

"A Day in the life"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 1, 1957 (Sunday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, Washington. (2:00 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.




Lincoln Bowl
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington. (10:00 pm) (Should be 8:30 pm)
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Elvis rode into Sick's Stadium after a delay. He put on a thirty minute show in front of 15,000 fans. In addition to his hits he sang "Fool's Hall of Fame" a recent hit on the Sun label by Rudi Richardson. Elvis incorrectly stated that this will be his new single.
Songs performed:
"Heartbreak Hotel", "All Shook Up", "I Got A Woman", "That's When Your Heartaches Begin", "I Was The One", "Teddy Bear", "Don't Be Cruel", "Love Me", "Fool's Hall Of Fame", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Blueberry Hill", "Mean Woman Blues", "Hound Dog".




Sick's Stadium
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 2, 1957 (Monday)
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S)
The Multnomah Stadium, Portland, Oregon.
Musicians: Rhythm Guitar & Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Elvis was met at the station by Ivan Smith (video) he also told reporter's before the show that "There's nothing more important than love and marriage. I do think that marriage would hurt my career now though".
Elvis was able to complete a forty minute show only after riot-police calmed the crowd down.
Ivan Smith Greets Elvis at the Station (sound synched)
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #2
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #2
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #8
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley.
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Farther Up the Road" by Bobby (Blue) Bland.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #3
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #2
The Top 100:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #3
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #34
"All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley. #46
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)

"Loving You" by Elvis Presley.
"Loving You - Vol. II" by Elvis Presley. #18 (EP)
"Elvis Presley" by Elvis Presley. #20
"Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley. #22 (EP)
"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #23
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Swingin' Affair" by Frank Sinatra.
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #2
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)

No EP Chart
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 3, 1957 (Tuesday)
Elvis took the 4:45 pm train from Portland to Los Angeles, where once again he checked into the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 4, 1957 (Wednesday)
No information.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 5, 1956 (Thursday)
RECORDING SESSION: (RCA Victor)
Radio Recorders, Studio 1, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (12:00 pm - 3:00 pm) (4:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Producer: Steve Sholes.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar. Recording Assistant: Jim Malloy?
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Piano: Dudley Brooks
Backup Vocals: Soprano: Mildred "Millie" Kirkham - The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Back at Radio Recorders, Elvis began work on the Christmas album that Steve Sholes had asked him to record. Sholes also required three new songs for single release, including a studio version of "Treat Me Nice".
The regular Hollywood session band is now joined by Millie Kirkham as Elvis requested.
Songs Recorded: "Treat Me Nice", "Blue Christmas" (audio)


Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 6, 1956 (Friday)
RECORDING SESSION: (RCA Victor)
Radio Recorders, Studio 1, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (12:00 pm - 3:30 pm) (4:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Producer: Steve Sholes.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar. Recording Assistant: Jim Malloy?
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Piano: Dudley Brooks
Backup Vocals: Soprano: Mildred "Millie" Kirkham - The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Elvis reported back to Radio Recorders and continued working mostly on festive material except for "My Wish Came True" a song he had promised "Ivory" Joe Hunter that he would record, and the new Leiber and Stoller ballad "Don't".
Songs Recorded: "My Wish Came True", "White Christmas", "Here Comes Santa Claus", "Silent Night", "Don't" (audio)



Colonel Parker had asked Hal Wallis for a fee of $100,000 for Elvis' second Paramount picture. This matched the amount he received from 20th Century Fox for "Love Me Tender".
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 7, 1956 (Saturday)
RECORDING SESSION: (RCA Victor)
Radio Recorders, Studio 1, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (12:00 pm - 3:00 pm) (4:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Producer: Steve Sholes.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar. Recording Assistant: Jim Malloy?
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Bass: Bill Black - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Piano: Dudley Brooks
Backup Vocals: Soprano: Mildred "Millie" Kirkham - The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Hugh Jarrett.
Under pressure to record one more Christmas song, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller retreated to the mix room and wrote a bluesy rockin' number called "Santa Claus Is Back In Town". (photo)
Songs Recorded: "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", "Santa Bring My Baby Back", "Santa Claus Is Back In Town", "I'll Be Home For Christmas" (audio)




Scotty, Bill and D.J. were promised recording time at the end of this session to cut some instrumentals that they had planned to release as "The King's Men". Elvis had indicated that he might even play piano with them. So when Tom Diskin announced that time had run out, Elvis did not speak up for the group. This really upset the trio and they were now determined to take action.
Later, back at their hotel room, Scotty and Bill composed a letter of resignation that expressed their long-held feelings of resentment. D.J. declined to go along with them which led to bitterness on both sides.
Anita Wood arrived in Hollywood to play the movie role she won in the mid-south "Hollywood Star Hunt" competition.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 8, 1957 (Sunday)
After breakfast at the Beverly Wilshire, Anita visits Radio Recorders to listen to the songs Elvis has been recording over the last few days. They then take in four movies at theaters around town ("3:10 to Yuma was the best," says Anita), while making plans to screen "Jailhouse Rock" at MGM the following day.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 9, 1957 (Monday)
After watching a special screening of "Jailhouse Rock" at MGM, Elvis and Anita boarded a train for Memphis.


BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Diana" by Paul Anka.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #4
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #5
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #22
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #2
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #10
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #2
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #5
BILLBOARD POP CHART
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #7
The Top 100:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #3
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #34
"All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley. #48
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)

"Loving You" by Elvis Presley.
"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #18
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Swingin' Affair" by Frank Sinatra.
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #2
BILLBOARD POP CHART (EP)

No EP Chart
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 10, 1957 (Tuesday)
The Colonel sealed a new deal with RCA where he and Elvis will receive payment for all photographs used on record sleeves to be split 75 percent to Elvis and 25 percent to the Colonel. It was agreed that RCA would pay $10,000 for the photographs that would be used for the upcoming gatefold sleeve as part of the "Christmas Album" and another $6,000 for the Christmas EP.

Elvis left the train in Houston and drove the rest of the way to Memphis where he arrived at 10:00 pm.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 12, 1957 (Thursday)
Elvis called Scotty to discuss he and Bill's resignations. He asked what would it take to resolve their issues and bring them back. Scotty, deep in debt wanted a $50 per week pay rise and a flat payment of $10,000. Elvis said he needed a few days to think it over.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 13, 1957 (Friday)
Elvis went to Memphis' Municipal Airport to pickup Anita Wood who was arriving back from Hollywood.



Memphis Press-Scimitar reporter, Robert Johnson printed the story about Scotty and Bill's resignation. (photos)


"Bill Black and Scotty Moore, the musicians who have been with Elvis Presley ever since he started his singing career, have quit. They sent Elvis a special delivery letter containing their resignations in Hollywood last Saturday."I don't believe Scotty and I could raise more than 50 bucks between us," said Black. "I'm still living day to day."Both men expressed admiration for Elvis and wishes for his continued success, but said he had prospered and they haven't."He promised us that the more he made the more we would make," Scotty said. "But it hasn't worked that way."
"Bill and I paid income tax on more than $10,000 the first two years we were with Elvis. Last year it was down to about $7500." "This year, because of some money we made on the Paramount picture, it'll be close to $10,000, but the studio paid the extra money.
'I Think We Lost'"
I think we actually lost money on the M-G-M picture." He said in the Paramount picture they got $285 a week for three or four weeks, as they qualified for actor's pay.For working on the M-G-M picture, he said, they got paid musicians scale, about $21 a day, when they worked."This is not something that just happened suddenly," Black said. "We've talked about it for a year-and-a-half.""We've only had one raise in two years, Scotty had to threaten to quit to get that." Moore said they got a raise of $25 at that time.""Elvis is the star, and we know it," Moore said.
"Expected More"
"I didn't expect to get rich on this, and I certainly don't begrudge him any of the success he has had or what it's brought him, but I did expect to do better than I have to make a good living for my family."
Bill Black plays bass, Scotty Moore plays guitar. D.J. Fontana, the drummer, did not resign with them. Moore said the letter of resignation gave the customary two weeks notice. This would put the end at Saturday September 21, 1957.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 14, 1957 (Saturday)
Elvis responded to the story printed by the Memphis Press-Scimitar the day before, by penning an open letter in the same newspaper. (photo)


