Object Details
Artist
Ralph Wolfe Cowan, 1931 - 2018
Sitter
Elvis Aron Presley, 8 Jan 1935 - 16 Aug 1977
Exhibition Label
Born Tupelo, Mississippi
Elvis Presley grew up in the musical melting pot of Memphis, where his emerging talent was heavily influenced by local strains of pop, country, rhythm and blues, and gospel. As a young truck driver in 1953, he paid four dollars to record a song for his mother’s birthday. Sun Records—then the label of such other young talents as Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis—soon signed him, and his first record, “That’s All Right, Mama,” was an instant hit.
By 1956, thanks in part to a series of sensational television appearances, he was crowned the “king of rock and roll,” with a string of recordings that included “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Hound Dog.” Since his death, Presley has emerged as an iconic entertainment figure, and his Graceland mansion has become one of the nation’s most-visited popular culture shrines.
Nacido en Tupelo, Misisipi
Elvis Presley creció en el crisol musical que es Memphis, donde su incipiente talento recibió las influencias del pop, country, rhythm and blues y gospel. En 1953 el joven trabajaba como camionero y pagó cuatro dólares por grabar una canción para el cumpleaños de madre. Pronto fue contratado por Sun Records, entonces disquera de otros talentos jóvenes como Johnny Cash y Jerry Lee Lewis. Su primera grabación, “That’s All Right, Mama”, fue un éxito instantáneo.
Para 1956, impulsado por una serie de sensacionales presentaciones en televisión, se coronó como el “rey del rock and roll”, con una lista de títulos que ya incluía “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Don’t Be Cruel” y “Hound Dog”. Desde su muerte, Presley se convirtió en figura icónica de la industria del entretenimiento y su mansión de Graceland es una meca de la cultura popular en el país.
Provenance
The artist; gift 1990 to NPG
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of R.W. Cowan
Date
1976-88
Object number
NPG.90.114
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Stretcher: 111.8 x 111.8 x 1.3cm (44 x 44 x 1/2")
Frame: 140 x 140 x 6.4cm (55 1/8 x 55 1/8 x 2 1/2")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Exterior
Costume\Jewelry\Ring
Exterior\Sky
Elvis Aron Presley: Male
Elvis Aron Presley: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician
Elvis Aron Presley: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Movie actor
Elvis Aron Presley: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Guitarist
Elvis Aron Presley: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer\Rock singer
Elvis Aron Presley: Military and Intelligence\Army
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.90.114