I decided to write a blog on this specific chapter because of my admiration for Elvis Presley. He made an immense impact on popular music, and plus he is my grandmother’s all-time favorite performer, so I couldn’t resist talking about him. I find it interesting that, upon first hearing him, listeners did not know if Presley was white or black, and I think that this has something to do with his wild popularity as he was able to appeal to both audiences. I also like that this article refers to Elvis and his team as “the trio,” as opposed to crediting only Presley. This is an important fact when looking at their influence.

I really enjoyed reading the interview with Sam Phillips because it gives me insight into what it was like working with Elvis, and also the man who made him. Phillips gave Elvis the start he needed, and I was happy to read that he didn’t regret selling their contract, because I think he did a good thing by it. But I also think Elvis did eventually lose himself, and that’s what Phillips touches on in the end when he mentions, “dying before you actually physically die.” It was tragic for Elvis, but he had something no one else did. He had the charisma, the looks, the voice and the presence that is just so few and far between.

This week I chose to write about “The Songs of Chuck Berry,” in the article From Rhythm and Blues to Rock ‘n’ Roll. I find this article to be fascinating because it is about an artist who was alive and making music at the very peak of fame for rock ‘n’ roll music. He is commonly associated with old rock artists like Little Richie and Elvis Presley, as stated in the article, but I like how he comments on the different styles of music during his interview. He says that he plays rock when he feels like dancing, or when he’s sentimental, he play western music. Berry ends by saying, “And of course I do play jazz because that’s the only music you can learn something from.” I find this quote to be amusing, in a way, because that is how I feel about music today. I retain very little from the popular music of right now, as Chuck Berry felt of his time. Jazz was the beginning of true popular music, as was rhythm and blues, so I feel it’s appropriate for him to say this. Of course, I don’t agree, as I feel there is plenty to learn from the music of the 50s-70s, but his statement I can surely relate to.