"A Day in the life"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 1, 1955 (Saturday)
Bob Neal officially took over from Scotty Moore and became the personal manager of Elvis Presley.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - GRAND PRIZE JAMBOREE
The Eagle's Hall, 2204 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black.
The show was broadcast by KNUZ Radio. Other artists included Tommy Sands and George Jones.
Hosting this event for radio listeners was once again 'Biff' Collie.
Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" was supposedly performed at this show.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Hayloft, Old Galveston Road, Houston, Texas.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Let Me Go Lover" by Joan Weber.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"More and More" by Webb Pierce.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"More and More" by Webb Pierce.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"More and More" by Webb Pierce.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Hearts of Stone" by the Charms.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"You Upset Me, Baby" by B.B. King.
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"The Student Prince" by Mario Lanza.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"The Student Prince" by Mario Lanza.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 2, 1955 (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 3, 1955 (Monday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 4, 1955 (Tuesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 5, 1955 (Wednesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Billy Walker, Jimmy and Johnny, Peach Seed Jones (Tillman Franks)
The City Auditorium, 72 West College Avenue, San Angelo, Texas. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black.
Hundreds of teenage girls rush the stage for autographs. 'Alvis Presley' tops this Tillman Franks bill with fellow Hayride artists Billy Walker and Jimmy and Johnny.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 6, 1955 (Thursday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - (Radio Promo)
KDAV Radio, Lubbock, Texas.
KDAV promoted the show later that evening at 9:00 pm in Fair Park, which was also in Lubbock.
Songs performed: "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Fool, Fool, Fool". (audio)
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" was recently an R&B hit for 'Big' Joe Turner in 1954.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Billy Walker, Jimmy and Johnny, Peach Seed Jones (Tillman Franks)
The Fair Park Coliseum, 15 East Broadway Street, Lubbock, Texas. (9:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black.
Songs performed: "Tweedle Dee".
A seventeen year old Waylon Jennings met Elvis at this show.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 7, 1955 (Friday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Billy Walker, Jimmy and Johnny, Peach Seed Jones (Tillman Franks)
The Midland High School, 906 West Illinois Avenue, Midland, Texas.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black.
Elvis, Scotty and Bill along with other fellow Hayride artists performed before a crowd of 1,600 people at the Midland
High School in Midland, Texas that concluded the tour.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1955 (Saturday)
Elvis celebrated his twentieth birthday on the road.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - (Radio Promo)
WROX Radio, Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Songs performed: "That's All Right", and "Blue Moon of Kentucky".
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black.
.
Earlier in the day the boys appeared on WROX in Clarksdale before heading to Shreveport.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - (Louisiana Hayride)
The Municipal Auditorium, 705 Grand Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. (8:00 pm - 11:30 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar:
James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
In the evening they appeared on their regular slot as part of the Louisiana Hayride at the Municipal Auditorium
in Shreveport. Announcer, Frank Page introduced Elvis as"The Memphis Flash".
According to Joyce Railsback's diary:
Songs performed: "That's All Right", "Hearts of Stone", "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and "Fool, Fool, Fool".
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Let Me Go Lover" by Joan Weber.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Loose Talk" by Carl Smith.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"More and More" by Webb Pierce.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Loose Talk" by Carl Smith.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Hearts of Stone" by the Charms.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"You Upset Me, Baby" by B.B. King.
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"The Student Prince" by Mario Lanza.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"The Student Prince" by Mario Lanza.
Billboard magazine reported the appointment of Bob Neal as Elvis Presley's personal manager. The article also gave details of a series of "Hayride" type shows taking place with the Browns during January in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Alabama. The Presley unit will also begin a tour of East Texas promoted by Tom Perryman.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 9, 1955 (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 10, 1955 (Monday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 11, 1955 (Tuesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The High School Gymnasium, New Boston, Texas.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
For the next three weeks the band were supplemented with two new additions from the Louisiana Hayride. Sonny Trammell who played steel guitar and pianist Leon Post. The show was hosted by Texarkana, Arkansas DJ, "Uncle Dudley" Ernest Hackworth.
Songs performed: "Harbor Lights".
