306 Old Satillo Road, Elvis’ birthplace, is now 306 Elvis Presley Drive.
, 1938
Vernon Presley in prison ( May 25 1938 to February 6 1939)
December 15,1939
“Gone with the Wind,” starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, had its world premiere at Loew’s Grand Theater in Atlanta, the culmination of three days of festivities in the city. Among those attending were Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Vivian Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Ann Rutherford, Olivia de Havilland, and author Margaret Mitchell. Noticeably absent were cast members Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen, black actresses who were not welcome on the white side of segregated Atlanta society.
1940-41 Reese Street, where the Presleys stayed with Vester and Clettes Presley and their daughter Patsy,
1942 Kelly Street, a rented, small apartment.
1943
American jazz musician, singer and composer, Fats Waller died of pneumonia on a train trip near Kansas City, Missouri. Wrote many songs including ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, ‘Your Feet’s Too Big’ and ‘The Reefer Song’. In 1926 Waller was kidnapped at gunpoint in Chicago and driven to a club owned by gangster Al Capone. Inside the club he was ordered to perform at what turned out to be a surprise birthday party for the gangster.
1944
A single-engine plane carrying U.S. Army Major Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris. The true fate of the plane and its passengers has never been determined.
Hank Williams married Audrey Sheppard, with the ceremony taking place at a filling station. Their son, Randall Hank Williams, would achieve fame in his own right as Hank Williams, Jr., who was born on May 26, 1949. The marriage ended in divorce on May 29, 1952.
August 8, 1945 to July 18, 1946 Berry Street -“Doll” Smith lived here with the Presleys and then Minnie Mae Presley moved in.
1946 Commerce Street, a rental
510 1/2 Maple Street, South Tupelo -the Presleys lived with Glady’s cousin Frank Richards and his wife, Leona.
1947
Mulbery Alley
Memphis, Tennessee
1948-1953
Sept. 12, 1948-Sept. 20, 1949
572 Poplar Avenue
Sept 20 1949 to January 7, 1950 185 Winchester Street, a two- bedroom apartment (number 328)
January 7, 1950 to April 1953
398 Cypress Street (rented from January 7 to April 1953
Johnny Cash released the Sun Records single “Folsom Prison Blues,” which peaked at #4 on the Country chart but did not break into the Billboard top pop list. Cash included the song in his repertoire for decades. He performed it at Folsom Prison on January 13, 1968 and that “live” version was eventually released by Columbia on the “At Folsom Prison” album the same year, and as a single that reached #32 on the pop chart.
Elvis performed at the Helena, AR Catholic Club, in a show with Carl Perkins. There were sold 500 tickets, two days in advance.
Col Tom Parker made the first Television appearance deal for Elvis on the Jackie Gleason Show – hosted by the Dorsey Brothers
The Presleys 1414 Getwell Street rented from mid-1955 to May, 11 1956.
Fats Domino had one of the biggest R&B songs of all-time with “Blueberry Hill”, #1 for a ninth straight week.
Elvis Presley gave his final regular performance on Louisiana Hayride, a live radio program that was broadcast on KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana. Presley made 50 appearances on the show. At the end of the show, Horace Logan first uttered the now legendary phrase ‘Elvis has left the building’.
Elvis arrived in Shreveport at 5.00 a.m. and checked into the Captain Shreve Hotel. He performed at the Louisiana Hayride, Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, Louisianan Fairgrounds, Shreveport.
Elvis on stage at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport – Dec. 15, 1956 Photo by Jack Barham courtesy of Louisiana Hayride Archives – J. Kent
This would be his final Hayride appearance and a one man radio concert with over 9,000 fans enjoying it in person.
Tommy Blake and Elvis
Backstage there were milling scores who want to slap his back, shake his hand and “remember me” him. Then the reporters, the photographers, the disk jockeys with their tape-recorders, city officials, civic dignitaries, fan club presidents, business associates. . . 2
Horace Logan, deejay Ed Hamilton and Elvis at the Hirsch Coliseum – Dec. 15, 1956 Photo by Langston McEachern
Elvis waves farewell to Shreveport and the Hayride – Dec. 15, 1956 Photo by Langston McEachern
Elvis had already made “Love Me Tender” and “Loving You” was scheduled next. The performance was attended by Hal Kanter, director of Elvis’ upcoming film. After watching the show Hal Kanter crafted the screenplay: the story of the rise of a young singer, who very much resembled Elvis Presley. It would even have an Artistic Free Speech Fight vs City Hall scene for Lizabeth Scott – in what would become her final movie.
