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Summer of '53, Elvis drops into the The Memphis Recording
Service (Sun Studios) and records My Happiness and
That’s When Your Heartaches Begin. Cost? $4.00. |
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Summer of '54. Sun owner Sam Phillips teams Elvis up with
local musicians Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (bass). |
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July 5, 1954. The breakthrough recording is Arthur “Big
Boy” Crudup’s That’s All Right. This song, backed
with Blue Moon of Kentucky becomes the first of five singles
Elvis will release on the Sun label. |
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July 30, 1954 Elvis makes his appearance at the Overton Park
Shell in Memphis. What's
important about this night? |
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October 16, 1954. Elvis' first appearance on the Louisiana
Hayride, a popular country radio show out of Shreveport LA. |
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In August of 1955, Colonel Tom Parker replaces Bob Neal as
Elvis' manager. A word
about the "Colonel." |
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By November of 1955, Elvis has signed the now famous RCA
contract. The price is an unprecedented $40,000, with a $5,000 bonus for Elvis.
RCA soon re-releases the five Sun singles on the RCA label. |
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 In January of 1956 Elvis is paired with the
Jordanaires, who would remain his main back-up group until the late 60s. |
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January 27, 1956. Heartbreak Hotel is released. (I Was the
One on the flip). It sells 300,000 copies in the first week and will
ultimately be Elvis' first Gold Record by selling over a million. Buy the DVD |
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Between January 28 and March 24 of 1956 Elvis
will make 6 appearances on the Jackie Gleason-produced Stage Show, starring
Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey on CBS. |
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On March 13 of that same year, Elvis
Presley,,his first album is released by RCA. Selling over a million, it
will become his first Gold Album.
Buy on CD |
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April of 1956. Elvis appears with Milton Berle.
He sings
Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes. |
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April 1956, he signs a seven-year movie contract
with Hal Wallis and Paramount Pictures. |
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Pics show why they
called him "The Pelvis!" June 5, 1956. This is the highly controversial and
very sexy performance of Hound Dog on Milton Berle. Also, I
Want You, I Need You, I Love You. Buy Elvis on Milton Berle on VHS |
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In July he does a parody of that sketch on Steve
Allen's show by singing to a real Bassett hound. Elvis' ain't happy about it -
but he does it. His success on Berle and Allen prompt the previously reluctant
Ed Sullivan to sign a three appearance deal for $50,000 - an unheard of amount
back then. |
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August 10 and 11 1956. Elvis appears at the
Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL. Juvenile Court Judge Marion Gooding
attended the first concert to see if all the fuss was warranted. After watching
Elvis' jiggle, he asked that the show be toned down. So Elvis only wiggled his
little finger as a mild protest. |
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September 9, 1956 - the first Sullivan show.
Charles Laughton subs for an ailing Sullivan. Presley sings Don't Be
Cruel, Love Me Tender, Ready Teddy, and Hound Dog.
October 28th is the second show and the songs are Don't Be Cruel, Love Me
Tender, Love Me and Hound Dog. |
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November 16,
1956. Elvis' first movie, Love Me Tender premieres.Buy CD or
Buy DVD or
the Gift Set |
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January 6, 1957. The "waist up only" Sullivan
show. He does a medley, plus Don't Be Cruel, Too Much, When My Blue Moon
Turns to Gold and then closes with Peace in the
Valley. |
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January 1957.Elvis begins filming his second
movie, Loving You.Actress Jana Lund will give Elvis his first
screen kiss in this movie which will produce the hit, Teddy
Bear.Buy CD
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Graceland is purchased in March of 1957. |
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Jailhouse Rock begins filming in
May of 1957.
Buy CD or
Buy DVD or Buy Blu-ray |
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Elvis' draft notice arrives December of
1957. |
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Elvis
