Today in 1954, Elvis Presley made his radio debut. Presley grew up in the musical melting pot of Memphis. He was heavily influenced by pop, country, gospel, and rhythm and blues—a label for Black music that was the root of rock and roll. Presley covered songs by Black artists and was hailed by his fans and the music industry, while Black musicians received far less recognition and commercial success. By 1956, thanks in part to a series of TV appearances, he was crowned the “king of rock and roll.” Since his death, Presley’s fame has endured. His records continue to sell by the millions, and his Graceland mansion has become one of the nation’s most-visited popular culture shrines. This 1956 photo by Jay B. Leviton is in @smithsoniannpg’s collection.