This thread is cracking me up! 
I was never a big fan, but He paved the way for Rock 'n Roll (as we know it), he bridged the gap of Country, R&B, and Swing. Didn't invent it, but just brought it all together. There were many more artists of the time who were much more original (Chuch Berry, Fats Domino, Jerrry Lee Lewis), but were considered too radical for the day (although elvis was too, I guess).
He didn't write most of his own stuff, either. But it was rare for artists of that day to write their own songs (this is what the Beatles helped change). Carl Perkins wrote "Blue Suede Shoes", and the few that Elvis did write weren't very original, or good. (someone mentioned Hound Dog, which he didn't write either, even though his name appears as a co-writer).
It's all part of the cycle. He inspired the next generation of Rock 'n Rollers who were a little different (The Beatles, Stones, etc...), who in turn inspired the next generation (Black Sabbath, Zeppelin comes to mind), who each did something a little different, and "new" Etc, Etc....
I think as far as the fat Elvis of the late 60's and 70's, was more of a novelty act than anything. :Q
His band kicked ass though, all coked up and playing as hard and as fast as they could. I only say this because I just saw that movie "all the Kings men" on Bravo, and man them dudes played soooo fast! They showed the Rehearsal footage from a Vegas show, and Elvis would just stand there, and keep saying "Faster Boys, Faster. Heavier, Heavier, C'mon now"
I was never a big fan, but He paved the way for Rock 'n Roll (as we know it), he bridged the gap of Country, R&B, and Swing. Didn't invent it, but just brought it all together. There were many more artists of the time who were much more original (Chuch Berry, Fats Domino, Jerrry Lee Lewis), but were considered too radical for the day (although elvis was too, I guess).
He didn't write most of his own stuff, either. But it was rare for artists of that day to write their own songs (this is what the Beatles helped change). Carl Perkins wrote "Blue Suede Shoes", and the few that Elvis did write weren't very original, or good. (someone mentioned Hound Dog, which he didn't write either, even though his name appears as a co-writer).
It's all part of the cycle. He inspired the next generation of Rock 'n Rollers who were a little different (The Beatles, Stones, etc...), who in turn inspired the next generation (Black Sabbath, Zeppelin comes to mind), who each did something a little different, and "new" Etc, Etc....
I think as far as the fat Elvis of the late 60's and 70's, was more of a novelty act than anything. :Q
His band kicked ass though, all coked up and playing as hard and as fast as they could. I only say this because I just saw that movie "all the Kings men" on Bravo, and man them dudes played soooo fast! They showed the Rehearsal footage from a Vegas show, and Elvis would just stand there, and keep saying "Faster Boys, Faster. Heavier, Heavier, C'mon now"
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