May 14th

 

In 1956, Elvis is at the Mary B. Sawyer Auditorium at LaCross in Winconsin for two shows at 7.00pm and 9.30pm. Reports of this performance cause the editor of the local newspaper to complain to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover that from what he’s heard, Elvis’ act consists of ‘sexual self-gratification on stage.’ :o

Both Time and Newsweek run stories describing Elvis’ phenomenal rise, beginning what amounts to his first exposure to the glare of national (as opposed to trade or regional) publicity

 

May 15th

 

In 1956, Elvis was at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis.

 

Bob Neal’s Cotton Pickin’ Jamboree is part of the twenty-second annual Cotton Carnival, with Elvis headlining over Hank Snow and the Jordanaires. Before Elvis performs, Bob Neal announces that he will be playing another show in Memphis on July 4th, for the benefit of local charities. ‘A wild roar of approval was evidence that Elvis will have plenty of company’ for that show', reports the Memphis Press-Scimitar, but that is nothing compared to the reception he will get when he appears on stage. He wears black pants, a white shirt and a Kelly-green jacket, sings Heartbreak Hotel and introduces Little Richard’s Long Tall Sally as a beautiful song ‘recorded by a friend of mine……I never met him, but here’s the song.’ He closes with the number that has become his showstopper since Las Vegas, Hound Dog. :dance:

 

May 16th

 

1971 and Elvis is in the studio in Nashville to make a Christmas album. The highlight of the evening comes during a break between Winter Wonderland and O Come All Ye Faithful when Elvis and the band jam on an eleven minute version of Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, That’s All Right. :dance:

May 17th

 

In 1971, on the third night of recording, Elvis’ attention returns at first to the folk-rock material from the March session. He begins with Kris Kristofferson’s Help Me Make It Through The Night, next returns to Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Until It’s Time For You To Go and finally gives himself over to the gospel album that was one of the original reasons for the session, completing one track, the classic, Lead Me, Guide Me :wub:

 

Until It’s Time For You To Go

 

 

May 18th

 

In 1971, three more gospel sides are recorded, including He Touched Me, which will become the title of the album :wub:

 

 

May 19th

 

In 1965, Elvis records his final vocal for the Frankie and Johnny soundtrack at the Goldwyn studios.

Meanwhile, the Colonel is using every trick in the book to promote Tickle Me! He has persuaded RCA to purchase Elvis’ gold Cadillac and ship it around the country as a kind of stand-in for the star himself at local premieres. This is the black 1960 Cadillac limousine that George Barris customised for Elvis with two telephones, a complete entertainment console, a refreshment bar, and an electric shoe buffer, all gold plated with a golden guitar insignia, while the outside is finished in a white-gold Murano pearl with gold-plated trim :cheer:

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/goldcaddy1.jpg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/goldcaddy2.jpg

 

http://www.elvis2001.net/solid_gold_cadillac.htm

 

May 20th

In 1971, Elvis focuses on pop repertoire recording I’m Leavin’, We Can Make The Morning and It’s Only Love, all of which will be released as singles over the next nine months. :wub:

 

We Can Make The Morning

 

 

 

 

 

May 21st

In 1956, Elvis performs at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas. When he steps off the plane in Topeka, he is wearing nothing above the waist but a loose-fitting, two button shantung suit coat :wub: Just wish I had a pic of it!! :(

 

May 22nd

 

In 1957, Tom Diskin reports to the Colonel that Elvis wants Leiber and Stoller’s Treat Me Nice as the B-side to the songwriting team’s title track, Jailhouse Rock :dance:

 

 

May 23rd

 

In 1962, Follow That Dream opens nationally, appearing on Variety’s National Box Office Survey for two weeks and peaking at #5

May 24th

 

In 1967, for Priscilla’s twenty-fourth birthday, Elvis buys her a special ‘Happy Birthday’ charm with rubies and sapphires from Harry Levitch. :wub:

 

Oh btw, Happy Birthday Priscilla :cheer:

May 25th

 

On this day in 1966, Elvis leaves for Nashville on a chartered Greyhound and at Studio B, he meets his new producer, thirty year old Felton Jarvis.

Chet Atkins has brought in Felton, who has recently joined the RCA staff because he thinks Felton has a temperament better suited to Elvis and to staying up for all night sessions. This will be Elvis’ first time in the studio for non-soundtrack recording in two and a half years, and his task, as spelled out by RCA under the terms of the new contract, is to deliver two singles, a Christmas single and a religious album. Working from 10.00pm to 7.00am on the first night and continuing through the four day session, Elvis will show a greater degree of musical focus than he has in years, concentrating primarily on the gospel numbers that will make up the album How Great Thou Art, but also completing a handful of pop tunes, including Bob Dylan’s Tomorrow Is A Long Time.

 

How Great Thou Art

 

 

May 26th

 

In 1966, tonight’s session runs from 6.30pm until 7.00am. One of the highlights of the first three days of the session is the presence of the Imperials, formed as an all-star gospel quartet by one of Elvis’ singing idols, Jake Hess, the previous year. These religious recordings are one of the highlights of Elvis’ latter day recording career, and one of the achievements of which he is most proud. David Briggs, a young piano player makes his debut tonight as the regular pianist, Floyd Cramer is working elsewhere and he accompanies Elvis on a cover of Kitty Lester’s Love Letters. :wub:

 

Love Letters

 

 

May 27th

 

In 1963, Elvis went to RCA's Studio B in Nashville and recorded from 7.00 p.m. to 4.00 a.m.

 

(It's A) Long Lonely Highway

 

 

May 28th

 

In 1958, the Colonel arrives in Texas in advance of the furlough that Elvis will get to mark the end of basic training. Private Presley has earned a marksman’s medal with a carbine and achieved sharpshooter level with a pistol and has been named acting assistant leader of his squad. :cheer:

May 29th

 

In 1967, dressed in their wedding outfits, Elvis and Priscilla hold a reception at Graceland for friends, relatives and employees. The room just off the pool patio that held the recently dismantled slot-car track has been decorated in green and white for the 8.30pm affair, with a buffet and wedding cake provided by Monte’s Catering Service and accordion music from Tony Barrasso.

 

May 30th

 

In 1976, Elvis appears at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, Texas for two shows. He last played Odessa in 1955, when he appeared on four separate occasions before screaming audiences of 750 to 2,000. This time the total attendance comes to 16,000

May 31st

 

In 1975, Elvis is at the Van Braun Civic Center for two show. On this tour, Elvis uncharacteristically goes out of his way to promote the new single, T-R-O-U-B-L-E and presents a show that is more upbeat, bringing back such numbers as Burning Love.

 

Burning Love

 

 

June 1st

 

In 1956, Elvis makes a surprise visit to the Overton Park Shell in Memphis where his old friends, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins and new Sun artists, Roy Orbison and Warren Smith, are performing.

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/_5A_00147.jpg

 

June 2nd

 

In 1956, Elvis and Gene Smith fly to Oakland, California, arriving at 4.00am and catching up with the band, who have driven to the coast. On their way out, Scotty, Bill and D.J. hear Be Bop A Lula on the radio and think at first that Elvis has recorded without them. They are relieved to discover that the record is by newcomer Gene Vincent, clearly schooled in the Presley style. :dance: