Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 1, 1961, (Wednesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 2, 1961, (Thursday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 3, 1961, (Friday)
The Senate and the House of Representatives officially approved for Elvis to visit the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 4, 1961, (Saturday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 5, 1961, (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 6, 1961 (Monday)
No information.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Pony Time" by Chubby Checker,
"Surrender" by Elvis Presley. #2
"Hearts of Stone" by Bill Black's Combo. #26
"Lonely Man" by Elvis Presley. #44
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Calcutta" by the Four Preps, Werner Muller, Vico Torriani, the Valiants, Lawrence Welk.
"Surrender" by Elvis Presley. #7
"Hearts of Stone" by Bill Black's Combo, Red Foley, the Fontane Sisters. #29
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Don't Worry" by Marty Robbins.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Shop Around" by the Miracles.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
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MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 9 weeks or less)
"Exodus" Soundtrack.
"His Hand In Mine" by Elvis Presley. #15
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 9 weeks or less)
"Exodus" Soundtrack.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
BEST SELLING POP VOCAL ALBUMS
"Elvis Is Back!" (M/S) by Elvis Presley.
BEST SELLING SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS (Non Cast)
"G.I. Blues" (M/S) by Elvis Presley.
BEST SELLING SACRED/SPIRITUAL ALBUMS
"His Hand In Mine" (M) by Elvis Presley.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 7, 1961, (Tuesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 8, 1961, (Wednesday)
Governor Buford Ellington Mansion and the Tennessee State Capitol, 600 Capitol Drive, Nashville, Tennessee.
Elvis drove his Rolls Royce to Nashville, to be honored by the Tennessee legislature. He thanked the lawmakers for the
"finest honour [I've] ever received." He added, to cheers, that he would never abandon his home in Memphis to move to
Hollywood. (audio) Accompanied by the governor's daughter, Ann Ellington, (photo) Elvis got a private tour of the governor's
mansion.
On the way back to Memphis, he stopped at the Tennessee State Prison to visit Johnny Bragg, lead singer for the Prisonaires, the group that Sam Phillips first recorded at Sun in 1953.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 9, 1961, (Thursday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 10, 1961, (Friday)
Long before he met Elvis, the Colonel was promoting the idea of a movie on the life of Hank Williams. Now he and MGM were discussing seriously the possibility of Elvis starring in such a film, and the studio agreed to Elvis' getting the publishing on any non-Williams songs he performed. Most likely the Colonel withdrew Elvis' name from consideration when he came to the belated recognition that there was no money to be made on the Williams songs at the heart of the picture.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 11, 1961, (Saturday)
Back in Memphis Elvis went for a ride in a Piper Comanche aeroplane, he circled over Graceland and even briefly took the controls.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 12, 1961 (Sunday)
Elvis traveled by bus to RCA's Studio B in Nashville.
RECORDING SESSION: - RCA Victor
RCA Victor Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee. (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm) and (9:30 pm - 12:30 am)
Producer(s): Steve Sholes.
Engineer: Bill Porter.
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Electric Guitar: Hank Garland - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Murrey "Buddy" Harman - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
Soprano: Mildred "Millie" Kirkham.
The group recorded enough material for one album and a new single.
Songs recorded: "I'm Comin' Home", "Gently", "In Your Arms", "Give Me the Right", "I Feel So Bad", "It's A Sin", "I Want You With Me", "There's Always Me" (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 13, 1961 (Monday)
RECORDING SESSION: - RCA Victor
RCA Victor Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee. (1:45 am - 5:15 am)
Producer(s): Steve Sholes.
Engineer: Bill Porter.
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Electric Guitar: Hank Garland - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Murrey "Buddy" Harman - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
Soprano: Mildred "Millie" Kirkham.
Recording continued.
Songs recorded: "Starting Today", "Sentimental Me", "Judy", "Put the Blame On Me" (audio)
The Colonel received a thank you letter from the House of Representatives in Congress regarding the upcoming benefit show for the U.S.S. Arizona memorial fund. (photo)
"Wooden Heart" was number one in Holland and Belgium. NBC had sold their property on Sunset and Vine in California where RCA rented the recording studio. RCA had until November 1963 to vacate the premises and look for an alternative.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Pony Time" by Chubby Checker,
"Surrender" by Elvis Presley. #2
"Hearts of Stone" by Bill Black's Combo. #21
"Lonely Man" by Elvis Presley. #35
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Calcutta" by the Four Preps, Werner Muller, Vico Torriani, the Valiants, Lawrence Welk.
