Today in Elvis History

It's September twenty-first, and on this day in 1977... the Memphis Development Foundation paid sculptor Fin Parks \$151,000 to create a towering twenty-five-foot, fifty-ton bronze statue of Elvis Presley to overlook the Mississippi River. But just weeks later, the Foundation filed an \$8.4 million lawsuit against Factors, Etc., the merchandising company that, within two days of Elvis’s death, secured exclusive rights to his name and image—thanks to a deal Vernon Presley signed at Colonel Tom Parker’s urging. Under that contract, Parker would receive seventy-five percent of all profits, leaving only twenty-five percent for Elvis's estate.

It's September twentieth, and on this day in 1949... the Presley family moved into public housing for the first time, settling into a two-bedroom, first-floor apartment at 185 Winchester Street in Memphis's Lauderdale Courts. The rent was thirty-five dollars a month. This modest apartment became a formative backdrop for Elvis’s teenage years, where he practiced guitar in stairwells, sang to neighbors, and began building the confidence and charisma that would soon launch him into stardom.

It's September nineteenth, and on this day in 1974... Elvis Presley caused a stir at Memphis's Methodist Hospital when he visited Linda Thompson's sister-in-law in the labor room. Wearing a surgical mask in hopes of staying incognito, Elvis was still instantly recognized by a woman who blurted out, “Oh my God, you look like Elvis Presley.” Without missing a beat, Elvis replied, “Honey, I am Elvis Presley.” The unexpected moment became a lighthearted and memorable encounter in the middle of a hospital maternity ward.

It's September eighteenth, and on this day in 1958... Elvis Presley spent his final night as a civilian before reporting for duty in the U.S. Army. Surrounded by close friends and family—including his father Vernon, girlfriend Anita Wood, Eddie Fadal, Lamar Fike, Red West, and others—Elvis stayed in Killeen, Texas, where emotions ran high. The gathering marked the end of an era for Elvis, as he prepared to step away from the spotlight and into military service, uncertain of what awaited him on the other side.

It's September seventeenth, and on this day in 1954... Elvis Presley performed at the high school gym in Bethel Springs, Tennessee—a modest venue for what would become a monumental moment in music history. In the audience that night was Carl Perkins, who struck up a conversation with Elvis after the show. They discussed Sun Records, and though Elvis wasn’t sure Sam Phillips needed another singer, Perkins visited the studio the following month. That conversation helped launch the career of one of rockabilly’s pioneers, linking two legends at a turning point in American music.

It's September sixteenth, and on this day in 1974... Elvis Presley visited the Tennessee Karate Institute, where he conducted a personal karate exhibition alongside longtime friend and bodyguard Red West. Accompanied by Linda Thompson, Elvis demonstrated his passion for martial arts—a discipline he took seriously and often incorporated into his stage performances. The visit reflected not only his dedication to karate but also his desire to share that interest with those closest to him.

It's September fifteenth, and on this day in 1975... Elvis Presley was spotted cruising on his three-wheeled motorcycle, dressed in a windbreaker and sunglasses, with a cigar in hand. When approached by a reporter, Elvis smiled and simply said he was feeling fine again. The casual, confident ride came after recent health concerns, offering fans and the media a reassuring glimpse of the King enjoying a moment of freedom on the open road.

It's September fourteenth, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley responded publicly to statements made by his longtime guitarist Scotty Moore, who had voiced frustration over financial matters in the *Memphis Press-Scimitar*. In an open letter published in the same paper, Elvis expressed disappointment that the issue had been taken to the press instead of being discussed privately. The exchange revealed growing tension within the band and marked a rare moment when Elvis directly addressed internal conflict in a public forum.

It's September thirteenth, and on this day in 1959... Priscilla Beaulieu was brought to Elvis Presley’s residence on Goethestrasse in Bad Nauheim, Germany, for the very first time. Just fourteen years old at the time, Priscilla made an immediate impression on Elvis, who reportedly told a friend, “She is like the woman I’ve been looking for all my life.” From that moment, she became a regular presence in his life, marking the beginning of one of the most significant and widely publicized relationships in Elvis’s personal history.

It's September twelfth, and on this day in 1956... the chief of police in San Diego publicly declared that if Elvis Presley returned to the city and performed with the same stage antics he had displayed earlier that spring, he would be arrested for disorderly conduct. The warning reflected the growing cultural tension surrounding Elvis’s explosive popularity, as his energetic performances and hip-shaking moves continued to spark both adoration from fans and concern from conservative authorities.