Today in Elvis History

It's May 17th, and on this day in 1957, Elvis Presley was resting at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel following a brief hospital stay at Southern California’s Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. During the filming of *Jailhouse Rock*, Elvis had dislodged a cap from one of his teeth, which ended up lodged in his lung. The cap required a doctor to remove it with forceps.

In an unexpected but heartwarming turn, Elvis's three hundred-pound friend, Lamar Fike, showed up unannounced at the Beverly Wilshire. Fike, who had left his job in Jacksonville, Florida, when he learned of Elvis's hospitalization, made the long drive straight to Hollywood to be by his side. A year earlier, the press had noticed Lamar often hanging around Elvis’s home in Memphis, and now, he became one of the first people allowed into Elvis's inner circle, offering his unwavering support during this challenging time.

It's May 16th, and on this day in 1954, Elvis Presley attended the annual Cotton Festival in Memphis. Two years before he would become a headliner at the event, he was in the audience, watching the performance of Eddy Arnold, who had once been managed by Colonel Tom Parker. The Jordanaires, who would go on to become a crucial part of Elvis's sound, were backing Arnold during the show. After the performance, Elvis made his way backstage, where he famously told the group, ""If I ever cut a record, I want you guys singing background with me."" This moment would foreshadow the collaboration that would shape Elvis's musical career.

In 1956, Elvis gave two performances at the Robinson Memorial Auditorium in Little Rock, Arkansas. During an interview between shows, he mentioned that his favorite song was ""I Was The One"" from his first RCA session.

In 1957, Elvis was released from the hospital after an unspecified health issue.

In 1967, Elvis visited the Memphian Theater to watch Peter Sellers' film *A Shot In The Dark*.

And in 1971, while recording his upcoming Christmas album in Nashville, Elvis and his band jammed during a break, playing Bob Dylan's ""Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"" for over 11 minutes. Elvis lost interest in the Christmas album afterward, and the band recorded three instrumental tracks instead.

It's May 15, and on this day in 1956, Elvis Presley performed at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee, during the Cotton Carnival. This marked a key moment in his career, as he closed the show with "Hound Dog" for the very first time, a song that would go on to become a defining anthem of his career. Elvis, dressed in a black shirt, Kelly green jacket, and black pants, received an enthusiastic welcome from the hometown crowd, who roared with approval when it was announced that Elvis would be performing a charity benefit show later that summer. The performance also included "Heartbreak Hotel" and a tribute to Little Richard with "Long Tall Sally." It was a night that further cemented his place as a musical icon in his own hometown.

It's May 14th, and on this day in 1957, while working on the dance sequence for *Jailhouse Rock*, Elvis accidentally swallowed a cap from one of his teeth. This mishap would become a notable moment in his legendary career as the King of Rock and Roll continued to face both the pressures and challenges of his rising stardom.
Also on this day in 1968, Elvis met with Bob Finkel to discuss his upcoming Christmas special. With a desire to make the special stand out, Elvis expressed that he wanted it to be completely different from his previous work, aiming to showcase his true capabilities as a performer beyond the typical Christmas show format.

Today in Elvis History for May 13

It’s May 12th, and on May 12th, 1960, Elvis Presley made his first television appearance since returning from the army—broadcast live from the luxurious Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami. The special was Frank Sinatra’s Welcome Home, Elvis, and it was more than just a variety show—it was a symbolic passing of the torch.

Elvis performed “Fame and Fortune” and “Stuck on You,” then swapped hits with Sinatra—crooning “Witchcraft” while Ol’ Blue Eyes serenaded the nation with “Love Me Tender.” The show ended with the entire cast joining in on “It’s Nice to Go Traveling.”

The broadcast pulled in a staggering 41.5% of the U.S. TV audience. And Elvis? He earned $125,000 for his six-minute performance—that’s over $1.3 million in today’s money. Not bad for a night’s work.

But the bigger payoff was respect. Sinatra, who once slammed Elvis’s music as a “rancid-smelling aphrodisiac,” now stood beside him, publicly embracing the King as “the embodiment of the whole American culture.” It was a defining moment: Elvis wasn’t just back—he was now fully accepted by the old-school elite.

It's May 11th, and on May 11th, 1957, Elvis Presley met actor Russ Tamblyn—thanks to a connection through their mutual friend Nick Adams.

Russ wasn’t just any actor—he was the acrobatic dynamo from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, later known for West Side Story and even Twin Peaks. He’s also the father of actress Amber Tamblyn. That day, Russ and Elvis hit it off, and soon they were working together on dance moves for Jailhouse Rock. Russ’s athletic style left a mark—the choreography in the movie’s title number became one of Elvis’s most iconic performances.

According to Russ’s memoir, Dancing on the Edge, he later offered Elvis & entourage his Malibu house for a quiet getaway, and when he returned, it looked like a rockstar party bomb had gone off, with peanut butter and banana sandwiches in the bed and shattered glass all over. But Russ considered Elvis a true friend, and when he mentioned it to Elvis, he was horrified and had his manager cut a check to cover it. 

No hard feelings—just another legendary tale from the golden age of Hollywood friendships and peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

It's May 10th, and on May 10, 1957, Elvis Presley was busy rehearsing a barroom fight scene for his third film, Jailhouse Rock. In the scene, his character Vince Everett throws a punch defending a barmaid, accidentally kills a man, and winds up in prison.

It was a turning point in Elvis’s acting career. He’d already played the sweet younger brother in Love Me Tender and a rising singer in Loving You, but Jailhouse Rock was grittier. More edge, more attitude, and a lot more incarceration!

Not everyone was thrilled. The Los Angeles Times wrung their hands over Elvis's new “bad boy” image, worried that mixing rock ’n’ roll with crime might corrupt America’s youth. As if his hip swinging hadn't corrupted 'em enough already!

It’s May 9, and on May 9, 2020, Loanne Parker passed away in Las Vegas at the age of 84. As the widow of Colonel Tom Parker—Elvis Presley’s longtime manager—Loanne played a unique role in the Elvis story. She first met Elvis and the Colonel in 1969 while working as an RCA Records tour secretary. Her professional relationship with Parker evolved into a personal one, and they married in 1990.

Loanne was a steadfast defender of her husband’s legacy, challenging criticisms of his management style and decisions. In interviews, she described the Colonel as a tireless strategist who thought about Elvis “24/7,” constantly seeking ways to promote and protect his career.

Though not in the spotlight, Loanne’s behind-the-scenes presence helped shape the business side of Elvis’s career during his touring years and beyond. Her passing marked the end of a direct link to one of the most pivotal partnerships in music history.

It's May 8, and on May 8, 1954, 19-year-old Elvis Presley attended the Memphis Cotton Carnival with his girlfriend, Dixie Locke. That night, the gospel group The Jordanaires performed—an event widely believed to be the first time Elvis encountered the group that would later shape his signature sound.

That same day, across the Atlantic, Britain’s BBC banned Johnnie Ray’s “Such a Night” for being too suggestive—a song Elvis would later make his own with sultry swagger.

On May 8, 1976, Elvis performed a dinner show at the Sahara Tahoe in Nevada, still holding court with fans who came to see the King in action.