Life Story of Elvis Presley
In the formative years of his life, Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, was deeply influenced by the musical landscape of Tupelo, Mississippi.
During 1942, Presley spent much of his time away from his family, living in various locations such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee. His musical education began during this period, with lessons from his Uncle Vester and Mississippi Slim, a local radio personality. Mississippi Slim, whose real name was Carvel Lee Ausborn, not only taught Presley new chords and songs but also backed him on guitar.
Presley's family moved frequently, relocating to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1940 due to increased work opportunities from World War II. During this time, Presley attended First Assembly of God Church and Lawhon Elementary School.
As a student at Milam Junior High School in the fall of 1946, Presley was a loner who enjoyed reading comic books and felt the absence of his father. He was drawn to the music he heard in his neighbourhood, which was earthy, wild, and exciting. This music, a blend of blues, country, gospel, and ballads, would become the foundation for his future sound.
Presley's musical and stylistic influences during his teenage years had a significant impact on the formation of his own personal style. He absorbed blues and country music from radio broadcasts as well as from local musical traditions, including songs sung at his parents’ Pentecostal church and group sings at a Black Memphis church led by Rev. H.W. Brewster. Frequenting blues clubs on Beale Street further exposed him to authentic blues styles.
This unique blend of musical influences shaped Presley's early repertoire, which combined blues, country songs, Tin Pan Alley ballads, and gospel hymns. These genres would later evolve into his pioneering rockabilly sound, characterised by blues inflections, a lighter vocal tone, and a rhythmic groove, as demonstrated in his early recordings with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black.
In summary, the key musical influences on Presley during his Tupelo teenage years were the blues of Black musicians, gospel from his church experience, and country music from the Southern tradition. These influences would later be synthesised into his groundbreaking rockabilly sound.
[1] Peter Guralnick, "Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley" [2] Peter Guralnick, "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley"
- Elvis Presley's diverse musical influences during his Tupelo years—rooted in the blues, gospel, and country music of the region—fashioned the foundation of his future sound and personal style.
- As a student, Presley's interests extended beyond academics, including an appreciation for the fashion-and-beauty of rock 'n' roll performers, influenced by the entertainment industry and celebrated celebrities.
- The home-and-garden provided a sanctuary for Presley, where he indulged in his passion for music, playing guitar and absorbing the vibrant pop-culture sounds emanating from his neighborhood, as well as genre-defining music performed by music legends on the radio and in local clubs such as Beale Street.
