Music History

Elvis Presley shared his success with his family by buying his mother a pink Cadillac.

Elvis Presley worked from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Radio Recorders recording studio on Santa Monica Boulevard, recording material for his second album and a new single. Because the pianist was absent, the piano parts were played either by Elvis or Gordon Stoker.

An official Elvis Presley fan club was established in the United Kingdom.

Elvis Presley reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart with “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.”

Elvis Presley took Venetia Stevenson, Lamar Fike, George Klein and other friends to the Memphis Fairgrounds and then to a private midnight screening of the film "Loving You" at the Strand theater.

The film “Loving You” starring Elvis Presley premiered in London.

Elvis Presley arrived in Spokane, Washington, at 11:20 p.m. at the beginning of his tour, which was managed by Al Dvorin.

Elvis Presley performed at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, Canada, before 26,000 fans. It was his third and final concert outside the United States. The 25-minute program included "Heartbreak Hotel", "All Shook Up", "I Was The One", "I Got A Woman", "That's When Your Heartaches Begin", "Fools Hall Of Fame", "Don't Be Cruel", "Love Me", "Mean Woman Blues" and "Hound Dog". He was accompanied by Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana and The Jordanaires. After the performance, Elvis gave his gold jacket to a crew member, who wore it while getting into the car so that fans would believe Elvis was leaving. Tickets cost 1.50, 2.50 and 3.50 Canadian dollars.

Elvis Presley performed at 2:00 p.m. at Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma, Washington, with supporting acts Howard Hardin, The Burns Twins & Evelyn, Joe Termini, Wells & The Four Fays, Paul Desmond and The Jordanaires. At 10:00 p.m., he performed at Sick's Stadium in Seattle, Washington, where he played a 30-minute concert before 15,000 people. He also sang “Fool's Hall Of Fame,” a new recording released by Sun Records by Rudi Richardson. Elvis told the audience it would be his new single, but he never recorded it.

Elvis Presley underwent military service at Fort Hood, Texas, where he trained in tank operations as part of the 2nd Armored Division.

Elvis Presley absolvoval vojenský výcvik ve Fort Hood v Texasu v rámci pokročilého výcviku obsluhy tanků u 2. obrněné divize.

Elvis Presley's “Hard Headed Woman” became the first rock'n'roll single to receive RIAA Gold certification. At the time, a Gold single required documented US sales of at least one million copies.

During his military service in Memphis, Elvis spent most of the day and evening at the hospital with his mother, Gladys Presley.

While staying at home at Graceland, he received a telephone call from his father telling him that his mother Gladys had died. She died at the age of 46. At the time, he was a private in the US Army stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and was home on emergency leave. At her funeral two days later, he was so overcome with grief that he could not stand and had to be supported. More than 500 police officers supervised the service to keep the enormous crowd from gaining access.

At his mother Gladys Presley's funeral at Graceland, Elvis was so devastated that friends had to hold him up to keep him on his feet. More than 500 police officers supervised the funeral because of the huge crowd of fans. Fans sent more than 100,000 letters and postcards, approximately 500 telegrams and more than 200 floral arrangements.

After being drafted into the US Army, Elvis Presley was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, West Germany.

Elvis Presley was given leave in Memphis during his military service and visited his mother's grave.

Elvis was granted another five days of leave while serving in the military in Germany. During his stay in Memphis, Texas DJ Eddie Fadal visited him, and police took Elvis on a helicopter flight over the city to entertain and cheer him up.

Elvis Presley was on leave in Memphis during his military service.

“A Big Hunk O' Love” became Elvis Presley’s 14th consecutive gold record.

Elvis Presley was serving in the military in Germany.

Elvis Presley vykonával vojenskou službu v Německu.

Elvis Presley reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “A Big Hunk O' Love.” The song was recorded during Elvis’s only recording session while serving in the US Army, in four takes, with the released version assembled from the third and fourth takes.

Elvis Presley had the song “A Big Hunk O’ Love” at No. 1 on the chart for a second consecutive week, bringing his career total to 60 weeks at the top.

Elvis was serving in the military in Germany. From February 3, 1959 to March 1960, he lived at Goethestraße 14 in Bad Nauheim, Germany.

Elvis Presley was fitted with brown contact lenses for his role as Pacer Burton in the film “Flaming Star,” intended to change his naturally blue eyes to brown. He ultimately did not use them in the film.

Elvis Presley recorded four songs at Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood for the film "Flaming Star" during an overnight recording session.

With the song “It's Now or Never”, he began a five-week run at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also reached No. 1 in the UK. The song was based on the Italian song “O Sole Mio” and was his first postwar number-one hit. More than 20 million copies were sold worldwide.

Principal photography began on Elvis Presley's film Flaming Star at Conejo Movie Ranch in Thousand Oaks, California.

A preview screening of Elvis Presley's film G.I. Blues was held in Dallas, Texas.

The film “Flaming Star” was released during Elvis Presley’s Hollywood career.

In the United Kingdom, the song “It's Now or Never” was released after the necessary copyright clearances had been obtained. It was an English-language version of the Neapolitan standard “O Sole Mio”, which had been made famous by Enrico Caruso in 1916. The song reached No. 1 on the British chart and received a Silver Record for sales of more than 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

Elvis Presley was photographed by Don Cravens at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for Life magazine.

Elvis Presley's song "It's Now or Never" was in its third week at No. 1, while "Kiddio" by Brook Benton took the No. 1 spot on the Easy Listening chart.

Elvis Presley released the single "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister". The single reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart and spent four weeks at No. 1 in the U.K.

Elvis Presley began a three-week run at No. 1 on the US album chart with “Something For Everybody”, his sixth US No. 1 album.

Elvis Presley reached No. 1 on the US album chart with his album “Something For Everybody”.

Elvis Presley moved up to number eight on the US singles chart with “She's Not You”.

Elvis Presley's tenth feature film, "Kid Galahad", premiered in US cinemas. Elvis played an amateur boxer in the film. Gig Young, Lola Albright, Joan Blackman, and Charles Bronson also appeared in the film.