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[GuitarMan66]

In this series of articles I would like to lay out Elvis' life on a year to year basis, highlighting as many key events as possible, both profesionally and personally that occured during his lifetime.I have decided to start in 1953 the year that Elvis turned 18 and of course the year when he would make his first venture into a recording studio.

1953
March 26
An 18 year old Elvis Presley signs on at the Tennessee State Employment Security office. His address is now 462 Alabama during their 5 years in Memphis (since moving from Tupelo Miss)the Presley family (Elvis his father Vernon and mother Gladys)have moved many times due mostly to the fact that they are continually earning more in wages than the Memphis housing projects will allow.
The interviewer at the security office notes "rather flashily dressed playboy type" on his application
April 9
Elvis takes part in the annual Humes High School Minstrel Show singing Till I Waltz Again With You by Teresa Brewer. Despite being wrongly listed on the bill as Elvis Prestly after his performance Elvis suddenly becomes very popular in school.
June 3
Elvis receives his High School diploma.
July 1
Elvis starts work on a temporary basis at M.B Parker Co. on an assembly line making $36 a week.
Around this time Elvis visits Sun Studios on Union Ave he has frequented the premises on a number of occasions making small talk with the lady on the front desk Marion Keisker usually enquiring as to whether she knows of any groups that may be looking for a singer however, this time he takes things a step further and decides to cut a record at his own expense hoping that this will attract at least Marion's attention as the owner Sam Phillips is not present. He records 2 songs "My Happiness" and "That's When You're Heartaches Begin" whilst accompanying himself on guitar.
Aug 21
Colonel Tom Parker the self titled one time carny operator who is now working as manager for country singer Eddy Arnold receives a telegram from his client informing him that his services are no longer required. Parker who is fast becoming well known for his rather unique management skills is taken aback by this and finds himself temporarily unemployed.
Sept 21
Back at work this time for Precision Tools Elvis is now assembling shelves for $1.55 an hour a job he will keep until March '54.
1954
Elvis again returns to Sun Studios cutting another 2 songs "I'll Never Stand In You're Way " and " It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You" like the previous time Marion takes some interest in his singing though nothing comes of it.
Also around this time Elvis begins dating 14 year old Dixie Locke they see each other frequently and often attend the all night gospel sing in's at Ellis Auditorium which features such groups as The Blackwood Brothers and Elvis' favourites The Statesmen and especially the lead singer Jake Hess.
March 19
Due to constant tormenting about his dress sense and length of his hair from fellow work mates Elvis leaves his job at Precision Tools.
April 20
Starting out as a truck driver Elvis begins work for Crown Electric Co. Hoping one day to train as an electrician.
June 26
Marion phones Elvis to ask if he would be interested in trying out a song that Sam Phillips has acquired, a ballad called "Without You" Elvis is at the studio practically before she hangs up the phone, but the session is unsuccessful as Elvis struggles with the song.
July 3
A young guitarist called Scotty Moore calls at Elvis' house he has been given Elvis' name by Sam Phillips and Scotty is wondering whether he would like to audition for his group the Starlight Wranglers. The next day Elvis meets up with Scotty and bass player Bill Black to run through some songs none of which seem to work though Scotty after talking with Sam agrees that it could be worth a try in the studio to see if they can come up with something better.