Elvis Is 'Shocked’ At Musicians Quitting
But He Goes Ahead Auditioning To Get Replacements on Team
A Message to the Musicians:
An open message from Elvis Presley to Bill Black and Scotty Moore, the musicians who quit him last week after being with him since before stardom;
"Scotty, I hope you fellows have good luck. I will give you fellows good recommendations. If you had come to me, we would have worked things out. I would have always taken care of you.
"But you went to the papers and tried to make me look bad instead of coming to me so we could work things out. All I can say to you is 'good luck.'"
By BILL E. BURK, Press-Scimitar Staff Writer.
Even though he had been warned that some of his group might quit, Elvis Presley said in Memphis last night that he was “shocked“ when the two registered letters came to him in Hollywood announcing the resignations of Bill Black and Scotty Moore, musicians who had been with him since before his sudden rise to the top began.
"'The news of their quitting me came as a shock," Elvis told this reporter in an interview at his home at Graceland. "It is a mystery to me why they didn’t come to me and ask for more money," he said. "They never did, believe me they didn't."
"We've had our problems before-even some arguments- but we always settled them," he continued. "Every time they ever came to me and asked for something, they got it, no matter what. Had they come to me, we would have worked it out and they would have got more money."
Elvis said he had an idea that some outsiders (he didn't know who) had made offers to the boys. He said he talked with Scotty after receiving the letter of resignation and Scotty admitted to him that he had other offers.
"'They expressed to the paper their respect and admiration for me," Elvis said. "If they had that much, why didn‘t they come to me instead of going to the paper?"
Again he repeated that neither of them had ever come to him asking for more money.
In his conversation with Scotty, Elvis said he offered to give him $150 a week while working (representing a $50 a week increase), but that Scotty told him it would take that, plus a sizable sum to get him out of debt.
Elvis said, “Scotty said that I said the more money I made the more he and Black would make. I have a good memory and I don't remember ever telling them that."
Elvis told of the many times he had gone to bat for the boys to get them in his movies. "In our first picture, 20th Century Fox absolutely refused to use them, because they had no place for them."
Paramount didn't want to use the musical group either, Elvis said, but he talked with Hal Wallis, whom Elvis quoted as saying "I need them like I need a hole in my head." "I told Mr. Wallis that I could do a much better job with the boys behind me, that I was used to working with them and he consented against his will," Elvis said.
Elvis told of certain people close to him who have tried to persuade him to drop his musical group during the last two years. He would not name these people, but said he told them he would not because they were good musicians and because of sentimental reasons.
"We started out together," he said, "and I didn't want to cut anyone out of anything. I went out of my way several times to get them into things I was doing."
"Those boys could have had a job with me as long as I was making a dime," Elvis said. They have been doing nothing the last 1 1/2 years but laying around, and I've been paying them $100 each every week. People thought I was crazy for doing this. There are a lot of good musicians around. I could have picked a new group every week, but no, I wanted Scotty and Bill."
Elvis said their resignations came at a crucial time. He plays the Tupelo Fair (which he called "my homecoming"), Sept. 27. He said he just received the date of his next tour, which will be in October at a spot not yet named. And then it‘s back to Hollywood for work on two more films.
Elvis said he would immediately begin auditioning for a new guitar and bass player during the two weeks before the Tupelo Fair.
"It might take a while," he said, "but it’s not impossible to find replacements."
Musician Denies Elvis' Statement
By ELTON WHISENHUNT, Press-Scimitar Staff Writer.
Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's guitar player, said today no one had hired him and bass player Bill Black "out from under Elvis."
Moore also denied the rock 'n` roll king‘s statement that "they never asked me for a raise—if they had they would have got it."
Moore said numerous times in the last 18 months he and Black had asked Presley for more money. They were not requests for salary increases as such, Moore said, but money from the gate receipts on shows they played.
Promise Claimed
Moore said his and Black's requests for a part of gate receipts ...?????...* garded" by Elvis and they never got any extra money.
Moore said, "Col. Parker once told us, "You've got to be prepared to quit in order to get a raise when you talk to Elvis. Either you will get a raise, or of course, you will be out of a job." He meant, of course, that it would take the most drastic action possible to get a raise out of Elvis.
Q. You mean you don't believe Elvis' statement that you and Black had never asked him for a raise and if you had you would have got it?
A. No, I don't believe it.
Presley has been paying Moore and Black $100 each when they're not on a tour and $200 a week on the road. In addition, Moore's and Black's hotel and travel expenses were paid but they were not on expense account, Moore said.
Entertains Friends
Elvis entertains his friends lavishly. He usually has several traveling with him. In Hollywood recently he spent $1700 a week to put up several Memphis buddies.
Black and Moore sent Elvis letters of resignation last Saturday. A few days later, Moore said, Elvis called Moore and offered him $150 a week while in Memphis and $250 on the road. Moore said he told Elvis if he could "Out of the kindness of his heart give me $10,000 to get out of debt the $50 raise would be fine."
Moore said Elvis wanted to think it over a day or two and he hasn't heard from Elvis yet. He said he doesn't think he will hear from Elvis any more.
Moore said he did not plan to call Presley, either.
"We're both pretty stubborn," Moore said. "I guess he can be stubborn longer because he's got more money."
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 15, 1957 (Sunday)
In mid-September, RCA hired songwriting partners Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller as independent producers to work with both Elvis Presley and other RCA artists.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life" September 16, 1957 (Monday)
Around this time Marion Keisker who discovered Elvis at the Memphis Recording Service in 1953, dissolved her long association with Sam Phillips and joined the U.S. Air Force as a captain.

BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #5
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #8
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #3
Most Played By Jockeys:
"Fraulein" by Bobby Helms.
"Teddy Bear" by Elvis Presley. #9
"Loving You" by Elvis Presley. #15
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)

Best Sellers in Stores:
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lew