"Surrender" by Elvis Presley. #4
"Hearts of Stone" by Bill Black's Combo, Red Foley, the Fontane Sisters. #25
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Don't Worry" by Marty Robbins.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Pony Time" by Chubby Checker.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 9 weeks or less)
"Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 9 weeks or less)
"Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
BEST SELLING POP VOCAL ALBUMS
"Elvis Is Back!" (M/S) by Elvis Presley.
BEST SELLING SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS (Non Cast)
"G.I. Blues" (M/S) by Elvis Presley.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 14, 1961, (Tuesday)
RCA's Bill Bullock wrote to tell Elvis how pleased he was with the recent recording session and reintroduced the idea of building a recording studio for Elvis at Graceland, in the hope of coaxing more product from a star who, on his manager's advice, was increasingly reluctant to enter the recording studio except for soundtrack sessions.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 15, 1961, (Wednesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 16, 1961, (Thursday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 17, 1961, (Friday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 18, 1961, (Saturday)
On a layover in Chicago on the way to Los Angeles, Elvis stayed at the O'Hare Inn near the airport.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 19, 1961, (Sunday)
525 Perugia Way, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 20, 1961 (Monday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Paramount) "Blue Hawaii"
Hal Wallis' Office, Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California. (10:30 am)
Elvis reported to Hal Wallis' office at Paramount and attended a music meeting for "Blue Hawaii." Attending the meeting were;
Paul Nathan (associate producer,) Charlie O'Curran (Paramount Choreographer,) Freddy Bienstock (music publisher,) Tom
Diskin (on behalf of Colonel Parker who was already in Hawaii making preparations for the benefit concert.)
The director of the new Hal Wallis picture was once again, Norman Taurog who helmed "G.I. Blues," and it would also co-star thirty-five-year old Angela Lansbury as Elvis' mother.
After reproduction meetings were finalised, Elvis went to Radio Recorders for rehearsals.
BLUE HAWAII
(Paramount Pictures) (1961)
Joan Blackman
Jenny Maxwell
Norman Taurog
Angela Lansbury
Roland Winters
Nancy Walters
Howard McNear
John Archer
Pamela Austin
SOUNDTRACK REHEARSAL SESSION: - (Paramount) "Blue Hawaii"
Radio Recorders, Studio B, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California.
Producer(s): Joseph Lilley/Hal Wallis.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar.
Rehearsals began for "Blue Hawaii."
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Surrender" by Elvis Presley.
"Hearts of Stone" by Bill Black's Combo. #20
"Lonely Man" by Elvis Presley. #32
Honor Roll of Hits:
"Calcutta" by the Four Preps, Werner Muller, Vico Torriani, the Valiants, Lawrence Welk.
"Surrender" by Elvis Presley. #2
"Hearts of Stone" by Bill Black's Combo, Red Foley, the Fontane Sisters. #23
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Don't Worry" by Marty Robbins.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Pony Time" by Chubby Checker.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
MONO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 9 weeks or less)
"Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
STEREO ACTION ALBUMS (on the charts 9 weeks or less)
"Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
BEST SELLING POP VOCAL ALBUMS
"Elvis Is Back!" (M/S) by Elvis Presley.
BEST SELLING SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS (Non Cast)
"G.I. Blues" (M/S) by Elvis Presley.
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" hit the top spot in Chile. While Steve Sholes was promoted to oversee RCA's operations on the west coast and he continued to personally record Elvis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 21, 1961, (Tuesday)
SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSION: - (Paramount) "Blue Hawaii"
Radio Recorders, Studio B, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (1:00 pm - 11:50 pm)
Producer(s): Joseph Lilley/Hal Wallis.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar.
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Guitar: Hank Garland - Rhythm Guitar & Mandolin: Hilmer "Tiny" Timbrell - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Hal Blaine - Piano & Celeste: Dudley Brooks - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Percussion: Bernie Mattinson - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph - Harmonica: George Fields - Ukelele: Bernie Lewis - Ukelele: Fred Tavares - Steel Guitar: Alvino Rey.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
The Surfers: Pat Silva, Bernie Ching, Clay Naluai, Al Naluai.
Looking for a Hawaiian sound the band was supplemented by Hal Blaine on Percussion/Drums, Alvino Rey on Steel Guitar with Fred Tavares and Bernie Lewis on Ukelele. The Jordanaires were complimented by The Surfers on backing vocals. Singer/Songwriter Don Robertson (photo #3) was invited to the session. He had co-wrote "No More" which was based on the old Spanish song "La Paloma."
