One of the most interesting things about Elvis Presley is the impact the Elvis has on the world around him. Even today, you can see echoes of Elvis everywhere.

Elvis Presley wasn’t just a singer. He also crossed over into television and movies, where he also was a success. Elvis appeared on shows such as The Steve Allen Show, The Milton Berle Show and The Toast of the Town. Presley’s most sensational appearance was aired on The Ed Sullivan Show. A controversial guest, the camera operators were instructed to stay above the waist and not show his dancing hips. Presley became known as “Elvis the Pelvis”, which horrified the parents and excited the youth.

Elvis was fresh and new and he became a pivotal figure in the history of rock music. He defined rock and roll’s new sound and he also established a youth culture and the symbol of teenage rebellion.

Elvis was triumphed in movies. His movies, which contained his singing, as well as his acting, were well accepted though he never received critical acclaim. In a twenty year period Elvis was often a top box office draw. He made over 32 movies and it’s estimated he grossed over $175 million. The movies further extended Elvis’s image and increased his fame.

Elvis Presley is widely regarded as the most influential entertainer in the history of popular music. He was universally proclaimed as the “King of Rock and Roll”. During the 1950’s Elvis delivered a new sound and is widely credited with bringing rock and roll into a mainstream culture. A PBS documentary described Elvis Presley as “an American music giant of the 20th century who single handedly changed the course of music and culture in the mid-1950’s. His recordings, dance moves, attitude and clothing came to be seen as embodiments of rock and roll.

John Lennon of the Beatles once said that Elvis Presley’s music was one of the Beatles biggest and most important influences. Lennon has also been quoted as saying, “before Elvis there was nothing”. Elvis would eventually collect 136 gold records and 10 platinum records. His concert tours and Las Vegas shows often were record-breaking. Globally Elvis sold over a billion records. The American sales produced gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums or singles, which was more than any other artist of the time. Elvis achieved many awards including 14 Grammy nominations, which included 3 wins. He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and in 1970 was named one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation” by the United States Jaycees.

Tags: American Music, Camera Operators, Ed Sullivan, Elvis Music, Elvis Presley, Elvis The Pelvis, Embodiments, History Of Rock, History Of Rock Music, King Of Rock, King Of Rock And Roll, Mainstream Culture, Milton Berle, Milton Berle Show, Pbs Documentary, Pivotal Figure, Steve Allen, Steve Allen Show, Teenage Rebellion, Toast Of The Town