Today In Elvis History

MARCH,31,1972-Filming for the Elvis concert documentary "Elvis on Tour" is continuing.The film crew films an impromptu gospel jam session with Elvis,James Burton,Charlie Hodge and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps.Elvis also gives an interview talking about his lifelong love of Gospel music and about the special feeling among all the members of the group.Elvis replies"I think it is because we constantly enjoy this music.You know we do two shows a night for five weeks,but we never let it get old.Every time is like we do it for the first time,and that is the secret".Below is a clip from the gospel jam.Also a rare film of the interview conducted with Elvis

Concert Photo of The Week

This weeks concert Photo of the week was taken March,29,1977 at The Rapidas Parish Coliseum in Alexandria,La

Today In Elvis History

March,27,1972
Today Elvis was in the studio in Hollywood.He has not recorded here since a bad experience in 1960.This also marks the first time he uses his live band in the studio.All are present except for bass player Jerry Scheff.He is replaced by Nashville player Emory Gordy.Elvis is starting this session with the very biographic song "Separate Ways" which was written by friend Red West.Below is footage from this day shot for the movie"Elvis on Tour".

Today In Elvis History

March,26,1960-Elvis is in Florida for the Taping of the "Welcome Home Elvis" TV show with Frank Sinatra.The show is taped at 6:15 PM and will air nationally on May,12.Elvis performs "Stuck on You" and "Fame and Fortune" to promote his new single,he then performs an historic duet with Frank Sinatra with Elvis singing Franks "Witchcraft" and Frank singing "Love Me Tender".Watch Clips from show below..Above-Elvis and Frank Sinatra

Today In Elvis History

MARCH,25,1961-Elvis travels to Honolulu,Hawaii for a benefit show to raise money for the building of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial,one of the ships destroyed during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.The show raises over $62,000 for the memorial.Elvis is very energized and uninhibited during the show.He is backed by his Nashville studio musicians and the Jordanaires.They have been working together for a full month in the studio.Below is a video with lots of pictures from this show,above is the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.

Today In Elvis History-Induction Day

March,24,1958-At 6:35 am Elvis,accompanied by Anita Wood and his parents,reports to the draft board.He joins 12 other recruits on a bus to Kennedy memorial hospital.Elvis is assigned the serial # 53310761,and after his physical he is put in charge of the group which will be taking an army bus to Fort Chaffee,Arkansas.He says goodbye to his parents and friends while the Col. is busy handing out "King Creole" baloons to the crowd that has gathered.During the bus trip Elvis meets Rex Mansfield who will become one of his closest army friends.Below is footage of Elvis as he arrived at Fort Chaffee.

March,24,1956-Elvis performs on "Stage Show " once again.He is supposed to perform "Blue Suede Shoes" But his friend Carl Perkins has been in an accident and out of respect he does not do it.Instead he performs "Money Honey".Watch that performance below

Today In Elvis History

March,23,1960-RCA's pressing plant in Indianapolis has worked overtime to produce the new single Stuck on you/Fame and Fortune.Within 48 hours of the studio session,shipment of 1 million copies has begun.The sleeve of the record simply announces " Elvis' first new record for his 50,000,000 fans all over the world

March,23,1977-Elvis is very ill on the beginning of this first tour of the year.The night before he is barely able to get to his plane and has to be given an IV by Dr.Nick.Just before stepping on stage in Arizona Elvis whispers"You didn't think I would make it ,Did you? to his cousin Billy Smith.Billy says he then went on and put on a hell of a show

Concert Photo of the Week

This Weeks concert photo was taken March,22,1976 at the Kiel Auditorium,St.Louis,MO.

Today In Elvis History

March,20,1960-Elvis is in studio B in Nashville where between 8PM and 7AM he records six sides for an urgently needed new single(Stuck on you/Fame and Fortune)The single will be pressed and shipped within two days(Below listen to Stuck on you and Fame and Fortune)







March,20,1961-Elvis reports to Paramount Studio to begin work on the movie "Blue Hawaii".The director of this Hal Wallis film will be Norman Taurog.It will co-star 35 year old Angela Landsbury as Elvis' mother.After preproduction meetings,Elvis goes to Radio Recorders to rehearse with the band.