The Presleys lived at Audobon Drive May 11 1956 to March 1957.
December 15, 1957
Sammy Davis Jr. hosts a syndicated radio talk show with a round-table discussion of Rock ‘n’ Roll. His guests are Columbia Records executive Mitch Miller and MGM Records president Arnold Maxim. When Davis and Miller blast Rock ‘n’ Roll as “the comic books of music,” Maxim takes an opposing viewpoint and says, “I don’t see any end to Rock ‘n’ Roll in the near future.”
The Presleys lived at Graceland
The Military Service Disruption
December 15, 1958
A new soul artist debuted on the chart with “Try Me”; it was the first single by James Brown.
“Lonely Teardrops” by Jackie Wilson took over at #1 on the R&B chart.
The Teddy Bears held on to #1 for a third week with “To Know Him Is to Love Him”. There were two new entries in the Top 10: The great song “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” by the Platters at #6 and, moving from 37 to 10–“The Chipmunk Song” by the Chipmunks.
Military Service in Germany
October 1958 to February 2, 1959: Hotel Grunwald in Bad Nauheim, Germany
December 15, 1959
At Bell Sound Studios in New York City, the Everly Brothers recorded the Pierre Delanoë-Gilbert Bécaud composition “Let It Be Me.” It was the first time they recorded outside of Nashville and the first time they were backed by a string section. Jerry Allison of the Crickets played drums on the session.
Colonel Tom Parker cleverly keeps his client in the news by suggesting that Elvis may re-enlist at the end of his first hitch. That, of course, never happened and Presley received his official discharge from active duty on March 5th, 1960.
Military Service in Germany
Feb 3 – March 1960: Goethestr.14 in Bad Nauheim, Germany
The Beatles played two separate shows at the same venue, the Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead, Merseyside. First they played a standard Majestic booking then at midnight, the first-ever “Mersey Beat” poll awards show took place. As poll winners, The Beatles closed the show (at 4:00 am).
The 4 Seasons had one of the top songs of the new decade with “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, #1 for a fifth week. Elvis Presley was stuck at 2 for the fifth week with “Return To Sender” while “Bobby’s Girl” wasn’t going anywhere for Marcie Blane. Chubby Checker moved up nicely with “Limbo Rock” and the Tornadoes slid up to 5 with “Telstar”. The rest of the Top 10: The Orlons with “Don’t Hang Up”, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass with “The Lonely Bull”, “Ride!” by Dee Dee Sharp at #8, Little Esther Phillips edged up with “Release Me” and Steve Lawrence moved from 20 to 10 with “Go Away Little Girl”.
“Return To Sender” hit #1 in the U.K. The song peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] and was even the UK Christmas number one of 1962. It also reached #2 on the American Billboard singles chart, but reached number 1 on the rival Cash Box and Music Vendor singles charts. “Return to Sender” also went to #5 on the R&B charts.[6] It was the first Christmas number one in Ireland, as the Irish Charts had been founded in October 1962.
Cut from the movie, and the single’s B side, “Where Do You Come From” peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100, The single was certified “Platinum” by the RIAA for sales in excess of one million units in the US.
Actor Charles Laughton (Spartacus, Mutiny on the Bounty, Witness for the Prosecution, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Advise & Consent, The Big Clock, Captain Kidd, The Canterville Ghost, Hobson’s Choice, It Started with Eve, This Land Is Mine) died of complications from gall bladder cancer at 63. Laughton had been the host of the first and second of three Ed Sullivan episode that Elvis Presley appeared on; while the Ed hosted one was from the waist up.
The Who released the album The Who Sell Out in the U.K.
Just a few days after it was released, The Beatles‘ “Magical Mystery Tour” LP goes Gold. It would top the Billboard Hot 200 album chart for eight weeks and receive a Grammy nomination for Best Album.
