Elvis's vocal and musical versatility led to a thematic richness that would characterize popular music in the second half of the 20th century. Though he can take little credit for inventing the sound - Carl Perkins had already fused the blues and country music, Ray Charles had already made gospel into R&B, and Fats Domino, Little Richard and Chuck Berry had already made the blues rock before Elvis cut his first single - Elvis was the 'King of Rock and Roll' because the music would never have taken the wide ranging form that it eventually would without his meandering influence. Though the Tupelo, Mississippi native never abandoned the country blues, he issued forays into country, R&B, gospel music, ballads, and, later, lounge music. Few performers of Elvis's stature have recorded such a broad array of music. He could sound by turns raunchy or sweet, often within the same phrase, and his timbre is so distinctive that a well-versed two-year-old can pick out his voice unprompted. Though a natural tenor, Elvis could rock a convincing baritone his range was that sprawling.

Elvis Presley, who would have turned 75 today, has maintained his singular place in popular culture primarily because of his uncanny versatility.

Long live the king elvis