Today In Elvis History

March,19,1962- Elvis is still in Nashville.He stays at the Anchor Hotel.He returns to studio B and between 7:30 PM ans 2 AM He records 4 more songs including his new upcoming single The classic "She's Not You".Take a listen to "She's Not You" below,the song was written by the legendary team of Lieber and Stoller and Doc Pomus.


March,19,1973-Elvis's Grandfather Jesse Presley passes away from a heart attack

Today In Elvis History

March,18,1962-Today Elvis is once again recording in RCA studio B.He records seven sides between 7:30PM to 6:30AM.This session will be for the album "Pot Luck".One of the songs he records is a song he has co-written with Red West,it is called "You'll Be Gone.Originally the song was to be set to the melody of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine",the publisher refuses to give them permission so Charlie Hodge comes up with a simple spanish style melody line(Below is the song written by Red West and Elvis"You'll be Gone")

Today In Elvis History

March,17,1956-Elvis appears on Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey's Stage Show.With "Heartbreak Hotel" rolling up the charts Elvis is allowed to make his own song selection and includes the new single and Carl Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes.Below is that March,17,1956 performance of "Heartbreak Hotel".


March,17,1976-Elvis performs first of 3 shows in as many nights at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City,Tn.This marks the first tour of 1975 .There are personnel changes on this tour,piano player Glen D. Hardin has quit and is replaced by Shane Keister,Ronnie Tutt is replaced on drums by Larrie Londin.Below is fan shot footage from the March,17 performance

Today In Elvis History

March,16,1957-Elvis' parents,Vernon and Gladys Presley start looking for a new home.The current home on Audobon drive is constantly invaded by fans and they need a place more secluded and bigger.In no time they find a mansion on the outskirts of Memphis on Highway 51 south.The house is set well off the road "in a grove of towering oaks",on almost 14 acres of land.It is called Graceland after the great-aunt of the woman who had it built.They call Elvis in Hollywood and tell him they think they have found the ideal home( Above Thomas Kinkades Graceland Painting)

Concert Photo Of The Week

This weeks concert photo was taken March 17,1974 at the Midsouth Coliseum in
Memphis, TN.This was a 2:30 pm show.

Today In Elvis History

March,14,1963- Today Elvis is finishing up filming his 1963 film "Fun in Acapulco".In the film he wears an flamenco outfit that he likes and asks producer Hal Wallis if he can keep it.Hal Wallis gets approval from the studio for the outfit and 2 black silk shirts Elvis also liked(Below is the song "El Toro" from Fun In Acapulco" in which Elvis is wearing the outfit he wanted to keep from the movie.)

Today In Elvis History

March,13,1969-Today a very different Elvis film opens nationwide in theaters.Charro,a movie in which Elvis plays a very Clint Eastwood type of spaghetti western type of role.The only song in the movie is the title cut which plays over the opening credits.Elvis plays Jesse Wade a former bad man gone good.He is framed by Vince Hacket(played by Victor French)for a crime he didn't commit.Elvis spends the rest of the film trying to prove his innocence.(Above-Elvis as "Jess Wade" in Charro,below the original movie trailer)

Today In Elvis History

March,12,1961- Elvis travels by bus to RCA Studio B in Nashville.In just over 11 hours(6PM - 5:15 AM) he records 11 songs for an album and 1 song "I feel so Bad" as a new single.Elvis and the band are going for a pop sound and they gel perfectly in this session.Elvis' voice is absolutely stunning on the sessions ballads such as "Theres Always Me".He has definitely developed his voice as a fine tuned instrument(Above-The Historic RCA Studio B.Below..Take a listen to the Beautiful "Theres Always Me"...One of my personal favorites

