Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll

In 1956, photographer Alfred Wertheimer found himself in the midst of capturing the early days of a soon-to-be legend when RCA Victor asked him to photograph a rising singer named Elvis Presley. At just 21 years old, Elvis was on the verge of superstardom, and Wertheimer became a fly on the wall, documenting the young artist's journey. This book is a collection of Wertheimer's extraordinary and intimate photographs from that pivotal year, providing a unique perspective on the man who would become the King of Rock and Roll. The book also includes historic 1958 pictures of Elvis being shipped off to an army base in Germany, creating a comprehensive portrait of a cultural icon in the making. Each chapter is complemented by posters from Hatch Show Print, a renowned letterpress print shop that contributed to Elvis's early promotional materials.