The History of Rock and Roll and My Tour of Elvis’ Graceland
By Anessa Lee (SMHS ‘20)
In my Honors US History class, I learned about the birth of Rock and Roll music in 1948 and the subsequent rise to fame and glory of Rock and Roll singer Elvis Presley. In this regard, I specifically learned that:
- Elvis began his music career in Tupelo, Mississippi in 1954, recording his first song at a place called Sun Records and for a producer named Sam Phillips, a man who was attracted to Elvis’ voice and singing style because he wanted to bring the sound of African American must, via a white singer, to a wider audience and he thought Elvis could do just that.
- Elvis’ first hit single, “Heartbreak Hotel” was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States.
- Heartbreak Hotel was followed by a long series of other chart-topping records.
- By the time of Elvis’ death in 1977, he was regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century.
- Elvis is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King.”
After having learned the above, my teacher encouraged me to locate some place more than fifty miles from the school that could teach me even more about Elvis . . . then go to that place, tour it, and write a 750–1000 History Travel Blog describing that tour.
In the History Travel Blog appearing below, I describe my tour of Elvis’ Graceland — a mansion that sits on a 13.8-acre estate in Memphis and that was once owned by Elvis. It’s also a place that in June 1982 was opened to the public as a museum and that since then has provided visiters by the millions with an opportunity to “celebrate Elvis’ achievements and witness the glory of all things The King.”
Graceland is located in Memphis, Tennessee, 1792 miles from my school, and I toured the museum while in Memphis for a tennis tournament during the winter of 2019.
My name is Anessa Lee and in my Honors U.S. History class this past semester I read in our US History class textbook about the birth of Rock ’N’ Roll and one of our country’s greatest Rock and Roll singers, Elvis Presley.
Here’s what my textbook had to say about Rock and Roll in the 1950s and Elvis’ music in that decade.
In the early and mid-1950s, Richard Penniman, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, and His Comets, and especially Elvis Presley brought rock ’n’ roll to a frantic pitch of popularity among the newly affluent teens who bought their records. The music’s heavy rhythm, simple melodies, and lyrics-featuring love, cars, and the problems of being young-captivated teenagers across the country.
Elvis Presley, the unofficial “King of Rock ’n’ Roll”, first developed his musical style by singing in church and listening to gospel, country, and blues music on the radio in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was a young boy, his mother gave him a guitar, and years later he paid four dollars of his own money to record songs in 1953.
Presley’s live appearances were immensely popular, and 45 of his records sold over a million copies, including “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Hound Dog”, “All Shook Up”, DOn’t be Cruel”, and “Burning Love”.
My Tour of Graceland
I was recently in Memphis, Tennessee for a tennis tournament. A few days before my tennis matches started, my dad, my brother, and I decided to drive down to Graceland, the house that Elvis Presley used to live in.
I had always heard stories about Elvis’ movies and how he was the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, but I had never heard any of his music or seen any of his movies. But because he received so much praise from my father and because of what I had learned in my US history class about Elvis, I decided to check out Graceland, if only to learn about this iconic celebrity and his impact on Rock ’n’ Roll.
During our tour of Graceland, we were given an audio recording to guide us through the rooms.
We first visited his bed rooms and then moved into other rooms, and especially those in which he wrote and practiced playing some of his greatest songs.
The room picured above was the most interesting for me, in large part because of the eccentric walls and ceiling. It is made completely of colorful carpet and tapestry which really caught my attention and it was interesting to see the room where Elvis got to relax and hang out with his friends. The audio speaker also mentioned that this room was a place where Elvis found inspiration for his songs.
During the tour, I also got to learn a little more about Presley’s background before he became a star. In this regard, I learned that after highschool, Elvis served time in the military. I also learned that after having served in the Army, he acted in 33 movies, though his passion was singing music.
It was interesting to get a glimpse of his life before he was famous and to see what kind of background he came from.
It was even more interesting to learn that when he earned the money from all his success, he moved himself, his mom, and his dad from Mississippi to Graceland to live with him. Apparently, he never thought he would become a big deal and have such a great impact on the music of his time.
One other thing that really impressed me about Elvis and his Graceland mansion is that he had lots of pictures of himself there.
One picture that I especially liked was this one.
Before getting to Graceland, I did not know that Elvis was ever married or that he ever had had a kid.
From all of these picture, I couldn’t help but conclude that he sure seemed to have a lot of love for his family, which probably inspired him to keep performing.
I also got to see some action pictures of his great dance-moves and live performances as well.
All in all, my tour of Graceland was super interesting.
Looking at his old records, visiting all the rooms in his house, and seeing where he wrote and/or was inspired to sing some of his greatest hits was truly an amazing experience. He no doubt changed the face of Rock ’n’ Roll for decades to come.
If you, after reading all this, find yourself interested in learning more about Elvis’ past, life as a star, and the era of Rock ’n’ Roll then I strongly suggest that one day you come to Graceland and tour the place for youself.
For me, touring Graceland was truly an amazing experience. Elvis was a great American icon and someone who should long be remembered for his lifetime of achievement.
