Биография элвиса пресли на английском языке. Верный путь к успеху. Смерть и наследие

Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock and Roll or The King, was an American singer and actor. Early in his career he was referred to as The Hillbilly Cat. Later, his friends referred to him as "E".

Rolling Stone magazine said "Elvis Presley is rock "n" roll" and called his body of work "acres of perfect material". During an active recording career that lasted more than two decades, Presley set and broke many sales records with over 100 top 40 hit singles including 18 number ones.

Elvis Presley is widely credited with bringing rock and roll into mainstream culture. According to Rolling Stone magazine "it was Elvis who made rock "n" roll the international language of pop". A PBS documentary once described Presley as "an American music giant of the 20th century who singlehandedly changed the course of music and culture in the mid-1950s". His recordings, dance moves, attitude and clothing came to be seen as embodiments of rock and roll. Presley sang both hard driving rockabilly and rock and roll dance songs and ballads, laying a commercial foundation upon which other rock and roll musicians would build. African-American performers like Little Richard and Chuck Berry came to national prominence after Presley"s acceptance among mass audiences of white teenagers. Singers like Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and others immediately followed in his wake, leading John Lennon to later observe, "Before Elvis, there was nothing".

Teenagers came to Presley"s concerts in unprecedented numbers. When he performed at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair in 1956 a hundred National Guardsmen surrounded the stage to control crowds of excited fans. When municipal politicians began denying permits for Presley appearances teens piled into cars and traveled elsewhere to see him perform. It seemed as if the more adults tried to stop it, the more teenagers across North America insisted on having what they wanted. When adult programmers announced they would not play Presley"s music on their radio stations (some because God told them it was sexually suggestive Devil music, others saying it was southern "nigger" music) the economic power of that generation became evident when they tuned in any radio station playing Elvis records. In an industry already shifting to all-music formats in reaction to television, profit-conscious radio station owners learned hard lessons when sponsors bought advertising time on new rock and roll stations reaching enormous markets at night with clear channel signals from AM broadcasts.

During the 1950s post-WWII economic boom in the United States, many parents were able to give their teenaged children much higher weekly allowances, signalling a shift in the buying power and purchasing habits of teens. During the 1940s bobby soxers had idolized Frank Sinatra but the buyers of his records were mostly between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two. Presley triggered a juggernaut of demand for his records by near-teens and early teens aged ten, twelve, thirteen and up.

Presley"s overwhelming appeal was to girls. Many boys adapted his look to attract them. Along with Elvis" ducktail haircut, the demand for black slacks and loose, open-necked shirts resulted in new lines of clothing for teenaged boys. In 1956 America, birthday and Christmas gifts were often music or even Elvis related. A girl might get a pink portable 45 rpm record player for her bedroom. Meanwhile American teenagers began buying newly available portable transistor radios and listened to rock "n" roll on them (helping to propel that fledgling industry from an estimated 100,000 units sold in 1955 to 5,000,000 units by the end of 1958). Teens were asserting more independence and Elvis Presley became a national symbol of their parents" consternation.

Presley"s impact on the American youth consumer market was noted on the front page of The Wall Street Journal on December 31, 1956 when future Pulitzer Prize-winning business journalist Louis M. Kohlmeier wrote, "Elvis Presley today is a business" and reported on the singer"s record and merchandise sales (this may have been the first time a journalist described an entertainer as a business). Half a century later, historian Ian Brailsford (University of Auckland, New Zealand) commented, "The phenomenal success of Elvis Presley in 1956 convinced many doubters of the financial opportunities existing in the youth market".

Birth & Childhood.

Elvis Aaron Presley was born in a two-room house in East Tupelo, Mississippi to Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love Smith Presley. He was raised both in East Tupelo (which merged with Tupelo in 1948) and later in Memphis, Tennessee, where his family moved when he was 13. Elvis had a twin brother (Jesse Garon Presley) who died at birth. In 1949 the family moved to Lauderdale Courts public housing development which was near musical and cultural influences like Beale Street, Ellis Auditorium and the Poplar Tunes record store along with the Sun Studio about a mile away.

In her book, Elvis and Gladys author Elaine Dundy wrote that those close to Elvis as a boy say he was a fan of comic book superhero Captain Marvel, Jr. and would later model his trademark hairstyle and some of his stage costumes on the comic book character.

Elvis took up the guitar at 11 and practiced in the basement laundry room at Lauderdale Courts. He played gigs in the malls and courtyards of the Courts with other musicians who lived there. After high school he worked at Precision Tool Company, then drove a truck for the Crown Electric Company.

The Sun recordings.

In the summer of 1953 Presley paid $4 to record the first of two double-sided demo acetates at Sun Studios, "My Happiness" and "That"s When Your Heartaches Begin" which were popular ballads at the time. While Presley claimed to have recorded the demo as a birthday present for his mother this is sometimes disputed since Gladys Presley"s birthday was in April and he recorded the acetate in July. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and assistant Marion Keisker heard the discs and called him in June 1954 to fill in for a missing ballad singer. Although that session was not productive, Sam Phillips put Elvis together with local musicians Scotty Moore and Bill Black to see what might develop. During a rehearsal break on July 5, 1954 Elvis began singing a blues song written by Arthur Crudup called "That"s All Right". Philips liked the resulting record and released it as a 78RPM single backed with Elvis" hopped-up version of Bill Monroe"s bluegrass song "Blue Moon Of Kentucky". Memphis radio station WHBQ began airing it two days later, the record became a local hit and Elvis began a regular touring schedule which expanded his fame beyond Tennessee.

Presley was booked on Nashville"s Grand Ole Opry but in a bitter disappointment his performance was not well received. He continued to tour the U.S. South and on October 16, 1954 he made his first appearance on Louisiana Hayride, a radio broadcast of live country music in Shreveport, Louisiana and was a hit with a large audience accustomed to mostly pure country music sounds. Following this Presley was signed to a one-year contract for a weekly performance and he was soon introduced to Colonel Tom Parker.

The influence of Colonel Tom Parker.

