When Elvis was growing up, the Presley family attended The First Assembly Of God Church in Tupelo and subsequently in Memphis. Elvis' music was greatly invluenced by attending these churches, but religious music came to Elvis in many different shapes and forms. Religious songs were often part of the repertoire for country stars on the Grand Ol' Opry - a syndicated Nashville radio broadcast that the Presley's almost always tuned into on Saturdays. As a teen, Elvis and his friends would sneak into churches in the black neighborhoods to catch the lively music of a different musical heritage. The welcoming congregations and uplifiting sounds opened up Elvis' understanding of the multiple facets of religious music. With 250 million of Elvis' gospel recordings sold in the U.S. alone, there is no doubt about the importance of Elvis Presley's contribution to the popularization of religious music.
