Diary of Elvis Presley

Biography Calendar of Events

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 Diary of Elvis Presley biography:

A Calendar of events

Elvis Presley is well-known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. This Elvis Presley
Biography 101 article will cover the basics of his incredible life. Throughout
the years on the stage, he produced 12 famous albums and left remarkable
history in the world of rock and roll.

From a country-side boy, he became the idol of uncountable young girls

during his time. He died at the age of 42 but his legend lives on for his
millions of fans worldwide.

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was born on the 8th of January, 1935 to the Presley
family in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Due to poverty, Elvis Aaron Presley moved to Memphis

with his parents at the age of 13.

There, he graduated from the local Humes High School

and he later found his first job as an usher at a theatre.

Elvis discovered his interest and talent in music when his parents bought him
his first guitar. His uncle and pastor gave him basic lessons on guitar and he
developed a passion in blues.

Earlier, he attended church sessions and they taught him how to sing. One
day, he went to a record shop to record a birthday present for Gladys, his
mother.

His talents caught the eye of Sam Philips, the owner of Sun Records and he
then signed a three-year contract with the company.
Within the first week, they sold 7000 copies of Elvis’ first record, “That’s
Alright Mama” and from there onwards, he began his journey as a rock star
and appeared frequently on stages. In 1955, Colonel Parker bought his
contract from Sun Records for 35 thousand dollars.

His schoolmates had said that he looked weird in his flashy eye-catching
outfits and long hair, always standing out of the crowd, just like what he
became later; the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Nowadays we all take for granted the chameleon image shifting and eye-
popping costumes worn by musicians and singers from the 1980s onward, by
stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson.

But in his era Elvis was totally unique, and like always he was a trendsetter
well ahead of his time, showing these other singing sensations how to create
and shift their own images.

Which era or image of Elvis Presley did you like the best? Was it the raw
talent in homemade velvet jackets, or the gold suited romantic comedy
movie star.

Maybe you prefer the famous Elvis Presley Jumpsuits he designed after the
karate suit concept, and the gentle romantic Ballads he sang of that era.

His achievements include three Grammy Awards and appeared in over 30

successful films and was estimated to have earned over $4.5million
throughout his career. He sold 2 million copies of his twelve albums and was
crowned the “multi-platinum album sales performer”.

He was a perfectionist and recorded the hit “Hound Dog” 33 times before he
was satisfied. He gradually developed the desire to perform on stages.

Despite his career as a rock singer, he served the U.S military and was the
Deputy Sheriff of Shelby County in Tennessee.
Elvis had a remarkable life, and anyone wanting to get a free Elvis Presley
biography to download can get one at fan websites like elvis-presley-
forever.com which is dedicated to telling his remarkable life story and
achievements.

The King was found dead due to severe cardiovascular disease in his own
mansion at the age of 42, leaving behind his wife, Priscilla Presley and
daughter Lisa Marie.

THE BEGINNING

JANUARY 8, 1935 - 4:35 AM

In Tupelo, Mississippi, Gladys Presley gives birth to identical twin sons.

The first, Jesse Garon, is stillborn. The

second, Elvis Aaron, is born alive and
healthy.

Did you know that Elvis Presley’s Star sign

is Capricorn? Read here, there is more
about Elvis Presley Star sign And Fame

Article also continues below for more information about Elvis Presley
Star sign & Relationships

1935 - 1948
Elvis grows up within a poor family, which moves frequently around
the Tupelo area.

1945
At ten years old, Elvis sings “Old Shep” in a youth talent contest at the
Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, held in Tupelo. The talent
show is broadcast over WELO Radio. Click on any photo to see an
enlarged view.
1946
Elvis’s parents, unable to buy a bicycle that Elvis wants, talk him into
accepting a guitar instead: purchased for $12.95 at the Tupelo
Hardware Company.

LATE 1948
Elvis plays his guitar and sings “Leaf on a Tree” for his Milam Junior
High class in Tupelo. Elvis and his parents move to Memphis,
Tennessee.

1948-1953
Elvis and his parents live in public housing or low rent homes in the
poor neighborhoods of north Memphis.

While attending The Christine School and Humes High School, Elvis
works at various jobs to help support himself and his parents.

He spends much time on Beale Street and frequents the all-night

white, and black, gospel sings that are held downtown.

JUNE 3, 1953
Elvis graduates from Humes High School.

1953
After graduation, Elvis works at Parker Machinists Shop.
That summer, at The Memphis Recording Service-home of the Sun
label-he makes a demo acetate of “My Happiness” and “That’s When
Your Heartaches Begin” for a cost
of about $4.00 and gives it to his
mother as belated birthday
present.

