February 8th

 

In 1967, during a horse buying expedition in Mississippi, Elvis comes across Twinkletown Farm, a 160 acre cattle ranch marked by a lighted sixty-five foot high white cross, near Walls, Mississippi, about ten miles south of Graceland. The property is for sale and Elvis decides, almost immediately to buy it, making a $5,000 down payment towards a $437,000 purchase price on this date. Renamed the Circle G (for Graceland), the ranch will immediately become a new home for Elvis’ growing herd of horses. :D

February 9th

 

In 1964, for the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, Elvis and the Colonel send a telegram to be read on air. ‘Congratulations on your appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and your visit to America STOP We hope your engagement will be successful and your visit pleasant. STOP Sincerely Elvis and the Colonel.’

 

I love reading all these, and some of those clips are great

Glad you like them, Lesley :cheer:

February 10th

 

In 1956, on this day, Elvis does four shows at the Carolina Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte News reports that a total of 6,000 people attended the four shows with more than a thousand turned away. Elvis, declares the newspaper, sings in the ‘style of Johnnie Ray with a little of [the almost equally extroverted] Frankie Laine thrown in,’ :dance:

 

The previous year, 1955, found Elvis at the High School in Alpine, Texas. Harry Kalcheim, an agent with the William Morris Talent Agency in New York wrote to the Colonel that he had mislaid the picture of Elvis that the Colonel had sent him, but he agreed that he sounds promising with ‘a very special type of voice.’ :wub:

February 11th

In 1960, Elvis gets his full sergeant’s stripes and throws a party to celebrate.

In an interview with Armed Forces Radio around this time, Elvis reflects on his army experience. ’People were expecting me to mess up, to goof up. They thought I couldn’t take it and I was determined to go to any limits to prove otherwise.’ Of his return to making records, he says ’I think it would be a bad mistake if I had somebody else telling me what to record and how to record it, because I work strictly on instinct and impulse……I choose songs with the public in mind. I try to visualise it as though I’m buying the record myself.’ :cheer:

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/elvis20army20160.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/elvis20army20181.jpg

 

Four years previously, in 1956, Elvis was at the CBS Studio in New York for his third appearance on Stage Show. CBS gives in to pressure from Steve Sholes and allows Elvis to perform both Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes.

February 12th

 

In 1955, Elvis is at the Legion Hut, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Cash Box reports that Bob Neal, Elvis’ new manager, has opened a new office at 160 Union Avenue in Memphis.

 

The following year, 1956, Elvis and the band leave on a 7am flight for Norfolk, Virginia, where they play at the Monticello Auditorium for three shows.

 

 

 

February 13th

 

In 1955, at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. ‘Elvis Presley. The Be-Bop Western Star of the Louisiana Hayride, returns to Lubbock,’ reads the advertisement. This is the first booking that Bob Neal has obtained directly through Colonel Parker and the group receive $350 for their matinee performance. A young Buddy Holly appears at the bottom of the bill as half of the country and western duo, Buddy and Bob.

 

YouTube clip from around this time in 1955

 

 

February 14th

 

In 1964, Elvis travels to Long Beach, California from Las Vegas, for the presentation of the Potomac to Danny Thomas on behalf of St Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, a research hospital ‘dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic diseases of children’ that has been a special interest of Thomas’ since its inception. :)

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/charity64cc-1.jpg

 

February 15th

 

In 1955, Elvis is at the Fairpark Auditorium in Abilene, Texas for two shows at 7pm and 9pm. Elvis and his ‘Bop Band’ are advertised below headliner Frank Snow and popular hillbilly comedian the Duke Of Paducah, with Charlene Arthur and Jimmie Rodgers Snow completing the lineup.

February 16th

 

In 1956, Elvis was at the Carolina Theater in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for three shows. The local paper reports, ‘He slouches, he scratches; he mugs; he bumps; he grinds……..The frenzy, the hysteria, the wild and wonderful shrieks of sheer joy, these were reserved for the remarkable young man with the long hair, the pearly teeth, the stylish slouch, the incredible conceit; Elvis Presley.’