The Beach Boys meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Paris and learn transcendental meditation. Mike Love would later muse, “If enough people were to learn to meditate, it would be an entirely different world, meaning world peace, prosperity and health.”
While performing with the Jefferson Airplane on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Grace Slick appears in blackface and raises a black-leather glove in a power salute at the conclusion of “Crown of Creation”. The incident is one of several which leads to the show’s cancellation the following season. The gesture had been made infamous when two African-American athletes at that year’s Olympics raised their fists instead of putting their hands over their hearts during the U.S. National Anthem.
The Trouble With Girls
December 15, 1969
A benefit concert for UNICEF at the Lyceum Ballroom, in London: George Harrison, Delaney and Bonnie, Billy Preston and The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon and Eric Clapton joined John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band as part of Peace for Christmas, The concert was the last live appearance that Lennon ever made in his home country.
The Guess Who released their single “No Time”.
The Vegas Artist in Residence and Tour Decade
December 15, 1970
CCR released their great album Pendulum.
“Elvis – That’s The Way It Is” was released in the U.K.
David Cassidy went to #1 on the UK album chart with his third solo album “Dreams Are Nothin’ More Than Wishes”.
Charlie Rich started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with the country & western ballad ‘The Most Beautiful Girl’, the singers only No.1 single, was also a No.2 hit in the UK.
It was Helen Reddy’s name atop the Adult chart for a third week with her newest–“Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)”.
“Love’s Theme” by Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra moved from 79 to 50.
Elton John was officially a superstar. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road remained at #1 on the Album chart for a sixth week. The only new entry in the Top 10 was The Singles 1969-1973 by the Carpenters, which climbed from #30 to #8.
Aerosmith perform their first single, “Dream On” on American Bandstand. Guitarist Joe Perry would later say that he didn’t particularly like the song, but knew the band needed to record a ballad if they wanted to get radio play.
Charlie Rich scored a #1 with “The Most Beautiful Girl”. Elton John settled for #2 with “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, although many markets had him #1. The Carpenters previous #1 “Top Of The World” fell down while Chicago remained at #4 with another song many markets had much higher–“Just You ‘N’ Me”. The rest of a solid Top 10: Jim Croce’s new posthumous release “Time In A Bottle” jumped from 13 to 5, Todd Rundgren was up with “Hello It’s Me”, Helen Reddy reached #7 with “Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)”, Ringo Starr was at 8 with his former #1 “Photograph”, the Steve Miller Band collected their first Top 10 with “The Joker”, up from 15 to 9, and the Staple Singers had themselves a Top 10 song with “If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)”.
Elvis Presley recording session that was stopped earlier that morning was picked up again and ran from 9.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m.
Also Sprach Zarathustra See See Rider I Got A Woman/Amen Love Me Tryin’ To Get To You And I Love You So All Shook Up Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel Hound Dog I’m Leaving You Gave A Mountain Polk Salad Annie Just Pretend How Great Thou Art Burning Love Softly, As I Leave You America The Beautiful Little Sisiter One Night Until It’s Time For You To Go The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Mystery Train/Tiger Man It’s Now Or Never Can’t Help Falling In Love
Recordings:
Engagement – Tour Ref: Las Vegas Season 14 – Las Vegas December 2nd – December 15th 1975
The Sex Pistols were refused entry into the USA two days before a scheduled NBC TV appearance. Johnny Rotten because of a drugs conviction, Paul Cook & Sid Vicious because of ‘moral turpitude’ and Steve Jones because of his criminal record.
1979
U2 appeared at the Windsor Castle Pub, Harrow Road, London, admission was free.
Pink Floyd started a five week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with‘Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)’ their only UK chart topper. The song, which was also the final No.1 single of the 1970s, received a Grammy nomination for Best Performance by a Rock Duo or Group, but Floyd lost to Bob Seger’s Against the Wind.
The Long Run by the Eagles continued to hold on to #1 on the Album chart for the seventh consecutive week. Donna Summer sat at 2 with On the Radio–Greatest Hits–Volumes I & II and Styx remained third with Cornerstone. Stevie Wonder was at 4 with Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants and the Bee Gees Greatest edged up to #5. The rest of the Top 10: The excellent In Through the Out Door from Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand’s Wet, Tusk from Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers snuck up one with Damn the Torpedoes and the Commodores reached the Top 10 with Midnight Magic.
