elvis and the beatles
Arguably, the success of Elvis Presley and the Beatles can be attributed to both their talent as well as skilled management. Arguing whether an artist or group is talented relies heavily on how talent is defined. For this essay, talent will be defined as a marked innate ability to do something well. Indisputably, both Elvis and the Beatles were central figures in the evolution of Rock and Roll thus, what they did, they did well. Many assert that the Beatles wrote and played their own music and therein lay their talent. Unlike the Beatles, Presley did not write his own music, nor was he particularly aspired to. However, does that render him any less talented? He may not have been the best or the most consistent but Presley is undoubtedly a central figure in the development of Rock and Roll. He had an ear for music and a gift for incorporating pre-existing styles of music into his own unique style. Presley grew up as a poor white southern boy and was in a position to absorb rhythm and blues, country and western, white and black gospel, bluegrass, western swing and pop. His musical versatility and multifaceted appeal, over the years, helped to redraw the boundary lines of Rock and Roll. He was the first artist to blend bl . . .
‘The Beatles are Coming’ stickers, an interview record, sent to disk jockeys and radio play all contributed to the Beatlemania that swept the States in 1964. Though not necessarily musically knowledgeable, Colonel Tom Parker and Brian Epstein worked diligently to sell their respective acts to the media and the public. Although his musical knowledge was limited at best, he was a brilliant salesman. This song writing team were responsible for most of the act’s material throughout their career (George Harrison would also try his hand at song writing in later years). Eventually, he secured a record contract with Parlophone in mid-1962 that would catapult them internationally. He holds records for the most charted albums, most hits in the top ten, most two-sided hit singles, most consecutive top ten records, most total weeks in the number one position, and, with twenty-seven, the most consecutive years on the charts. However, he was a talented singer and performer whose main aspiration was success. Presley’s contract was sold to RCA in late 1955. At the time of his death he had sold five hundred million records and sales continue to multiply. His charisma, energy and showmanship, though controversial, made him popular, especially with teenage girls. However, whereas Presley ha d a gift for interpreting other people’s music, the Beatles had the capacity to write and play their own music. He orchestrated publicity in the States, by persuading Capitol Records to spend 50, 000 dollars. He had a varied repertoire of music, which included early rock classics like “That’s All Right Mamma” and “Heartbreak Hotel” to sentimental love songs.
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