Today in Elvis History

It's August twenty-eighth, and on this day in 1971... Elvis Presley received a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The award was presented privately in his dressing room, a quiet but meaningful acknowledgment of his profound impact on music. Though Elvis never attended a Grammy ceremony during his lifetime, this honor symbolized his lasting legacy a...

It's August twenty-seventh, and on this day in 1965... Elvis Presley was visited at his Perugia Way home in Los Angeles by none other than The Beatles. The meeting took place at 10:00 p.m. and marked the first and only time the two music giants ever met in person. Though no official photos were taken inside, the gathering has become legendary in music history, symbolizing a rare crossover between...

It's August twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1969... during a live performance at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley broke into uncontrollable laughter in the middle of singing "Are You Lonesome Tonight." The moment came during the spoken-word bridge, when something struck Elvis as funny, and he struggled to regain composure as the audience roared with laughter. The incident was c...

It's August 25, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1955, Elvis performed at the Sportcenter in Austin, Texas, continuing his rise as a live performer across the southern states. The previous day, August 24, 1956, Elvis was at the Fox Studio soundstage in California recording songs for *The Reno Brothers*, which would later be retitled *Love Me Tender*. Although his longtime bandmates Scotty Moor...

It's August 24 in Elvis History!

It's August 23, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1955, Elvis Presley performed at the Bryan Saddle Club in Bryan, Texas, as part of his Louisiana Hayride tour. The stage was a simple flatbed trailer, reflecting the modest venues where Elvis was building his early reputation and growing his fan base. On the same date in 1956, Little Richard gave a performance at the Cotton Club in Lubbock, Texa...

It's August twenty-second, and on this day in 1956... principal photography began on *The Reno Brothers*, Elvis Presley’s first film. Though originally titled *The Reno Brothers*, the movie was later renamed *Love Me Tender* to capitalize on the success of Elvis’s hit single. This marked Elvis’s transition from music icon to Hollywood star, launching a film career that would span over a decade and...

It's August twenty-first, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley purchased two stone lions and had them installed on either side of the front steps at Graceland. These regal sentinels quickly became iconic symbols of the estate, standing guard as Elvis’s fame—and his home—took on legendary status. The lions remain one of Graceland’s most recognizable and photographed features to this day.

It's August 20, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1955, Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride held at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, continuing to build his reputation as a rising star. In 1956, Elvis reported to 20th Century Fox to begin preproduction work for his movie career, marking his growing presence in Hollywood. On August 20, 1974, despite receiving ovations and...

It's August 19, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1954, Elvis recorded multiple takes of "Blue Moon" at Sun Studio. These recordings, however, remained unreleased at the time, adding to the mystique of his early career. In 1973, during a post-show karate demonstration in his suite, Elvis accidentally broke the ankle of one of his guests, Beverly Albrecq, showing his passion for martial arts eve...

It's August 18, and on this day in 1977, Elvis Presley’s funeral was held at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee. The intimate service took place in the mansion's living room and was attended by about 200 family members and close friends. Pastor C.W. Bradley of the Wooddale Church of Christ led the ceremony, which included a eulogy by comedian Jackie Kahane, who had often opened for Elvis d...

It's August seventeenth, and on this day in 1977... the world mourned the loss of Elvis Presley, who had died just one day earlier at his Graceland home in Memphis. His body was returned to the mansion, where thousands of grieving fans gathered outside the gates. A public viewing was held, giving mourners the chance to say a final goodbye to the King of Rock and Roll. Meanwhile, across the country...

It's August sixteenth, and on this day in 1977... Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, died at the age of 42. He was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his Graceland home in Memphis by his fiancée, Ginger Alden. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The official cause was initially listed as cardiac arrhythmia, but toxicology repor...

It's August fifteenth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis Presley, his father Vernon, Colonel Tom Parker, and Bob Neal met in Memphis for a pivotal moment in Elvis’s career. During this meeting, a new contract was signed designating Colonel Parker as Elvis’s “special advisor,” a role that effectively gave Parker control over nearly every aspect of Elvis’s professional life. This marked the beginning...

