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SIXTEEN WEEKS overall on the singles chart, “Stuck On You” by Elvis Presley peaked this month at No. 01 (4 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending, May 1, through week-ending, May 22 1960. (Source: Billboard)
For more Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1969
Las Vegas Booked By Elvis, Star Shines Brilliantly on ‘International’ Stage
LAS VEGAS — The greatest rocker of them all came and met one of his toughest audiences at the International Hotel showroom.
Elvis Presley, making his first personal appearance since a 1962 charity benefit at Memphis, rocked through such famous hits as “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “One Night,” and his latest million-selling message song, “In the Ghetto,” to an invitation-only dinner show last Thursday night, July 31. Presley will play the International through Aug. 28. He will be followed by singer Nancy Sinatra.
It was probably Elvis’ toughest musical challenge since he rocked out of the South with long sideburns, rotating pelvis and a banged up guitar. It was Elvis and the Country Cats. Then bouncing through songs like “That’s All Right, Mama,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and later with his “Hound Dog,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”
But it was not the Elvis with the rough edges of the middle 1950s, on stage Thursday.
It was a polished, confident and talented artist, knowing exactly what he was going to do and when. But, it was the Elvis of the past as he “Put the feeling into the songs, and let the vibrations of the music have their say, swinging hips, revolving pelvis and moving shoulders.”
Elvis worked the show with five musicians from Los Angeles who sometimes record on his California sessions. The rhythm section included Larry Muhoberac, piano; James Burton, John Wilkinson, guitars; Ronnie Tutt, drums, and Jerry Scher, electric bass. Muhoberac played with Elvis at his last personal appearance in Memphis.
Elvis is also backed up by the 30-piece International Hotel staff band conducted by Bobby Morris, who for 15 years played drums for Tony Martin.
The Sweet Inspirations opened the show with “How High the Moon.” Comedian Sammy Shore followed. Elvis closed his show with the Sweet Inspirations and Imperials backing him during his 40- minute show.
There was standing room only at the show which was by invitation only. The International publicity staff reports Elvis’ 29 -day stay already has each show reserved for 80 percent capacity. “It is one of the biggest advance reservations requests I have ever heard of,” said Pat O’Neal of the publicity staff.
Elvis does not plan to keep his shows the same. He has between 50 and 80 songs he will work with during the International stay.
Before Elvis opened, he had thousands of telegrams wishing him a success from HIS world-wide fans from the U.K., Germany, Norway, New Zealand, France and the 50 states.
“Elvis has worked extremely hard for his show. But then he is one of the most dedicated entertainers I have ever been associated with,” said his eagle-eyed manager, Col. Tom Parker, who enjoyed his stay working over the roulette tables, and putting everything together for the show.
Ironically, Elvis will be challenged by Elvis, during his International stay. His NBC-TV special, shown last Dec. 3, will hit the network Aug. 17.
On hand for Elvis’ opening was his father, Vernon; stepmother, Dee Presley; Sam Phillips, who discovered Elvis and had him on his Sun label before selling to RCA Victor for $43,000; Felton Jarvis, Elvis’ record producer; Knox and Jerry Phillips, Sam’s sons; real estate broker Ira Sachs and Victor executive Harry Kingsley. END
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By James D. Kingsly
— Information and news source: Billboard; August 9, 1969 —
ELVIS PRESLEY on RCA VICTOR RECORDS
—1963—
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Above Billboard (2/9/63) ad digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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FIFTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley peaked this month at No. 01 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending October 26 through November 1, 1969. (Source: Billboard)
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MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1969 GO HERE.
— Christmas Memories From the Soundtrack of Your Life —
Click on (COMPLETE LP) for the complete track listing on this album
From the MCRFB MUSIC NEWS archive: 1956
‘Elvis Sings; Wow 15,000’
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DETROIT (May 26) — Elvis Presley, the rock ‘n’ roll dreamboat, danced up a storm in Detroit Friday.
Some 15,000 teenagers, mostly girls, paid nearly $25,000 in small change to watch him sing, play the guitar and wiggle across the stage at the Fox Theater.
(CONTINUES — please read the complete article below) . . . .
— DETROIT FREE PRESS
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Above Elvis Presley related article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2018. Newspapers.com.
The above featured ‘Elvis Presley’ article was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Missed our previously cataloged ‘Motor City ’50s Music’ newspaper features? GO HERE.
THE KING IS GONE * RONNIE McDOWELL * 1977
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1977
40 YEARS AGO TODAY. ELVIS PRESLEY IS DEAD. WHEN DETROITERS READ THE NEWS
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MEMPHIS, TENN — Elvis Presley, the gyrating king of rock ‘n’ roll who forever changed the face of music two decades ago when he growled, “You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hound Dog,” died Tuesday of a “erratic heartbeat.”
(CONTINUES — please read the complete article below) . . . .
— DETROIT FREE PRESS
DETROIT FREE PRESS Wednesday, August 17, 1977
DETROIT FREE PRESS Wednesday, August 17, 1977
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Above ELVIS PRESLEY related article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2017. Newspapers.com.
Missed our previously cataloged ‘Motor City ’60s Music’ newspaper features? GO HERE.
“BLUE RIVER” * Elvis Presley * BILLBOARD January 08, 1966
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A Motor City Radio Flashback memory: 1956
A Moment in Time: Elvis Takes Detroit In ’56
DETROIT, March 09, 2012 — Elvis Presley, “the nation’s new singing sensation,” came to Detroit for the first time on Friday, May 25, 1956. He was booked to perform “in person” live on stage at the Fox Theater for three performances for that date.
The 21-year old singing phenom was winding up his tour in the Midwest that spring, having previously stopped in St. Paul, Minn., and in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Presley also performed at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis Tennessee on May 15, then took a ten-day break from his tour while home before heading north to the Motor City.
In the Lacrosse, Wisconsin performance Presley’s hip-thigh gyrations on stage compelled the editor of the local newspaper to complain to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, of various reports picked up that Elvis’ act consists of ‘sexual gratification on stage.’
At the Detroit concert, the general admission ticket price to see Elvis was $1.50, all seats were available at that set admission price. In the earlier two shows, a young Lee Alan, who was then the all-night deejay at WJLB, emceed the event by introducing Elvis before the Detroit Fox crowd. Robin Seymour, the popular radio personality on WKMH then, also met Elvis Presley backstage during one of the three Fox concerts.
In 2006, FTD released a book, entitled, A Moment In Time: 4 Days in ’56 on November 29 that year. It was authored by Michael Rose. Rose had assembled these May 25 Detroit photographs while capturing a glimpse of Elvis Presley’s life during 1956. A snapshot in time, many of these photographs reportedly have never been published before, according to the author.
The following evening, Saturday, May 26, Elvis was in Columbus, Ohio. Then it was off to Dayton, Ohio for two performances at the University of Dayton Fieldhouse on Sunday, May 27, before heading back home to Memphis, on Monday, May 28, 1956.
But here in Detroit in 1956, these images captured a moment in time in the lives of these Detroiters when “the nation’s new singing sensation” swept their city by storm during one memorable evening in May of 1956.
