The Missing Link.
There is no doubt that African Americans are the ones responsible for the gift of rock and roll. They knew all along what music should feel like, but foolish American morals resulted in that wonderful gift staying within their community. Elvis was then sent forth to bring that gift to the masses. He didn't copy or plagiarize anything flat out; he merely popularized it. His success was due to his talent, good looks, and and of course his whiteness. This wasn't all that bad, for people realized how important and necessary he was and was going to be in helping rock and roll explode. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones gained immense fame for being a few of the first who took what Elvis did and expanded on it. These two bands also had their own look and routine, which is exactly what America wanted so desperately at the time. Being British and having that foreign factor work to their advantage here didn't hurt either. In conclusion, Elvis was necessary to bring great music to the masses, for the masses were too stubborn at the time to turn their ear to the sounds of the Black community and accept its genius.
Andrew Probelski