For The Love of Elvis

Clearly there is no way to understand the Elvis phenomenon without thinking of it as the beginning of a new religion. Like other religions Elvis has a few true believers who defend his memory with the passion known only to religious followers. Of course, there are imitators, people who dress up like Elvis and perform like Elvis. There are people who know every word that Elvis said. There is a book published that tells what Elvis did every single day of his life. This could be true only of somebody who is the beginning of an entirely new era.

How did he become and how is he still the King of rock`n`roll? Born in a poor religious family Elvis began his career as a singer in the local church. His mother was the person who gave him his first guitar and encouraged him all the way to being the King. Elvis made his first record in 1954, three years after the phrase rock`n`roll had been coined. And it wasn`t long before the nation began to swoon over the boy from Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis Presley recorded a string of hits that began with "Heartbreak Hotel" - the first in an incredible series of 14 million-record sellers. Elvis`s physical appeal contributed a lot to his singing style and performance. His twists and shouts on stage sent females in the audience into a frenzy. And he became the cult figure and the icon not only of America but of the whole world.

When you ask those real followers of Elvis what they love about him they often tell you about his charity, his generosity, his goodwill and not so much about his successful singing career. Elvis Presley embodies the American ideal and the story of his life, a "rags-to-riches" sort of a story proves once again that the American dream can come true.