Parker took over Presley"s career by contract on August 18, 1955. The colonel established two recording companies for Presley and demanded that composers share their royalties with the singer. He wasted no time in marketing his new product to the hilt, pushing Elvis buttons and trinkets, and even lipstick and cookware. According to Marty Lacker, a member of the Memphis Mafia, Elvis had no business savvy or skills and he relied on his manager Parker for anything to do with contracts and deals. Lacker says he thought of Parker as a "hustler and scam artist" who abused Elvis"s reliance on him".If Parker ever thought Elvis was going to be around somebody who would (influence) him, Parker did his utmost to end that relationship". At Parker"s urging Presley also shifted his focus from music to Hollywood. For instance, under his manager"s influence Elvis was forced to take the chief part in some low-budget standard musical comedies (see "Movies" section below). With money seemingly being at the forefront of all decisions made by the Colonel, his management contract with Elvis was even renegotiated to an even 50/50 split between the two.

On August 15, 1955 Elvis Presley was signed by Hank Snow Attractions, a management company jointly owned by singer Hank Snow and Colonel Parker, who negotitated Presley"s signing with RCA Records on November 21, 1955. On January 27, 1956 Elvis" sixth single and his first on RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One", was released and made the pop charts (it reached #1 in April). The next day Presley"s national television debut on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show marked the beginning of his transition into a teen idol. On June 5, 1956 Presley scandalized the audience of the The Milton Berle Show with suggestive hip movements while performing his second RCA single "Hound Dog". Television critics across the country slammed the performance for its "appalling lack of musicality" "vulgarity" and "animalism". The reaction was so severe, Presley was obliged to explain himself on a local New York City TV show (Hy Gardner Calling). Shortly thereafter he appeared on The Steve Allen Show dressed in a tuxedo, billed as "the new Elvis Presley" and singing "Hound Dog" to a basset hound, an experience Presley later said he found humiliating.

After a string of other TV appearances Presley made his first performance on the top-rated Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, earning the broadcast a record 52 - 60 million viewers (82.6% of the viewership that night). By the time of his second Sullivan appearance on October 28 Presley had dyed his sandy blond hair jet black. Opposition gathered against him and even more so against his gyrations on stage. The December 1956 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine described Presley as behaving like "a sex maniac in public". On his third and final Sullivan appearance (January 6, 1957) Sullivan bowed to pressure from "moralists" and ordered that Presley be televised from the waist up to avoid showing his controversial hip movements. Meanwhile the press had taken to calling him Elvis the Pelvis, a nickname he is said to have thoroughly disliked.

"Don"t Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" topped the pop, black and country charts in 1956 and many more hit records followed. Over the next twenty-one years (until his death in 1977) Elvis had 146 Hot 100 hits, 112 top 40 hits, 72 top 20 hits and 40 top 10 hits, an achievement that has never been matched by any solo artist.

Ironically, for all the controversy surrounding his early career, Elvis Presley"s roots in religious music ran deep. In Tupelo, Mississippi Vernon and Gladys Presley were what was disparagingly referred to as poor white trash from the "wrong side of the tracks" at the east end of town. Their Depression-era home (where Elvis was born in 1935) was a two-room shack on one of several dirt tracks forming a small community off Old Saltillo Road. They belonged to a local Assembly of God Pentecostal church which played an important role in their lives. For Elvis Presley it provided an environment from which he would instinctively adopt the music, sound and accompanying body movements in his later rock and roll singing performances. The African American form of music that became known as Rhythm & Blues (which also evolved from gospel songs) was also a part of Presley"s childhood world and he probably heard it on a regular basis in the black section of Tupelo known as "Shakerag" (which was between Tupelo and East Tupelo, and was demolished in the 1960s as part of an urban renewal project). The church is said to have brought the Presleys, along with the rest of its desperately poor congregation, a message of hope wrapped around "Hell, fire, and brimstone" sermons. For nearly a quarter century the Pentecostal movement was interracial and during the 1930s and 1940s many of these poor churches did not adopt the growing policy of racial segregation.

Although Vernon Presley"s family was Pentecostal and his sister Nash Presley became a minister, his wife Gladys was Elvis"s devoutly religious parent. Her uncle Gains Mansell was also a Pentecostal preacher in East Tupelo whose interracial church services began with revival meetings held in a tent. Pentecostal church services started, centered and ended with music and everyone was encouraged to "make a joyous noise unto the Lord". According to Presley biographer Peter Guralnick, Gladys Presley said that by the age of two her son was already trying to sing along in the church. A Pentecostal preacher would typically lead the congregation in prayer and both singing and prayer were accompanied by the waving of hands, the swaying of bodies and dancing about in the Holy Spirit. As it almost always did in those settings, "when the Spirit strikes" the body would jerk as though hit by a bolt of lightning and frequently the worshipper would fall to the floor, rolling around and praying aloud (this is why outsiders referred to church members as "Holy Rollers" and their services as a "religious frenzy"). For instrumentation, these church services used a guitar, a tambourine or two and if they could afford one, a well-worn piano and perhaps a used piano accordion. Church services lasting three hours and held several times a week were filled with music as Pentecostals gyrated their hips, shook their legs, clapped and waved their arms while belting out pounding, rhythmic songs such as Down By the Riverside, When The Saints Go Marching In and Standing On The Promises. There were also more serene songs sung with great emotion like Old Rugged Cross and Softly and Tenderly (Jesus is calling).

In 1948 the Presley family left Tupelo, moving 110 miles northwest to Memphis, Tennessee. Here too, thirteen-year-old Elvis lived in the city"s slums and attended a Pentecostal church where he could not have escaped the influence of the Memphis blues.

While Elvis Presley was a teen cataclysm with millions of American girls screaming at the sight of him, his own church viewed Presley"s gyrations on stage as an affront, labelling it the Devil"s work and a mocking of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Presley records were condemned as wicked and Pentecostal preachers thumped their pulpits with Bibles, warning congregations to keep heathen rock and roll music out of their homes and away from their children"s ears (especially the music of "that backslidden Pentecostal pup, Elvis Presley"). People who decades later would be considered part of the religious right spoke out vigorously against Presley including Cardinal Spellman. In its weekly periodical, the Roman Catholic Church added to the criticism in an article titled "Beware Elvis Presley".