Later, he works at Precision Tool

Company, then changes jobs
again, going to work for Crown
Electric Company where he drives
a delivery truck. He attends night school to be an electrician.

JANUARY, 1954
Elvis makes another demo acetate at Memphis Recording Service: the
songs are “Casual Love Affair” and “I’ll Never Stand in Your Way”. Sam
Phillips, the owner, takes an interest in Elvis.

SUMMER 1954
Sam Phillips calls Elvis into the studio to sing “Without You” but feels
the boy doesn’t do a very good job.

But Phillips is impressed enough to team Elvis with local musicians

Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (bass) to see if they, together,
could come up with something worthwhile.

In frustration, during a July 5 recording session, Elvis and the group

perform a speeded up version of “That’s All Right”. This song, and the
flipside “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” would be the first of five singles Elvis
would release on the Sun label.
Elvis, Scotty, and Bill start performing together, with Scotty acting as
the group’s manager. Elvis continues to work at Crown Electric as the
group starts to play small clubs.

Elvis makes an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and is told by one
of the officials that he should stick to truck driving.

LATE 1954 - 1955

Elvis, Scotty, and Bill continue to record and to
travel. They appear for the first time on the
“Louisiana Hayride”, a live Saturday night
country music radio which is the Grand Ole
Opry’s chief competitor.

This leads to regular appearances on the

“Hayride” and, in November, Elvis signs a one-
year contract for fifty-two Saturday night appearances.

During this period, he meets “Colonel” Tom Parker, a promoter and

manager connected with various acts. Elvis signs a contract with Bob
Neal, who becomes his manager.

1955
Elvis, Scotty, and Bill continue touring on their own and in packaged
tours of artists from the “Hayride” with Colonel Parker involved.

Drummer D.J. Fontana joins Elvis’s band. In the spring, Elvis fails to be
accepted on “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts”, a network television
show.

Nevertheless, Elvis gains in popularity and begins to receive national

attention, leading Parker to become more directly involved in Elvis’s
career.
AUGUST 15, 1955
Elvis signs a management contract with Hank Snow Attractions, which
is owned equally by Snow and Colonel Parker - who will be Elvis’s
manager from this time on and Hank Snow ceases to be involved.

NOVEMBER 20, 1955

Parker negotiates the sale of Elvis’s Sun contract to RCA (including
Elvis’s five Sun singles and his unreleased Sun material) for $40,000,
with a $5,000 bonus for Elvis.

RCA soon re-releases the five Sun singles on the RCA label. At the
same time Elvis signs a contract with Hill
and Range Publishing Company, which
creates Elvis Presley Music, Inc. As of late
1955, Elvis is without doubt the hottest new
star in the music business.

JANUARY 10, 1956

Elvis has his first recording session for RCA
in their Nashville studio. Among the songs is
“Heartbreak Hotel”. During these sessions,
the Jordanaires join with Elvis soon begin
touring with him.

JANUARY 27, 1956

“Heartbreak Hotel” is released by RCA and
sells over 100,000 copies a week for the
first three weeks, climbs to number one on
Billboard’s pop singles chart for eight
weeks, number one on the country chart,
and number five on the R&B chart. It becomes Elvis’s first gold record.
JANUARY 28, 1956
Elvis appears on Jackie Gleason’s “Stage Show”, starring Tommy and
Jimmy Dorsey on CBS.

This is Elvis’s first network television appearance. He appears on six

weekly “Stage Shows” in a row while continuing the “Louisiana
Hayride” appearances.

FEBRUARY, 1956
While “Heartbreak Hotel” is still climbing the charts, RCA releases
“Mystery Train” and “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” - the last
recording on the Sun label.

This release immediately hits number one on Billboard’s country

singles chart.

MARCH 13, 1956

RCA releases Elvis’ first album which quickly turned gold.

APRIL 1, 1956
Elvis screen tests at Paramount
Studios for a role in “The Rainmaker.”
He was not cast in the film.

APRIL 3, 1956
Elvis appears on “The Milton Berle
Show”.

APRIL 6, 1956
Hal B. Wallis and Paramount Pictures
sign Elvis for a seven-year contract.

APRIL 23 - MAY 9, 1956

Elvis receives a tepid response from audiences at the Frontier Hotel in
Las Vegas during a two-week engagement.
But his numerous public performances and record sales establish him
as a sensation.

JUNE 5, 1956
Elvis appears again on “The Milton Berle Show” and performs “Hound
Dog.”

