Source: David Halberstam. The Fifties (1997)
The Brown decision was the first important break between the pre-WW II traditionalists and the post-WW II modernists. The second was Elvis Presley: in cultural terms, Elvis was the start of a revolution. Leonard Bernstein in the late-1960s stated that Elvis was the greatest cultural force of the 20th Century in terms of music, language, clothes, etc. Elvis was an accidental revolutionary, a talented young man that arrived at the right place at the right time.
Elvis actually had little interest in music in-and-of-itself other than as a vehicle to Hollywood to be the next
Marlon Brando or James Dean, a rebel on the big screen. Although Elvis would never become what he aspired to be, he learned the "No Smile Thing" from Brando, Dean, and Tony Curtis. Elvis was sure that not smiling was the key to their success, and he was sure he could achieve that same sultry look . . . Elvis spent hours practicing in front of a mirror.
Elvis actually had little interest in music in-and-of-itself other than as a vehicle to Hollywood to be the next
Marlon Brando or James Dean, a rebel on the big screen. Although Elvis would never become what he aspired to be, he learned the "No Smile Thing" from Brando, Dean, and Tony Curtis. Elvis was sure that not smiling was the key to their success, and he was sure he could achieve that same sultry look . . . Elvis spent hours practicing in front of a mirror.
Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records, a recording studio in Memphis, had been waiting for someone like Elvis, who was white but sounded like an African-American vocalist. It took Elvis a while to gather his courage to enter Phillips' studio, but he did so in the Summer of 1953. Ironically, he was sent to Phillips because another talent scout wanted to be rid of Elvis. Elvis was very eager to please, despite his nerves, when he entered Sun Records. Few Americans have been so rebellious in appearance but so polite with their manners, but that didn't bother Phillips in the least.
Philips liked Elvis' clothes. Elvis bought his clothes at Lansky's, a store on Beale Street whose customers were mostly flashy African-American men. Phillips also liked Elvis' sideburns. There is some dispute as to whether Phillips was actually in the studio when Elvis first walked in (Phillips' secretary took credit for the first recording). Phillips claimed he was there and recorded/pressed the first disc. Phillips knew Elvis had some kind of special talent, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
On 5 July 1954, Phillips brought in two musicians, and Elvis recorded "That's All Right Mama". It was a song from famed bluesman Arthur Crudup, but hadn't gone anywhere in terms of popularity. Elvis' blend of country with blues ("Rock-a-billy") would to right to the center of U.S. popular culture.
Philips liked Elvis' clothes. Elvis bought his clothes at Lansky's, a store on Beale Street whose customers were mostly flashy African-American men. Phillips also liked Elvis' sideburns. There is some dispute as to whether Phillips was actually in the studio when Elvis first walked in (Phillips' secretary took credit for the first recording). Phillips claimed he was there and recorded/pressed the first disc. Phillips knew Elvis had some kind of special talent, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
On 5 July 1954, Phillips brought in two musicians, and Elvis recorded "That's All Right Mama". It was a song from famed bluesman Arthur Crudup, but hadn't gone anywhere in terms of popularity. Elvis' blend of country with blues ("Rock-a-billy") would to right to the center of U.S. popular culture.
Phillips was sure the song was a winner, so he sent a copy to WHBQ to a disc jockey he knew, who had many listeners that were white kids. Dewey Phillips (no relation) was the conduit for the white kids of Memphis to hear African-American music with a powerful beat. The schools were still segregated, but the airwaves were not. Dewey wanted to know how popular his three hour radio show was, so he asked listeners to honk their horns if they were listening to his show at 9 pm, whether in the car or at home. At 9:05 pm the Memphis police chief called and told Dewey to stop his antics. So Dewey went back on the air and told his listeners that due to the police chief's call, he would not be able to say that he wanted his listeners to honk their horns at 11:30 pm.
Not only was Dewey Phillips a passive-aggressive rebel, but according to Sam Phillips, Dewey had a "platinum ear", and was connected to his young listeners to an incredible degree. So it was no surprise that Sam sent Elvis' first recordings to Dewey. The songs were such a success that Dewey spent all his show alternating between Side A and Side B on the disc. In another bit of irony, Elvis could not read music, but he nonetheless could play guitar, and he could imitate any voice that he chose.
Not only was Dewey Phillips a passive-aggressive rebel, but according to Sam Phillips, Dewey had a "platinum ear", and was connected to his young listeners to an incredible degree. So it was no surprise that Sam sent Elvis' first recordings to Dewey. The songs were such a success that Dewey spent all his show alternating between Side A and Side B on the disc. In another bit of irony, Elvis could not read music, but he nonetheless could play guitar, and he could imitate any voice that he chose.
Elvis grew up in a segregated world, but the radio dial was segregated. As the 1950s began, white kids had started to buy African-American Rhythm & Blues records, but no one saw it as a trend until 1951. Alan Freed was apprised of what was going on in terms of record sales among white kids by Lee Mintz, an owner of a local Cleveland record store. Mintz wanted Freed, a radio disc jockey, to change the format of his classical music show. And, if Freed did so, Mintz would advertise on the show, and work to find additional advertisers.
Mintz told Freed that the appeal of the music to white kids was centered around the beat. Freed had not yet found his special niche as a disc jockey on radio, but he not only found his niche, but secured his place in American music history. In the Summer of 1951, Freed started "The Moondog Show" on a 50,000 watt radio station in Cleveland, a station that was so powerful it reached most of the Midwest. Freed's success was immediate: it was as if an entire generation of middle class white kids had been waiting for someone to catch up with the times. On the radio, Freed became one of kids; he was on their side, opposite of their parents. When Freed endorsed concerts, thousands of tickets were sold, and more would be sold if he announced that he would be at the concert. In 1953, Freed had become incredibly popular in several states, while Elvis had graduated from high school, and had very limited options to pursue . . .
Mintz told Freed that the appeal of the music to white kids was centered around the beat. Freed had not yet found his special niche as a disc jockey on radio, but he not only found his niche, but secured his place in American music history. In the Summer of 1951, Freed started "The Moondog Show" on a 50,000 watt radio station in Cleveland, a station that was so powerful it reached most of the Midwest. Freed's success was immediate: it was as if an entire generation of middle class white kids had been waiting for someone to catch up with the times. On the radio, Freed became one of kids; he was on their side, opposite of their parents. When Freed endorsed concerts, thousands of tickets were sold, and more would be sold if he announced that he would be at the concert. In 1953, Freed had become incredibly popular in several states, while Elvis had graduated from high school, and had very limited options to pursue . . .
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