Today in Elvis History

It's July twenty-first, and on this day in 1955, Elvis performed at the Silver Moon Club in Newport, Arkansas. Fast forward to 1960, Elvis earned his first-degree black belt in karate, marking the beginning of his serious commitment to martial arts. In 1971, Elvis opened his first engagement at the High Sierra Room in the Sahara Tahoe Hotel in Stateline, Nevada. The shows, held twice nightly at 8 PM and midnight, featured a then-extravagant \$15 minimum cover charge, breaking all previous attendance records for the venue with 3,400 patrons across the first two shows. The opener for the show was comedian Nipsey Russell. Fans attending the opening night received a special tote bag with Elvis’s *C’mon Everybody* album, a hat, scarf, button, photo album, and a teddy bear. In 1972, Elvis returned to Memphis after a stay in Los Angeles. The following year, July 21, 1973, saw Elvis arrive at Stax Studio in the middle of the night, where musicians were shocked by his appearance, noting it was the first time they saw him not in good shape. Later in 1975, Elvis performed at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

It's July twentieth, and on this day in 1955, Elvis performed at the Cape Arena Building in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Just a year earlier, on July nineteenth, 1954, Elvis’s first professional single 45, “That’s All Right” backed with “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” was released. The record quickly gained traction, with one of the earliest known sales to fifteen-year-old Eldene Beard at Charlie’s Blues Record Shop in Memphis. *Billboard* praised Elvis as “a potent new chanter,” and by the end of that month, “That’s All Right” had sold 6,300 copies in Memphis alone. Sales rapidly increased, reaching over 250,000 by February 1955, mainly in the South and Southwest. On this day in 1956, while returning to Memphis from Biloxi, Elvis was mobbed by fans during a stop in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In 1970, Elvis purchased patio furniture in Palm Springs as a birthday gift for his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Later, in 1971, Elvis performed at the High Sierra Room of the Sahara Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada. In 1975, he held two concerts at the Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, at 2:30 and 8:30 p.m.

It's July nineteenth, and on this day in 1954, Elvis's debut single "That's All Right," backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky," was officially released by Sun Records. The record quickly gained popularity, selling about 20,000 copies and marking the true beginning of Elvis's recording career. Looking back a day earlier to July eighteenth, 1953, a young Elvis dropped by the Memphis Recording Service, part of Sun Records, to record two ballads—"My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin." At the time, Elvis honestly told Marion Keisker, the studio’s secretary, that he didn’t sound like anybody else. He paid \$3.98 for the session and said he was recording the record for his mother’s birthday, though this may have been a cover story. Later, in 1962, Elvis was known to frequent the Fairgrounds in Memphis several nights a week. In 1975, Elvis performed two shows at the Nassau County Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, at 2:30 and 8:30 p.m.

It's July eighteenth, and on this day in 1969, Elvis began rehearsals for his upcoming opening night in Las Vegas, marking a key moment as he prepared to return to live performance after years away from the stage. Looking back to July seventeenth, 1958, Elvis was in army training at Fort Hood, Texas. During a weekend visit to Dallas with his friend Eddie Fadal, a local disc jockey, Elvis and his group were turned away from the Dallas Sheraton Hotel because they “had no luggage.” They instead rented an entire floor of another hotel hosting a hairdresser’s convention. Elvis was so upset by the Sheraton incident that Colonel Parker contacted the hotel chain’s president, who offered a formal apology and free lodging at any Sheraton Inn, but Elvis refused the offer and avoided Sheraton hotels whenever touring in the Dallas area thereafter. In 1975, Elvis performed at the Cleveland Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio.

It's July seventeenth, and on this day in 1954, Elvis performed at the Bon Air Club in Memphis with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, playing the two songs they knew well enough to perform live. Fast forward to 1970, Elvis took a five-day break, flying to Palm Springs for some rest. In 1975, he gave a performance at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut. Meanwhile, on July sixteenth, 1974, Elvis was taking it easy in Memphis, spending time with Sandra Zancan, whom he had previously dated in Los Angeles. During that earlier time, Elvis had gifted her a white Datsun sports car and a ruby ring. Sandra and Elvis were seen together around Memphis for about two weeks, even as Priscilla was briefly seen in the city around that same period.

It’s July sixteenth, and on this day in 1966… Production began on Elvis Presley’s twenty-fourth film, *Double Trouble*, at MGM Studios in Culver City. Although the movie is set in England and Belgium, all of Elvis’s scenes were filmed on sound stages using backdrops and rear projections, with one scene shot in Long Beach Harbor standing in for Antwerp’s docks. The film is known for its continuity errors, including a disappearing luggage rack in one hotel room scene. Interestingly, Elvis’s cousin Billy Smith served as the stunt double for actress Annette Day in one of the scenes. Meanwhile, in 1955, Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, and in 1956, he toured New Orleans with his girlfriend June Juanico and his parents before they returned to Memphis.

It’s July fifteenth, and on this day in 1969… Elvis Presley assembled a new band in preparation for his upcoming Las Vegas engagement. He hired blues guitarist James Burton as band leader—a seasoned musician known for his role on *Ozzie and Harriet*. Burton brought in pianist Larry Muhoberac, drummer Ronnie Tutt, bassist Jerry Scheff, and rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson. Elvis also enlisted vocal groups the Imperials and the Sweet Inspirations, creating the lineup that would power his triumphant return to live performance. Meanwhile, in 1962, Elvis rented out the Fairgrounds amusement park for a private evening of fun with family and friends, showing a rare, relaxed side of the King amid his skyrocketing career.

It’s July fourteenth, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley flew to Las Vegas with Linda Thompson and resumed medical care under Dr. Ghanem, marking a period of increased health concerns for the King. Just the day before, on July thirteenth, Vernon Presley made the difficult decision to fire three longtime members of Elvis’s entourage—Sonny West, Red West, and karate expert Dave Hebler—citing financial belt tightening amid ongoing tensions within the group. The abrupt dismissals shocked those involved, especially Red West, Elvis’s high school friend, highlighting the growing strains behind the scenes of Elvis’s inner circle.

It's July thirteenth, and on this day in 1977… Elvis gave his girlfriend, Ginger Alden, a Triumph sports car. Just weeks before his passing, this extravagant gift reflected Elvis’s ongoing generosity and flair for romantic gestures—even as his health declined. The gesture stood out among many he had made over the years, offering a glimpse into the private world of the King during his final summer.

It's July twelvth in Elvis history!