Today In Elvis History

MARCH,11,1964- Elvis is filming the 1964 film "Roustabout".He wants to do his own fight scene promising to take full responsibility if there is an accident.As luck would have it,there is an accident and Elvis needs stitches over his eye.In the end director John Rich comes up with the idea that they will put a band aid over Elvis' eye and make it an injury received when his motorcycle is ran off the road(already a story point in the movie).It works out well and no shooting days are lost(above photo-Elvis being attended to after accident in a fight scene March,11,1964)

Today In Elvis History

MARCH,10,1969-Elvis reports to Universal for what will be his last acting performance(his next 2 films will be concert documentaries).He starts pre-production on "Change of Habit".This film has Elvis playing an inner city doctor with Mary Tyler Moore as his co-star playing an "undercover nun" and working as a nurse in his office.This film is produced by Joe Connoly and directed by Billy Graham.Also participating is the Musical Director of Elvis 68 Tv Special Billy Goldenburg.Below is a clip from the Movie "Change of Habit"

Concert Photo of the week

March,9,1974
Charlotte Coliseum,
Charlotte, NC

Today In Elvis History

March,7,1960-Today Elvis finally arrives at home to Graceland from the U.S. Army.He greets fans at the Train station then he is taken home to Graceland in a police squad car.He holds a press conference at Graceland in the office behind the mansion that afternoon.Below is the press conference presented by our Friends-Elvis World Japan

Today In Elvis History

March 6,1964- Today is a double feature day in Elvis movie history.Today principal photography for the Elvis film "Roustabout" begins at the Hidden Valley Ranch north of Los Angeles .Throughout filming Elvis will work at several locations around the City.
Also on this day in 1964 the movie "Kissin Cousins" opens nationwide.It will appear at #11 for one week on the Variety National box office survey and be ranked #26 for the year.(Below check out the original Trailer for "Kissin Cousins,above Elvis with Barbara Stanwyck ,his co-star in "Roustabout"

Today In Elvis History

March,5,1960-Today Elvis is released from the army at 9:15 am .After receiving his mustering out check of $109.54 and his formal honorable discharge,he and colonel Parker travel to a hotel in Trenton,NJ,that same evening they take a private railroad car to Washington D.C. From there it is another train and home to Memphis.I think there is much to be said about Elvis' service in the army,he could have chosen special services but he wanted to be a soldier like everyone else.I recently had the opportunity to speak to a GI who served with Elvis and he told me that it was absolutely true that Elvis did all the things a soldier was asked to do,he was there and gained a huge respect for Elvis as he watched him perform as a soldier in the U.S. army(above is a picture taken March,5,1960 and below is a nice video salute to Elvis' time in the Army)

Today In Elvis History

March,4,1960- Elvis is finishing up his last full day as a soldier in the U.S Army.He is honored by Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver who reads a tribute to Elvis into the Congressional record that includes this passage:" To his Great credit this young American became just another G.I. Joe...I for one would like to say to him yours was a job well done,soldier.

March,4,1969-Elvis reports to MGM for pre-production on his new film whose working title,Kiss My Firm but Pliant Lips,is the same as that of the comic novel by Dan Greenburg on which the film is based on.The film title is changed to "Live a Little,Love a little".It is produced by Douglas Laurence and directed once again by Norman Taurog.Below is a clip from "Live a Little,Love a Little"

Today In Elvis History

March,3,1956-Today Elvis is able to buy his very first home for him and his parents.The home is on 1034 Audubon Drive in a well to do suburban neighborhood east of downtown Memphis,He writes a check for $500.00 as a down payment.On this same day Billboard Magazine announces that Elvis has 6 singles in RCA's top 25 best sellers.They consist of "Heartbreak Hotel" and the 5 sun singles that RCA has re-released.(Photos above of Elvis first home)

Concert Photo of the week

This weeks concert photo of the week was taken March,2,1974 in Tulsa,Ok at Oral Roberts University Center

Today In Elvis History

March,1,1970-Elvis receives Gold records for 5 of his 1969 recordings....The singles "Don't Cry Daddy","Suspicious Minds",and "In The Ghetto" and for 2 LP's "From Elvis in Memphis" and the double LP "Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis".Below take a listen to "Suspicious Minds"