His onstage movements are condemned by certain factions of the

conservative establishment.

JULY 1, 1956
Elvis appears on “The Steve Allen Show” on NBC and performs a more
conservative version of “Hound Dog” - dressed in white tie and black
tux with tails.

The popularity of Elvis forces Ed Sullivan to change his mind about

refusing airtime for the singer, and signs him to a three-appearance
deal.

AUGUST 1956
Paramount loans Elvis to Twentieth Century Fox to play a featured role
in a western called “The Reno Brothers.”

It is retitled “Love Me Tender” after the song Elvis performs for the
soundtrack’s single.

SEPTEMBER 9, 1956
Elvis makes the first of his three appearances on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast
of the Town Show” and attracts the highest ratings ever for a variety
show.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1956

“Elvis Presley Day” is proclaimed in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis’s parents
join him as he returns to the town of his birth as a big star.
He performs two shows that day at the Mississippi- Alabama Fair and
Dairy Show- the same fair at which he had performed at age 10.

Elvis souvenir merchandising begins to hit the store shelves. By the

end of the year, this merchandise will reach $22 million in sales.

OCTOBER 28, 1956

Elvis makes his second of three appearances on the Sullivan show.

NOVEMBER 16, 1956

“Love Me Tender” opens on this date and becomes a hit.

JANUARY 6, 1957
Elvis makes his third and final appearance on Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of
the Town Show.”

Although uncensored for his two previous performances, during this

show Elvis is seen by the viewing audience only from the waist up.

JANUARY, 1957
Elvis begins production of his
second movie, “Loving You”.

MARCH 1957
Elvis buys Graceland Mansion
for himself, his parents, and
his paternal grandmother to
live in.

Read more here about the

home of Elvis which is also a National Historic Landmark today
Graceland Home of Elvis Presley

APRIL 2-3, 1957

For the first time, Elvis performs outside the United States: in Toronto
and Ottawa.
MAY, 1957
Elvis is loaned to MGM to make his third film: “Jailhouse Rock.”

JULY 9, 1957
Elvis’s second motion picture, “Loving You” opens and reaches the top
ten at the box office.

The soundtrack single featuring the title song and “Teddy Bear” is
released.

AUGUST 31, 1957

Elvis performs in Vancouver - the last time he would perform in
concert outside the United States.

SEPTEMBER 27, 1957

Elvis returns to Tupelo to perform at a benefit for the proposed Elvis
Presley Youth Recreation Center -he would donate regularly to the
center for the rest of his life.

OCTOBER 17, 1957

Elvis’s third motion picture “Jailhouse Rock” premieres in Memphis and
opens nationally the following month.

NOVEMBER 10, 11 1957

For the first time, Elvis visits and performs shows in Hawaii.

DECEMBER, 1957
Elvis receives his draft notice.

LATE JANUARY - EARLYMARCH, 1958

Elvis films and records the soundtrack album for his fourth motion
picture “King Creole”.

MARCH 15, 1958

In Memphis, Elvis performs his last stage performances until after his
army release in 1960.
His tour of duty takes him out of the spotlight for nearly two years -
and many music critics consider Elvis’ induction to be the end of his
career.

Article also continues below for more information about Elvis Presley–
his Military service

MARCH 24, 1958

Elvis Presley is inducted into the U.S. Army at the Memphis Draft
Board.

MARCH 25, 1958

Elvis gets his G.I. haircut at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.
MARCH 29, 1958
Private Presley arrives at Fort Hood, Texas for six month’s basic
training. His parents move to a
temporary home near the base.

JUNE 10, 1958

After basic training, Elvis has a
recording session while on leave.

JULY, 1958
“King Creole”, Elvis’s fourth
motion picture opens nationally. It
is regarded generally as his best
serious film.

AUGUST, 1958
Gladys Presley becomes ill and is hospitalized with acute hepatitis.

Elvis is granted emergency leave and arrives in Memphis on the

afternoon of August 12th.

She dies in the early hours of August 14.

She was only 46.

She is laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery, a

few miles down the road from Graceland.

AUGUST 25, 1958

Elvis reports back to Fort Hood.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1958
Elvis sails aboard the USS Randall to West Germany, arriving on
October 1. He will be stationed in Friedberg for 18 months,
maintaining an off-base residence in Bad Nauheim.
JANUARY 8, 1959
For his 24th birthday, Elvis is interviewed on the telephone by Dick
Clark on his “American Bandstand” show on ABC-TV.

