Today in Elvis History
by Evin 'Elvis' Breen-Presley
A daily burst of Elvis magic! "Today in Elvis History" brings you fast, fun, and fascinating moments from the King's life—one date at a time. Whether you're an Elvis superfan or just curious, you'll get your daily dose of rock 'n' roll royalty in under 3 minutes.
Episodes
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December 31st in Elvis History
It's December thirty-first, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley rang in the new year with a powerful 90-minute performance at the Civic Center Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The show was widely considered one of his best in years, with many crediting his strong energy to the presence of...
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December 30th in Elvis History
It's December thirtieth, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley returned to Washington, D.C. with a group of eight close companions, including former sheriff Bill Morris, to visit the headquarters of the National Sheriffs Association. There, he secured honorary memberships and automatic life...
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December 29th in Elvis History
It’s December twenty-ninth, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1970, Elvis Presley returned to his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi, to receive a badge from Sheriff Bill Mitchell—a childhood acquaintance who had watched Elvis grow from a local boy into a global icon. The visit was emblematic of...
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December 28th in Elvis History
It’s December twenty-eighth, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1970, Elvis Presley served as best man at the wedding of his longtime friend and bodyguard, Sonny West. True to form, Elvis arrived wearing a collection of guns and badges—his fascination with law enforcement on full display. After...
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December 27th in Elvis History
It's December twenty-seventh, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed at Wichita State University’s Henry Levitt Arena in Wichita, Kansas. This show was part of a brief post-Christmas tour and came during a period of personal and professional turbulence, but Elvis still took to the…
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December 26th in Elvis History
It's December twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1965… Elvis Presley hosted an intimate gathering at Graceland, catered by Monty’s. But the night took an unusual turn: after nearly a year of reading about it, Elvis decided to experiment with LSD for the first—and what is believed to be the…
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December 25th in Elvis History
It's December twenty-fifth, and on this day in 1975… Elvis Presley spent Christmas evening in true Kingly fashion—gathered with family and friends aboard his private jet, the Lisa Marie. From the sky, he handed out personally selected jewelry from Lowell Hays’ collection, turning the plane into a...
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December 24th in Elvis History
It's December twenty-fourth, and on this day in 1966… Elvis Presley proposed to Priscilla Beaulieu, presenting her with a ring he had previously purchased from Harry Levitch. The moment was the culmination of their years-long relationship, marking a turning point in both their lives just hours...
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December 23rd in Elvis History
It's December twenty-third, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black were pulled over for speeding while returning from a Louisiana Hayride show in Shreveport. Elvis, worried he'd lose his Christmas money to a fine, was relieved when the officer let them off with just…
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December 22nd in Elvis History
It's December twenty-second, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley returned to Graceland bearing gifts for Priscilla and Lisa Marie, fresh from his whirlwind trip to Washington, D.C., where he met with President Nixon and received a federal narcotics badge. Sharing stories from the trip, Elvis...
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December 21st in Elvis History
It's December twenty-first, and on this day in 1970… Elvis Presley met with President Richard Nixon at the White House in one of the most iconic and unexpected encounters in American pop culture history. After hand-delivering a letter to the White House earlier that morning, Elvis was granted a...
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December 20th in Elvis History
It's December twentieth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley received his official draft notice. That same day, he stopped by Sun Records before heading to Nashville, where he hand-delivered a red Isetta sports car to Colonel Tom Parker as a Christmas gift. The moment captured the dramatic...
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December 19th in Elvis History
It's December nineteenth, and on this day in 1962… Priscilla Beaulieu arrived in the United States from Germany, traveling under the name Priscilla Fisher. She was picked up at Idlewild Airport in New York by Vernon Presley and his wife Dee, who brought her to Memphis. Elvis then met her at his...