February 17th

 

1969 and Elvis is at American Studios from 8pm till 4am. An impromptu jam on an early Chips Moman composition, This Time, starts the session off with a kind of musical joke on Elvis’ part. The evening moves on to a soulful True Love Travels On A Gravel Road and a powerful reworking of the Percy Mayfield blues, Stranger In My Own Home Town, which Elvis sings as if it were written with him in mind. :wub:

 

Wish I could find these songs on YouTube :(

February 18th

In 1970, Elvis was in Las Vegas and an afternoon rehearsal was called to work on arrangements for three additional songs. The three songs are the 1959 Ray Peterson ballad ‘The Wonder Of You,’ Ray Price’s country classic ‘Release Me’ and the blues standard ‘See See Rider’ which Elvis probably knew best from Chuck Willis’ 1957 hit version. :D

The Wonder Of You 1970 :wub:

 

 

February 19th

 

1956 and Elvis is at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory for three shows. He’s billed as ‘Country Music’s Mr Rhythm’ The poster advises, ’Come early for best seats.’ :dance:

 

On this day in 1969, Elvis is at American, recording all night. Songs as varied as Eddie Rabbitt’s surefire hit, Kentucky Rain in a contemporary country mode to a cover of soul singer, Jerry Butler’s just released, ‘Only The Strong Survive.’ So many of the songs on the American Sessions Elvis clearly feels and makes his own. :wub:

Kentucky Rain

 

 

Only The Strong Survive

 

 

February 20th

 

In 1975, Elvis put down a deposit of $75,000 on an impounded Boeing 707 previously owned by exiled financier Robert Vesco

 

In 1969, during another all night session, Elvis records Johnny Tillotson’s 1962 country hit, ‘It Keeps Right On A’Hurtin’’ and Chuck Jackson’s ‘Any Day Now’, an r & b hit from the same year. :wub:

 

Any Day Now

 

 

February 21st

 

In 1956, Elvis is at the Florida Theater, Sarasota, Florida for three shows. The Sarasota Herald Tribune calls Elvis ‘the most talked about new personality in the last 10 years of recorded music.’ :dance:

 

The following year,1957, Gladys and Vernon are on the set of Loving You and appear as extras in the scene where Elvis performs Loving You and Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do’ in front of an audience. They can be seen quite plainly sitting on the aisle, with Gladys clapping enthusiastically to the beat. It is said that Elvis was never able to watch the film again after his mother’s death.

 

Got A Lot O’Livin’ To Do

 

 

February 22nd

 

This is the last night at American Studios in 1969 and Elvis just records Who Am I, a gospel number previously recorded by keyboardist Bobby Wood, whose If I’m A Fool (For Loving You) which he cut two nights before. The session ends at midnight.

 

* I so love the tracks that came from those sessions at American Studios. There are so many fantastic songs and this is one of my favourite periods of Elvis music :wub:

Half way through these sessions at American, Elvis gave an interview to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. He was feeling really enthusiastic and excited about working in the studios and he said ' It all started right here in Memphis for me, man. It feels so good working in these studios.' Chips Moman, by his side, returned the compliment, saying, 'Elvis is one of the hardest working artists I have ever been associated with......what energy and enthusiasm he has while working.' 'We've done some hits, haven't we, Chips?' Elvis asked. 'Maybe, some of your biggest,' was his response.

February 23rd

In 1972, Elvis is awarded a fifth degree black belt from Ed Parker’s International Kenpo Karate Association.

 

 

In 1970, Elvis closes his four week engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas with a midnight show that runs until 3am, giving, what many consider to be one of his finest performances. He plays the piano on an impromptu madley of Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Blueberry Hill and towards the end of the evening he introduces the Colonel to the audience saying, ‘ He’s not only my manager, but I love him very much.’ :D

February 24th

 

In 1957, Elvis finally nails the version of Loving You that will appear on record. He also keeps his promise to Sam Phillips to record When It Rains It Really Pours, a song that he had tried unsuccessfully to complete at Sun. With the conclusion of this session, Sholes has seven finished masters from two days of work.

 

Loving You :wub:

 

 

February 25th

 

In 1970, Elvis flies to Houston for his engagement at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Kirk Kerkorian’s private jet. He holds a brief press conference at the airport before checking into the Astroworld Hotel for his first performance outside Las Vegas since 1961 :dance:

 

February 26th

 

In 1969, together, Elvis and the Colonel provide a photo opportunity to publicise his upcoming engagement at the International. On a roughed-in stage at the casino construction site, Elvis signs his ‘contract’, though the actual document will not be signed until April 15th.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/Elvis20Late2060s2044.jpg