Elvis Presley is one of the biggest names in rock and roll. Singer, musician and actor, he was an American icon. He is best known as the king of rock and roll. His musical influence included the country and pop music of the time, the gospel music he sang in church, and the black R&B music he listened to as a teenager (Complete Story of the Dynamic Life of Elvis Presley). Elvis influenced American culture not only while he was alive, but also in the 21st century today. It wasn't easy for him to be accepted; in fact many adults and older generations of his time were appalled by his performances and music. Over time, however, people were able to accept him and he became famous throughout the world. Even after his death Americans are still influenced by his music. Presley had some of the most unforgettable and also unpredictable singles of the 1950s and 1960s (Complete History of the Dynamic Life of Elvis Presley). According to the New York Times article “25 Years Later, Elvis Rolls On,” written by Jon Pareles (2002), Elvis did not invent rock and roll but made the music larger than life. It kicked off rock n' roll's takeover of popular culture, broadening its visions of country and blues, pop and gospel with a star presence and a jolt of sexuality (Pareles, 2002). On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. to Vernon and Gladys Presley. He later changed the spelling of his middle name to Aaron using the biblical form (biography.com). According to the article Elvis Aron Presley found on Academic OneFile, his twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, died shortly after birth and Elvis grew up to be an only child. Presley grew up surrounded by the gospel music of the Pentecostal church (Rock and Roll... middle of paper... 20th century popular culture (complete story of the dynamic life of Elvis Presley). References Elvis Presley. (2011) Biography.com. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/elvis-presley-9446466Elvis Presley Biography: Elvis Australia (2004, January 8). ), Elvis keeps moving forward. Excerpt from Academic OneFileRock and Roll Hall of Fame biography (n.d.). : Elvis Presley as a postmodern semiotic construct. Journal of Literary Studies Retrieved from Academic OneFile