"A Day in the life"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 1, 1956 (Sunday)
Elvis, Gene Smith and the band flew from Shreveport to San Diego for the upcoming television appearance on "The Milton Berle Show".
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 2, 1956 (Monday)
The Colonel sent a cashier's cheque for $10,000 to the Louisiana Hayride in exchange for Elvis' to be released from his contract. Elvis also agreed to appear on a special Hayride show in December.
Hollywood producer Hal B. Wallis (photo) offered Elvis a contract for one motion picture with a further option for six more.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 3, 1956 (Tuesday)
TELEVISION APPEARANCE: "THE MILTON BERLE SHOW"
The U.S.S. Hancock, San Diego Harbor, San Diego, California. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis made his first television appearance on "The Milton Berle Show" live from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Hancock which was docked in San Diego Harbour in California.
He sang a snippet of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" during the show's opening intro.
He later performed "Heartbreak Hotel", "Blue Suede Shoes" and then appeared in a comedy sketch with his 'brother' Melvin (Milton) Presley as they performed a duet of "Blue Suede Shoes".
Elvis was paid $3,000 for this appearance.
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" (opening) (improved sound)
"Heartbreak Hotel"/"Blue Suede Shoes"/"Comedy Sketch" (improved sound)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 4, 1956 (Wednesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Arena, San Diego, California. (8:15 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis with D.J. Fontana and vocalist Glen Glenn (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 5, 1956 (Thursday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Arena, San Diego, California. (8:15 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Don Freeman of the San Diego Tribune interviewed Elvis. (photo)
Elvis received $15,000 for his two night stay in San Diego.
Elvis in San Diego (silent footage)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 6, 1956 (Friday)
In the evening Elvis flew to Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time on a one-night holiday where he stayed at the New Frontier Hotel.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 7, 1956 (Saturday)
Elvis flew to Denver and began a new tour booked by A.V. Bamford.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #5
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"The Rock and Roll Waltz" by Kay Starr.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #13
Most Played By Jockeys:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #7
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #24
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #8
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Elvis Presley. #10
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by the Teenagers.
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Drown In My Own Tears" by Ray Charles.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by the Teenagers.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #12
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #11
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #26
The Top 100:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #9
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #23
"Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley. #88
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"Belafonte" by Harry Belafonte.
"Elvis Presley" by Elvis Presley. #3
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
No EP Chart
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 8, 1956 (Sunday)
Start of tour of Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. (April 8 - April 13)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Coliseum, Denver, Colorado. (2 shows) (3:00 pm and 8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 9, 1956 (Monday)
Elvis and the band flew to Texas.
Before the shows Elvis was interviewed by Jay Thompson. (audio) During this interview Elvis told Thompson that his first motion picture would be "The Rainmaker".
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Municipal Auditorium, Wichita Falls, Texas. (2 shows) (7:00 pm and 9:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 10, 1956 (Tuesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, The Blue Moon Boys, Faron Young, Jimmy & Johnny, Wanda Jackson
The Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock, Texas. (2 shows) (8:00 pm and 10:45 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Buddy Holly who in a few weeks would have had his first single released opened the show. (photo)
The band played to over 10,000 over the two shows.
Songs performed: "Heartbreak Hotel", "I Got A Woman" and "Blue Suede Shoes".
During a performance at the Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, Nat (King) Cole was attacked by three members of the North Alabama Citizens Council, who knocked him to the ground. Police quickly apprehended the men and Cole finished his show. Which was met by a passionate standing ovation by the crowd.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 11, 1956 (Wednesday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Coliseum, El Paso, Texas.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis called Bob Johnson of the Memphis Press-Scimitar to thank him for his recent stories.
While in El Paso, he brought his car to the Lone Star Motor Company for a service that cost $58. The car clocks in at 32,581 miles.
Variety reported that "Heartbreak Hotel" had sold over a million copies, which resulted in Elvis' being awarded his first Gold Record for this outstanding achievement.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 12, 1956 (Thursday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Armory, Albuquerque, New Mexico. (2 shows) (7:00 pm and 9:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 13, 1956 (Friday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The City Auditorium, Amarillo, Texas. (2 shows) (7:00 pm and 9:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
End of tour of Colorado, Texas and New Mexico.