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December 18th in Elvis History
It's December eighteenth, and on this day in 1968… filming wrapped on *The Trouble With Girls*, officially releasing Elvis Presley from his studio obligations. The movie, set in the 1920s and featuring Elvis as the manager of a traveling Chautauqua show, marked one of the final entries in his…
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December 17th in Elvis History
It's December seventeenth, and on this day in 1963… Elvis Presley presented a \$55,000 check to the mayor of Memphis, benefiting 58 local charities. The donation was made just days before Christmas, reflecting Elvis’s deep commitment to giving back to the city he called home. The gift became one…
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December 16th in Elvis History
It's December sixteenth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley purchased a Santa sleigh and eight reindeer decorations for \$300 from the Bain Sign Company in Memphis. The festive display was placed on the front lawn of Graceland and has become a beloved holiday tradition, continuing to light up...
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December 15th in Elvis History
It's December fifteenth, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley arrived in Shreveport, Louisiana, at 5:00 a.m. and checked into the Captain Shreve Hotel. That evening, he performed at the Louisiana Hayride at the Hirsch Youth Center. In the audience was director Hal Kanter, who was so inspired by...
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December 14th in Elvis History
It's December fourteenth, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley made his debut performance in Gladewater, Texas, at the Mint Club. The show was organized by local DJ Tom Perryman, who became a key early supporter of Elvis’s budding career. This appearance helped establish Presley’s presence in...
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December 13th in Elvis History
It's December thirteenth, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley recorded three master tracks at Stax Studios in Memphis, including the deeply emotional ballad *Loving Arms*. The session showcased a more introspective side of Elvis, as he channeled his personal struggles into powerful vocal...
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December 12th in Elvis History
It's December twelfth, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed his final concert at the Las Vegas Hilton. After the show, he returned to his dressing room and broke down in tears, confiding in televangelist Rex Humbard that he felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Humbard prayed with...
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December 11th 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...
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December 10th in Elvis History
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....
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December 9th in Elvis History
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...
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December 8th in Elvis History
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…
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December 7th in Elvis History
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...
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December 6th in Elvis History
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...
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December 5th in Elvis History
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…
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December 4th in Elvis History
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...
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December 3rd in Elvis History
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...
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December 2nd in Elvis History
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…
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December 1st in Elvis History
It's December first, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley donated \$1,050 to ensure that every student at his alma mater, Humes High School, could attend the E.H. Crump Memorial Football Game for the Blind. His gift covered the cost of tickets for all 1,400 students, reflecting both his deep...
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November 30th in Elvis History
It's November thirtieth, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed at the Convention Center in Anaheim, California. It was one of his stronger shows of the tour, with several in his inner circle noting a noticeable lift in his energy. Linda Thompson had recently departed, and Ginger Alden...
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November 29th in Elvis History
It's November twenty-ninth, and on this day in 1965… Elvis Presley purchased a retired D’Elegance Greyhound bus, intending to have it refurbished for personal travel between Memphis and California. Always drawn to the freedom of the open road, Elvis envisioned the customized bus as a private,...
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November 28th in Elvis History
It's November twenty-eighth, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California. Behind the scenes, a major shift in his personal life was underway. Elvis had Ginger Alden flown out on the JetStar to join the tour, while at the same time encouraging...
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November 27th in Elvis History
It’s November twenty-seventh, and on this day in Elvis history: In 1976, Elvis Presley performed at the University of Oregon's McArthur Court in Eugene. The show was part of his final full year of touring, and though his health was increasingly fragile, fans still filled arenas to see him. Clad…
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November 26th in Elvis History
It's November twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley returned to the Paladium Club in Houston, Texas, by popular demand. Just one day after his first performance there, the crowd’s overwhelming enthusiasm brought him back for an encore show. That same day, Elvis sent a telegram home...
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November 25th in Elvis History
It's November twenty-fifth, and on this day in 1975… Elvis Presley took out a loan for \$350,000 from the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis, using Graceland itself as collateral. The loan was necessary to cover the costs of his extravagant lifestyle, including recent purchases of airplanes,...