In August, 1956 in Jacksonville, Florida a local Juvenile Court judge called Presley a "savage" and threatened to arrest him if he shook his body while performing at Jacksonville"s Florida Theatre, justifying the restrictions by saying his music was undermining the youth of America. Throughout the performance Presley stood still as ordered but poked fun at the judge by wiggling a finger. Similar attempts to stop his "sinful gyrations" continued for more than a year and included his often noted January 6, 1957 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show when he was seen only from the waist up.

His Hand In Mine (1960) was the title of Elvis" first gospel album. During his "68 Comeback Special Elvis said his music came from gospel. Despite his church"s attitude, gospel music was a prominent part of Presley"s repertoire throughout his life. From 1971 to his death in 1977 Presley employed the Stamps Quartet, a gospel group, for his backup vocals. He recorded several gospel albums, earning three Grammy Awards for his gospel music. In his later years Presley"s live stage performances almost always included a rendition of "How Great Thou Art" the 19th century gospel song made famous by George Beverly Shea. More than forty-five years later (and twenty-four years after his death) the Gospel Music Association finally inducted him into their Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001).

Military service.

On December 20, 1957, Presley received his draft notice for the then compulsory 2-year service with the United States Army. On March 24, 1958, he was inducted into the Army at the Memphis Draft Board. He received no special treatment and was widely praised for not doing what many wealthy and influential people did to avoid service or to serve part time in easy domestic positions such as the Special Services where he could have sung and continued to maintain a public profile. His military service received massive media coverage with much speculation whether or not two years out of the limelight at the height of his popularity would do irreparable damage to his career. Presley sailed to Europe on the USS General George M. Randall, and served in Germany as an ordinary soldier.

Elvis Presley returned to the United States on March 2, 1960, and was honorably discharged on March 5th. While in the army, he received a black belt in Kempo and attained the rank of Sergeant.

The musical Bye Bye Birdie satirizes the events of the draft of Elvis Presley, placing fictional superstar Conrad Birdie in the position of Elvis.

Many observers (including John Lennon) later claimed that following Presley"s return from military service the quality of his recorded output dropped, although others thought he was still capable of creating records equal to his best (and did so on the infrequent occasions where he was presented with "decent" material at his movie recording sessions). Presley himself became deeply dissatisfied with the direction his career would take over the ensuing seven years, notably the film contract with a demanding schedule that eliminated creative recording and giving public concerts. In 1960 the album Elvis is Back was recorded. This, like his first two albums, Elvis Presley and Elvis, are considered by many of his fans to be his best work. With this drop-off, and in the face of the social upheaval of the 1960s and the British Invasion spearheaded by The Beatles, Presley"s star faded slightly before a triumphant televised performance later dubbed the Comeback Special. Aired on the NBC network on December 3, 1968, the show saw him return to his rock and roll roots. His 1969 return to live performances, first in Las Vegas and then across the country, was noted for the constant stream of sold-out shows, with many setting attendance records in the venues where he performed.

Death and burial.

Elvis died at his home Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16, 1977. He was found on the floor of his bedroom"s bathroom ensuite by girlfriend Ginger Alden who had been asleep in his bed. He was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead at 3.30pm. He was 42 years old.

(1935-1977)

Элвис появился на свет 8 января 1935 года в Тьюпелло, штат Миссисипи (США). Его родители были выходцами из Ирландии, они очень любили и оберегали своего сына, поскольку брат-близнец Элвиса Пресли умер при рождении.

С детства Элвис Арон Пресли очень любил петь, поэтому неудивительно, что родители отдали его в детский хор. Чуть позже юный Пресли начал принимать участие в различных конкурсах. В 1945 г. он даже получил приз за чудесное исполнение песни "Old Shep", которую исполнил на конкурсе, проходившем в Миссисипи. За это достижение родители Элвиса Пресли подарили ему акустическую гитару. Элвис настолько был увлечен музыкой, что самостоятельно смог выучить основные аккорды. Когда Элвису Пресли исполнилось 14 лет, его семья переехала в Мемфис (штат Теннеси).

Окончив школу, Элвис сразу же пошел работать. Робота его, прямо говоря, была ахти - водитель грузовика, с зарплатой в 1,25 долларов в час. Слава Богу, что онне забросил свое увлечение. В 1953г . Элвис Пресли сделал свою первую, правда любительскую, запись. Это произошло на студии звукозаписи “Sun”. Многие считают, что первая песня была посвящена Дню рождению матери Элвиса Пресли, но на самом деле это не так. На самом деле, Глэдис Пресли появилась на свет 25 апреля 1912г ., а песня была записана в июле, так что, как видим, никакой связи нет.

Свою следующую пластинку Элвис Арон Пресли смог записать лишь в 1954 г., в январе. В этом ему помог случай. Владелец “Sun”, Сэм Филипс, получил запись одного неизвестного певца, которая ему очень понравилась, но, к счастью для Элвиса, он не смог узнать фамилию автора той пластинки. Поэтому Филипс решил найти другого исполнителя этой песни (которая называлась “Without You”), им оказался Элвис Пресли. Но у будущего короля рок-н-ролла не получилось спеть эту песню так, как этого хотел Сэм Филипс. Запись отложили. Побаиваясь, что его просто-напросто выгонят со студии Элвис Пресли начал наигрывать отрывки с различных песен различного жанра. Манера игры понравилась Филипсу и он решил помочь Элвису. Сэм Филипс нашел напарника для Пресли - гитариста Скотти Мурома. Есть предположение, что под влиянием именно этого человека сформировался легендарный стиль Элвиса Пресли.

Через некоторое время Элвис и Скот начали работать в студии. Так длилось несколько месяцев. Элвис Пресли даже пытался выступать вместе с группой Скотти Мурома в одном из клубов, но это не имело особой пользы для Элвиса. Как справедливо заметил Сэм Филипс, Элвису мешал сопровождающий ансамбль. И тем не менее, Филипс тогда сказал, что время сейшена пришло…

5 июля 1954г . пришел в студию “Sun” уже в качестве профессионального певца, хотя он и продолжал работать водителем грузовика. 9 июля было уже записано четыре песни: “I Love You Because”, “Thats All Right”, “Blue Moon Оf Кentucky” и "”Blue Moon”.

