Today in Elvis History

It's April tenth, and on this day in 1957, actress Yvonne Lime arrived in Memphis to visit Elvis Presley. The two had met the previous year on the set of *Loving You* and had occasionally dated in Hollywood. During her visit, Elvis was dealing with a skin rash, so their first evening together was a quiet one, spent on the patio of his home on Audubon Drive—where he still lived while renovations were underway at Graceland.

It's April 9th, and on this day in 1953, Elvis Presley made his debut on a big stage at the Humes High School "Annual Minstrel Show." Encouraged by his teacher, Mrs. Scrivener, Elvis performed in front of a packed crowd at the Humes Auditorium. Despite being billed as "Elvis Prestley, guitarist," Elvis took to the stage and sang "Take Them Cold Icy Fingers Off of Me," a 1950 country hit by Pee Wee King. His performance received an enthusiastic response, earning him the honor of the only encore of the night, where he sang "Till I Waltz Again with You." This marked the first of many memorable performances for Elvis, with 1,500 students, faculty, and parents witnessing a glimpse of the legend he was to become.

It's April 8th, and on this day in 1973, Elvis Presley flew to San Francisco to attend the California Karate Championships at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. Elvis, a black belt in karate under his instructor Ed Parker, was expected to perform a demonstration of brick-breaking before the championship matches. However, a publicity stunt that featured Elvis's name prominently on the event’s marquee and in promotions led to a conflict with his contract at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel. The hotel had restrictions on Elvis making personal appearances within 300 miles of the venue in the 30 days prior to his scheduled performances. As a result, Elvis was prohibited from participating in the demonstration. Disappointed fans, who had gathered to see Elvis in action, instead saw him in the audience, a silent observer of the competition.

It's April 7th, and on this day in 1962, Elvis Presley arrived in Hawaii to begin shooting his eleventh film, *Girls! Girls! Girls!*. Upon his arrival at the airport, Elvis was mobbed by several thousand fans. In the chaos, he lost his diamond ring, tie clip, and watch. The film, which would feature a number of iconic Hawaiian locations, was shot at places like the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, the Bumble Bee Tuna Company's canning plant at Kewalo Basin, and the picturesque village of Miloli’i, which was renamed "Paradise Cove" for the movie. The film also marked the singing role debut of actress and Playboy Playmate of the Month, Stella Stephens, who appeared alongside Elvis.

It's April 6, and on this day in 1956, Elvis made a monumental leap in his career by signing a three-picture deal with Paramount Pictures. In a press conference with producer Hal Wallis, Elvis’s future in film was solidified, though not without a twist. Wallis had originally proposed a seven-year contract with a starting salary of \$15,000 per film. However, Colonel Parker intervened, negotiating a deal that kept Elvis a free agent while committing him to just three films over the next seven years. The salary for these films would escalate dramatically—from \$100,000 for the first, to \$150,000 for the second, and \$200,000 for the third.

Just after signing, Elvis was immediately "loaned" to Twentieth Century Fox, marking the beginning of his film career with *Love Me Tender*. This agreement brought Wallis nearly \$100,000 in return, solidifying Elvis’s place in both Hollywood and the music world. This was a pivotal moment that launched Elvis from music stardom into the realm of silver screen royalty.

It's April 5th, and on this day in 1936, one-year-old Elvis Presley and his mother Gladys took refuge in the home of Elvis’s great-uncle, Noah Presley, as a devastating tornado struck Tupelo, Mississippi. The tornado obliterated fifteen blocks of the town, leaving a path of destruction four miles long and a mile wide. The storm claimed the lives of 213 people and left hundreds more injured, with the Tupelo City Hospital among the many buildings destroyed. For days, bodies were found floating in the bog along Commerce Street, and the rain helped to contain fires that had broken out in the town. The tornado’s destructive path didn’t stop there, as it continued eastward across the South, causing further devastation in other towns.

It's April 4th, and on this day in 1968, Elvis was deeply shaken by the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis. As news of the event reached him while he was in California, it hit particularly hard, not only because it occurred in his hometown but because Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech had always been one of Elvis's personal favorites. The speech, which he often recited, had left a lasting impression on him, and the assassination, much like the one of President John F. Kennedy five years earlier, marked a pivotal moment in history that Elvis would never forget.

It's April 3, and on this day in 1972, RCA Victor released the single of "He Touched Me" paired with "Bosom of Abraham." Just in time for Easter, the release was an important moment for Elvis's gospel music legacy. However, the first pressing of "He Touched Me" was produced at 33-1/3 speed instead of the standard 45 rpm. As a result, the single was quickly recalled and reissued, but it never sold in large enough quantities to chart on *Billboard*. Despite this, the single remains a notable chapter in Elvis's gospel discography.

It's April 2nd, and on this day in 1956, Elvis Presley took a major step toward Hollywood stardom. At Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Elvis participated in screen tests for producer Hal Wallis, under the guidance of veteran director Frank Tashlin. Over the course of three days, Elvis performed two scenes from *The Rainmaker*, a film set to star Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn. In addition, he lip-synched and showcased his electrifying stage presence while performing his hit, "Blue Suede Shoes."

Screenwriter Allen Weiss described the experience as being reminiscent of “a high school play,” but added that once the music was incorporated, "the transformation was incredible: electricity bounced off the walls of the soundstage, it was like an earthquake in progress, only without the implicit threat." This pivotal moment was a glimpse of the magic that would soon make Elvis a cinematic sensation, blending his musical talent with his emerging acting career.

It's April 1st, and on this day in 1960, Elvis Presley boarded a chartered bus from Memphis to Nashville for a second recording session following his return from the army. In a marathon session lasting from 7:30 P.M. to 7:00 A.M., Elvis recorded twelve tracks instead of the planned ten, marking a milestone in his post-army career. Among the songs he recorded were "It’s Now or Never," a rendition of the Tony Martin standard "There’s No Tomorrow" based on "O Sole Mio," a sultry version of Little Willie John’s "Fever," and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"—a track recorded at the specific request of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, because it was his wife Marie’s favorite song. This session stands out as one of the rare instances where Elvis recorded a song at the explicit request of Colonel Parker.