JUNE, 1959
On a two-week leave, Elvis visits Munich and Paris. Despite what the
critics say, Elvis’ career is kept alive by the careful promotions and
record releases of Colonel Parker.

NOVEMBER 1959
Captain Joseph Beaulieu is transferred from Texas to Weisbaden Air
Force Base near Friedberg, accompanied by his wife and children,
including his fourteen-and-a-half- year-old
stepdaughter, Priscilla Ann.

Through a mutual friend, Priscilla is invited to a

party at Elvis’s home.

JANUARY 20, 1960

Elvis is promoted to Sergeant.

MARCH 1960
Elvis leaves West Germany on March 1, and is officially discharged
from active duty on March 5, 1960. On March 8, he holds a press
conference at Graceland.

LATE MARCH, 1960

Elvis has his first recording session since being released from the
service. On March 26 he tapes a special “Welcome Home, Elvis”
version of Frank Sinatra’s ABC-TV variety show.

LATE APRIL, 1960

Elvis begins filming and recording for his fifth film, appropriately titled
“GI Blues.” Produced for Paramount by Hal Wallis, Elvis’ costar is Juliet
Prowse.
JULY 3, 1960
Vernon Presley marries divorcee and mother of three sons, Davada
“Dee” Stanley, an American whom he had met in West Germany.

Read more here about Dee and when she first met Vernon Presley
Dee-Part 1

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1960
Elvis records and films for his sixth movie “Flaming Star.”

OCTOBER, 1960
The soundtrack album for “GI Blues” hits Billboard’s album chart and
climbs to number one where it will stay for ten weeks.

NOVEMBER 1960
Elvis begins recording and filming for his seventh
film, “Wild in the Country” as “GI Blues” opens
nationally.

LATE DECEMBER, 1960

“Flaming Star” opens and receives good reviews
but not solid box office returns. It is assumed that
because the film is dramatic and contains little music, Elvis fans did
not show up in droves.

FEBRUARY 25, 1961

Elvis first live appearance since his army discharge is at a Memphis
luncheon in his honor. “Elvis Presley Day” is proclaimed by Tennessee
Governor Buford Ellington.

MARCH 25, 1961

In Hawaii, Elvis performs in a benefit to help fund the building of the
USS Arizona Memorial.
LATEMARCH/MID- APRIL, 1961
Elvis remains in Hawaii to do location filming for “Blue Hawaii” A
project for which he has already recorded the soundtrack.

JUNE, 1961
“Wild in the Country” opens to mixed reviews.

JULY, 1961
Elvis begins production on “Follow that Dream” and also records the
soundtrack album. This is his ninth motion picture, scheduled to open
in late Spring 1962.

OCTOBER, 1961
The soundtrack album for “Blue Hawaii” hits the Billboard chart and
remains for 18 months (it will be number one for nearly half a year).

The album features the classic Elvis single: “Can’t Help Falling in
Love”.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER, 1961
Elvis begins filming “Kid Galahad” and also records the soundtrack
album.

The picture wraps in January of 62. “Blue Hawaii” opens at number

two in box office receipts and eventually becomes Elvis’s most
financially successful film.

His single “Good Luck Charm” hits number one on the pop charts.

SPRING 1962
Elvis begins filming his 11th motion picture, “Girls! Girls! Girls!”. It
includes location work in Hawaii and Los Angeles.

He also records the soundtrack album. “Follow That Dream” opens

nationally, reaches number five in box office.
SUMMER 1962
Continuing his breakneck schedule, Elvis begins his 12th motion
picture and soundtrack album: “It Happened at the World’s Fair,”
which utilizes the backdrop of the Seattle World’s Fair.

Also this summer, “Kid Galahad” opens. Although not a hit, and some
critics suggested that Elvis was losing his appeal, receipts are
respectable. Priscilla Beaulieu arrives from West Germany to visit Elvis.

OCTOBER 1962
A riot breaks out in a Mexico screening of “GI Blues” resulting in a ban
on Elvis movies in that country.

NOVEMBER 1962
While “Kid Galahad” was only a so-so success, “Girls! Girls! Girls!”
opens this month and eventually equals “Blue Hawaii” in box office
receipts. The soundtrack album features the hit single “Return to
Sender”.

DECEMBER 1962
Priscilla Beaulieu’s parents give permission for her to visit Elvis during
the Christmas holidays.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1963
Priscilla moves in at Graceland and finishes her senior year of high
school in Memphis. Elvis begins filming and recording the soundtrack
for his 13th motion picture: “Fun in Acapulco”.

APRIL 1963
“It Happened at the World’s Fair” opens to respectable box office
receipts – the soundtrack album does better, reaching number five on
the charts.