В августе 1954г . студия “Sun” выпустила первый сингл Элвиса Пресли “Thats All Right”/”Blue Moon Of Кentucky”. Композиция “Thats All Right” была написана артистом Артуром Крадупом, автором второй песни был популярный певец Вил Монро Вill Monroe). Нужно отметить, что за всю свою последующую карьеру Элвис Пресли не споет ни одной своей песни, он будет песни, которые либо были сочинены для нго, либо перепевать произведения других артистов.

Второй сейшн состоялся в сентябре 1954г . На этом сейшене были записаны произведения “Dont Care If The Sun Doesnt Shine” и “Good Rockin Tonight”. В октябре этого же года вышел синг, но он не поднялся выше 3-его места в местном хит-параде.

В декабре 1954г . состоялся очередной сейшн, в результате которого появились песни “Milkcow Blues Boogie” и “You are A Heartbreaker”. Эти песни были спеты Элвисом Пресли в новом для него стиле: сначала идет блюз, а потом резко начинает играть рок-н-ролл. Несмотря на это новшество, диск не имел особого успеха.

В мае 1955г . вышла новая пластинка с песнями “Baby Lets Play House” и “I am Left, You are Right, She is Gone”, которые исполнялись "икающим" вокалом Элвиса. Благодаря этому вторая песня достигал восьмого места в хит-параде Мемфиса. Естественно, что популярность Элвиса Пресли начала расти, он даже принял участие в сборном концерте певцов стиля кантри.

Летом 1955 года Элвис Пресли записал еще один сейшн, особенностью которого было то, что в нем появились ударные инструменты. Странно, но отсутствие этого в предыдущих синглах Элвиса вообще не заметно.

В августе 1955 года вышел последний сингл, который Пресли записал на студии “Sun”. Он оказался самым успешным, поскольку остиг вершины национального хит-парада и целых сорок недель продержался в различных чартах. Такой успех пластинки привлек огромное внимание крупных компаний к фигуре Элвиса Пресли. Итогом этого повышенного внимания стало то, что компания “RCA Victor” предложила 35 тысяч долларов за контракт с Элвисом. Понятное дело, что он согласился. Это событие состоялось в ноябре 1955г .

Первый же сингл записанный на “RCA Victor” поднялся на первое место в национальном хит-параде и занял второе место в хит-параде Англии, это был известный “Heartbreak Hotel”. Сделав еще пару сейшенов, компания решила выпустить диск Элвиса, который назвала “Элвис Пресли”. Диск сразу же взлетел на первое место хит-парада и “застрял” там на девять недель.

Летом 1956 г. Элвис начинает работать с вокальным квартетом “JORDANAIRES”. Вместе с ними он создает “Hound Dog”, ”Dont Be Cruel”, “Any Way You Want Me”, ”Love Me Tender”. К сожалению, в январе 1967г . их пути расходятся.

В 1957г . Элвис Пресли переходит на новую работу- водителя грузовика джипа в Третьей Вооруженной Дивизии. Именно там он встречает свою “вторую половинку” Присциллу Бьюли, которой всего было 14 лет. Через некоторое время она становится женой короля рок-н-ролла и рождает дочь Лайзу Мари. После этого события Элвис Пресли покидает на некоторое время сцену и пробует себя в кинематографе.

Хотя его популярность необычайно высока, Элвиса Пресли потихоньку начинают “притеснять” ни менее легендарные “Beatles”.

В 1972г . Элвис Пресли выпускает альбом “ Burning Love ”, последний который попал в десятку хитов. Через год Элвис разошелся со своей женой. Его самочувствие сразу же ухудшилось: он начал вести ночной образ жизни, боятся всех вокруг, употреблять наркотики. Все зашло на столько далеко, что Элвис перестал даже появляться на студии. В 1976г ., в феврале, компания “RCA Victor” из-за отсутствия Элвиса Пресли решила устроить студию у него дома. На дому у Элвиса за неделю удалось записать 12 песен и это притом, что Пресли “капризничал” чуть ли ни каждый час. Подобный ход компании пришлось сделать и в октябре этого же года, но на этот раз записали лишь 4 песни.

Как бы там ни было, но Элвис Пресли продолжал выступать и давать концерты, так в 1977 году, он дал пятьдесят четыре концерта, последний из которых состоялся 26 июня.

16 августа 1977г . Элвис Пресли, король рок-н-ролла, умер. Песни Элвиса образца 50-60 годов стали шедеврами поп- и рок-музыки.

Дискография Элвиса Пресли :

“Elvis Presley ” (1956г .)

“Elvis Presley” (1956г .)

“Elvis” (1956г )

“Loving You” (1957г .)

“Jailhouse Rock” (1957г .)

“Christmas Album“ (1957г .)

“King Creole“ (1958г .)

“For LP Fans Only“ (1959г .)

“A Date with Elvis“ (1959г .)

“Elvis Is Back! “ (1960г .)

“G.I. Blues“ (1960г .)

“His Hand in Mine“ (1960г .)

“Something for Everybody“ (1961г .)

“Blue Hawaii“ (1961г .)

“Pot Luck with Elvis“ (1962г .)

“It Happened at the Worlds Fair“ (1963г .)

“Fun in Acapulco“ (1963г .)

“Girls! Girls! Girls! “ (1963г .)

“Kissin Cousins“ (1964г .)

“Roustabout“ (1964г .)

“Girl Happy“ (1965г .)

“Elvis for Everyone“ (1965г .)

“Harum Scarum“ (1965г .)

“Frankie & Johnny“ (1966г .)

“Paradise, Hawaiian Style“ (1966г .)

“Spinout“ (1966г .)

“Anyway You Want Me“ (1966г .)

“How Great Thou Art“ (1967г .)

“Double Trouble“ (1967г .)

“Clambake“ (1967г .)

“Special Christmas Programming“ (1967г .)

