Today in Elvis History

It's September twenty-second, and on this day in 1958... Elvis Presley arrived at the Brooklyn Army Terminal at 9:00 a.m. aboard a troop train, preparing to ship out for military service in Germany. Before boarding the USS Randall, Elvis held a press conference and assured fans he hoped they wouldn’t forget him. For the cameras, he walked up the gangplank eight separate times, each with his duffel...

It's September twenty-first, and on this day in 1977... the Memphis Development Foundation paid sculptor Fin Parks \$151,000 to create a towering twenty-five-foot, fifty-ton bronze statue of Elvis Presley to overlook the Mississippi River. But just weeks later, the Foundation filed an \$8.4 million lawsuit against Factors, Etc., the merchandising company that, within two days of Elvis’s death, sec...

It's September twentieth, and on this day in 1949... the Presley family moved into public housing for the first time, settling into a two-bedroom, first-floor apartment at 185 Winchester Street in Memphis's Lauderdale Courts. The rent was thirty-five dollars a month. This modest apartment became a formative backdrop for Elvis’s teenage years, where he practiced guitar in stairwells, sang to neighb...

It's September nineteenth, and on this day in 1974... Elvis Presley caused a stir at Memphis's Methodist Hospital when he visited Linda Thompson's sister-in-law in the labor room. Wearing a surgical mask in hopes of staying incognito, Elvis was still instantly recognized by a woman who blurted out, “Oh my God, you look like Elvis Presley.” Without missing a beat, Elvis replied, “Honey, I am Elvis...

It's September eighteenth, and on this day in 1958... Elvis Presley spent his final night as a civilian before reporting for duty in the U.S. Army. Surrounded by close friends and family—including his father Vernon, girlfriend Anita Wood, Eddie Fadal, Lamar Fike, Red West, and others—Elvis stayed in Killeen, Texas, where emotions ran high. The gathering marked the end of an era for Elvis, as he pr...

It's September seventeenth, and on this day in 1954... Elvis Presley performed at the high school gym in Bethel Springs, Tennessee—a modest venue for what would become a monumental moment in music history. In the audience that night was Carl Perkins, who struck up a conversation with Elvis after the show. They discussed Sun Records, and though Elvis wasn’t sure Sam Phillips needed another singer,...

It's September sixteenth, and on this day in 1974... Elvis Presley visited the Tennessee Karate Institute, where he conducted a personal karate exhibition alongside longtime friend and bodyguard Red West. Accompanied by Linda Thompson, Elvis demonstrated his passion for martial arts—a discipline he took seriously and often incorporated into his stage performances. The visit reflected not only his...

It's September fifteenth, and on this day in 1975... Elvis Presley was spotted cruising on his three-wheeled motorcycle, dressed in a windbreaker and sunglasses, with a cigar in hand. When approached by a reporter, Elvis smiled and simply said he was feeling fine again. The casual, confident ride came after recent health concerns, offering fans and the media a reassuring glimpse of the King enjoyi...

It's September fourteenth, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley responded publicly to statements made by his longtime guitarist Scotty Moore, who had voiced frustration over financial matters in the *Memphis Press-Scimitar*. In an open letter published in the same paper, Elvis expressed disappointment that the issue had been taken to the press instead of being discussed privately. The exchange...

It's September thirteenth, and on this day in 1959... Priscilla Beaulieu was brought to Elvis Presley’s residence on Goethestrasse in Bad Nauheim, Germany, for the very first time. Just fourteen years old at the time, Priscilla made an immediate impression on Elvis, who reportedly told a friend, “She is like the woman I’ve been looking for all my life.” From that moment, she became a regular prese...

It's September twelfth, and on this day in 1956... the chief of police in San Diego publicly declared that if Elvis Presley returned to the city and performed with the same stage antics he had displayed earlier that spring, he would be arrested for disorderly conduct. The warning reflected the growing cultural tension surrounding Elvis’s explosive popularity, as his energetic performances and hip-...

It's September eleventh, and on this day in 1967... Elvis Presley took over the piano during a late-night recording session at RCA Studio B in Nashville, pouring emotion into his rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The session lasted from 6:00 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., with Elvis personally shaping the sound and feel of the track. His decision to play piano underscored how deeply connected he was to...