MAY 24, 1963

Priscilla turns 18.
JULY 1963
This month Elvis begins recording the soundtrack and filming the
location work for “Viva Las Vegas,”
featuring a hot new female star: Ann-
Margaret.

Although this is his 14th motion picture,

it would not be released until after his
next film.

OCTOBER 1963
During this month, Elvis begins recording
the soundtrack and filming his 15th
motion picture: “Kissin’ Cousins”.

NOVEMBER 1963
“Fun in Acapulco” opens late this month
and performs much better at the box
office than “World’s Fair,” eventually
reaching number five. The album also reaches number five on the pop
chart.

WINTER 1964
A pivotal season in Elvis’s (and the nation’s) musical world: the Beatles
make their first appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show”.

Elvis fears his career has become stagnant. Also during this winter,
Elvis buys the yacht of President Franklin Roosevelt: the “Potomac.”

In February, he gives the yacht to Danny Thomas as a gift to St. Jude

Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis for them to use to raise funds
as they see fit.
MARCH 1964
“Kissin’ Cousins” opens and is instantly recognized as one of Elvis’s
worst films — both critically and financially. Despite this, he begins his
16th film: “Roustabout.”

JUNE 1964
Elvis begins recording the soundtrack for his 17th film, “Girl Happy,”
as “Viva Las Vegas” opens nationally. Receipts for this picture are far
better, and the soundtrack album does as well.

SUMMER 1964
Elvis films “Girl Happy” on location in Florida.

OCTOBER 1964
In a cost-cutting move, Paramount creates a motion picture project
(Elvis’s 18th) based around songs the star had already recorded.

Entitled “Tickle Me”, the project has failure written all over it. Despite
bad feelings about this film, Elvis jumps into an even busier production
schedule.

NOVEMBER 1964
This month “Roustabout” opens to solid box office receipts, eventually
hitting number eight.

The soundtrack features some of the best music Elvis has done to date
— and fans respond by making it a number one hit on Billboard’s pop
album chart.

SPRING 1965
In a flurry of activity, Elvis records the soundtrack and films his 19th
film: “Harum Scarum” as “Girl Happy” opens – both film and
soundtrack album do respectable business.
Immediately after he wraps on “Harum Scarum,” Elvis begins his 20th
film project entitled “Frankie and Johnny”. However, this will not be
released until after the next project: “Paradise, Hawaiian Style.”

JULY 1965
In this month, “Tickle Me” opens nationally to ho-hum box office, and
Elvis donates $50,000 to the Motion Picture Relief Fund.

AUGUST 1965
Elvis quickly records the soundtrack music for his 21st motion picture,
“Paradise, Hawaiian Style”, and then leaves for location shooting in
Hawaii. He then returns to Los Angeles to complete interior shooting
on the film.

AUGUST 27, 1965

The Beatles visit with Elvis for several hours at his home in California
and have an informal jam session.

NOVEMBER 24, 1965

“Harum Scarum” opens nationally and does only respectable business
at the box office. The soundtrack reaches number eight before it
quickly disappears.

FEBRUARY 1966
For his 22nd motion picture, Elvis records the soundtrack music and
films “Spinout”.

MARCH 1966
After delays by the studio, ”Frankie and Johnny” opens to lackluster
box office and record sales.

JUNE 1966
“Paradise, Hawaiian Style” opens and perform almost as poorly as
“Frankie and Johnny.”
JUNE - OCTOBER 1966
Undaunted, Elvis records the soundtrack album and begins shooting
his 23rd motion picture: “Double Trouble” and then proceeds directly
to recording and filming his 24th picture: “Easy Come, Easy Go”.

NOVEMBER 1966
This month, a favorite time for the studio to open Elvis films, “Spinout”
is released and performs poorly, both at the box office and in album
sales.

DECEMBER 1966
On a date this month that is still debated, Elvis formally – and officially
– proposes marriage to Priscilla.

FEBRUARY 1967
Elvis buys a ranch in Mississippi, a short distance across the Tennessee
state line from Graceland.

Called the Circle G, the ranch was bought expressly to take care of the
horse he purchases for Priscilla, and the other horses he and his
friends buy as they all become enamored of horseback riding.

MARCH 1967
The film “Easy Come, Easy Go” opens and flounders. This
disappointment is offset by the release of Elvis’s second gospel album,
“How Great Thou Art”.

The album gets excellent reviews, healthy sales, and earns Elvis his
first Grammy Award, ironically enough, for Best Sacred Performance.

