Analogy of
Contemporary Icons
Elvis Presley
is one of the post popular music icons in the world. Known as the King of Rock
and Roll, he became a music icon in the mid 50’s and maintained status until
his death August 16, 1977, he was 42 years old. Elvis is also famous for the
hip gyration, which banned him from being televised below the waist of many
variety shows. With the aid of Presley, rock “n” roll became extremely popular
in America. He married Pricilla Beaulieu and became the father of Lisa Marie
Presley in 1968. The couple divorced in 1973 that added to a mound of problems
including prescription drug addiction, which eventually caused his death.
Michael Jackson, dubbed the King of Pop, started his career
as a child. He was the lead singer of the popular 70’s group The Jackson 5. He
later became internationally famous as a solo pop phenomenon. Michael achieved
Top 40 singles form November 6, 1971, to January 1, 2011. The longest span of
singles recorded which earned him many Guinness World Records titles. In August
of 1994, he married the King of Pop’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. The
marriage ended in 1996. Michael had two children through artificial
insemination with new wife, Debbie Rowe. The couple divorced in 1999. A third
child was born through artificial insemination with an unidentified surrogate.
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson died from cardiac arrest at his residence in
Los Angeles.
Aretha Franklin started her singing career as a gospel
singer. She was born March 25, 1942, the fourth child to a Baptist preacher. Considered
a child prodigy, by fourteen, she had recorded tracts at her father’s church. By
the time she was 15 she had become a mother, two years later, her second child
was born. Aretha signed with Columbia records, and won eight Grammy awards for
Best R&B Female Vocal Performance, eight years in a row; this earned her
the title “The Queen of Soul.” Aretha Franklin was awarded the Lifetime Achievement
award at the Grammy's in 1994. Since then, she has become the topic of
documentaries and tributes of honor and R-E-S-P-E-C-T (a very popular song sung
by Aretha, which people know and understand today.)
I chose these icons because of their royal representation of
different genres of music. I am sure most of my classmates have heard the music
of all three performers or at least have heard a song or two. Although two
icons have passed on from this life, all three will always be historical figures
in music.
References:
Bio. True Story. (n.d.). Aretha Franklin Biography. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/print/profile/aretha-franklin-9301157
Bio. True Story. (n.d.). Elvis Presley Biography. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/print/profile/elvis-presley-9446466
Bio.True Story. (n.d.). Michael Jackson Biography. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/print/profile/michael-jackson-38211
