Podcast: Today In Elvis History

  • January 22nd in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 22nd in Elvis History
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    It's January twenty-second, and on this day in 1969… Elvis Presley walked into American Sound Studio in Memphis and laid down one of the most iconic tracks of his career—“Suspicious Minds.” After spending time with singer Roy Hamilton earlier that evening, Elvis resumed recording at 12:30 a.m. and, in just four takes, nailed the version that would become a chart-topping hit and one of his most powerful vocal performances. That same session also saw him record deeply emotional tracks like “Without Love” and “I’ll Hold You in My Heart,” closing out the marathon American Studio sessions with a return-to-form that would define his late-career resurgence.

  • January 21st in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 21st in Elvis History
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    It's January twenty-first, and on this day in 1963… production officially began on *Fun in Acapulco*, Elvis Presley’s thirteenth film. While the movie was set entirely in sunny Mexico, Elvis never set foot there during filming. All of his scenes—including those meant to take place at hotels and swimming pools—were shot on studio sets at Paramount in Hollywood. Meanwhile, a second unit crew was sent to Acapulco to capture background footage, using stand-ins for Elvis and other key characters.

    The film also marked the American movie debut of Ursula Andress, best known for her role in *Dr. No*. Though Elvis was known for dating many of his co-stars, he made no moves toward Andress—she was married to actor John Derek at the time, and Elvis made it clear: he wouldn’t cross that line.

  • January 20th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 20th in Elvis History
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    It's January twentieth, and on this day in 1958, principal photography began on Elvis Presley’s second film for Paramount, *King Creole*. While filming on the lot, Elvis met one of his personal heroes, the legendary actor Marlon Brando, in the studio commissary. The meeting between the rising King of Rock and Roll and the brooding icon of method acting was brief but deeply meaningful for Elvis, who had long admired Brando's screen presence and dramatic style.

    And on this day in 1969, Elvis returned to American Sound Studio in Memphis to record a song he had initially hesitated to tackle—*In the Ghetto*. With a growing conviction that it could become a hit, he pushed through 23 takes over the course of the night, finally wrapping up at 4 a.m. The socially conscious track would go on to become one of the most iconic songs of his late career.

  • January 19th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 19th in Elvis History
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    It's January nineteenth, and on this day in 1959… Elvis Presley, stationed in Germany during his Army service, wrote a heartfelt letter to Colonel Tom Parker requesting that RCA release a recorded message to his fans. In the letter, Elvis said, *“I want to be able to thank them not only for buying my records and for their loyalty to me but also for the help they have given me in deciding the kind of songs to sing.”* He added that even while away from the stage, *“I just wanted to let my fans know how I feel.”* The message was a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of Elvis’s deep appreciation for the people who lifted him to fame—and a promise that he’d be back, still listening to his audience.

  • January 18th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 18th in Elvis History
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    It's January 18th, and on this day in 1964… Elvis Presley made headlines far beyond the world of music when he became the high bidder at an auction for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s former yacht, the U.S.S. *Potomac*. The sixty-five-foot vessel, which Elvis secured for $55,000, wasn’t purchased for personal use—but for a cause close to his heart. In a gesture of generosity, Elvis announced he would donate the historic yacht to the March of Dimes, the organization dedicated to fighting polio, the disease that had afflicted F.D.R. himself. Colonel Tom Parker issued a press release calling for the boat to become a National Shrine, symbolizing both Elvis’s patriotism and his commitment to charitable work.

  • January 17th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 17th in Elvis History
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    It's January seventeenth, and on this day in 1967, Elvis Presley expanded his fleet—and his generosity—by purchasing a staggering eight vehicles in a single day for use at his newly acquired Circle G Ranch near Walls, Mississippi. The haul included one 1967 Chevy custom El Camino, two Dodges, and five Ford trucks, all intended for family and friends helping out on the property. This came as part of a larger vision Elvis had for building out the ranch into a private getaway and equestrian haven, complete with a riding ring and a growing collection of horses.

  • January 16th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 16th in Elvis History
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    It's January sixteenth, and on this day in 1971… Elvis Presley was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Year by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. The award ceremony, held in Memphis, was a grand affair attended by dignitaries including ambassador-appointee George Bush.

    Elvis, accompanied by Priscilla, began the day at a JCC prayer breakfast, later addressing the press with a rare public statement: “I don’t go along with music advocating drugs and desecration of the flag. I think an entertainer is for entertaining and to make people happy.”

    In the evening, he hosted a private reception at Graceland for fellow honorees and Jaycee officials, offering informal tours of the mansion. This was followed by a formal dinner for one hundred guests at the Four Flames Restaurant, complete with personalized place cards embossed with his signature TCB logo.

    At the main awards ceremony that night at Ellis Auditorium, Elvis proudly accepted the Jaycees trophy—an award he considered one of his most meaningful, and one he would carry with him on his travels from that day forward.

  • January 15th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 15th in Elvis History
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    It's January fifteenth, and on this day in 1955… Elvis Presley performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, Louisiana, wearing a rust-colored suit, a black-dotted purple tie, and pink socks. But the real headline wasn’t his outfit—or even the songs he sang, which included “Hearts of Stone,” “That’s All Right,” and “Tweedle Dee.” It was who was in the audience: Colonel Tom Parker and his associate Tom Diskin. This marked the first time the Colonel saw Elvis live. After the show, Parker began laying the groundwork to form a connection with Elvis’s manager, Bob Neal—setting in motion a relationship that would change the course of Elvis’s career forever.

  • January 14th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 14th in Elvis History
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    It's January eleventh, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley made a last-minute wardrobe adjustment ahead of one of the most iconic performances of his career: *Aloha from Hawaii*. The American-eagle jumpsuit and matching cape he planned to wear were custom-designed by Bill Belew for the satellite broadcast. But the night before the show, Elvis gave away his ornate belt to the wife of his friend, actor Jack Lord. In a pinch, Elvis’s road manager Joe Esposito phoned Belew, who rushed to send a replacement just in time. That eagle belt—and the jumpsuit—would go on to become one of the most recognizable costumes in Elvis history.

  • January 13th in Elvis History

    Today in Elvis History
    Today in Elvis History
    January 13th in Elvis History
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    It's January 13th, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley made television history with *Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite*, performing live at the International Convention Center Arena in Honolulu. The concert was broadcast in real time to much of the Far East, including Japan, Australia, South Korea, and Vietnam, and later shown to European audiences via Eurovision. It was the first entertainment special ever broadcast live around the world via satellite, reaching over one billion people—an audience larger than the moon landing.

    The concert raised more than triple its announced $25,000 goal for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund. At the end of the show, Elvis famously threw both his belt and cape into the audience. Then, after the crowd cleared out, he returned to the stage to record five more songs—four of them from *Blue Hawaii*—for the U.S. broadcast version. The performance marked a new pinnacle in global entertainment, firmly establishing Elvis as not just the King of Rock and Roll, but the King of worldwide television spectacle.