Today in Elvis History

It's December eleventh, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley ran out of gas in his brand-new Cadillac Seville and was quickly mobbed by fans. That same day, Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long awarded Elvis the honorary title of Louisiana Colonel—the same symbolic rank held by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. It was a moment that blended Presley’s growing national fame with Southern recognition, cementing his rising status not just as a performer, but as a cultural figure of honor in the region that launched his career.

It's December tenth, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley returned to Stax Studios in Memphis for a weeklong recording session. To avoid the technical issues that had plagued earlier efforts, RCA brought in its mobile recording truck and a team of four engineers. The session began at 9:00 p.m. and ran until 4:30 in the morning, yielding two completed masters. It marked a determined effort by Elvis and his team to regain creative control and produce polished tracks under better conditions.

It's December ninth, and on this day in 1955… Elvis Presley performed twice in Swifton, Arkansas. First, he appeared at the local high school alongside Johnny Cash, and later that night, he took the stage at the B\&I Club. During that evening performance, Elvis introduced a brand-new song to the crowd—*Heartbreak Hotel*—and boldly declared, “It’s gonna be my first hit.” Just weeks later, the song would launch him into superstardom.

It's December eighth, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley went on a generous shopping spree in Los Angeles, purchasing a house for his close friend Joe Esposito and Joe’s wife, along with Mercedes-Benz cars for himself, Jerry Schilling, and Barbara Leigh. The extravagant gesture highlighted not only Elvis’s wealth, but also his deep loyalty to those in his inner circle, showering friends with life-changing gifts just because he could.

It's December seventh, and on this day in 1955… Elvis Presley performed four shows at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana, earning \$1,000 for the day. Tom Diskin reported to Colonel Parker that Elvis was improving with every performance, electrifying the crowd, though he still needed to work on pacing his act. The intense schedule and growing feedback marked a period of rapid growth as Elvis honed the stage presence that would soon captivate the world.

It's December sixth, and on this day in 1959… Elvis Presley began bi-weekly karate lessons with Jurgen Seydel, widely recognized as the father of German karate. Stationed in Germany during his military service, Elvis took a serious interest in martial arts, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion. These early lessons marked the beginning of a discipline that would influence both his physical routine and stage performance for the rest of his career.

It's December fifth, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley attended the wedding of his longtime friend George Klein to Barbara Little at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Ever the loyal companion, Elvis arranged for his father Vernon and stepmother Dee to join the celebration, underscoring the deep personal connections he maintained with those closest to him—even amid the glitz of Vegas and the pressures of fame.

It's December fourth, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley dropped by Sun Studio in Memphis, where Carl Perkins was in the middle of a recording session. What followed became one of the most legendary moments in rock and roll history. Elvis joined Carl and Jerry Lee Lewis for an impromptu jam session, and Sam Phillips had the foresight to roll tape. Later dubbed the “Million Dollar Quartet,” this spontaneous gathering captured the raw energy of three future legends at the dawn of their powers.

It's December third, and on this day in 1968… *Singer Presents Elvis*, the NBC television special now famously known as the '68 Comeback Special, aired at 9:00 p.m. Capturing an astounding 42% of the national TV audience, it became NBC’s highest-rated broadcast of the year. Critics may have been split, but the viewers had spoken loud and clear—Elvis was back. The show reignited his performing career and reestablished him as a dynamic force in music and pop culture.

It's December second, and on this day in 1968… Elvis Presley was photographed in Beverly Hills the day after the broadcast of his legendary NBC television special, commonly known as the ’68 Comeback Special. Still riding high from the critical and fan acclaim, Elvis appeared confident, stylish, and reenergized—marking the beginning of a bold new chapter in his career.