1 He was the first real star. Yes, Frank Sinatra was already there. But Elvis — born to post-war middle class — didn’t fit the era’s squeaky-clean image. “He hit like a bombshell. It was like going from black-and-white to Technicolor,” said Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards of the man who had let out a rebellious genie out of the bottle.
2 He was an out-and-out entertainer. His sneer, gyration and the raised eyebrow represented unfettered sex appeal, which young America loved. On January 6, 1957, Elvis appeared on the legendary The Ed Sullivan Show to perform Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel… but the fully-clothed 22-year-old was shown on TV waist up because all the hip-shaking was too much for middle-aged American audiences.
3 He was at the heart of rock ’n’ roll’s first supergroup. December 4, 1956. Carl ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ Perkins was at the famed Sun Studios in Memphis with Jerry Lee Lewis. And then arrived Johnny Cash and the man himself. The four started playing together and the tapes rolled. And that’s the story of the Million Dollar Quartet.
4 He was responsible for one of the sexiest photos in rock ’n’ roll history. The 21-year-old was photographed kissing a mysterious blonde fan backstage in June 1956. And she remained a mystery till 2013 when her name was revealed: Barbara Gray.
5He never performed outside of North America… well almost, if you don’t consider the couple of concerts he did in Canada in 1957. Yet, he is considered a phenomenon all over the world. It’s estimated that more than 40 per cent of his music sales have been outside the United States.
6 He gave the world the first live satellite concert by a single performer on January 14, 1973. Titled Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite, it’s said that more than a billion people from more than 40 countries tuned in.
7 He didn’t expect his records to be seized and burned for corrupting youngsters, something many rock stars after him had to face. Elvis appeared on the scene and he was almost instantaneously accused of being immoral.
8 He showed the world what comebacks are all about. After a string of 31 films (he thought most of them were terrible!), Elvis wanted to make a comeback and he did just that with the TV special, Elvis ’68 Comeback, which future music icons like Bono watched. “Pretty much everything I want from guitar, bass and drums was present: a performer annoyed by the distance from his audience; a persona that made a prism of fame’s wide-angle lens; a sexuality matched only by a thirst for God's instruction,” the U2 singer wrote in Rolling Stone.
9 He cut across barriers. Inspired by the blues and gospel styles of southern America, he was the man who brought “black” music to white American homes. When Elvis was starting his career, many southern states were racially segregated and many radio stations either played music by performers who were white or black. Since Elvis was aware of his poor southern social class, he probably felt closer to the black people around him.
10 He rocked into the hearts of Indians in the form of Shammi Kapoor. Was it just the lip curl? No, first watch Elvis the Mean Woman Blues sequence from his 1957 film Loving You or Bossa Nova Baby from his 1963 film Fun in Acapulco. And then watch Shammi go all jiggy in O haseena zulfonwali or Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche.
11 He taught future rock stars to swing the microphone like a boss and not just sing into it. He played for the screaming crowds.
12 He started a musical revolution and that inspired The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Britney Spears.
THE T2 ELVIS PLAYLIST
1. Heartbreak Hotel: This is one of Paul McCartney’s favourite Elvis songs. Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant has said that the song “changed his life”.
2. Love Me Tender: The song was chosen by playwright Tennessee Williams as one of his ‘Desert Island’ discs.
3. Can’t Help Falling In Love: This dreamy song became the sign off tune at most of his concerts.
4. All Shook Up: Elvis came up with the idea for this song penned by Otis Blackwell. “I’ve never even had an idea for a song. Just once, maybe. I went to bed one night, had quite a dream, and woke up all shook up. I phone a pal and told him about it. By morning, we had a new song, All Shook Up,” Elvis had said in an interview.
5. Hound Dog: Perfected over 31 takes, the song made it clear that rock ’n’ roll was here to stay.
6. If I Can Dream: Months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, Elvis recorded this tribute song to the civil rights hero.
7. Suspicious Minds: Recorded between four and seven in the morning, the best part of the song is him singing through the fade-out, forcing his band to return!
8. I’ll Remember You: The song about a departed loved one showcased his vocal skills and vocal depth.
9. My Baby Left Me: The song gallops and the King’s voice is irresistible.
10. Jailhouse Rock: The choreography. The dance moves. The man in action.
11. In The Ghetto: A song about the cycle of poverty turned out to be the song that brought Elvis back to the spotlight after a series of bad movies.
12. Rubberneckin’: The 2003 remix of the 1969 song proved Elvis is timeless.
