"Though Elvis seems nearly as much a function of time and place as of talent and personality, his rise was clearly no accident. Peter Guralnick presents Elvis as the vessel, Sam and Dewey Phillips as the catalysts, and rock 'n' roll as a historical inevitability. Now, "Why him?" is what other Memphis boys kept asking in the summer of 1954, when Sun issued his first single, "That's All Right Mama" backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky". There were a hundred other kids in Memphis with talent and ambition, any one of them as accomplished as Elvis so, again, why him?. To Marion Keisker, Sam's assistant, "He was like a mirror in a way: whatever you were looking for, you were going to find in him. In short, he had all the intricacy of the very simple." This ability to mirror the dreams and yearnings of others is the hallmark of every great star, from Judy Garland to Marilyn Monroe to James Dean. Within two years, Elvis would be one of them."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Actors from MississippiAmerican country singersSinger-songwriters from the United StatesGuitarists from the United StatesGospel singers
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Frank Rose, reviewing Peter Guralnick's "Last Train to Memphis" for Los Angeles Times Book ReviewĚş's October 2, 1994 edition in an essay entitled "Why Elvis".
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Elvis Presley
film actor, singer, composer
1935 – 1977 · United States
(8 January 1935 – 16 August 1977) was an American singer, musician, and actor. Popularly known by his first name as "Elvis," as "The King of Rock and Roll" or simply as "The King," he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century.
2020 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Elvis Presley →
Related Quotes
"Warhol was fascinated by popular and celebrity culture, and Elvis undeniably represented the ultimate subject for the…"
"Jimi is a huge Elvis fan, so we always start off by listening to 'Elvis’ Christmas Album'"
"With his blue eyes he should photograph well with black hair."
"My dad's head went into a fantasy, this idea of everything being better in America. Of course for his generation, tha…"
"Elvis was the blueprnt, he and ice cream blew my mind"
"He really enjoyed doing the sessions and worked harder than he had done in years.."
"We all know, of course, that Elvis was a philanthropist and humanitarian. The stories of his generosity are legendary…"
"Believe me, Benny just had this incredible electricity about him. He was the Elvis Presley of Cleveland."
"The voice is so melodious, and – of course, by accident, this glorious voice and musical sensibility was combined wit…"
"If Rock and Roll were a religion, Elvis was its most prolific disciple, responsible for more converts than anyone bef…"