Events in 1954
- Billboard magazine zveřejnil článek o Elvisu Presleym, v němž ho označil za nového zpěváka schopného rockovat skladby pro country i R&B publikum.
- Elvis Presley vystoupil v Eagle's Nest v Memphisu v Tennessee. Šlo o první z jeho dvanácti vystoupení v tomto podniku během roku a vystoupení zahrnovalo skladby „That's All Right“ a „Blue Moon of Kentucky“.
- Johnny Cash se oženil s Vivian Liberto v kostele St. Ann's Catholic Church v Memphisu.
- The Crew-Cuts se svou verzí skladby „Sh-Boom“, známé také jako „Life Could Be a Dream“, dostali na první místo amerického žebříčku, kde zahájili sedmitýdenní pobyt na vrcholu.
- English drummer Pete Thomas was born in Hillsborough, Sheffield. He became known for his work with Elvis Costello and The Attractions, with whom he had, among other hits, the UK hit “Oliver's Army”. He also worked as a session drummer with Suzanne Vega, Neil Finn and other artists.
- Elvis Presley performed in Memphis, where he performed “That's All Right (Mama)” for the first time.
- Guitarist and singer Bryan Bassett of Wild Cherry was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group was known for the hit “Play That Funky Music,” which reached No. 1 in the US and No. 7 in the UK in 1976.
- British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Jackson, born David Ian Jackson, was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. He became known for experiments with new wave, jazz and pop. In 1980 he had the UK No. 5 hit “It's Different For Girls” and in 1982 the US No. 6 hit “Steppin' Out.”
- Jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheny was born.
- Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black performed at Bellevue Park in Memphis.
- The Platters, B.B. King and Johnny Otis were the headline acts at a sold-out concert at the Savoy Ballroom in Hollywood, California. The event was a huge success and demonstrated the exceptional concert appeal of R&B in Los Angeles at the time.
- Drummer Steve Smith of Focus and Journey was born in Whitman, Massachusetts.
- Elvis Presley worked for Crown Electric until mid-October 1954.
- Elvis Presley worked for Crown Electric on this day, where he remained until mid-October 1954.
- Mark Avsec, keyboardist and songwriter of Wild Cherry, was born. Wild Cherry had the 1976 US number-one hit and UK number-seven hit “Play That Funky Music”.
- Perez Prado recorded the song “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White”.
- Elvis Presley worked for Crown Electric on this day, where he remained until mid-October 1954.
- English singer, songwriter and producer Declan Patrick MacManus, known as Elvis Costello, was born in Paddington, London. His stage surname came from his father, who performed as Day Costello. In 1979 he had the UK hit “Oliver's Army” with The Attractions, and the album “Armed Forces” spent 28 weeks on the chart.
- Elvis worked for Crown Electric and remained there until the middle of October 1954.
- Elvis Presley worked at Crown Electric, where he remained until mid-October 1954.
- Michael Chetwood, keyboardist with T'Pau, was born. T'Pau had the UK No. 1 single “China In Your Hand” in 1987 and the song “Heart And Soul”, which reached No. 4 in both the US and UK.
- Elvis Presley performed at Eagle’s Nest in Memphis with the Tiny Dixon Band. He sang “That's All Right” and “Blue Moon Of Kentucky”.
- Ronald Beitle, drummer with the American funk rock group Wild Cherry, was born. In 1976, the group had the US No. 1 single “Play That Funky Music”, which reached No. 7 in the UK.