1980
The Eagles released their live single “Seven Bridges Road”.
1982 Elvis Presley Enterprises/Graceland Tourism
1983
Despite having one of his performances picketed by a senior’s advocate group called The Grey Panthers, “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” by Dr. Elmo hit #1 on the Billboard Christmas singles charts, becoming the first song to ever surpass Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”. To this day, estimated sales of the song top 50 million copies.
1984 Actor ExWife: Priscilla Presley
1984
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” enters the UK chart at #1, where it will stay for five weeks. The Bob Geldof produced song, specifically written to raise money for relief of famine in Ethiopia, was recorded by leading Irish and British musicians, including Phil Collins, Bono, George Michael, Sting, David Bowie, Boy George and Paul McCartney. The record would sell more than three million copies in Britain alone and enjoy similar success around the world.
Ashford and Simpson had the top R&B song with “Solid”.
Singer/actress Olivia Newton-John married actor Matt Lattanzi. They had a daughter before divorcing in 1995.
1988
Soul singer James Brown was sentenced to six years in prison for various offences including possession of weapons and resisting arrest.
1989
Billy Joel had his last number one album when “Stormfront” reached the top of the US charts. The LP also contained his final number 1 hit, “We Didn’t Start the Fire”, along with the singles, “I Go to Extremes” (#6) and, “And So It Goes” (#37).
1990
Elton John topped the Adult Contemporary chart with “You Gotta’ Love Someone”.
To the Extreme by Vanilla Ice was the #1 album with previous #1 Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em second. Mariah Carey’s great debut was up to #3, swapping places with I’m Your Baby Tonight by Whitney Houston. Madonna was up from 12 to 5 with her compilation The Immaculate Collection. The rest of the Top 10: The Rhythm of the Saints from Paul Simon, Bette Midler with Some People’s Lives, the super debut from Wilson Phillips, AC/DC at #9 with The Razors Edge and George Michael with Listen Without Prejudice.
Stevie B once again delivered the #1 song with “Because I Love You (The Postman Song)” while Bette Midler challenged “From A Distance”. Whitney Houston had song #3–“I’m Your Baby Tonight” and Madonna appeared to have a big hit with “Justify My Love”, moving from 10-4. The rest of the Top 10: “Impulsive” from Wilson Phillips, UB40’s remake of “The Way You Do The Things You Do”, D.N.A. with Suzanne Vega and “Tom’s Diner”, Poison crawled down with “Something To Believe In”, George Michael had his 10th consecutive Top 10 with a song from the great album Listen Without Prejudice–“Freedom” at #9 and the Damn Yankees flew in with “High Enough”.
1992
Nirvana released “Incesticide,” a collection of b-sides and rarities.
Dr. Dre’s debut album “The Chronic” was released.
1994
“It’s Now or Never: the Elvis the Tribute Concert” is broadcast. John Stamos hosted artists from a variety of genres doing Elvis Presley covers.
DJ Fontana, John Stamos, some ETA, Scotty Moore and Neal Matthews
DJ Fontana, Chris Isaak and Scotty Moore
In attendance: Priscilla Presley, and Lisa Marie with 2nd husband, Micheal Jackson
“It’s Now or Never, the tribute to Elvis” tv special soundtrack
‘Spice World The Movie’, featuring The Spice Girls premiered at The Empire, Leicester Sq, London. The following year it was nominated for the ‘worst film’ at the Golden Raspberry Awards.
The surviving members INXS released a tape of an interview in which they talk about the life and death of the group’s late vocalist Michael Hutchence. The band members had been reluctant to give interviews until this release.
1998
The surviving members INXS released a tape of an interview in which they talk about the life and death of the group’s late vocalist Michael Hutchence. The band members had been reluctant to give interviews until this release.
1999
Former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren announced that he was running for the Mayor of London. He said he would be campaigning for brothels, pot shops and boozing in libraries. “I changed London with the Sex Pistols, I can change London as Mayor.”
Country music superstar Garth Brooks said that he planned to keep an “extremely low” profile in 2000 and that he would “probably” announce his retirement at the end of the year.
Boy George, formerly of Culture Club, was knocked unconscious when a mirror ball fell on his head while doing a show in Dorset, England.
