Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Rainbow Light]

Momentous musical moments
Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
Published: August 15, 2007, 23:37

One of the most successful entertainers of all time, Elvis Presley dominated popular music around the world right from the moment he scored his first hit with Heartbreak Hotel back in 1956.

Though he died on August 16, 1977, he left such an indelible impression that adoration has yet to wear off for countless Elvis devotees.

Elvis's songs, 45 of which sold more than a million copies each, coupled with his 33 motion pictures and his appearances on television and in live concerts, made him a legend.

He is credited with rescuing blues and rock 'n' roll, a brand of popular music that was in danger of fading into oblivion, and turning them into a medium that produced million-dollar returns.

While not traditionally viewed in the classic rock genre, it is impossible to ignore Elvis's influence on the world of rock 'n' roll.

Elvis never hesitated to give credit to his inspirations and his sound and style in turn ensured that his crown as The King of rock 'n' roll would remain valid for decades, even decades after his death.

Here's a few of the artists he influenced: David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

"The first two things that really turned me on with the magic of rock 'n' roll were Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley. These were just momentous musical moments."

Gilmour, best known for his atmospheric guitar work for premier space-rock band Pink Floyd, attributes Elvis as being one of his major influences. He said: "Heartbreak Hotel was something else. It's not just the guitar, it's the whole thing of a record like that where everything is exquisite. And Elvis's voice just made me want to do something like that. But finding the way to do it, finding how I wanted to do it, took me years."

Bruce Springsteen

"It was like he whispered his dream in all our ears and then we dreamed it."

Springsteen said he had three major artistic influences - Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Elvis Presley. But, while Dylan and Guthrie inspired him to think outside of his own little world, watching Elvis perform live was what caused him to become the artist that he is.

Prince

"Elvis Presley was the greatest cultural force in the 20th century."

Much like Elvis, this multi-talented and eccentric artist achieved crossover appeal due to his engaging stage presence and fusion of multiple musical styles. He attributes Elvis to being his inspiration.

Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)

"You have to admit, he was a great performer and a great artist."

It was Elvis's song Baby Let's Play House that hooked Jimmy Page to rock 'n' roll music and inspired him to learn to play the guitar. At the age of 13, Jimmy fell in love with the song and decided he wanted to start his own musical journey and taught himself to play. Page would play Elvis's song many times on his first guitar. Because it was Elvis who first inspired him, he is one of Page's most important musical influences.

Mac Davis

"Every performer who ever performed in rock 'n' roll or even close to it is lying if they tell you that they weren't influenced in some way or another by Elvis Presley. He turned the world around."

Scott "Mac" Davis, who played in a rock 'n' roll band and worked as a regional manager for Vee-Jay Records, was hooked on music from the moment he heard Elvis's That's All Right.

Davis said he was so inspired that he even wrote a song called Hooked on Music that told about hearing Elvis on the radio. His big breakthrough occurred in the years 1969 and 1970 when Elvis turned three of his songs, In The Ghetto, Memories and Don't Cry Daddy into hits.