FEBRUARY 1967
Elvis begins the soundtrack recording and location filming for his 25th
motion picture: “Clambake”.
SPRING 1967
“Double Trouble” opens and flounders.

On May 1, 1967 (at 9:30 am) Elvis and Priscilla

are married at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas,
followed by a honeymoon in Palm Springs.

On May 29th, they hold a second reception at

Graceland for friends and family unable to be
at the Las Vegas ceremony.

SUMMER 1967
Despite poor performance of his films at the box
office, and his own personal doubts about the
projects he is starring in, Elvis records the
soundtrack and begins filming his 26th movie,
costarring with Nancy Sinatra in “Speedway”. News
of Priscilla’s pregnancy is released.

FALL 1967
Elvis immediately begins work on his 26th film, a project he feels more
confidence in. He records and does location filming for “Stay Away,
Joe”.

In this comedy-western, Elvis plays a halfbreed Native American,

surrounded by veteran character actors who help raise the
performance levels in the picture.

DECEMBER 1967
Hoping for better holiday box office, “Clambake” is released and does
only respectable business as both a film and soundtrack album.
FEBRUARY 1, 1968
Priscilla gives birth to Lisa Marie Presley.

MARCH 1968 “Stay Away, Joe” opens but receives mixed reviews and
performs poorly at the box office.

In an effort to find more suitable projects for Elvis, the studio has him
begin work on his 28th film, an adult comedy-drama called “Live a
Little, Love a Little”.

JUNE 1968
For summer release, “Speedway” opens and doesn’t perform, either as
a film or a soundtrack.

As the nation’s tastes change during this turbulent period, the formula
films cranked out by the studios perform poorly for all stars.

In particular, Elvis is hurt by the scathing reviews and the title “has-
been.”

JUNE 27 - 30, 1968

Elvis rehearses for the taping of his 1968 television special — his first
performance before a live audience since March 1961. This production
has been called the 68 Comeback Special.
The show features original songs, classic Elvis tunes, dance numbers,
and special segments of Elvis performing in the round and in front of a
live audience with guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D.J. Fontana.
The show is scheduled to air on December 3rd.

SUMMER 1968
The studio tries something different, once again, for Elvis’s 29th
movie. Entitled “Charro” the dramatic western features an Elvis who
doesn’t sing (except the opening song) and who wears a beard.

FALL 1968
Elvis immediately begins work on his 30th film, recording the
soundtrack and acting in “The Trouble with Girls”. ”Live a Little, Love a
Little” opens to poor receipts.

But the single, “If I Can Dream”, from the comeback special reaches
number 12 on the pop singles chart.

DECEMBER 3, 1968
The 1968 television special airs on the NBC network this evening. It is
not only a ratings winner, but a critical success and with a soundtrack
album that reaches number eight on the pop charts.

DECEMBER 1968
Elvis completes his shooting on “The Trouble with Girls”.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1969
Elvis throws himself into all-night recording sessions at American
Sound Studios in Memphis – his first recording work in Memphis since
1955.

These sessions produce what is considered some of his finest work,

and produce two albums with hit singles like “In the Ghetto”,
“Suspicious Minds”, “Don’t Cry, Daddy” and “Kentucky Rain”.
MARCH/APRIL 1969
Elvis returns to Hollywood to film and record the soundtrack music for
his 31st and last dramatic film: “Change of Habit”.

Elvis plays a doctor serving the poor in a Northern city, assisting by

three nuns, one of whom is Mary Tyler Moore.

MARCH, 1969
“Charro!” opens fizzles at the box office.

JULY 31 - AUGUST 28, 1969

The newly built International Hotel in Las Vegas featured the largest
showroom on the strip and they wanted a big star to headline after
Barbra Streisand closed.

They booked Elvis for a four-week engagement which ends up

breaking the city’s attendance records.

It is so successful, RCA jumps at the chance of recording Elvis’s first

live concert album.

SEPTEMBER 1969
The studio holds its breath, releases “The Trouble with Girls” and then
watches as the money fails to roll in.

NOVEMBER 1969
“Change of Habit” opens. Ditto. The rumor that Elvis has lost his
audience start circulating.

WINTER 1970
Talk of Elvis’s loss of popularity are silenced by the king himself. He
decides to return to the International Hotel during the slowest part of
the season, where he promptly breaks his own attendance records and
records another live concert album.
In February, Elvis performs six shows at the Houston Astrodome (as
part of the Texas Livestock Show). He attracts over 200,000 people.

SUMMER 1970
Elvis has recording sessions in Nashville and then, on August 10
through September 7, performs at the International Hotel in Las
Vegas.

