Today in Elvis History

It's January sixteenth, and on this day in 1971… Elvis Presley was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Year by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. The award ceremony, held in Memphis, was a grand affair attended by dignitaries including ambassador-appointee George Bush. Elvis, accompanied by Priscilla, began the day at a JCC prayer breakfast, later addressing the p...

It's January fifteenth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis Presley performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, wearing a rust-colored suit, a black-dotted purple tie, and pink socks. But the real headline wasn’t his outfit—or even the songs he sang, which included “Hearts of Stone,” “That’s All Right,” and “Tweedle Dee.” It was who was in the audience: Colonel Tom Parker and his...

It's January eleventh, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley made a last-minute wardrobe adjustment ahead of one of the most iconic performances of his career: *Aloha from Hawaii*. The American-eagle jumpsuit and matching cape he planned to wear were custom-designed by Bill Belew for the satellite broadcast. But the night before the show, Elvis gave away his ornate belt to the wife of his fri...

It's January 13th, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley made television history with *Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite*, performing live at the International Convention Center Arena in Honolulu. The concert was broadcast in real time to much of the Far East, including Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Vietnam, and later shown to European audiences via Eurovision. It was the first entertainme...

It's January twelfth, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley took the stage at the International Convention Center Arena in Honolulu for the dress rehearsal of *Aloha from Hawaii*, one of the most iconic performances of his career. Though billed as a rehearsal, this full concert was taped as a backup in case technical issues disrupted the live satellite broadcast scheduled for the next night. With...

It's January eleventh, and on this day in 1975… two teenage girls from Mississippi attempted one of the most bizarre stunts in Elvis Presley fan history. Nineteen-year-old Patsy Haynes and seventeen-year-old Areecia “Honeybee” Benson had themselves shipped to Graceland in a crate labeled “Russian Wolfhounds.” The REA Express delivery arrived at the gatehouse, where Elvis’s uncle Vester Presley...

It's January tenth, and on this day in 1956... Elvis Presley walked into RCA’s McGavock Street studio in Nashville for his very first recording session with his new label. Backed by legends like Chet Atkins on guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano, and D.J. Fontana on drums, Elvis laid down “Heartbreak Hotel,” “I Got a Woman,” and “Money Honey.” But despite the all-star crew, the recordings fell flat...

It's January ninth, and on this day in 1971... Elvis Presley was named one of the nation's Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Year by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of America. The prestigious Jaycee award, given to men under 35 who demonstrate exceptional achievement in their fields, had previously honored the likes of Orson Welles and Jesse Jackson. Elvis was nominated by former Shelby Cou...

It's January eighth, and on this day in 1935… Elvis Aaron Presley was born at 4:35 a.m. in a two-room house built by his father on Old Saltillo Road in East Tupelo, Mississippi. He was the second of twin boys—his brother, Jesse Garon, was stillborn just 35 minutes earlier. Elvis would remain the only child of Vernon and Gladys Presley, the lone survivor after a series of miscarriages. This hum...

It's January seventh, and on this day in 1967... tragedy struck close to home for Elvis Presley. His uncle Johnny Smith and cousin Brenda were involved in a serious car accident in Memphis. Johnny suffered a deep forehead laceration, while Brenda sustained a fractured skull. Family members suspected Johnny had been drinking at the time, and as a result, Elvis let him go from his job as Gracela...

It's January sixth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley made his third and final appearance on *The Ed Sullivan Show*, broadcast live from the Maxine Elliott Theatre in New York City. Wearing a velvet shirt and a gold lamé vest gifted to him by Barbara Hearn, Elvis performed “Don’t Be Cruel” and, at the network’s request, the gospel number “Peace in the Valley.” Due to ongoing concerns about hi...

It's January fifth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis's new manager, Bob Neal, flew from Memphis to Shreveport, Louisiana, to meet with *Louisiana Hayride* promoter A.M. “Pappy” Covington about securing key bookings for Elvis on the influential country and western radio show. Neal’s decision to take a flight—rather than spend twelve hours driving—signaled just how critical Elvis's risin...

It's January fourth, and on this day in 1957, Elvis Presley arrived at the Kennedy Veterans Hospital in Memphis for his pre-induction physical, marking a major step in his journey toward military service. Riding in his canary-yellow Cadillac Eldorado, Elvis was accompanied by dancer Dorothy Harmony and his longtime friend Cliff Gleaves. He passed the physical and was issued a Selective Service...

It's January third, and on this day in 1967, Elvis Presley’s passion for horseback riding took center stage. What had started as a casual interest quickly turned into a full-blown obsession for the King and his inner circle. That day marked a spree of purchases, from riding gear and equestrian apparel to horses themselves. Elvis bought his favorite palomino, originally named Midget’s Vandy, wh...

It's January second, and on this day in 1967, Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker formalized a new agreement that redefined their business relationship. For the first time, the contract explicitly acknowledged that they were engaged in what amounted to a partnership or joint venture. Under this new deal, Parker would continue to receive 25 percent of Elvis's guaranteed movie salaries and...

It's January first, and on this day in 1970, Elvis Presley rang in the New Year the way only the King could—with a private movie night. At the Memphian Theater in Memphis, he watched Patton for the first time. The film made a major impact on him—so much so that he memorized the powerful opening speech by George C. Scott. This kicked off a personal tradition of near-nightly private screenings,...