Rogers60

No one musically reflects our high school years more than Elvis "the Pelvis", as he was known then. Bill Haley somewhat shocked the adult public, not himself as a person, but his introduction of rock and roll. Later, in the mid-60s, The Beatles shocked the adult and staid members of the American public, not so much because of their music but their hair style.

 

Elvis did both. He launched the raunchy "duck tail," more commonly called by us, the "D A", which stood for "duck's ass." That did describe it accurately. Elvis was nicknamed "Swivel Hips" because that was part of his performing act. Remember that Ed Sullivan, not shy about inviting anyone popular to his Sunday night show, "Show of Shows," but his insistence the camera would not drop down below the waist because his swiveling, thrusting hips looked too much like an act of fornicating. The 50s, you will recall, was when even married couples would not be shown in the same bed.

 

Personally, I never cared for Elvis. I thought he was too greasy with that slick-backed, black hair. He looked too much like what we called, a "rod", a term for what generally was a JD--"Juvenile Delinquent". My closest friend in my 7th and 8th grade years at Logan, the now late Ron Bodvin, was a real Elvis fan. He went to every Elvis movie, nearly gushing over "Jail House Rock." That was one of the major topics that we had serious differences. I still have not seen an Elvis movie.

 

Without question, Elvis was the music icon of the late 50s. Who else would be so loved by so many that he has become, in death, a cult figure. There are many who think he still lives in spirit. Elvis impersonators are a legion. When some of his more sedate tunes, such as "In the Ghetto" and the classic "Love Me Tender" are played on the radio, I'll bet women across America weep. I think many guys were a bit jealous of any guy so popular with girls. I have to admit I was impressed that he did what few men with his popularity would never have done: report for duty as ordered, when receiving the dreaded letter from the President, "Greetings." Elvis did his 2-year stint in the Army, in Germany, putting his career on hold. Not even John Wayne did such a thing, instead finagled staying in Hollywood to make movies and money--and himself more popular.

 

Elvis came back to the recording and stage life, dressed up on fancy-dance suits and became part of the drug culture of the 60s--which Eliza Doolittle (the Lady in "My Fair Lady"), would say about Elvis' drug use, "It done (him) in--that's what it did." I can't say I miss him, but I do acknowledge his place in the American cultural history, his talent and some memories associated with his tunes. Who, for example, could ever forget such songs as "Blue Suede Shoes." Yes, I prefer the originator of that, Carl Perkins, but Elvis had a more rock and roll sound for the times; Carl's was a bit too country-western, even though no country boy would ever wear blue suede shoes. Did anyone wear blue suede shoes? I remember wearing Pat Boone style white bucks--and being jeered by some kid's dad for doing so, which caused me to never wear them again.

 

That's enough about "The King" of rock and roll. Now, I can hardly wait to do my real favorite and the Elvis main competitor in musicmem columns coming up in March and April.