Today in Elvis History

It's February twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1967… Elvis Presley delayed his trip to Los Angeles due to painful saddle sores, prompting a house call from Dr. George Nichopoulos at the ranch. The doctor not only treated Elvis and relayed the situation to Colonel Parker, but this visit also marked the beginning of a significant and long-lasting relationship. Dr. Nick would go on to become Elvis’s personal physician and a near-constant presence in his life for the next decade.

It's February 25, and on this day in 1961…

Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington and Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb declared it officially “Elvis Presley Day.” At a hundred-dollar-a-plate charity luncheon at the Claridge Hotel, Elvis was honored by RCA with a diamond-studded watch and a commemorative plaque for surpassing 75 million records sold. He also received international awards from over a dozen countries and was named “Best Male Vocalist of 1960” by *American Bandstand*.

That evening, Elvis performed two benefit concerts at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis—his first live performances in Memphis since 1957. Comedian George Jessel introduced him as “one of the greatest singer-actors of this century.” The shows raised over \$51,000 for 26 charities, including nearly \$4,000 for the Elvis Presley Youth Center in Tupelo.

It's February 24, and on this day in 1965… Elvis Presley returned to the recording studio for the first time in eight months, but it wasn’t exactly a triumphant comeback. A last-minute soundtrack session was arranged for his upcoming film *Harum Scarum*, but with his usual musicians unavailable, Elvis found himself backed by a fill-in group that included Charlie McCoy on guitar, Henry Strzelecki on bass, and Kenny Buttrey on drums. To match the film’s exotic theme, flute and oboe players Rufus Long and Ralph Strobel were brought in to lend a “Middle Eastern” sound. The session turned grueling fast—Elvis was visibly disinterested in the material, and by 3:30 a.m., after 38 takes of “Shake That Tambourine,” he called it a night.

It's February twenty-third, and on this day in 1967… Elvis Presley became the legal owner of a 163-acre ranch in Mississippi, just south of Memphis, near the town of Walls. He named it the *Flying Circle G Ranch*. More than just a getaway, Elvis turned the property into a personal refuge and cowboy-style retreat, complete with horses, saddles, and a growing entourage of friends and family who moved onto the ranch with him. Among them were Billy and Jo Smith, Alan and Dee Fortas, and even Elvis’s Aunt Nashval and her husband Earl. A local hostler named Mike McGregor tended the horses and, in time, crafted custom leather goods for Elvis—including his signature belts. The Circle G marked one of the few times Elvis tried to build a life away from the spotlight, with dreams of simplicity, freedom, and open land.

It's February twenty-first, and on this day in 1966… Elvis Presley began filming *Spinout* and sat down for a rare interview with syndicated Hollywood columnist and former Miss Utah, May Mann. During their conversation, Elvis opened up about his deep connection to Graceland, saying he would always keep it as his home because of his mother. He also revealed he was working on a new religious album—his first non-soundtrack LP in two and a half years—marking a turning point as he sought more personal and meaningful music.

That same day, Elvis showed signs of renewed musical curiosity by purchasing a new amplifier, a twelve-string guitar, and a harmonica. His tastes were broadening beyond gospel and rock, as he found himself listening to folk artists like Peter, Paul & Mary and Bob Dylan—an early signal of the evolving sound that would define his comeback just a few years later.

It's February twentieth, and on this day in 1969... Elvis Presley was back at American Sound Studio in Memphis, deep into a career-reviving stretch of recording sessions. On this particular day, he recorded two emotionally rich ballads: *It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’* and *Any Day Now*—both showcasing the raw, soulful sound that defined his legendary '69 comeback.

But Elvis didn’t just spend the day behind the mic. Earlier that morning, he purchased a microfilm reader from Kodak and had more than 4,000 personal items microfilmed—everything from letters to memorabilia. It was an unusually meticulous move for the King, suggesting he was not only focused on reclaiming his musical throne, but also curating his legacy in real time.

It's February nineteenth, and on this day in 1977, Elvis Presley performed at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. Concerned that his girlfriend Ginger Alden was homesick for her family, Elvis had them flown in to join the tour for its final days—a gesture that reflected his generosity and emotional sensitivity even during the grueling final year of his performing life.

It's February eighteenth, and on this day in 1973, during a midnight show at the Las Vegas Hilton, Elvis Presley was interrupted by four men who jumped onstage in an apparent attempt to reach him. With lightning reflexes and a karate move, Elvis knocked one of them back into the audience. The others were subdued by members of his entourage, including Red and Sonny West, Jerry Schilling, and even Elvis’s father, Vernon Presley. After the scuffle, Elvis faced the audience and said, “I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen. I'm sorry I didn't break his goddamned neck is what I'm sorry about.”

It's February seventeenth, and on this day in 1960, Elvis Presley was awarded a Gold record for his self-titled debut album, *Elvis Presley*. Originally released in 1956, the album made history as the first Rock 'n' Roll LP to top the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, holding the number one spot for an astonishing ten weeks. This milestone not only cemented Elvis’s status as the new king of popular music but also marked a turning point in the mainstream acceptance of rock and roll.

It's February sixteenth, and on this day in 1955… Elvis Presley performed two back-to-back shows at the Odessa Senior High School Field House in Texas, drawing over four thousand fans. Among the crowd was a young Roy Orbison, who later recalled being blown away by Elvis's raw power onstage, saying, “His energy was incredible, his instinct was just amazing.” It was a night that left a future rock legend starstruck.

And on this day in 1972… Elvis recorded his iconic rendition of “An American Trilogy” live at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. RCA captured the midnight show, and nearly all the masters used for official release came from this performance. The soaring medley became one of Elvis’s most powerful and patriotic showpieces.