Elvis Presley Comparison Essay

Elvis Presley and The Beatles are two of the most famous music icons in American history. Although they both rose to fame ten years apart, both made marks in the world of music, and both made marks in the world of new music. Who was better though? For years it’s been ongoing argument-was Elvis Presley, King of Rock n’ Roll better? Or were The Beatles better? Elvis Presley began singing when he was only a young child, but didn’t get his first guitar until his 11th birthday, in 1946. After he graduated in 1953, he began to pursue his dream and cut his first demo record at what would later become known as Sun Studio. Elvis’ first number one single was “Heartbreak Hotel,” as well as his first number one album, Elvis Presley. The Beatles became The Beatles in 1960, when they officially became a band. The band consisted of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. John Lennon formed the band, after briefly being in a band “The Quarry Men,” in high school. After hearing young Paul McCartney play guitar, Lennon asked McCartney if he wanted to start a band. Lennon
Even though several African American singers had some number one single hits, it was during a time when segregation and discrimination was legal and still very much around, especially in the south. Regardless, Elvis never failed to cite his debt to their music. He was influenced by singers like Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, B.B King, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Ivory Joe Hunter, and Fats Domino. When they were younger, the four Beatles members were all followers of British Rock n’ Rollers, notably Cliff Richard and The Shadows. However, many of the band’s influences were of American Origin. It’s been told that Chuck Berry was perhaps the “most fundamental progenitor of the Beatles’ sound.” The Beatles were also influenced by singers such as Billy Cochran, Carl Perkins, and some early Motown