It's August fourteenth, and on this day in 1958... Elvis Presley’s beloved mother, Gladys, passed away in the hospital at just 46 years old. Elvis and his father Vernon were inconsolable. Gladys had been the emotional center of Elvis’s world, and her death devastated him. Many who knew Elvis believed he was never quite the same afterward, marking this as one of the most heartbreaking and life-alte...

It's August 13, and on this day in 1955, Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1956, he gave a show at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1958, Elvis was granted emergency leave from the Army to visit his mother, Gladys Presley, who had been admitted to Memphis Methodist Hospital. Elvis arrived in Memphis that afternoon and spent several hours wi...

It's August 12, and on this day in 1955, Elvis performed at Driller Park in Kilgore, Texas. In 1956, he gave two shows at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 4:00 and 8:15 p.m. In 1958, Elvis obtained emergency leave from the Army and flew to Memphis with Lamar Fike to visit his hospitalized mother, Gladys Presley. In 1961, Elvis flew from Tampa to Los Angeles. And in 1974, Elvi...

It's August 11, and on this day in 1955, Elvis performed at the Reo Palm Isle in Longview, Texas. In 1956, he gave three shows at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville, Florida, at 3:30, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m. In 1958, Elvis began his Basic Unit Training. And in 1961, location filming for *Follow That Dream* wrapped up in Florida. The previous day, August 10, 1970, marked the opening of Elvis’s summer...

It's August 10, and on this day in 1955, Elvis performed at the Baseball Park in Gladewater, Texas. In 1956, he gave three shows at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville, Florida, at 3:30, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m. After the first show, Elvis was warned by Judge Marion Gooding to tone down his act. In 1970, Elvis opened an engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas with a dinner show in the showro...

It's August ninth, and on this day in 1958... while his mother Gladys was being transported to the hospital in Memphis, Elvis Presley completed his Advanced Tank Training. Torn between duty and family, Elvis was nearing the end of his military training in Texas, even as Gladys’s health rapidly declined—a heartbreaking moment that would soon mark one of the most tragic chapters of his life.

It's August eighth, and on this day in 1977... just eight days before his death, Elvis Presley privately rented out Libertyland amusement park in Memphis during the early morning hours. The gesture was a personal treat for his daughter, Lisa Marie, and a group of her friends. Even in his final days, Elvis found joy in creating magical, unforgettable moments for the people he loved most.

It's August seventh, and on this day in 1970... Elvis Presley began rehearsing on the main stage of the Las Vegas Hilton showroom for the documentary *That's the Way It Is*. This day also marked the first time Elvis worked with musical director Joe Guercio, who led the orchestra. The collaboration launched a new era in Elvis’s live sound and stage production, helping to shape the powerful, orchest...

It's August 6, and on this day in 1953, Elvis applied for jobs as a delivery boy and at Kroger’s grocery store but was not hired. In 1955, Elvis performed at the River Stadium in Batesville, Arkansas. By 1956, he was on stage at the Polk Theater in Lakeland, Florida, with three shows that day at 3:30, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m. In 1962, Anita Wood publicly announced their breakup, moving out of Graceland...

It's August 5, and on this day in 1953, Elvis interviewed for a job at Sears Roebuck but was not hired. In 1955, Elvis performed at the Overton Park Shell in Memphis, a key early venue in his live career. By 1956, he was performing at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida, with shows at 3:30 and 8:15 p.m. In 1965, Elvis flew to Hawaii with his group, father, and stepmother for location...

It's August fourth, and on this day in 1977... the book *Elvis: What Happened?* was published. Written by three of Elvis’s former bodyguards—Red West, Sonny West, and Dave Hebler—the book offered a controversial and intimate look into Elvis’s personal life, including his struggles with prescription drug use. Released just two weeks before Elvis’s death, the book caused a media storm and remains on...