“Speedway“ (1968г .)

“From Elvis in Memphis“ (1969г .)

“From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis“ (1969г .)

“Elvis in Person (At the International Hotel,... ) “ (1970г .)

“On Stage: February1970 “ (1970г .) “

“Almost in Love“ (1970г .)

“Elvis Back in Memphis“ (1970г .)

“Elvis: Thats the Way It Is “ (1970г .)

“Elvis Country (I am10,000 Years Old) “ (1971г .)

“You wll Never Walk Alone“ (1971г .)

“Love Letters from Elvis“ (1971г .)

“Elvis Sings "The Wonderful World of... “ (1971г .)

“Elvis Now“ (1972г .)

“He Touched Me“ (1972г .)

“Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden “ (1972г .)

“Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite “ (1973г .)

“Elvis “ (1973г .)

“Raised on Rock/For Ol Times Sake“ (1973г .)

“Good Times“ (1974г .)

“Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis“ (1974г .)

“Having Fun with Elvis on Stage “ (1974г .)

“U.S. Male“ (1974г .)

“Promised Land“ (1975г .)

“Today“ (1975г .)

“From Elvis Presley Boulevard,Memphis,... “ (1976г .)

“Welcome to My World“ (1977г .)

“Moody Blue“ (1977г .)

“Elvis in Concert “ (1977г .)

“Elvis Sings for Children and Grownups Too! “ (1978г .)

“Mahalo from Elvis“ (1978г .)

“Madison Square Garden“ (1992г .)

“Elvis! Elvis! Elvis! “ (1995г .)

“Live in 55“ (1998г .)

“Private Elvis“ (1999г .)

“Elvis “ (1999г .)

“Thats the Way It Is “ (1999г .)

“Its Christmas Time“ (1999г .)

“Elvis Presley: Live1955 the Hayride Shows“ (2000г .)

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) – an American singer, musician and actor.

Elvis Presley became one of the most influential cultural icons of a generation. He is commonly referred to as the “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and epitomises the post-war pop generation.

Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. When he was 13, his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis was relatively shy and as a youngster was not keen on performing in public. However, he received a guitar as a present and learnt to play and sing; he gained no formal musical training, but had an innate natural talent and could easily pick up music. As a teenager, he was uninterested in school – but become absorbed in music, listening to a huge range of contemporary American music. He also started to sport a distinctive look with sideburns and styled hair. This image would later become an ‘Elvis’ trademark.

In 1953, he went to Sun recording studio – to record a song for his mother, but also with the hope he may get noticed and offered a recording deal. However, it didn’t come to anything; he was also turned down for auditions to other groups. In April 1954, he took a job as a truck driver.

However, later on in the year, the Sun boss Sam Phillips invited Elvis to come in for a recording session. Initially, the recording session was unpromising, but towards the end of the allotted time, Elvis started to play a song he had composed himself. Phillips was immediately impressed by the verve, enthusiasm and dynamism of Elvis’s music. Phillips believed that Elvis had a unique voice and talent which could capture the interest of Americans.

For his first studio recording, Elvis performed the 1946 blues number, Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right”; it was well received on local radio stations.

This initial success launched Presley into a lucrative pop music career.

In January 1956, Presley was signed by RCA Records. His first single, “Heartbreak Hotel “, was released in January and became a best-selling hit – staying at number one for seven weeks, and selling over one million copies.

His performances were a fusion of country, gospel, pop and rhythm and blues. His unique gravelly voice gave the impression Presley combined both ‘black’ and ‘white’ sounds, something which was an issue during an era of tense civil rights campaigns. Elvis’s on stage routines were also criticised for their flamboyance and provocativeness; he was criticised for the idea that rock ‘n ‘roll music was having a negative effect on American teenagers, making them more rebellious. As the leading figure of pop music, Presley was often the target of these criticisms. However, he defended his music saying:

“No, I haven’t, I don’t feel like I’m doing anything wrong. … I don’t see how any type of music would have any bad influence on people when it’s only music. … I mean, how would rock ‘n’ roll music make anyone rebel against their parents?”

However, if Presley was considered a controversial and a rebellious figure, it just made him more popular with young listeners. His catapult to stardom was helped by a rivalry between TV presenters, such as Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan. Elvis proved a star attraction on tv talk shows, and the competition between presenters helped to make Elvis a national celebrity. It also helped bring rock ‘n’ roll into the mainstream. , of the Beatles, described the effect that Elvis had on his musical development.

“Nothing really affected me until Elvis. Before Elvis there was nothing. When I first heard “Heartbreak Hotel,” I could hardly make out what was being said. It was just the experience of hearing it and having my hair stand on end. We’d never heard American voices singing like that.”

Ironically, Elvis was never keen to meet the Beatles and when they did meet on one occasion – 27 August 1965 – it was a mutual disappointment. But, Lennon always maintained without Elvis, there would have been no Beatles.

At live concerts, his crowds increasingly became overly exuberant. When Presley began playing hits like “You ain’t nothin’ but a Hound Dog” the crowd would go wild. This led Presley to take a break from live performances.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a kid. But I used to pray to God that I’d amount to something some day. I never dreamed that something like this would happen.”

– Elvis Presley

In 1958-60, Presley was called up for national service in the American army. He was stationed in Germany and served in the regular army, and was keen to be seen as an ordinary soldier doing his duty. He could have signed up for Special Services, which would have enabled him to perform live music, but he preferred to stay in the regular army. During his stay in Freiburg, Germany he met Priscilla Beaulieu, who he would marry after a seven-year courtship. They married in 1967 and, in 1968, Priscilla gave birth to Elvis’s only child – Lisa Marie.

After the stint in the army, he began to focus more on movies. Presley made several movies in the 1960s. These were generally received with low critical acclaim, though they were quite popular and commercially successful. By the end of the 1960s, Presley’s career was in decline. He had become known for formulaic films and uninspiring soundtracks. He was increasingly unhappy with the direction of his career. In 1967, Presley made a comeback as a singer, but his first eight singles were mostly flops and failed to make an impression on the pop charts. The exception was the 1969 single “If I Can Dream”, which helped to reinvigorate Presley’s musical creativity. In 1970, he released “The Wonder of You” which topped the charts in the UK and US. He also began a new music tour, which sold out to record-breaking crowds.

