Last Updated: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 The King Is Dead, Long Live The King... Updated: Friday, January 08, 2010 Elvis Presley's 1956 breakthough RCA album. Does the graphic design look familiar? It should. In 1979, The Clash ripped it off for their landmark London Calling album. Photo: Crowdsafe® Library. Elvis Preseley's 75th birthday is being celebrated in his home state of Tennessee and around the world today. The King of Rock And Roll remains the symbol of the music genre he helped create. Elvis is what every singer aspires to be---before and after---he came on the scene. Many have tried to capture his spirit, improve on his style and trump his seductive performances. For those who try, it is not an easy task. Fortunately, there are recordings of Elvis' performances and audio of his interviews. And, for those who like to go to the movies, Elvis can be seen there, too, albeit tamed and varnished. Arguably, though, the essence, innocence and magnificence of Elvis would be lost if not for the perceptive eye of one photographer in particular: Alfred Wertheimer (no relationship to Crowd Management Strategies' Paul Wertheimer, unfortunately). If anyone can claim to have captured the real Elvis, it is Mr. Wertheimer the freelance photographer who, in 1956 got up close and personal with the young 21-year-old boy from Tupelo while on assignment for RCA Records. Elvis was the record company's newly signed blockbuster artist (set to record the album shown here). Mr. Wertheimer was directed to capture a series of publicity photos of the hillbilly rocker. The rest is history, as they say. Don't take the word of the folks at Crowdsafe.com, though, check out Mr. Wertheimer's traveling treasure of rock and roll at its most vibrant, sexy, optimistic and youthful: Elvis at 21. [ home ][ crowdcafe ][ new ][ crowdshop ][ contact ] Crowd Management Strategies © 1997 - 2006. All rights reserved. Crowdsafe is a registered trademark of Crowd Management Strategies © 2006.