How Well Do You Know Elvis Presley's Life and Career?

Study Notes

Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi.
He was a pioneer of rockabilly, a fusion of country and rhythm and blues music.
In 1956, he released his first number-one hit, "Heartbreak Hotel."
Presley was also an actor, starring in films such as Jailhouse Rock (1957) and Blue Hawaii (1961).
He was drafted into military service in 1958 and returned to his music career two years later.
In 1968, he made a comeback with his television special Elvis.
Presley struggled with prescription drug abuse and unhealthy eating habits, which led to his death at the age of 42 in 1977.
He has sold about 500 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Presley won three Grammy Awards and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
In 2018, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Elvis Presley was a popular American singer who received no formal music training and could not read music.
He studied and played music by ear and frequented record stores that provided jukeboxes and listening booths to customers.
Presley listened to regional radio stations that played "race records": spirituals, blues, and the modern, backbeat-heavy sound of rhythm and blues.
He was influenced by local African-American musicians such as Arthur Crudup and Rufus Thomas.
In August 1953, Presley checked into the offices of Memphis Recording Service to record a two-sided acetate disc: "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin".
In July 1954, Presley recorded "That's All Right" with guitarist Winfield "Scotty" Moore and upright bass player Bill Black at Sun Records, which became his breakthrough hit.
Presley played publicly for the first time on July 17 at the Bon Air club, where he pioneered his signature style dance movement known as "Rubber Legs".
From August through October, Presley played frequently at the Eagle's Nest club and returned to Sun Studio for more recording sessions.
In November 1954, Presley performed on Louisiana Hayride and had a year's worth of Saturday-night appearances on the show.
By early 1955, Presley's regular Hayride appearances, constant touring, and well-received record releases had made him a regional star.
Elvis Presley was discovered by Sam Phillips of Sun Records in 1954.
He signed a management contract with Bob Neal and was introduced to Colonel Tom Parker, who became his special adviser.
Presley's music was a blend of R&B and country, which made it difficult for him to find radio airplay.
He was known as "The King of Western Bop", "The Hillbilly Cat", and "The Memphis Flash".
Presley's popularity among teenage boys often led to jealousy and violence at his shows.
RCA Victor acquired Presley's Sun contract for $40,000 in 1955.
Presley made his first recordings for RCA Victor in Nashville in 1956 and released his self-titled debut album, which topped the Billboard chart.
He made two appearances on NBC's Milton Berle Show, where his controversial gyrations during a performance of "Hound Dog" caused outrage among television critics.
Presley signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures in 1956.
He continued to tour extensively throughout the late 1950s, and his popularity and influence on rock and roll music continued to grow.

Elvis Presley's "grunt and groin" antics were criticized by Ed Sullivan and deemed unfit for family viewing.
Steve Allen Show introduced a new Elvis in a white bow tie and black tails, singing "Hound Dog" to a basset hound wearing a top hat and bow tie.
Elvis recorded "Hound Dog", "Any Way You Want Me" and "Don't Be Cruel" with the Jordanaires.
Elvis made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956, which was seen by approximately 60 million viewers.
Elvis' performance of "Love Me Tender" on The Ed Sullivan Show prompted a record-shattering million advance orders.
Elvis' live shows had increasingly fevered audience responses, and there were riots at his concerts.
Elvis released his second RCA Victor album, "Elvis", which rose to number one on the billboard.
Elvis' first motion picture, "Love Me Tender", was released on November 21, 1956, and was panned by critics but did well at the box office.
Elvis had an impromptu jam session with Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, which became known as the "Million Dollar Quartet" recordings.
Elvis made his third and final Ed Sullivan Show appearance on January 6, 1957, and was classified 1-A and would soon be drafted.

Description

How well do you know the King of Rock and Roll? Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the life and career of Elvis Presley. From his humble beginnings in Mississippi to his rise as a music and movie icon, this quiz covers it all. Learn about his early recordings, controversial performances, and his influence on rock and roll music. Challenge yourself and see if you can score 10/10 on this Elvis Presley trivia quiz.