July 5
Now in the studios at Sun the trio tries to come up with something to impress the owner Sam Phillips without much luck. However during a "break" Elvis begins to fool around with a country song called "That's All Right" Scotty and Bill join in and suddenly Sam hears that "something "he has been waiting for. The three do a couple of more takes to iron out the edges and soon a master take is complete.
Sam is very excited about this song and despite having no B side as yet he decides to play the record for Dewey Philips (no relation to Sam) a local disc jockey, in the hope of getting some air time. Dewey loves the song and plays it on his next show. Gladys and Vernon listen intently to hear Elvis' song on the radio for the first time but Elvis himself can't stand the tension and decides to go the movies. The song is played and the switchboard lights up as callers go crazy wanting to know more about the record. Dewey calls Elvis' home to get him to come over for an interview so Vernon and Gladys have to chase Elvis down at the movie theatre and take him over to the studio where Dewey is playing the record over and over again.
During the coming days Elvis Scotty and Bill are back in the studio frantically trying to come up with a B side worthy of "That's All Right" and once again by pure chance they stumble across "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" during another improvised session.
July 12
Due to the complete confidence in their new single Scotty Moore now becomes Elvis' manager
and booking agent with the 3 agreeing to split all earnings 50% to Elvis and 25% each to Scotty and Bill.
July 17
The trio play the Bon Air club in Memphis singing the two songs on their first single.
Having been away on vacation in Florida Dixie is quite surprised on her return to see so how so much has changed for Elvis in such a short time.
July 26
Sam Philips signs Elvis to a contract with Sun records for a two year period with a further two year option to be added at the company's discretion.
July 30
Elvis and the boys appear at the Overton Park Shell in Memphis their biggest venue to date. Elvis' family, Dixie and Sam Phillips are among the crowd. It's at this show that Elvis' gyrations first begin to come to attention whether it is nerves on Elvis' part or just an unconscious movement to the music the reaction from the crowd is amazing. And this sets the precedent for most shows thereafter.
August
Billboard magazine in a review of his first single hail Elvis as "a strong new talent".
Throughout this month and up until November the trio regularly play at The Eagles Nest nightclub in Memphis honing their stage talents. As well as making ever more regular appearances on the Louisiana Hayride
Also around this time it is announced Col.Tom Parker will become the new manager of country star Hank Snow in a joint partnership called Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions.
September
Good Rockin' Tonight/ I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine is released as Elvis' second single whilst it does well in the Memphis area it never lives up to the success of his first release.
Dec 13
Scotty Moore writes a letter to Tom Diskin, Col. Parkers right hand man enquiring about help with future bookings for the group.
Dec 23
Elvis and the boys are pulled over for speeding whilst heading home from Shreveport, fortunately the officer only cautions them. The three men count up their money at the curbside, with Elvis reminiscing years later that he "had never had so much money in his pockets at one time" to which he promptly went out and blew the lot on Christmas presents.
Dec 29
A write up in the Memphis Press-Scimitar states DJ Bob Neal is to take over as manager of Elvis Presley in the New Year and also releases details of his third Sun single Milk Cow Blues Boogie/ You're A Heartbreaker.

