Today 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 performed two shows—an afternoon set at the opening of the Carthage Milling Company in Texas, and an evening appearance on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport—highlighting his relentless schedule and growing popularity in the South.

It's November eleventh, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley performed for troops and their families at Schofield Barracks in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This show marked his final live performance before entering the U.S. Army the following year, adding a poignant note to an already emotional event. The concert was part of his groundbreaking tour of Hawaii and remains a historic moment in Elvis’s early career.

It's November tenth, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley performed two concerts at Honolulu Stadium in Hawaii, drawing a combined crowd of over 14,000 fans. These shows marked the culmination of his first-ever visit to Hawaii and were met with overwhelming enthusiasm. The trip helped cement Elvis's lifelong love for the islands, where he would later return for both vacations and iconic performances.

It's November ninth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis Presley attended the Country Music Disc Jockey Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. There, songwriter Mae Boren Axton played him a demo of a brand-new song she had co-written with Tommy Durden. The song was "Heartbreak Hotel." Elvis was immediately struck by its haunting lyrics and bluesy tone and agreed to record it. That decision would lead to his first major hit with RCA Victor and mark a defining moment in the birth of rock and roll.

It’s November eighth, and on this day in 1971...Elvis Presley took the stage at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and delivered a powerhouse performance that left a lasting impression. The evening featured a soul-stirring rendition of How Great Thou Art, followed by a heartfelt version of Bridge Over Troubled Water. The energy surged with Suspicious Minds, building to a climactic close.As the final notes of Can’t Help Falling in Love echoed through the arena, Elvis dropped to one knee, arms extended and cape fully unfurled—a signature farewell gesture that brought the crowd to its feet. One fan recalled, “He said, ‘Here’s a song from Blue Hawaii I’d like to dedicate to you,’ and then he dropped to one knee with his cape fully opened. WOW!” And with that unforgettable moment, the familiar words rang out: “Elvis has left the building.”

It's November seventh, and on this day in 1971... Elvis Presley performed at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. During the show, Elvis introduced his grandfather, Jessie Presley, to the audience—one of the rare moments where a family member appeared onstage with him. The performance was part of Elvis’s high-energy fall tour, and the personal gesture added a heartfelt touch to the night.

It's November sixth, and on this day in 1971... Elvis Presley performed two sold-out shows at the Cleveland Public Hall Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. These concerts marked a milestone in Elvis lore: for the first time, announcer Al Dvorin used the phrase that would become legendary—"Elvis has left the building." The day also capped a pivotal stretch in Elvis’s touring career, as he continued performing with his new vocal backing group, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.

It's November fifth, and on this day in 1971... Elvis Presley performed at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During this concert, Elvis debuted what would become one of his most iconic stage moves—ending the show with his arms flung wide and his cape spread out behind him. This dramatic gesture became a signature of his later performances. The concert also marked a transition in his touring lineup, as the Imperials had been replaced by J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.

It's November fourth, and on this day in 1974... Elvis Presley gave his longtime friend Jerry Schilling a house in Las Vegas. Explaining the generous gift, Elvis told Jerry, “Your mother died when you were a year old, and you never had a home, and I wanted to be the one to give it to you.” Around the same time, Elvis named Jerry the executive producer of a planned karate film, further deepening their bond both personally and professionally.

It's November third, and on this day in 1965... Elvis Presley released his eleventh studio album, *Harum Scarum*. The soundtrack accompanied the film of the same name and featured Middle Eastern-themed songs recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville. Though critically panned, the album still reached number eight on the Billboard Top LPs chart and remains one of the most stylistically unusual entries in Elvis’s discography.

It's November second, and on this day in 1959... fifteen teenagers in Leipzig, East Germany, who called themselves "The Elvis Presley Hound Dogs," were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to four-and-a-half years. Their crime: marching through the city shouting anti-communist slogans, singing Elvis songs, and chanting “Long live Elvis Presley!” Their rebellion against state-approved music and loyalty to Elvis marked a powerful moment in Cold War cultural resistance.