2001
R&B singer Rufus Thomas, whose biggest Pop hit was “Walkin’ The Dog” in 1963, died following a short illness at 84 – he’d recorded on Sun Records in the 1950s and on Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. Scored the 1963 US No.10 single ‘Walking The Dog’ and the 1970 UK No.18 & US No.28 single ‘Do The Funky Chicken’. A popular Memphis disc jockey from 1953 to 1974, there is street named in his honor, just off Beale Street.
Thomas’ Sun Records song “Tiger Man” was performed by Elvis on his 1968 tv special – and Elvis appeared on stage with Thomas in 1956:
Blue featuring Elton John went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.’ Previously a No.11 hit for Elton in 1976. It gave Elton only his 5th No 1 after over 30 years of hits!
2003 Recording Artist: Daughter Lisa Marie Presley
2005
Apple Records sued EMI for $52.9 million in unpaid royalties.
2006
The iconic blues musician B.B. King was honored by President George W. Bush on Dec. 15, 2006, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, Bush lauded the guitarist for setting himself apart as the standard in playing the instrument.
The Rolling Stones‘ A Bigger Bang tour re-captured the title of top-grossing tour ever from U2’s Vertigo and was the top grossing tour of the year, according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore. The Stones took in about $437 million since the previous November.
2008
A modest, one-story, red-brick house in St. Louis where Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneer Chuck Berry lived for eight years in the 1950s, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Berry, who now lives in Wentzville, Mo., about 40 miles west of St. Louis, said “Many of my favorite songs came about while in that house. It’s good to know that my music and now that house will always be a part of St. Louis’ history.”
Madonna paid former husband Guy Ritchie around £50m as part of their divorce settlement. The singers US spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press the figure included the value of the couple’s Ashcombe home in England, and the financial part of the settlement had been worked out but custody of the couple’s children had yet to be finalised.
Quincy Jones and Dave Brubeck were inducted into the California Hall of Fame in Sacramento.
2009
With U2 leading the way by making over 311 million dollars, several classic rockers were among the top earning touring acts of the year, including Madonna ($222 million), Bruce Springsteen ($156 million), AC/DC ($135 million), Billy Joel and Elton John ($90 million) and Tina Turner ($86 million).
2010 Actor: Granddaughter Riley Keough
2010
Various Pink Floyd items were sold at an Entertainment Memorabilia auction by Bonhams in Knightsbridge London. A demo pressing of the single ‘Point Me To The Sky/Careful With That Axe Eugene’ sold for £720. Pink Floyd signatures, in various blue marker pens on four separate pieces of paper mounted and framed together with a copy of ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ sold for £624.00 and a demo pressing of the single by Syd Barrett ‘Octopus’ / ‘Golden Hair’ from 1969, misspelt ‘Barratt’ corrected in ink on A-side, sold for £300.
2011
Phil Spector’s lawyers asked the US Supreme Court to review his murder conviction, arguing his constitutional rights were violated by the trial judge. In February, 2012, that appeal would be denied.
2012
At the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the Rolling Stones played the fifth and last concert of their 50th anniversary mini-tour. Guest performers at the concert included Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, the Black Keys, John Mayer, and former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor.
Paul McCartney was the musical guest on NBC-TV’s “Saturday Night Live.” He performed “My Valentine” accompanied by Joe Walsh and “Cut Me Some Slack” backed by Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselicand Pat Smear of Nirvana.
2013
Actress Joan Fontaine, younger sister of actress Olivia de Havilland, died at age 96. Fontaine and de Havilland are the only siblings to ever win lead acting Academy Awards, for “Rebecca” and “To Each His Own” and “The Heiress,” respectively.
2014
Taylor Swift was at No.1 on the US album chart with her fifth studio album 1989. The album eventually became the best-selling album of 2014 in the US market and had sold over 5.7 million copies by the end of 2015, while selling 9.5 million worldwide. Seven singles have been released from the set.
“I’d rather make $350 a week playing a maid than $35 a week being one” is the quote I remember, now the internet says 700, but then, Elvis’ aloha figures are now claimed at 1.5 billion when a decade ago it was one, and there were not that many tvs between the then global population of 3.5 billion
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