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By 1957 Elvis Presley was the most famous entertainer in the world. After pioneer band leader Bill Haley spawned interest in rock and roll in western Europe, Presley's records triggered a wide shift in tastes with effects lasting many decades.

Once his records were heard, across the globe, singers in dozens of countries made Presley-influenced recordings in many languages and his own records were sold around the globe, even behind the former Iron Curtain.

By 1958 Cliff Richard, the so-called "British Elvis" was rising to prominence in the UK and, in France, Johnny Hallyday, known as the "Elvis of France", became a rock and roll idol singing in French, soon to be followed by others like Claude Franзois and, in Italy, by Adriano Celentano and Bobby Solo, all of whom heavily influenced by Elvis' early style.

Airplay and sales of Presley recordings across Europe were followed by those of other American rockers who began touring there. Teenagers around the world copied his "Ducktail" hair style.

For the next 21 years, until he passed away, Presley's singing style, mannerisms and look continued to be imitated with surprising regularity, wherever his image, songs, or movies happened to be shown, regardless of major shifts in popular culture, music, and manner of dress, all of which he had helped influunce in the first place, a decade earlier.

But it was only after his death that an industry built itself around him, with hundreds, then thousands upon thousands of men (and a few women also) of every race, creed and nationality taking up a career for life, as professional Elvis impersonators (or Elvis Tribute Artists -ETA's- as they now prefer to be called).

Conversely, a parallel industry, mostly kitsch, continues to grow around his memory, chronicling his dietary and chemical predilections along with the trappings of his wide celebrity.

Critics said this, along with the obvious shortcomings that most Elvis impersonators face when attempting to portray Elvis, both vocally and visually, tends to obscure the vibrant and vital music he once made as a young man, the vocally-influential recordings of his later career, and his lasting mark on popular culture.

Following Presley's untimely death in 1977 US President Jimmy Carter said: “Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense and he was a symbol to people the world over, of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country.”

Or as James Brown once put it, "He taught white America to get down."

Wink Martindale, who was a close friend of Elvis, aired a nationwide tribute in his memory following the news of his death. Martindale was an up-and-coming radio DJ in Memphis at the time Presley's career began to take off in high gear.

Richard Dawson also paid tribute to Elvis on an episode of Family Feud.

Among his many accomplishments, Elvis Presley is only one of four artists (Roy Orbison, Guns N' Roses and Nelly being the others) to ever have two Top 5 albums on the charts simultaneously.

He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1998), and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2001). In 1984 Presley was given the W.C. Handy Award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis for "keeping the blues alive in his music — rock and roll." In 1993, Presley's image appeared on a United States postage stamp.

Famous Celebrity Quotes

“He was the finest and mostest.” Roy Orbison

“Elvis is the greatest Blues singer in the world today.” Joe Cocker

“Every time I felt low I just put on an Elvis record and I’d feel great.” Paul McCartney

“I don’t admire nobody but Elvis Presley. He was the sweetest most humble and nicest man you’d ever meet.” Muhammad Ali

“Elvis was my Idol from the beginning and even today when I’m alone, I’ll often put on the King Creole album. He’s produced the most exciting pop music sounds of all time” Cliff Richard

QUOTES FROM LISA MARRIE :

I was quite the spoiled brat. I have quite a temper, obviously inherited from my father, and I became very good at ordering everyone around. I was the princess; the staff were absolutely terrified of me.

I was very much a daddy's girl, and was pretty tyrannical when he was sleeping. If I could get into trouble, I would.

I didn't have a lot of respect for those people because I saw a lot of debauchery and decadence going on. People trying to hid it from me, but I was onto them. I was very protective of my father and I didn't like these people who hung around outside all day. They creeped me out.

Anything my father did for me or gave me was done out of love.

After my father died, I stayed relatively sane for two years, although I did lose my noodle at summer camp right after my dad's death.

But when I hit 12, 13, that was it. I hated my mom's boyfriend, and there was a lot of control on me. I didn't like that, so I rebelled.

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