Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley walked into Sun Studio in Memphis in 1953 and within two years had ignited a cultural revolution. His fusion of Black rhythm and blues with white country music created rockabilly, a hybrid that scandalized conservative America and thrilled teenagers. Scotty Moore's guitar work on early Sun recordings — 'That's All Right,' 'Mystery Train,' 'Baby Let's Play' — established the electric guitar as rock's lead instrument. Elvis's physical performance, his hip movements and raw vocal delivery, made rock and roll a visual as well as sonic experience. His move to RCA and producer Colonel Tom Parker brought commercial dominance but gradually smoothed his radical edges. The 1968 Comeback Special reasserted his artistic credibility, showcasing an electrifying live performer stripped of Hollywood artifice. His influence on popular culture is almost impossible to overstate — he didn't invent rock and roll, but he was the catalyst that transformed it from a regional style into a global phenomenon. Every rock performer who followed walks in his wake.