It's September tenth, and on this day in 1967... Elvis Presley attempted to record new material for singles and to bolster the *Clambake* soundtrack, focusing especially on the song “Guitar Man.” Unsatisfied with the session guitarist’s sound, Elvis personally requested Jerry Reed—the song’s writer and original performer—to join the session. Reed arrived and laid down his signature picking style,...

It's September ninth, and on this day in 1956... Elvis Presley made his historic debut on *The Ed Sullivan Show*, performing live from CBS Television City in Los Angeles. With Ed Sullivan recovering from a car accident, actor Charles Laughton hosted the program. Elvis delivered electrifying renditions of “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender,” “Ready Teddy,” and “Hound Dog.” The broadcast drew over 60...

It's September eighth, and on this day in 1973... Elvis Presley and his girlfriend Linda Thompson attended a Tom Jones performance at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. During the show, Elvis made a surprise appearance on stage, thrilling the audience with the rare crossover moment between two powerhouse performers. The encounter reflected Elvis’s admiration for Tom and the bond they shared as Las Vegas...

It's September seventh, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley was in the studio at Radio Recorders, needing one last song to complete his Christmas album. Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller quickly delivered “Santa Claus Is Back In Town,” which Elvis liked immediately. Although he suggested he might join Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and D.J. Fontana on piano for the instrumental track, time...

It's September 6, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1955, Elvis and his band traveled from Memphis to Bono, Arkansas, to perform at the high school gym. The attendance was so large that the floor actually gave way during the show — luckily, no one was injured. That day, Elvis also showed off his new 1954 Cadillac Eldorado to friends like Jimmy Day. In 1957, Elvis spent the afternoon and evening...

It's September fifth, and on this day in 1962... principal photography began for *It Happened at the World's Fair* at the Seattle World’s Fairgrounds. During filming, a young Kurt Russell—just ten years old—appeared in a scene where he kicked Elvis Presley in the shin. The moment would later become a piece of Hollywood trivia, as Russell would go on to portray Elvis himself in a 1979 biopic, marki...

It's September fourth, and on this day in 1972... Elvis Presley attended a press conference alongside Colonel Tom Parker and the president of RCA to officially announce the upcoming *Aloha from Hawaii* concert, set for January 14 of the following year. Speaking briefly, Elvis deferred to the Colonel on business matters but made one thing clear: “It’s my favorite part of the business—a live concert...

It's September third, and on this day in 1973... Elvis Presley closed out his Las Vegas engagement with one of the most bizarre and memorable performances of his career. He made his entrance on stage riding on Lamar Fike’s back, with a toy monkey clinging to his neck, then sang “What Now My Love” while tossing around on a bed Sonny West had placed on stage. Elvis joked with the audience and expres...

It's September second, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley performed at Multnomah Stadium in Portland, Oregon, delivering a 40-minute show so electrifying that it nearly sparked a riot. Police were called in to control the overwhelmed crowd. Before the concert, in a rare moment of candor, Elvis told reporters, “There's nothing more important than love and marriage. I do think that marriage wo...

It's September first, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley performed two shows in Washington state, delivering a 2:00 p.m. matinee at Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma and a 10:00 p.m. concert at Sick's Stadium in Seattle. These back-to-back appearances showcased Elvis at the height of his early fame, thrilling Pacific Northwest fans with the raw energy and charisma that had already made him a national s...

It's August 31, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1957, Elvis performed at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, expanding his influence beyond the United States and captivating Canadian audiences. In 1962, Elvis reported for a wardrobe fitting at MGM, preparing for his continuing work in film. In 1976, Elvis performed at the Coliseum in Macon, Georgia, continuing his extensive touring...

It's August thirtieth, and on this day in 1957, Elvis Presley performed at Memorial Stadium in Spokane, Washington. He made a grand entrance in a Cadillac with a police escort and delivered an 18-song set to an ecstatic crowd, showcasing the raw energy that defined his early live performances. That same day in 1962, Kid Galahad, his tenth film, opened in theaters across the country to generally po...

It's August twenty-ninth, and on this day in 1974... Elvis Presley incorporated a full-scale karate demonstration into his Las Vegas performance, enlisting longtime friend and bodyguard Red West to join him on stage. This unique addition reflected Elvis's deepening passion for martial arts and his desire to blend his personal interests with his onstage persona. The audience witnessed not just a co...