Elvis Presley: A Biography

Greenwood Biographies

by Kathleen Tracy

Almost 30 years after his death, Elvis Presley remains one of the most influential performers and recognized pop culture icons the world over. His then-unprecedented musical style-a fusion of blues, country, pop, bluegrass, and gospel-ushered in the age of rock n' roll and paved the way for generations of musicians and singers to follow. This biography will offer a seldom seen glimpse into the life of Elvis, tracing his family life, musical career, films, and legacy. The volume closes with a timeline and bibliography.

Not only did Elvis usher in a new genre of music, he also came to represent the growing dissatisfaction young people had with the mores and conventions of the restrictive 1950s. At a time when the top pop stars were Pat Boone and Andy Williams, Elvis' blatant sensuality on stage and his smoldering presence off it made him the anti-establishment poster boy. This biography offers a seldom seen glimpse into the life and career of Elvis, tracing his family life, musical career, films, and legacy. Today, the King lives on in popular culture-on Top 20 lists, in film and television, on the radio, in cyberspace, and yes, even in the countless performances by Elvis impersonators throughout the world.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Rcavictory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book,! Those that despise Priscilla should read this. She wasn't the bad person they thought she was. Gives a whole new side of Elvis. His relationship with his mother, his father, Dixie, and what their break up did to Elvis. Told to the author by his publicist and childhood friend. Still a big Elvis fan, but understand his life better.

[erna znam · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didnt know this was meant for highschoolers lmao i should read more abridged versions of stuff

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so good! I love this book because it go's through every detail of big moments in Elvis' life. The book does talk about some very disturbing things that he did and it made me feel very uncomfortable reading through that. Kathleen makes each moment through the book make you feel like you have to know whats coming next.

[Wesley Quill]

This book enlightened me on so much of Elvis' life. It made me realize how much pressure one man could bear. It also helped me realize that when you are engaged with too many things at one time, you can turn into something truly terrible.