Number One U. S. Singles

Description

Elvis Presley is perhaps the most important figure in 20th century American popular music. He popularized Rock & Roll on an international level and his record sales made him the best-selling artist in history. But what is even more important for a music lover are his remarkable artistic qualities. Presley was not the first white man to sing rhythm & blues; Bill Haley preceded him in this path, and there may have been others. However, Elvis was certainly the first to confidently merge country music and blues with rhythm & blues into a new style known as rockabilly.
While rockabilly arrangements formed the foundation of his early (and perhaps best) recordings, Presley could not have become a superstar without a much more varied palette ranging from pop to gospel and even a few snippets of bluegrass and opera schmaltz. His recordings from the 50s established the basic language of rock & roll; an explosive and sexual stage presence and an incredibly powerful and versatile voice. Since his death, Elvis's status as a global icon has never waned. According to Life magazine, Elvis's image has adorned stamps from over 51 countries. Even nearly half a century after his death, celebrations and annual festivals are held around the world and thousands of Elvis impersonators perform regularly.