This post has been edited by Pacer: Mar 2 2007, 10:11 PM

[LittleDarlin]

Thanks Steve
Looking forward to the next instalment (IMG:http://elvis-tkc.com/forum2/style_emoticons/default/cool2.gif)

[GuitarMan66]

1955

January
Elvis kicks off the year with a month of touring. Performing mostly in Texas, though also keeping dates with The Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport. During this month Col.Parker starts to take notice of the rave reviews Elvis is constantly getting, prompting him to help Bob Neal (Elvis’ new manager) in arranging bookings for the “Memphis Flash” as he’s becoming known.
February 6
A meeting is arranged in which Bob Neal, Sam Phillips Col.Parker and Tom Diskin are to discuss the future plans they have for Elvis. Though the meeting soon turns sour when Parker points out that Elvis is going nowhere with a small time label like Sun Records, he goes on to state that he has already held talks with RCA to buy out his contract, this does not go down well with Phillips.
Throughout this month Col.Parker continually tries to further promote Elvis, writing to the William Morris Agency in New York Parker states that if “exploited properly” Elvis could really succeed.
April
“Baby Let’s Play House”/”I’m Left You’re Right She’s Gone is Elvis’ fourth single release. He has toured Texas and the south almost constantly for the past two months. Though he does return to Memphis on the 6th to attend Dixie’s junior prom.
May 13
After performing in front of 14.000 people at the Jacksonville baseball park Elvis promptly says “Girls, I’ll see you all backstage” prompting a full scale riot. After witnessing this event first hand Parker is now totally convinced of Elvis’ potential.
May 26
Bob Neal receives a letter from Col.Parker in which he offers to work more closely with him in promoting Elvis.
June 5
Gladys is woken through the night having had a terrible nightmare in which she sees Elvis in terrible trouble. The same night whilst traveling to Texarkana with a girl Elvis’ Cadillac catches fire and is badly burned.
June 17
Bob Neal and Col.Parker have a meeting in which it is agreed that whilst Neal will still be Elvis’ manager, Parker will handle all bookings and future plans especially in trying to get Elvis off Sun and onto a major label.
July 16
“Baby Let’s Plat House” debut’s at 15 on the Country and Western charts this is Elvis’ first record to hit the national charts.
August
As Elvis’ fame continues to grow from out of the south D J Fontana joins the group as a drummer on a regular basis. I Forgot to Remember to Forget/Mystery Train is released as Elvis’ fifth and final Sun single.
Aug 15
A new contract is drawn up which names Col. Parker as “special advisor” controlling virtually every aspect of Elvis career as he moves yet another step further to taking full control.
October 1 Thanks to the Colonel Scotty and Bill will now receive a fixed payment of $200 a week for their services as opposed to the 25% each of all profits, this is not an entirely smart move on the boys behalf as Elvis and the band are continually earning more money as Elvis’ fame continues to grow.
Also during October as a final move to oust Bob Neal from any further involvement with Elvis (Parker and Neal had been squabbling during the months previous over bookings etc) the Colonel manages to acquire the signatures of Elvis’ parents on a new contract granting him ‘sole and exclusive rights’ to represent their son as regards negotiations for a new recording contract, this virtually removes Neal from the picture all together.
Toward the end of the month Parker telegrams Sam Phillips informing him of this new arrangement and also to ‘name his price’ as regards to buying Elvis’ contract from Sun. This at the time would seem a little premature as Parker has no recording companies lined up to foot the bill.
A couple of days later Bob Neal hears about the Colonels dealings and demands a meeting to straighten things out as he is still Elvis’ manager(he has another four months left on his contract).
After various telegrams between Parker and RCA the record company wires Parker with the news that they will only go as far as $25,000 for buying Elvis’ contract.
Parker goes to Memphis to strike a deal with Phillips, basically he gives the Colonel until Nov 15 to come up with $35,000 to release Elvis from Sun. This does not go down well with RCA who are unsure of investing in Elvis in the first place especially at an unheard of sum like Phillips is asking for.
Nov 15
On the final day of the option Parker finally convinces RCA to match Phillip’s asking price and he quickly wires $5000 to Phillips as a down payment to secure the deal.
Nov 21
Various RCA execs Elvis and his parents as well as Col. Parker, Bob Neal and Sam Phillips all converge on Sun studios to sign the paperwork and seal the deal.
December
Parker books Elvis to appear on TV for the first time on CBS’ Saturday night variety show Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey’s Stage Show.
Elvis spends Christmas with his parents in their new home on Getwell Road.
1956
January10
Elvis attends his first recording session for RCA in Nashville were Chet Atkins is the studio chief. This is also the first time drummer DJ Fontana has worked with Elvis Scotty and Bill in the studio. Chet a well respected country guitarist in his own right also lends a hand as well as pianist Floyd Cramer.
Heartbreak Hotel is recorded as well as I Got a Woman and Money Honey. The obvious attempt at recreating the ‘Sun” sound is quite evident on these recordings. Though it never quite works, to the apparent disappointment of RCA executives.
