Elvis is timeless. Born in 1935, he was one of the first southern rock and roll artists, he died in 1977. He was only 42. He has now been dead almost the same length of time that he was alive. Yet even my oh-so-young granddaughters recognize a statue or picture of Elvis.
It's hard to find a young person who would recognize Marc Bolan of T. Rex who died in the same year. Or a young person who could identify Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame who died when the group's plane crashed. But Elvis is recognizable worldwide.
The music of T. Rex and especially that of Lynyrd Skynyrd carries on. Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama still gets lots of airplay. But most of the Elvis Presley songbook is forgotten. Presley was reduced to playing his oldies but goodies while he was still alive. There were never many requests for the songs featured in his movies. songs like "Queenie Wahine's Papaya."
No, it is Elvis himself who carries on. Elvis was truly memorable. He had a remarkable presence.
1 comment:
He was one of a kind.
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