However, from 1973, Presley began to increasingly suffer health problems – related to his obesity and drug dependency. He continued to try and maintain a hectic touring schedule, but his performances were negatively affected by his obvious health problems. In 1976, aged only 42, he died from multiple causes; fourteen different drugs were found in his bloodstream.

His early death only cemented his legendary status, and Elvis Presley has become deeply ingrained in popular culture.

Presley’s home Graceland was opened to the public in the 1980s and attracts over half a million visitors annually. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Elvis Presley”, Oxford, UK.

FAITH LAPIDUS: Welcome to PEOPLE IN AMERICA, a program in VOA Special English.

Добро пожаловать на программу "Люди Америки" по "Голосу Америки"

Today Rich Kleinfeldt and Steve Ember tell about one of America’s most popular singers, Elvis Presley.

Сегодня Рич Клайнфелдт и Стив Эмбер рассказывают об одном из самых популярных певцов Америки - Элвисе Пресли

RICH KLEINFELDT: That song, “Hound Dog,” was one of Elvis Presley’s most popular records.

Эта песня - "Гончая собака" - была одной из самых популярных записей Элвиса Пресли

It sold five million copies in nineteen fifty-six.

В 1956г. было продано 5млн. экземпляров записи этой песни

Music industry experts say more than one thousand million of Elvis’s recordings have sold throughout the world.

Эксперты по музыкальной индустрии говорят, что по всему миру продано более 1тыс. миллионов записей Элвиса Пресли

He was a success in many different kinds of music -- popular, country, religious, and rhythm and blues.

Он достиг успеха в разных музыкальных стилях - поп, кантри, религиозный и ритм и блюз

Elvis Presley won many awards from nations all over the world. Yet, he did not record in any language other than English.

Элвис Пресли завоевал много наград по всему миру. Однако записывался только на английском языке

He never performed outside the United States, except for three shows in Canada.

Он никогда не выступал за пределами США, кроме трёх концертов в Канаде

Yet, his recordings and films have been, and are still, enjoyed by people all over the world.

И всё же его (музыкальные) записи и фильмы любили и до сих пор любят люди по всему миру

STEVE EMBER: Elvis Aaron Presley was born in the southern town of Tupelo, Mississippi on January eighth, nineteen thirty-five.

His family was extremely poor. During his childhood, he sang in church with his parents.

Семья была чрезвычайно бедной. В детстве он пел в церкви вместе с родителями

He also listened to music that influenced his later singing, including country, rhythm and blues, and religious music.

Также слушал музыку, которая потом повлияла на его пение, включая кантри, ритм и блюз и религиозную

Elvis and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was thirteen.

Когда Элвису было 13 лет, семья переехала в г.Мемфис, Теннесси

After high school, he had several jobs, including driving a truck. In nineteen fifty-three, he made his first recording of this song, “My Happiness”:

После средней школы поменял несколько мест работы, в т.ч. был водителем грузовика. В 1953г. сделал первую запись песни "Моё счастье"

RICH KLEINFELDT: Elvis Presley recorded the song at the Memphis Recording Service.

Элвис Пресли записал эту песню в Центре звукозаписи в Мемфисе

The story is that he paid four dollars to make a recording for his mother.

Говорят, он заплатил 4 доллара, чтобы сделать эту запись для своей матери

A woman who worked at the public recording studio had another job with a local independent record company called Sun Records.

Женщина-сотрудница центра работала также в частной компании звукозаписи "Сан рекордс"

She made a second recording of Elvis’s songs because she thought the owner of Sun Records should hear him sing.

Она сделала вторую запись песен Элвиса, т.к. считала, что его должен послушать владелец компании "Сан рекордс"

STEVE EMBER: The owner of Sun Records, Sam Phillips, had been looking for a white performer who could sing black rhythm and blues.

Владелец "Сан рекордс", Сэм Филлипс, искал белого исполнителя в стиле ритм и блюз

He suggested Elvis work with a guitar player and a bass player.

Он предложил Элвису поработать в сопровождении гитары и контабаса

Several months later Mister Phillips agreed to have the group make a record.

Через несколько месяцев г-н Филлипс согласился, чтобы эта группы сделала запись

It was released on July nineteenth, nineteen fifty-four. One of the songs was “That’s All Right”:

The record sold well in Memphis, and was played a lot on local radio stations.

Запись хорошо продавалась в Мемфисе, часто исполнялась на местных радиостанциях

To let others hear Elvis, Sam Phillips organized a series of performances at country fairs in the area.

Чтобы познакомить публику с Элвисом, Сэм Филлипс организовал серию выступлений на местных ярмарках

One of the people who heard Elvis perform at these shows was Colonel Tom Parker.

Одним из тех, кто слышали выступления Элвиса в то время, был полковник Том Паркер

Elvis signed an agreement that Colonel Parker would organize his appearances.

Элвис подписал с полковником Паркером контракт на организацию выступлений

One of Elvis’ first new recordings became a huge hit, and led to his many appearances on television. It was “Heartbreak Hotel”:

Одна из первых новых записей Элвиса стала огромным хитом и привела к частым вытуплениям на телевидении. Это была песня "Отель разбитых сердец"

RICH KLEINFELDT: By the middle of the nineteen fifties, Elvis Presley was known around the world as the young man who moved his hips in a sexual way as he sang rock and roll music.

К середине 1950-ых годов Элвис Пресли стал известен по всему мироу как молодой человек, который сексуально двигал бёдрами и пел рок-н-ролл

Many adults said he and his music were bad influences on young people.

Многие (взрослые) считали, что его музыка плохо влияет на молодёжь

Young women loved him. Huge crowds attended his performances.

Молодые жещины его любили. Огромные толпы приходили на его выступления

He made his first movie in nineteen fifty-six. It was “Love Me Tender.” The title song was a big hit.

