Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel

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Elvis Aaron (or Arona) Presley (January 8, 1935 August 16, 1977) was an American musician and actor. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13. He began his career there in 1954 when Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, eager to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience, saw in Presley the means to realize his ambition. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was one of the originators of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for over two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", released in January 1956, was a number one hit. He became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll with a series of network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs, many from African American sources, and his uninhibited performance style made him enormously popular—and controversial. In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender.

Conscripted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He staged few concerts, however, and, guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, after seven years away from the stage, he returned to live performance in a celebrated comeback television special that led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of profitable tours. In 1973, Presley staged the first concert broadcast globally via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii, seen by approximately 1.5 billion viewers. Prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at the age of 42.

Presley is regarded as one of the most important figures of 20th-century popular culture. He had a versatile voice and unusually wide success encompassing many genres, including country, pop ballads, gospel, and blues. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music. Nominated for 14 competitive Grammys, he won three, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36. He has been inducted into four music halls of fame.

"Don't Be Cruel" was the first song that Presley's song publishers, Hill and Range, brought to him to record.[3] Blackwell was more than happy to give up 50% of the royalties and a co-writing credit to Presley to ensure that the "hottest new singer around covered it".

Presley recorded the song on July 2, 1956 during an exhaustive recording session at RCA studios in New York City. During this session he also recorded "Hound Dog", and "Any Way You Want Me". The song featured Presley's regular band of Scotty Moore on lead guitar (with Presley usually providing rhythm guitar), Bill Black on bass, D.J. Fontana on drums, and backing vocals from the Jordanaires. The producing credit was given to RCA's Steve Sholes, although the studio recordings reveal that Presley produced the songs in this session by selecting the song, reworking the arrangement on piano, and insisting on 28 takes before he was satisfied with it.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Category:

Education

Tags:

• pop
• rock
• rockabilly
• king

[RussX5Z]

How did Elvis sing without a mic? 

[John1948FourC]

@RussX5Z They probably used a boom mike like they did in the movies. They would hang overhead. That's when the performance was live. If they were lip-synching, which was common, no mikes were needed.

[ChickweblisLuv]

Well, wasn't he the charming one... I almost wanted to scream like those girls and I'm only watching him on video! Can you imagine actually being there and seeing him in the flesh? What a trip!

P.S. I love it when he starts laughing and the 'mmm' he does at 0:56! So cute!

[John1948FourC]

@dougcapehart Oh yeah! Well, psychoanalyze this! LOL You do know it's just a song , right?

[sexybrunetteify]

my god Elvis is so beautiful and he had so much fun singing!!!

[MoodyBlueish]

I just love the man,always.....!!!!!

[keithmoon90]

@John1948FourC There are pictures from just by the audiences point of view, and you're right, they used a boom mic, for all his tv shows, elvis never mimed. That's what's so great about this era

[LIDERU1]

@RussX5Z He had a powerfull voice

[tuningmachine]

An unparalleled performer.

[hotathlete2]

@SullenMorbius that hiccup has been used by many performers, most notable is Michael Jackson in songs like billie jean etc.

[sexybrunetteify]

he is just adorable Elvis forever!!

[SarahMeyers1000]

i love this song:)

[ItalianCherrySoda]

This video never fails to make me smile. The 'mmm' is adorable! I just love how he's smiling and laughing and just enjoying himself. And the way he always bites his lips like that! haha!

The song; just adds to the cuteness. :)

[sylvie01945]

SUBLIME MON KING !!!!