Songs recorded: "Hawaiian Sunset", "Aloha-Oe", "Ku-u-i-po", "No More", "Slicin' Sand" (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 22, 1961, (Wednesday)
SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSION: - (Paramount) "Blue Hawaii"
Radio Recorders, Studio B, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (1:00 pm - 10:20 pm)
Producer(s): Joseph Lilley/Hal Wallis.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar.
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Guitar: Hank Garland - Rhythm Guitar & Mandolin: Hilmer "Tiny" Timbrell - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Hal Blaine - Piano & Celeste: Dudley Brooks - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Percussion: Bernie Mattinson - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph - Harmonica: George Fields - Ukelele: Bernie Lewis - Ukelele: Fred Tavares - Steel Guitar: Alvino Rey.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
The Surfers: Pat Silva, Bernie Ching, Clay Naluai, Al Naluai.
Recording continued at the studio.
Songs recorded: "Blue Hawaii", "Ito Eats", "Hawaiian Wedding Song", "Island of Love", "Steppin' Out of Line", Almost Always True", "Moonlight Swim" (undubbed) (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 23, 1961, (Thursday)
SOUNDTRACK RECORDING SESSION: - (Paramount) "Blue Hawaii"
Radio Recorders, Studio B, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (1:00 pm - 5:22 pm)
Producer(s): Joseph Lilley/Hal Wallis.
Engineer: Thorne Nogar.
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Guitar: Hank Garland - Rhythm Guitar & Mandolin: Hilmer "Tiny" Timbrell - Bass: Bob Moore - Drums: D.J. Fontana - Drums: Hal Blaine - Piano & Celeste: Dudley Brooks - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Percussion: Bernie Mattinson - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph - Harmonica: George Fields - Ukelele: Bernie Lewis - Ukelele: Fred Tavares - Steel Guitar: Alvino Rey.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
The Surfers: Pat Silva, Bernie Ching, Clay Naluai, Al Naluai.
Recording completed except for studio overdubs.
Songs recorded: "Aloha -Oe", "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Beach Boy Blues", "Rock A-Hula Baby" (audio)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 24, 1961, (Friday)
525 Perugia Way, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" March 25, 1961, (Saturday)
PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT - Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii. Departed: (9:00 am) Arrived: (12:20 am)
Pan American World Airways flight details and reservations for the Elvis Presley group that departed Los Angeles and headed for
Honolulu, Hawaii. (photo)
First Class: Elvis Presley, Gene Smith, Hal Wallis, Minnie Pearl, Tom Diskin and Freddie Bienstock.
Tourist: Sonny West, Bob (Red) West, Joe Esposito and Alan Fortas.
Economy: Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews, Hoyt Hawkins, Ray Walker, Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, Boots Randolph and Floyd Cramer.
Elvis and his party flew to Hawaii with Country Comedian Minnie Pearl who was booked to appear on the benefit show.
HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, OAHU, HAWAII
Elvis arrived at 12:15 pm and was immediately mobbed by well wishers as he left the plane. A frightened Minnie Pearl told him: "Those women could kill you," but Elvis expressed confidence that "they're not going to hurt me." (video)
Arriving in Oahu, Hawaii (Silent footage)
Audio: "Blue Hawaii" by Billy Vaughn
There was a press conference scheduled for 3:30 pm in the Carousel Room at the Hawaiian Village Hotel at which not just the two Honolulu dailies but twenty-seven Oahu high schools and middle schools were represented. "Elvis answered questions with a matter-of-fact mumble," the Sunday Advertiser reported. "Colonel Tom Parker, his manager, supplied the punchlines that brought laughter and applause from the students."
LIVE PERFORMANCE(S): - The Pacific War Memorial Commission Benefit Concert.
Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii. (8:30 pm) Attendance: 5,000
Musicians: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Electric Guitar: Scotty Moore - Guitar: Hank Garland - Bass: Bob Moore
- Drums: D.J. Fontana - Piano: Floyd Cramer - Saxophone: Homer "Boots" Randolph.
Backup Vocals: The Jordanaires: 1st Tenor: Gordon Stoker - 2nd Tenor: Neal Matthews - Baritone: Hoyt
Hawkins - Bass: Ray Walker.
Elvis wore his Gold Lame jacket with a white shirt and black trousers for the second concert of the year.
Songs performed: "Heartbreak Hotel", "All Shook Up", "A Fool Such As I", "I Got A Woman", "Love Me", "Band
Introductions", "Such A Night", "Reconsider Baby", "I Need Your Love Tonight", "That's All Right", "Don't Be
Cruel", "One Night", "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", "It's Now Or Never", Swing Down, Sweet Chariot",
"Hound Dog" (audio)