В 1956г. он впервые снялся в кино. Это был фильм "Люби меня нежно". Песня из него с тем же названием стала большим хитом

STEVE EMBER: Elvis Presley was one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood for a number of years in the nineteen fifties.

В 50-ых годах Элвис Пресли несколько лет был одним их самых высокооплачиваемых актёровГолливуда

He acted in thirty-one movies.

Он снялся в 31 фильме

In nineteen fifty-eight, just as he finished making the movie “King Creole,” Elvis received notice that he had to serve in the United States Army.

В 1958г., только что закончив съёмки в фильме "Король Креол", Элвис получил повестку на службу в армии США

He was stationed in Germany where he lived in a large house and dated a lot of beautiful women.

Он служил в Германии, где жил в большом доме и встречался со многими красивыми женщинами

One young girl he met in Germany was Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of an Army officer.

Одной из девушек, с которыми он позакомился в Германии, была Присцилла Больё, дочь армейского офицера

She was fourteen years old. Later, after Elvis had finished his army service, she came to live with him in Memphis.

Ей было 14 лет. Позднее, когда Элвис отслужил в армии, она переехала жить к нему в Мемфис

They married in nineteen sixty-seven, when she was twenty-one years old. He was thirty-two.

В 1967г. они поженились, когда её был 21 год. Ему было 32.

They became parents nine months later of a baby girl, Lisa Marie.

Через 9 месяцев они стали родителями девочки, Лизы Мари

RICH KLEINFELDT: Colonel Parker made sure that songs Elvis had recorded earlier were released during the years he was in the army.

Полковник Паркер позаботился, чтобы записи старых песен Элвиса продолжали выходить во время его службы в армии

So Elvis was just as popular after his military service as he was before it.

Так что и после службы в армии Элвис оставался таким же популярным, как до неё

Elvis Presley won three of the music industry’s highest award, the Grammy.

Элвис Пресли получил три Грэмми - высших награды в области музыки (музыкальной индустрии)

He received the first one in nineteen sixty-seven. It was for “How Great Thou Art,” an album of religious music.

Первую Грэмми он получил в 1967г. за альбом религиозной музыки "Как Ты Велик"

STEVE EMBER: Elvis returned to performing live shows in nineteen sixty-nine, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

В 1969г. Элвис вновь начал давать концерты в Лас-Вегасе, Невада

He then traveled around the country performing before huge crowds.

Затем гастролировал по всей стране, выступая перед огромными толпами

He began to take drugs to help him sleep. He gained a lot of weight so he took drugs to help control his weight.

Чтобы избавиться от бессоницы, стал принимать транквилизаторы. Он сильно поправился и для контроля веса также принимал таблетки

And he took extremely strong drugs to reduce pain.

Также он пил очень сильные таблетки, чтобы снять боль

Elvis also suffered from the emotional sickness, depression.

Элвис также страдал от психического заболевания, депрессии

It became worse after his marriage ended. Elvis never permitted Priscilla to stay with him in Las Vegas or travel with him around the country.

Депрессия усилилась, когда распался его брак. Элвис никогда не разрешал Присцилле жить с ним в Лас-Вегасе или путешествовать с ним по стране

He also did not want Priscilla to see other people when he was away from home.

Также он не хотел, чтобы Присцилла встречалась с кем-либо, когда его не было дома

And he spent time with other women. Priscilla finally left him in nineteen seventy-two for another man.

А сам проводил время с другими женщинами. Наконец, в 1974г. Присцилла ушла от него к другому мужчине

RICH KLEINFELDT: Elvis Presley released many recordings of his performances during the nineteen seventies.

В 1970-ых годах Элвис Пресли выпустил много записей своих выступлений

He also enjoyed great success on television.

Он также пользовался большим успехом на телевидении

His nineteen seventy-three television show from Hawaii was seen in forty countries by more than one thousand million people.

В 1973г. телешоу с его выступлением на Гавайях смотрели в 40 странах более 1 тыс. миллионов человек

His last record album was called “Moody Blue.” He recorded it in nineteen seventy-six. One of its hit songs was called “Way Down”:

Его последний альбом назывался "Moody Blue". Он записал его в 1976г. Один из хитов в нём назывался "Путь вниз"

STEVE EMBER: Elvis Presley died on August sixteenth, nineteen seventy-seven.

First reports said he had a heart attack, but later tests showed many drugs in his body.

Первые сообщения говорили о сердечном приступе, но позже анализы показали наличие в организме наркотиков (сильных лекарств)

Experts agree that these drugs probably caused his death.

Специалисты соглашаются, что эти наркотики могли вызвать его смерть

Hundreds of thousands of people still visit his home, Graceland, in Memphis every year.

Сотни тысяч людей ппродолжают ежегодно посещать его дом в Грейсленде, Мемфис

Fans continue to buy his music, making him the most popular recording artist ever.

Фанаты продолжают покупать его записи. Записи Элвиса - самые популярные за всю историю звукозаписи

Elvis Presley remains the undisputed King of Rock and Roll.

Элвис Пресли остаётся неоспоримым Королём Рок-н-Ролла

FAITH LAPIDUS: This program was written by Nancy Steinbach. Rich Kleinfeldt and Steve Ember were the narrators. The producer was Paul Thompson. I’m Faith Lapidus. Listen again next week for another PEOPLE IN AMERICA program in VOA Special English.

Музыкант и актёр Элвис Арон Пресли родился 8 января 1935 года в Тьюпело, Миссисипи. Позже он изменил своё второе имя с Арон на библейскую форму – Аарон. Брат Пресли, Джесс (Джесси) Гарон, умер при рождении.

Семья Пресли была из рабочего класса, в которой не хватало денег, из-за чего они часто переезжали с места на место. Пресли сильно любил своих родителей, особенно свою мать, Глэдис. Он вырос глубоко верующим человеком. Со своими родителями Пресли посещал церковь Ассамблеи Бога, где сильное влияние на него оказала музыка в стиле госпел.