Elvis' booking at the New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas was confirmed.
At a cost of $1,000 the band took a chartered flight to Nashville for a one-day last minute recording session
planned by Steve Sholes. The flight encountered many problems, first the pilot lost his way and the plane had to
land in ElDorado, Arkansas to refuel, then one of the engines cut out because the plane had not been switched over
to it's full tank. 'Man, I don't know if I'll ever fly again,' Elvis announces when he arrived in Nashville.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 14, 1956 (Saturday)
RECORDING SESSION: (RCA Victor)
RCA Studio, 1525 McGavock Street, Nashville, Tennessee. (9:00 am - 12:00 noon)
Producer: Steve Sholes
Engineer: Bob Farris.
Musicians: Lead Guitar: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Guitar: Chet Atkins - Piano: Marvin Hughes.
Backup Vocals: Gordon Stoker, Ben Speer, Brock Speer.
In Nashville, possibly due to the problems encountered during the flight over, the session didn't go very well. It started at 9:00 am and ended at noon with only one song completed. Anne Fulchino was present at the session.
Song recorded: "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You". (audio)
Marvin Hughes
A frustrated Steve Sholes contacted the Colonel to complain that new material was urgently needed for a second album. During the session Elvis received his Gold Record Award for "Heartbreak Hotel" and was photographed by Don Cravens. (photo)
Immediately after the session the band took a bumpy ride home to Memphis on the same plane. Later that evening Elvis went over to the Hotel Chisca to visit Dewey Phillips during his "Red Hot and Blue" radio show.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #2
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #10
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Lisbon Antiqua" by Nelson Riddle.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #5
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #23
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley #2.
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #11
"I Forgot To Remember To Forget" by Elvis Presley. #13
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
Best Sellers in Stores:
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by the Teenagers.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #8
Most Played In Jukeboxes:
"Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #8
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #8
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #26
The Top 100:
"The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter.
"Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley. #6
"I Was the One" by Elvis Presley. #23
"Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis Presley. #57
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
"Belafonte" by Harry Belafonte.
"Elvis Presley" by Elvis Presley. #3
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)
No EP Chart
Billboard reported the news of Elvis' movie contract with Paramount Pictures. (Hal B. Wallis)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 15, 1956 (Sunday)
Elvis, Gene and the band flew commercially this time to San Antonio, Texas to start a new tour. (April 15 - April 21)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, The Blue Moon Boys, The Farmer Boys, Wanda Jackson, Hank Locklin
The Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas. (2 shows) (3:00 pm and 8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
'Elvis Presly' appeared in San Antonio and after the shows gave an interview to Charlie Walker (audio) where he spoke about his new 7 year movie contract with Paramount and receiving the "Heartbreak Hotel" Gold Record at the recording session in Nashville yesterday.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 16, 1956 (Monday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S) - Elvis Presley, The Blue Moon Boys, The Farmer Boys, Wanda Jackson, Hank Locklin, Rudy Grayzell & Band
The Memorial Auditorium, Corpus Christi, Texas. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Immediately after the performance, the building manager banned any more "Rock 'n' Roll" concerts at the coliseum after a number
of fans and their parents complained that the show was too vulgar.
Elvis signed the William Morris contract for the upcoming two-week engagement at the New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. It was agreed that the band would perform fifteen shows weekly at a rate of $7,500 per week. The tour would begin on April 23.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 17, 1956 (Tuesday)
Elvis and Gene flew to Waco in Texas while the band drove by car.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)- Elvis Presley, The Blue Moon Boys, Wanda Jackson, Hank Locklin, Rudy Grayzell & Band
The Heart O' Texas Coliseum, Waco, Texas. (8:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis drove out on to the field and up to the stage in his Cadillac.
Later he told a reporter that; "Fame has happened so fast, I'm scared. You know, I could go out like a light, just like I came on".
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 18, 1956 (Wednesday)
Elvis and Gene Smith flew to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Fairgrounds Pavilion, Tulsa, Oklahoma. (2 shows) (7:00 pm and 9:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 19, 1956 (Thursday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (2 shows) (7:30 pm and 9:30 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
The "Daily Oklahoman" reported that Elvis' response to his critics of his music is that "it's a healthy thing, you don't have to be doped up to do it"