It's November first, and on this day in 1955, Elvis Presley’s life changed forever when Sam Phillips sold his recording contract with Sun Records to RCA Victor for \$35,000. The move marked a major turning point not just for Elvis, but for the music industry itself—setting the stage for the explosion of rock and roll on a national and global scale. With this deal, RCA gained the rights to distribute Elvis’s music, and within months, he would become a household name. And on this day in 1972, *Elvis on Tour*, the concert documentary capturing Elvis’s electrifying performances and behind-the-scenes moments, was officially released. The film offered fans a rare glimpse into the energy and emotion of his live shows and later earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Documentary, making it the only Elvis film ever to win a major Hollywood award.

It's October thirty-first, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley attended a star-studded Halloween party hosted by Hollywood designer Sy Devore. Wearing a distinctive mask, Elvis mingled with fellow celebrities, including actress Joan Bradshaw. The party was a standout event on the Hollywood social calendar and showed Elvis embracing his growing role in the entertainment elite beyond the stage and recording studio.

It's October thirtieth, and on this day in 1976... Elvis Presley arrived late to the second night of RCA’s Jungle Room recording session at Graceland. While the band laid down instrumental tracks awaiting his vocals, Elvis was distracted by the delivery of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which he insisted on taking for test rides. When he finally entered the Jungle Room, he brought along a Thompson submachine gun, briefly playing with it before setting it aside and apologizing. Admitting he wasn’t in the mood to record, the session was called off.

It's October twenty-ninth, and on this day in 1976... Elvis Presley began a late-night recording session in the Jungle Room at Graceland, working from 9:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. Among the songs recorded was “Way Down,” which would become his final charting single during his lifetime. Elvis spent much of the evening in his bedroom but still invited some of the musicians and backing vocalists upstairs and gave away some of his old clothes, creating an atmosphere that was equal parts work session and personal gathering.

It's October twenty-eighth, and on this day in 1957... Elvis Presley performed at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, delivering a show so provocative it triggered outrage from both the press and an audience filled with Hollywood elites and their children. Headlines warned that he would have to "clean up his show or go to jail," and even Colonel Parker received a stern warning. But Elvis, characteristically unfazed, reportedly quipped, “If I don’t dance tonight, maybe I don’t have to take a shower tonight.”

It's October twenty-seventh, and on this day in 1976... Elvis Presley performed at the Southern Illinois University Arena in Carbondale, Illinois, marking the final show of a two-week tour that grossed over one million dollars. Wearing the Inca Gold Leaf jumpsuit with a Chinese Dragon belt, Elvis delivered a powerful and wide-ranging set to more than ten thousand fans. Though the profits from the tour were split two-thirds to Colonel Parker and one-third to Elvis, the show itself reflected the King's enduring magnetism and vocal strength even in the final stretch of a grueling tour.

It's October twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis Presley took the stage at Vigor High School in Mobile, Alabama, but the show ended early after he told an off-color joke that didn’t sit well with the school principal. Later that day, he performed two more shows at the Greater Gulf States Fair in Prichard. It was a clear glimpse of the tension between Elvis’s raw stage presence and the more conservative expectations of some early audiences.

It's October twenty-fifth, and on this day in 1976... Elvis Presley performed at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, wearing the striking blue Rainbow jumpsuit. Backed by a full band and delivering a setlist packed with hits—from “Jailhouse Rock” and “Burning Love” to gospel standards like “How Great Thou Art”—Elvis showcased the depth of his vocal range and emotional power. A review from the *Fort Wayne News-Sentinel* praised him as a matured, sensitive artist whose voice remained in fine form, singing with expressiveness throughout the night.

It's October twenty-fourth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis Presley performed at the Silver Moon Club in Newport, Arkansas, sharing the bill with local rockabilly artist Sonny Burgess, who would later sign with Sun Records. Behind the scenes, Colonel Tom Parker took a pivotal step toward taking control of Elvis’s career by sending a telegram to Sun Records' Sam Phillips, stating he had authorization from Elvis’s parents to negotiate the purchase of Elvis’s recording contract—a move that would soon change the trajectory of Elvis’s life forever.