В 10 лет у Пресли появилась его первая гитара, а чуть позже он победил в конкурсе талантов в школе «Humes High School» в Мемфисе, что позволило почувствовать первый вкус побед. После окончания школы в 1953 году Пресли работал во многих местах одновременно, пытаясь реализовать мечту на музыкальном поприще. Он записал свою первую демонстрационную версию песни в месте, которое позже будет иметь название студия звукозаписи «Sun Studio». Сэм Филипс, владелец студии звукозаписи, решил взять молодого исполнителя под свою опеку. Вскоре Пресли уже записывал свои песни и ездил в турне в надежде на успех. Первым синглом Пресли стала песня «That’s All Right».

Первоклассный хит

В 1955 году у Пресли стали появляться фанаты, привлечённые его необычным музыкальным стилем, провокационном вращением бёдрами и приятной внешностью. В том же году он подписывает контракт со студией «RCA Records». Сделку помог заключить его менеджер, полковник Том Паркер. В 1956 году Пресли стал успешным, записав свой сингл «Heartbreak Hotel» и первый альбом «Elvis Presley», а также заключив контракт с «Paramount Pictures» на съёмки в фильме. Несмотря на пересуды по поводу нескромных движений бёдрами, он стал частым гостем на многочисленных эстрадных телевизионных концертах.

Вскоре Пресли оказался везде – на радио, телевидении и в кино, работая как музыкант и актёр. Его первый фильм с названием «Люби меня нежно», вышедший на экраны в 1956 году, стал настоящим хитом в кинотеатрах. Даже служба в армии не стала помехой бурно развивающейся популярности Пресли. Он получил повестку в 1957 году, а в рядах новобранцев оказался в марте 1958 года. Он отслужил в Германии в течение полутора лет. Незадолго до отъезда в Европу, его мать умерла. На службе ему дали увольнительную, чтобы он смог посетить её похороны, после чего Пресли вернулся к службе, тяжело переживая утрату. Его душевное состояние немного улучшилось после встречи с Присциллой Бьюли.

Отслужив в армии, Пресли вернулся к своей музыкальной карьере и вскоре был на вершине рейтингов с саундтреком к фильму «Солдатский блюз», в котором он сыграл главную роль. В последующие годы он продолжает заниматься музыкой и сниматься в таких фильмах как «Голубые Гавайи» в 1961, «Девушки!

Девушки! Девушки!» в 1962 и «Да здравствует Лас-Вегас» в 1964. И хоть его фильмы и пользовались переменным успехом, они приносили доход, как и саундтреки к фильмам, которые обычно продавались лучше. Но к концу 60-х популярность Пресли в кинотеатрах начала падать. В попытке доказать, что он всё ещё «Король рок-н-рола», в 1968 году Пресли выпускает свой первый ТВ-концерт с названием «’68 Comeback». Он «прокачал» аудиторию своим выступлением, которое демонстрировало его таланты как певца и гитариста.

Проблемы в личной жизни

Личная жизнь Пресли также была на высоте. Они с Присциллой поженились в 1967 году, а в 1968 у них родилась дочь, Лиза Мари. К сожалению, они не долго были вместе. К началу 70-х брак Элвиса начал разваливаться, а в 1973 году они с Присциллой развелись и она получила опеку над дочкой. Пресли боролся и с другими проблемами – у него появилась зависимость от выписываемых ему лекарств. Он также боролся с лишним весом. Осенью того же года здоровье его подвело: Пресли был госпитализирован из-за проблем с лекарствами и их приёмом.

Несмотря на обстоятельства в личной жизни, Пресли оставался популярным и в Лас-Вегасе, и за его пределами. Его последний концерт состоялся в Индианаполисе, Индиана, после которого он вернулся в особняк «Graceland» в Мемфисе, чтобы готовиться к следующему турне.

Смерть и наследие

Утром, 16 августа 1977 года, в возрасте 42 лет Пресли умер от сердечной недостаточности. Позже было установлено, что смерть наступила из-за передозировки прописанных ему лекарств. Пресли похоронен на территории поместья «Graceland», рядом с могилами своей матери, отца и бабушки.

В течение своей карьеры Пресли помог популяризовать рок-н-рол в Америке. За свои госпельные композиции он получил три награды «Грэмми». У Пресли 18 песен, которые занимали первое место в рейтингах, в том числе «Don’t Be Cruel», «Good Luck Charm» и «Suspicious Minds», а также большое количество золотых и платиновых альбомов. Он был одним из первых музыкантов, включённых в «Зал славы рок-н-рола» (в 1986 году).

Элвис внёс вклад в несколько музыкальных жанров, таких как рок, кантри и госпел. В 1998 году Элвиса посмертно включили в «Зал славы кантри музыки», а спустя три года также включили в «Зал славы музыки госпел» от «Ассоциации музыки госпел».

Пресли остаётся одним из главных символов мира музыки. Множество фильмов раскрывали факты из жизни загадочного музыканта, в том числе фильм 2005 года, в котором роль Элвиса сыграл Джонатан Рис-Майерс. Дом, в котором жил Элвис, открыт для посещений, и каждый год его посещают фанаты со всего мира, особенно в дни его рождения и смерти.

16 августа 2012 года тысячи фанатов посетили «Graceland» на 35 годовщину смерти Элвиса Пресли ради ночной службы в память о Короле рок-н-рола. На этой встрече фанаты зажгли свечи у дома Пресли. Несмотря на то, что семья устраивает различные мероприятия на годовщину смерти, 2012 год был особенным, потому что впервые на публике вместе появились жена и дочь Элвиса Пресли.

Цитаты

“Отпечатки пальцев, как и ценности – они повсюду, где ты был”.

“После курса боевой подготовки можно целого быка съесть”.

“Цель – мечта с турбированным двигателем”.

“Животные не могут ненавидеть, а мы считаемся лучше, чем они”.

“Если вещи идут плохо, не ходите с ними”.

“Правда, как и солнце – хоть и можно избавиться от него на время, но навсегда избавиться от него не получится”.

“Я так люблю Вегас!”

“Кто-то отбивает ритм ногами, кто-то грызёт ногти, а кто-то не может принять окончательное решение. А я их всех как бы объединяю”.

“Да по сравнению с современниками я был просто тихоней. Смеётесь? Я ведь лишь танцевал, вихляя бёдрами”.

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