The king died thirteen years ago this month. Elvis, the first mega-star in the galaxy of American popular music, had lived to the ripe old age of 42. He may not have invented rock & roll, but he, Zeus-like, had breathed into it the full measure of its life force, its radiant aura and dionysian frenzy. He had invented rock & roll stardom.

A nice Tupelo, Mississippi boy transplanted to Memphis, Elvis became a lightning rod charged with a wayward pagan electricity: haunting voice and ...