40 Years Later: How Elvis Presley Changed Music Culture Forever

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, takes a brief look back at “The King’s” cultural impact

 Today marks the 40^th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s untimely passing. It was on this day in 1977 that Presley was found in his Graceland home after having died from a heart attack presumably caused by a drug overdose. He was just 42 years old.

Presley led a remarkable career in the music industry, becoming one of the most popular singers in music history. He had 18 number one singles in the US and countless others place in the top 100. During his lifetime, he had nine number one albums. Even after his death his popularity continued, earning another number one album in 2002.

There were two things in particular that made Elvis Presley stand out in American culture: his music and his stage presence. Much of his music was influenced by the black artists he grew up listening to. A fan of early blues singers like B.B. King and Arthur “Big Boy Crudup, Presley wanted to share that music with the world. And he did. His first single was a cover of Crudup’s “That’s All Right,” which he had recorded after starting to sing it during a break at his first recording session for Sun Records. Much of his original songs were also written with those same blues progressions in mind. This bothered people because of race relations at the time. Black DJs didn’t want to play Presley’s music because he was white and when DJs did play his music, people often thought he was black.

Elvis was also known for his trademark dance moves, most importantly the way he shook his hips. Debuting his infamous pelvic moves during his performance of “Hound Dog” on ‘The Milton Berle Show,’ Presley made young girls swoon and adults wag their fingers. Many found his performance to be over-sexualized and obscene. Following television performances were quick to censor his pelvic thrusts by filming him from the waist up.

Despite his critics, who called him the “dangerous” embodiment of rock and roll and rebellion, Presley’s popularity exceeded the hate. His combination of “black music” and lively performances were crucial in helping to start a new counter-cultural revolution, one that attempted to break down color barriers and awaken the youth to influences outside of what was deemed “safe.” Presley’s status as a cultural icon grew, leading to a rabid fan base that would only be rivaled by Beatlemania five years later.

Presley’s cultural influence can still be felt to this day. His music is still highly respected and popular, with new compilations flying off the shelves, one of which is currently vying for the top spot on the UK album charts. He currently ranks number five in artists with the most singles on the Billboard 100 even though he has not released new music in four decades. Presley’s Graceland home continues to be a tourist destination with fans of all ages coming to pay respects to the singer.

Elvis Presley’s iconic music and presence made him a cultural phenomenon with a legacy that remains unmatched. A symbol of the counter-culture, his music helped bring what was traditionally considered “black music” to the masses in the form of rock and roll. His hip-shaking, though seemingly harmless now, was a symbol of rebellion. Now 40 years after his passing, new generations are continuing to discover his music, letting “the King’s” legacy live on.

---

Find music from Elvis Presley and more iconic artists at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from spanning a wide array of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store and online at vinylbay777.com. More titles are being added all the time, so there’s always something new to find.