MGM — at this point still in the motion picture business — films the
performances as part of a documentary film: “Elvis -That’s the Way It
Is.”

The film also features backstage footage, as well as rehearsals and

recording sessions. There is an album released by the same title.

SEPTEMBER 1970
Rumors that Elvis might actually tour again become true, as he
conducts a nine city tour of the show he has perfected during the
Vegas runs. He returns to Nashville for another recording session.

NOVEMBER 1970
Ironically, it is the documentary film “That’s the Way It Is” (which
opens this month) which receives the best reviews and box office
response of any of Elvis’s most recent dramatic films.

Inspired by his recent

successes, Elvis goes out on a
highly successful eight-city
concert tour.

DECEMBER 1970
This month, Richard Nixon
receives Elvis at the White
House.
JANUARY 16, 1971
The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce names Elvis “One of
the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation” and presents him with
the award tonight.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 1971

Elvis returns again to the International Hotel in Las Vegas for a four
week engagement, quickly followed by another recording session in
Nashville.

However, Elvis cancels this session because of pain in his eye. He goes
to the local hospital and discovers that he suffers from secondary
glaucoma which will cause him problems from now on.

MAY 1971
Promoting the first serious biography of Elvis, Look Magazine features
the “king of rock and roll” on their
cover.

Elvis returns to the studio to record

his album “Elvis Sings the
Wonderful World of Christmas”.

SUMMER 1971
For the first time, the small house
where Elvis was born opens to the
public for tours, but Elvis is busy in
the studio preparing a new gospel
album.

Meanwhile, the portion of Highway 51 South which runs by Graceland

is officially renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard.

Next, Elvis plays a two-week engagement at the Sahara Hotel in Lake

Tahoe, Nevada followed in August with a wildly successful concert
series at the International Hotel in Las Vegas – now called the Las
Vegas Hilton International Hotel.

During this series, Elvis is presented with the Bing Crosby Award from
the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – later to be
called the Lifetime Achievement Award.

OCTOBER 1971
The new book “Elvis: A Biography” by Jerry Hopkins is released.

NOVEMBER 5-16, 1971

Elvis embarks on a concert tour to 12 cities in the U.S.
DECEMBER 1971 / JANUARY 1972
To the shock of his fans, Elvis and Priscilla separate.

She moves out on her own with Lisa Marie. And the first of the new
Elvis Presley Boulevard signs go up.

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 23, 1972

Elvis returns to the Hilton in Las Vegas for another highly successful
four-week run.

SPRING 1972
Inspired by the financial success of “That’s the Way It Is,” MGM plans
another documentary entitled “Elvis on Tour.”

The company films Elvis in the studio and accompanies him on a

concert tour of 15 cities. The gospel album “He Touched Me” is
released in April to favorable reviews, and wins Elvis his second
Grammy Award.

JUNE 1972
Elvis continues his tour – with a special four-show stop at Madison
Square Garden in New York City.

All four shows are sold out. Smelling money, RCA records the first
Madison Square Garden performance and, in just over a week, has the
album in the record stores.

JULY 1972
The separation of Elvis and Priscilla
becomes formal this month. Elvis is now
seen in the company of Linda Thompson.

AUGUST 4 - SEPTEMBER 4, 1972

Elvis returns to the Hilton in Las Vegas.
SEPTEMBER 5, 1972
Elvis announces at a Las Vegas press conference that he is planning
for a live television concert which will be broadcast worldwide from
Hawaii.

OCTOBER 1972
The record “Burning Love” marks the return of Elvis to the pop singles
chart.

NOVEMBER 1972
MGM’s “Elvis on Tour” opens (of course) in November and wins big
with critics and audiences.

The producers receive the Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary.
While the movie about touring opens, Elvis embarks on a seven-city
concert tour of his own.

JANUARY 14, 1973

“Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii - Via Satellite” airs on NBC, and makes
television history. But American viewers won’t see it live. They will
have to wait until April for a taped version.

The record album is quickly released, reaches number one on the

Billboard Pop Album Chart, and remains on the chart for a year.

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 23, 1973

Not stopping to catch his breath, Elvis returns to his favorite venue:
the Las Vegas Hilton.

MARCH 1973
In a surprising move, Elvis and Colonel Parker sell to RCA the singer’s
royalty rights on Elvis’s entire recording catalog up to that point.
APRIL 4, 1973
The “Aloha” special is seen on American television for the first time. It
is estimated that a total of one billion people see the special.

