In 1953 a truck driver for Crown Electric in
Memphis wandered into Sun Records on his lunch hour to record two songs as
a birthday present for his mother. Presley tried again in January of
1954. In July of 1954
Elvis was back in the studio singing "That's Alright Mama"
Elvis joined Sun
Records and Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.
By 1955 Elvis had
recorded 5 songs for Sun Records and gained some popularity in the South.
He also acquired a new manager, Col. Tom Parker. Parker launched a campaign aimed at
garnishing national exposure for Elvis. |
Elvis first
appeared on CBS' Dorsey Brothers Stage Show. Then on to The Steve Allen
Show, where he sang Hound Dog to a real dog. From his
performance on Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theatre he got the nickname
Elvis the Pelvis - which worried the family
minded Ed Sullivan. Thus, the now famous "from the waist up only"
appearances on the Sullivan show. It is estimated that one of these
Sullivan performances was viewed by 52 million people - one out of every
three Americans.![[ELVIS]](elvises2.jpg) |
In February of 1956
Elvis recorded his first five songs for RCA. Among these was
Heartbreak Hotel, which quickly rose to the top of the
charts to become Elvis' first Number 1 hit.
Eight of
Elvis' lifetime Top Ten
songs are from the Fifties. Even though Elvis was in the U.S. Army
from 1958 thru 1959.
Elvis spent more weeks at the top of the charts than
any other artist. (80)
Elvis charted more songs on Billboard's Hot 100 than
any other artist. (149)
Elvis had the greatest number of consecutive #1 hits.
(10) |