Elvis Presley

WHO: Elvis Aaron Presley, born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi.

WHEN: January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977

WHAT: um, he's Elvis.

WHY:
Historical:
Elvis Presley is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in the history of popular music. One of the first performers of rockabilly music, his unique recordings of novel songs mixing "black" and "white" sounds combined with his uninhibited stage performances made him extremely popular as well as controversial. He has been inducted into four halls of fame, set records in record sales, concert attendance , and iconic popularity.

Practical:
1) His name is Elvis. And if that doesn't intrigue them, he is also known as "The King" or (even better) "The King of Rock and Roll".

2) Cool Details: When Elvis was a kid he was bullied and teased in school. On his eleventh birthday he asked his parents for a bike but they could only afford a guitar. Receiving guitar lessons from his uncle, Elvis quickly became attached to his new gift and was known around town as "that kid with the guitar slung across his back". He tried to get jobs at the local venues and studied the musicians he was lucky enough to see coming through Memphis. Despite his unpopularity and shyness, Elvis sang for his high school Minstrel show and won having the most applause and thus an encore.

3) In his own words: "Rock and roll music, if you like it, and you feel it, you can't help but move to it. That's what happens to me. I have to move around. I can't stand still. I've tried it, and I can't do it."

WHICH:

"Pocket Full of Rainbows"

"Hound Dog"

"That's Alright Mama"

**Cracker Jack Prize for parents:

"Hound Dog"-original version by Big Mama Thorton

SHOW THIS TO YOUR KIDS: