One of the best-selling solo music artists of all time, Elvis Presley embodied the spirit of rebellion and youth culture in the 1950s. He redefined popular music by blending his distinctive voice with elements of rock, country, blues and gospel. In addition to winning three Grammy awards, he also starred in 31 feature films, and two concert documentaries. 

But how did a young working-class truck driver rise to unprecedented fame? Why did Elvis rarely leave the United States, despite offers from all over the world? And what led to his decline and early death at just 42 years old?

This is a Short History Of….Elvis Presley.

A Noiser Production, written by Nicola Rayner. With thanks to Mitch Benn, comedian, musician, author, and lifelong Elvis fan. 

Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices