The Rise of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis , by Peter Guralnick

A Book Review by Katie Hickey Snyder

The Rise of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis, Peter Guralnick’s biography of Elvis Presley’s early years is a unique look at the life of Elvis the boy, before he became Elvis the icon. The author examines how this particular boy’s location in space and time allowed him to make history while ushering in a new musical genre. Through his infinite attention to detail, Guralnick introduces us to Elvis, Tupelo Mississippi, Memphis Tennessee and all the forces that came together to take Elvis from a poor boy in Tupelo to the biggest star America had ever known. Guralnick gives us a glimpse of Elvis the frail human being. In doing so he dispels the myth of Elvis the icon.

This is an exhaustively researched biography. In the fifty one pages used for notes and bibliography, Guralnick includes many primary sources, as well as secondary sources such as previous books written on Elvis. As one would expect from the typical biographer, primary source quotes from local and national newspapers and magazines, as well as photos and partial transcriptions from recording sessions are included. But Guralnick shows his desire to produce a scholarly history of Elvis’ early years by also using Tupelo Housing Authority records, Elvis’ father’s financial records, a map of Memphis in 1954, and interviews with family and friends.

Each chapter begins with a photograph. Many additional photographs were described in the book, but not included. This may be because the author could not obtain the rights to use them or for some other reason, however the story would have been enhanced by additional photographs. While his descriptions of the photographs were well written, I would have enjoyed examining these primary sources myself.

The book is arranged chronologically, which is logical for a biography. It spans the early years of Elvis’ life—prior even to his birth, through his induction into the Army in 1958. Within those years, Guralnick divides the years into chapters based around important places and events in Elvis’ life. Elvis’ childhood is described in a chapter entitled “Memphis: The Courts” which was the name of the housing project where the Presleys lived when Elvis was a boy. Later chapters are organized around hit records, or major events in Elvis’ life such as “Turning the World Upside Down” and “Elvis and June”.

The author, Peter Guralnick is a biographer, documentary maker, and music writer, aficionado of the blues, fiction and nonfiction writer who also teaches nonfiction writing classes. He became interested in Elvis as blues singer who took the genre on a new and exciting path. While working on a documentary about Elvis (he later removed his name from the piece for undisclosed reasons), Guralnick discovered several interviews with Elvis. He began to think that these interviews could tell the story of Elvis through Elvis’ own eyes.

In the author’s notes, Guralnick describes driving down McLemore Avenue in South Memphis past the old Stax studio, with a longtime citizen of Memphis named Rose Clayton. She showed Guralnick the drugstore where Elvis’ cousin worked when they were teens. She told him that Elvis used to just sit all alone at the soda fountain, waiting for his cousin, drumming his fingers on the counter. “Poor Baby,” she said. (pg. xii). With that statement the author had a glimpse of an Elvis the world did not know. A poor boy raised in the projects, a loner who never expected to do more than drive a truck, get married and live near his parents in Memphis.

Guralnick is undoubtedly a music fan and a fan of Elvis, but not in the hero worshiping way that we have come to characterize many Elvis fans. In his author’s notes, he writes that he began to research Elvis because he was a fan of his music which he felt had been, “unjustly ridiculed and neglected.” He did not want to write about Elvis the movie star, teen idol, icon or myth, rather he was interested in writing about the person whom he considered a great blues and gospel singer, the person who helped develop the new genre of rock and roll. Guralnick gives the young Elvis an objective eye, simply because he separates Elvis the individual from Elvis the King.

This is the first of three books by Guralnick chronicling the life of Elvis Presley. This volume is followed by a similarly meticulously researched volume, Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, which chronicles the Elvis’ life from the army to his death. His final solo book on Elvis is a less weighty volume, Elvis Day by Day: The Definitive Record of His Life and Music, which is basically a collection of primary sources such as Elvis’ tax returns and tons of candid photos. While the other two volumes are based on the Guralnick’s research using primary sources, the final book seems to be composed entirely of primary sources.

In addition, Guralnick collaborated on two other books about Elvis; Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis, and Elvis Presley: A Life in Music –The Complete Recording Sessions. Although there have been countless books on the life of Elvis, many are based on secondary sources, at best. Others are memoirs of those closest to Elvis, such as his wife, Priscilla, or members of his entourage. Guralnick’s books stand alone as well researched, scholarly looks at the life of music legend before and after his rise to fame.

Although this book is readable as a scholarly biography, it does not appear to be accessible for the typical fan of Elvis, the pop icon. If, however, one is interested in examining the life of Elvis in depth--through primary sources, and if one is willing to put in considerable time and effort into doing so, this book is the definitive choice. Perhaps Elvis has a following of historical scholars--if so, the book may have been written for its intended audience. If however, a good deal of Elvis fans are looking for a quick surface look at the King, they may in all probability not be willing to wade through a book such as this-- it may have been written above most of the potential audience. I would recommend this book only to those who enjoy reading academic biographies and those who already know quite a deal about Elvis and would like to see him through a unique lens.

Throughout the book, Guralnick looks at Elvis the boy, before he was an icon and an originator of Rock and Roll. He places Elvis in the larger social, historical and geographical context. Elvis began his life in Tupelo, Mississippi. His father, Vernon Presley was in and out of work. His mother, Gladys was a housewife. As it is well chronicled, Elvis was the only surviving twin. He was the light of Gladys life, and she, in turn, was both honored and revered by her son throughout her life.

The family frequently had to move to follow Vernon’s next job. When Elvis was just a child, they moved to Memphis, which is the setting for much of the book. Because Elvis’ family was poor, he lived in government housing projects and in neighborhoods that were built for “colored” families. In one such neighborhood, the Presley’s lived in one of the two houses reserved for white families. As a white boy, this was a unique experience. Elvis was white, but he grew up in black neighborhoods. He listened to black music such as the blues. He went to churches where he sang gospel. He had friends that were both white and black.

Playing “colored” music was natural for Elvis. He played what he felt. He played what he knew. He was just what Sam Phillips was looking for in a cross over artist at Sun Records. Phillips knew that “colored” music would sell to a white audience, but only if it came from a white performer. Elvis was the right man, in the right place, at the right time. He didn’t have to package Elvis; Elvis was what he was looking for—naturally.

In addition to his crossover appeal, Elvis found success because of his other attraction; raw sexuality. Although there were white female “sex kittens” in Hollywood making their living as starlets, white male performers and certainly white musicians, were not exhibiting their sexuality as part of their performance. Black performers, however, were. This was part of Elvis’ musical experience growing up. Because of this, Elvis adopted the practice of dancing in a sexual way. It was not choreographed, he danced what he felt. This caused great controversy, which confused Elvis, a wholesome, God-fearing boy who loved his mother. He was blamed for teenagers having sex, white teens “mixing” with black teens, lack of morality and the general downfall of civilization. In short, he was a huge sensation.

Elvis came along at the exactly right time. He evolved from the exactly right place. Without all these factors coming together would there have been an Elvis? Would Rock and Roll evolved in the same way? Guralnick’s biography indicates that although the stars might have eventually aligned to ignite this new musical genre, in the end, Elvis was the one who was able to “Take Care of Business.” He got it done.