1956 was the year Elvis released his first record, made his first television appearance and started his movie career. It was the year he became a star.

Taken during the year Elvis turned 21, Alfred Wertheimer's photographs are a remarkable visual record of a defining time for rock 'n' roll's most enduring figure."...In many way the most exciting and intimate portrait of the legendary entertainer...You don't have to be an Elvis fanatic to recognize the importance of this book.

It sheds significant light on the early days of one of the true legends of show business." Cinema Metro

"Elvis 1956 is truly The King before he was The King, and the images are both insightful and stunning. Recollections by Wertheimer regarding time, place, and circumstances of each photograph offer further revelation into the daily events that paved the way for this true American idol." Her Nashville Magazine