Today 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 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.

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 connection to his Memphis roots and his generosity toward causes benefiting the blind—a recurring theme in his charitable giving throughout his career.

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 was now present at the concert. Later that night, Elvis confided to his spiritual advisor Larry Geller that he felt genuinely inspired by Ginger's presence.

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, rolling escape—another piece of his ever-expanding mobile kingdom.

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 longtime companion Linda Thompson to take a break and return to Memphis. The performance and the travel arrangements signaled a changing dynamic in Elvis’s inner circle during his final touring years.

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 in one of his signature jumpsuits, Elvis delivered the kind of high-energy performance that reminded audiences why he remained a legend, even in the twilight of his career. And on this date back in 1958, while stationed in Germany, Elvis was promoted to private first class in the U.S. Army. That same day, he shared Thanksgiving dinner with Elisabeth Stefaniak and her family—a quiet, personal moment in contrast to the public frenzy that often followed him. It was a rare glimpse of Elvis the man, away from the stage and spotlight.

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 to his parents, enclosing money to help with bills and promising to send more soon—a touching reminder that even as his star began to rise, he never forgot where he came from.

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, luxury cars, jewelry, and a racquetball court—along with the substantial payroll required to support his inner circle of friends and family. Even the King of Rock and Roll sometimes had to mortgage the castle to keep the empire running.

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 publicly cleared during a time when his fame often made him the target of sensational claims.

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, shouting and cursing. Elvis, safely inside, watched the entire incident unfold on his closed-circuit security monitors. The bizarre scene marked one of the most infamous encounters between two rock and roll legends—though only one of them was invited.

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 encounter escalated into a physical altercation, but Elvis managed to keep his composure until police intervened and arrested the man. It was just another night on tour for Elvis—one that proved his rising fame could stir up more than just screaming fans.

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. The song itself broke records with over one million advance orders, earning gold status even before it hit store shelves. This dual release cemented Elvis’s place not just as a rock and roll star, but as a bona fide movie idol and cultural phenomenon.

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 upstart to a national phenomenon poised to change the sound of American radio. The contract also ensured that future hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” would be recorded and distributed by a major label with the power to amplify his reach—and his legend.

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 Mid-South Fair—who caught his attention. This meeting marked the beginning of what would become Elvis's final romantic relationship.

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. These concerts served as preparation for the historic global event, testing both the venue’s logistics and Elvis’s set. His time in Hawaii marked a key step toward what would become one of the most iconic televised concerts in music 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,” “Polk Salad Annie,” “Until It’s Time for You to Go,” and “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” The concert served as a technical rehearsal for the upcoming *Aloha from Hawaii* satellite broadcast, testing the venue’s lighting and sound systems ahead of the historic global event scheduled for January 1973.