeping across the globe and helped the masses connect better with the changing times. He was the bridge between the white and black men in an age when the stereotyped notions of colur, caste and creed wereb being broken. Many black artists claimed that he had stloen the black man’s music while many others claimed that the black artists stole their stage mannerisms from him. What can be aptly said at this juncture is that both were influenced by each other and imbibed what was best for the genre of quality music. His singles like Jailhouse Rock, Rubberneckin, Don’t Cry Daddy, Blue Suede Shoes and A Little Less Conversation are among a few of the numbers that still bring a smile and that spunk in our existance till today, that is the impact and magic of Elvis ‘The King’ Presley.