SPRING / SUMMER 1973

Once again, Elvis hits the road on an eight-city concert tour, ending
with an engagement at the Sahara Hotel in Lake Tahoe. (In May, the
“Aloha from Hawaii” concert album hits number one on the Billboard
pop album chart.)

By the end of June, Elvis is on tour again, returning for a recording

session in Memphis. He ends the summer with a four-week
engagement at the Vegas Hilton.

OCTOBER 9, 1973
Today Elvis and Priscilla have their day in court and they are granted a
divorce.

Find out more about Priscilla’s life with Elvis Elvis and Me
OCTOBER 15 - NOVEMBER 1, 1973
In Memphis, Elvis is hospitalized for a wide range of health problems.
He has pneumonia, pleurisy, an enlarged colon, and hepatitis.

DECEMBER 1973
Remaining in Memphis, Elvis goes into the studio for a week of
recording sessions and then rests up for another concert engagement.

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 9, 1974

Elvis return to the Vegas Hilton.

MARCH 1974
Despite his health problems, and a growing dependency on
prescription drugs, Elvis embarks on another ambitious tour schedule.

Included in the schedule is a concert in Memphis, his first in over 12

years. He is forced to do four shows just to meet the demand for
tickets. The Memphis concerts result in another live album.

APRIL 1974
Elvis decides to rest up from his schedule and essentially takes the
entire month off.

MAY 16 - 26, 1974

Elvis plays the Sahara in Lake Tahoe.

SUMMER 1974
Although he stops for a two week breather in July, most of the
summer is spent touring and performing at the Las Vegas Hilton.

It is while he is at the Hilton, that Elvis is approached by Barbra

Streisand with idea of playing opposite her in the remake of “A Star is
Born”.
FALL 1974
Elvis is out on tour for most of September, and performs at the Sahara
in Lake Tahoe for four days.

JANUARY 29 - FEBRUARY 14, 1975

Once again, Elvis is hospitalized for the same series of health
problems.

MARCH - JULY 1975

Elvis’s live recording of “How Great Thou Art” receives the Grammy for
Best Inspirational Performance.

After four weeks of shows at the Hilton, Elvis embarks on an extensive

four month series of concert tours interrupted by brief stops for rest at
Graceland.

AUGUST 18 - SEPTEMBER 5, 1975

Elvis opens in Vegas with plans for an extended run, but leaves on
August 20 for Memphis where he is hospitalized until September 5.

NOVEMBER 1975
Elvis returns to Graceland after
his hospital stay and, in
November, takes ownership of a
completely refurbished Convair
880 jet he christens the “Lisa
Marie.”

DECEMBER 1975
In a gesture to make up for the shows canceled because of illness,
Elvis returns to the Hilton in Vegas.

Later, on New Year’s Eve, he performs in Pontiac, Michigan.

FEBRUARY 1976
Elvis has a week of recording sessions in his den at Graceland, with
RCA bringing in mobile recording equipment.

MARCH - OCTOBER, 1976

This entire time is taken up by tour engagements. Although the pace is
hectic, it is carefully planned out with periodic stops in Graceland to
rest up.

OCTOBER 29-30, 1976

Elvis holds recording sessions in his den at Graceland.

NOVEMBER, 1976
Elvis and Linda Thompson split up — Elvis meets Ginger Alden who will
be his companion until his death.

DECEMBER, 1976
Elvis goes out on tours once again, including a ten-day stint at the Las
Vegas Hilton.

It will be the last time he performs at the famous casino-hotel. He

ends the month with a special New Year’s Eve concert in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.

FEBRUARY - MARCH, 1977

He continues touring throughout these two months. He is scheduled to
perform, with only brief rest stops, until late June.

APRIL 1-5, 1977

Elvis is hospitalized in Memphis and then returns to Graceland for rest.

APRIL 21 - AUGUST 15, 1977

Elvis is back on the road once again. RCA and CBS television decide to
create a simultaneous television special / concert album for his tour
shows scheduled June 19 - 21 to be called “Elvis in Concert.”
The camera, however, is not kind to Elvis and his fans are able to see
on television what they could not easily see during a concert: just how
poor his health really was.

Elvis performs in at Indianapolis’ Market Square Arena on June 26 and

then returns to Graceland to plan the next series of concerts.

AUGUST 16, 1977

Elvis is up early and spends most of the morning attending to tour
details: he plans to fly out of Memphis that night for Portland, Maine
so that he can rest up for a performance the night of the 17th.

At 7:00 am, Elvis decides to lay down in the master bedroom.

He is found dead a short time later.

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