Elvis Presley established himself as the King of Roll and Roll, and in the process greatly influenced movies and dancing. When Elvis Presley first appeared on TV, the way he shook his hips offended many who felt his moves were too sexual and that he was a white man trying to dance like he was black.

It became controversial for him to be on shows. Many producers showed him from the waist up, aiming not to offend viewers. But there was no stopping the popularity Elvis created due to his dancing abilities. Fans all over the world just couldn't get enough.

Concerts in Las Vegas and other venues always sold out. Many came to see him for both his singing and dancing qualities. The style was new and energetic and was perhaps one of the main driving forces of his popularity.It didn't matter that others were offended. This only served to drive the desire to have more.

Teenagers loved this rock and roll personality, as it offered them a way to rebel against parents. People who were teenagers at the time, always recall dancing to Elvis music and having a great time.

The films that appeared, showed him dancing and singing in a new and charismatic way, so that it was easy to take what they saw to their local disco and dance like elvis.

Elvis wasn't a rebel as he was labeled at that time, but instead a fresh new talent who had arrived on the scene. As proof of the revolution in popular culture that he made, people today are still impersonating him. There is now a vibrant online market offering the clothes he wore so that if you wanted to, it would be easy to set up an Elvis Presley disco dancing party.

Elvis's career development

Elvis Presley achieved legendary status as an American singer, actor and musician and is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in popular music. His good looks helped establish himself as a sex symbol.

He had a versatile voice and encompassed other styles, including gospel, blues, ballads and pop.

He was born on 8th January 1935, at Tupelo, Mississippi, to parents Vernon Elvis Presley, a truck driver and mother Gladys Love Smith, a sewing machine operator. Gospel music initially influenced his early development. IN particular his favourite singer was Jake Hess, a southern gospel singer.

Presley started out as one of performers of rockabilly and recorded his first song "My Happiness" with "That's When Your Heartaches Begin", on July 18, 1953.

"All Shook Up", Teddy Bear" and "Too Much" were big hits in the 50s and sales grew quickly during that time, followed by the launch of his film career In 1956.

He married Priscilla Presley in 1967 and their one and only child, Lisa Marie, was born on February 1, 1968. Unfortunately health problems and drug dependency caused his early death at 42 years of age on August 16, 1977.