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 12, 1955 (Wednesday)
Start of tour of the region around Memphis:
Over the next three weeks the band started touring regularly with Jim Edwerd (Ed') and Maxine Brown. Bob Neal booked the tour and emceed all of the shows.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
The City Auditorium, 506 East 2nd Street, Clarksdale, Mississippi. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 13, 1955 (Thursday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
The Catholic Club, 123 Columbia Street, Helena, Arkansas. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
A return appearance - By Popular Demand! The Elvis Presley Show returned to Helena.
Colonel Parker's right hand man, Tom Diskin, replied to Scotty Moore's letter from December 13, who had asked about Chicago dates.
"There are few outlets for hillbilly entertainers in the Chicago area", replied Diskin. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 14, 1955 (Friday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
The Futrell High School Gymnasium, Marianna, Arkansas.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 15, 1955 (Saturday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - (Louisiana Hayride)
The Municipal Auditorium, 705 Grand Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. (8:00 pm - 11:30 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar:
James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
Joyce Railsback's diary: Memphis Flash - "Elvis Presley"
Songs performed: "Hearts of Stone" ,"That's All Right" and "Tweedle Dee".
Both Colonel Parker (photo) and Tom Diskin arrived in Shreveport where they stayed at the Captain Shreve Hotel. Colonel Parker possibly met Bob Neal after this show.
Neal had written to Slick Norris a Highlands, Texas promoter about plugging Elvis' new Sun release: "You're A Heartbreaker"/"Milkcow Blues Boogie". (photo)
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Let Me Go Lover" by Joan Weber.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Let Me Go Lover" by Joan Weber.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Loose Talk" by Carl Smith.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"More and More" by Webb Pierce.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Loose Talk" by Carl Smith.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Hearts of Stone" by the Charms.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Earth Angel" by the Penguins.
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Let Me Go Lover" by Joan Weber.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"The Student Prince" by Mario Lanza.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
"The Student Prince" by Mario Lanza.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 16, 1955 (Sunday)
Sometime around mid-January, Elvis traded in his old Martin 000-18 guitar for a 1942 Martin D-18. (photo) He paid the OK Houck Piano Company on Union Avenue $175.00. This time he applied the Autograms in a vertical line instead of diagonally like he did on the 000-18.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 17, 1955 (Monday)
Elvis visited local radio station WBIP to do an interview with D.J. Lynn McDowell to encourage them to play his records.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown (2nd week of Tour)
Junior College Auditorium, Booneville, Mississippi.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
Bob Neal contacted Ed McLemore of the Big D. Jamboree to inform him that Colonel Parker will be doing bookings for him and Elvis.
Neal stated that Parker was looking to negotiate a booking at one of the big hotels in Nevada.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 18, 1955 (Tuesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
Alcorn County Courthouse Assembly Hall, Corinth, Mississippi. (7:30 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar:
James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 19, 1955 (Wednesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - (Radio Promo)
Elvis sang "Shake, Rattle and Roll" at WJOI, a local radio station in Florence, Alabama. (audio)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
The Community Centre, Sheffield, Alabama. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
A local newspaper reported that Elvis' appearance on The Louisiana Hayride show was one of the most successful ever.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 20, 1955 (Thursday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
The High School Gymnasium, Leachville, Arkansas. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 21, 1955 (Friday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Jim Ed & Maxine Brown
The National Guard Armory, 300 South Main Street, Sikeston, Missouri.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar: James 'Sonny' Trammel - Piano: Leon Post.
This ended the tour of region around Memphis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 22, 1955 (Saturday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - (Louisiana Hayride)
The Municipal Auditorium, 705 Grand Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. (8:00 pm - 11:30 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Steel Guitar:
James 'Sonny' Trammel (photo) - Piano: Leon Post.
Songs performed: "Money Honey", "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" and
"That's All Right". (audio)
After this show, Horace Logan informed Elvis that Tom Perryman, a texan promoter had booked him for five dates
in Texas and Alabama with a $750 a night guarantee.
The Colonel informed Bob Neal by letter that he had booked Elvis on the Hank Snow tour which began on February
14 until February 18.
He also sent out a contract with a cheque made out to Elvis Presley for $425. This was a 50% advance on what he
could expect to earn from the tour.