January 27
RCA release Heartbreak Hotel/I Was The One.
January 28
Elvis debuts on ‘Stage Show’ he performs Shake Rattle and Roll/Flip Flop and Fly and I Got a Woman.
Over the next few days Elvis is back in the studio recording amongst other songs Blue Suede Shoes and Lawdy Miss Clawdy.
Feb 4
Elvis makes his second appearance on ‘Stage Show’ this time he sings Baby Lets Play House and Tutti Frutti .
Feb 11
For his 3rd appearance on ‘Stage Show’ Elvis performs Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes.
The new single hadn’t exactly set the charts alight as RCA had hoped, so it was probably thought best to perform it on TV hopefully to boost sales.
Feb 18
Elvis sings Tutti Frutti and I Was The One for his fourth ‘Stage Show’ appearance.
March2
Bob Neal’s involvement with Elvis comes to an end on this day leaving Col.Parker in sole charge of managing Elvis. Parker also closes all dealings with Hank Snow much to the annoyance of Snow who was (through Elvis) expecting to profit from his involvement with Parker and Hank Snow enterprises.
March3
Heartbreak Hotel enters Billboard’s top 100 at No 68.
March 7
Elvis receives the script for his upcoming screen test with Hal Wallis. It is a reading for a part in a film called The Rainmaker, which is set to star Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn.
March 17
For his 5th appearance on ‘Stage Show’ Elvis sings Heartbreak Hotel (which is now storming up the charts) and Blue Suede Shoes.
March 20
Elvis buys a new house in Memphis located at 1034 Audubon Drive his parents move in first whilst Elvis is still out on tour.
March 24
This is Elvis’ last appearance on ‘Stage Show’ he sings Money Honey and Heartbreak Hotel
March 26
Elvis has his screen test at Paramount Studios and comes across ‘like the lead in a high school play’ according to screenwriter Alan Weiss.
Also on this day both Elvis and Col. Parker sign a contract stipulating Parker as now the sole and exclusive manager to Elvis Presley.
The album ‘Elvis Presley’ enters the charts at No 11 with sales in excess of 100,000
April 2
Elvis is offered a contract by Hal Wallis (which after negotiations, will be signed later in the month). The contract offers Elvis one motion picture with an option for six more at a rate of $ 15,000 for his first movie with the fee rising thereafter. With an eventual $100,000 for the seventh film. However with Elvis continued success this contract lasts only until 1958 after which it is torn up and rewritten.
April 3
Elvis appears on the Milton Berle TV show, broadcast from the deck of the USS.Hancock he sings Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes.
April 10
‘Elvis Presley’ the album has now sold over 362,000 copies making it RCA’s first $1 million album by a solo artist.
April 14
Elvis whilst in the recording studio Elvis receives his first gold record for one million sales of Heartbreak Hotel.
April 23
Elvis appears for the first time in Las Vegas on a two week engagement at the New Frontier Hotel. In front of a more mature audience Elvis’ stage routine is lost and he bombs. Though at the same time he soon falls under the spell of Vegas itself and he takes in many of the regular acts like Liberace.
June 5
Elvis appears for the second time on the Milton Berle Show first singing ‘I Want You I Need You I Love You’ then ‘Hound Dog’ the latter complete with a slow ending which has Elvis suggestively gyrating about the stage. The next day the media goes berserk calling Elvis ‘vulgar and obscene’
July 1
Elvis appears on the Steve Allen Show wearing a tuxedo (an idea of Allen’s) he sings ‘I Want You I Need You I Love You and Hound Dog, though this time it’s to a real dog stood on a pedestal. Elvis would later recall how ridiculous he felt not only wearing the tuxedo but singing to a dog.
July 2
Elvis is in the recording studios again this time laying down the classic songs Hound Dog and Don’t Be Cruel along with Any Way You Want Me.
August 22
Production starts on Elvis’ first movie ‘The Reno Brothers’ Hal Wallis has waived his right to produce Elvis’ first film so Parker does a deal with Fox studios for which Elvis will receive $100,000 and co-star billing.
September 9
Elvis appears on the Ed Sullivan Show and attracts over 80% of the national viewing audience singing Don’t Be Cruel, Love Me Tender (now the new title of his film) Ready Teddy and Hound Dog.
September 21
Filming concludes on Love Me Tender.
October 28
For his second appearance on the Ed Sullivan show Elvis sings Don’t Be Cruel, Love Me, Love Me Tender and Hound Dog.
By now Elvis has sold in excess of 10 million singles amounting to two-thirds of RCA’s singles output for the year.
November 15
Love Me Tender opens at the Paramount theatre in New York. A forty foot tall figure of Elvis is unveiled under the theater marquee much to the delight of the 1,500 squealing fans who have been gathering outside since the previous night.
In its first week of opening Variety reports that with earnings of $540,000 Love Me Tender is second in earnings only to Giant starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and the late James Dean.
December 4
Back in Memphis for the Christmas holidays Elvis stops by Sun records where Carl Perkins is in the middle of a recording session, soon they are joined by a new Sun artist called Jerry Lee Lewis and the three men begin an informal jam session. Johnny Cash also shows up but does not join in as he is Christmas shopping at the time. The tapes of this jam will become known as ‘The Million Dollar Quartet’.
Dec 25
Elvis spends Christmas Day with his parents at home on Audubon Drive.