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November 24th in Elvis History
It's November twenty-fourth, and on this day in 1971… blood test results confirmed that Elvis Presley was not the father of Patricia Parker's child. The paternity lawsuit had generated tabloid attention, but the conclusive results put the matter to rest. It was a rare instance of Elvis being...
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November 23rd in Elvis History
It's November twenty-third, and on this day in 1976… Jerry Lee Lewis showed up at the gates of Graceland for the second night in a row, this time waving a gun and demanding to see Elvis. In the early morning hours, police found Lewis sitting in his car with a loaded .38 derringer on his knee,...
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November 22nd in Elvis History
It's November twenty-second, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley performed two shows at the Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Following the evening concert, the excitement took an unexpected turn when Elvis was confronted by a jealous husband upset over his wife's admiration for the King. The...
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November 21st in Elvis History
It's November twenty-first, and on this day in 1956… *Love Me Tender* was released nationwide in theaters across the United States, while RCA Victor officially released Elvis’s recording of the title song. The film, which marked Elvis Presley's acting debut, had already generated tremendous buzz....
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November 20th in Elvis History
It's November twentieth, and on this day in 1955… RCA Victor officially purchased Elvis Presley’s contract from Sun Records for \$25,000. The deal marked a turning point not only in Elvis’s career but in the history of popular music. With this acquisition, Elvis moved from a regional rockabilly...
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November 19th in Elvis History
It's November nineteenth, and on this day in 1976... Elvis Presley was introduced to the Alden sisters at Graceland by his longtime friend George Klein. Although the expectation was that Elvis might be interested in Terry Alden, it was the youngest sister, nineteen-year-old Ginger Alden—then Miss...
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November 18th in Elvis History
It's November eighteenth, and on this day in 1972... Elvis Presley performed two shows at the Honolulu International Center Arena in Hawaii—one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Originally, one of these performances was considered for the upcoming *Aloha from Hawaii* satellite broadcast....
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November 17th in Elvis History
It's November seventeenth, and on this day in 1972... Elvis Presley performed at the Honolulu International Center Arena in Hawaii to a crowd of 8,400 fans. Wearing the Thunderbird jumpsuit with the Jack Lord belt and a blue cape, Elvis delivered a powerful set that included “See See Rider,”…
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November 16th in Elvis History
It's November sixteenth, and on this day in 1970... Elvis Presley performed to a sold-out crowd of eleven thousand fans at the State Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City. Wearing his striking Lace suit with the White Macramé belt, Elvis delivered a powerhouse performance as part of his triumphant...
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November 15th in Elvis History
It's November fifteenth, and on this day in 1970... Elvis Presley performed at the International Sports Arena in San Diego, California, as part of his first full-scale tour since the 1950s. Dressed in the White Chain Suit, Elvis captivated an enthusiastic crowd with a powerhouse setlist that...
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November 14th in Elvis History
It's November fourteenth, and on this day in 1970... Elvis Presley shattered attendance records with two sold-out concerts at The Forum in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California. Performing at 3:00 and 8:30 p.m., Elvis drew a combined crowd of 37,398 fans, surpassing the previous record set by the...
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November 13th in Elvis History
It's November thirteenth, and on this day in 1970... Elvis Presley performed for a packed house of 14,300 fans at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California. Wearing his striking Red Ladder jumpsuit, Elvis delivered a powerhouse set that included "That's All Right," "Polk Salad Annie," "Bridge...
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November 12th in Elvis History
It's November twelfth, and on this day in 1955... Billboard magazine named Elvis Presley the "Most Promising Country and Western Artist" in its annual disc jockey poll, marking one of the earliest acknowledgments from the music industry of his skyrocketing potential. That same day, Elvis…
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About this show
A daily burst of Elvis magic! "Today in Elvis History" brings you fast, fun, and fascinating moments from the King's life—one date at a time. Whether you're an Elvis superfan or just curious, you'll get your daily dose of rock 'n' roll royalty in under 3 minutes.
Hosted by
Evin 'Elvis' Breen-Presley