On today’s post, I thought I would share some important events in Elvis’ life that occurred in the month of June, along with a few interesting tidbits…
June 5, 1956 — Elvis appeared on the Milton Berle Show and sang “Hound Dog.” His performance caused quite a stir, not all of it positive. The “Elvis the Pelvis” nickname came about shortly after this performance.
Here is just one of the many scathing reviews that resulted:
By Ben Gross of the Daily News:
“Popular music has been sinking in this country for some years. Now it has reached its lowest depths in the ‘grunt and groin’ antics of one Elvis Presley. The TV audience had a noxious sampling of it the other evening. Elvis, who rotates his pelvis, was appalling musically … He gave an exhibition that was suggestive and vulgar, tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and bordellos.”
Haha, so, in other words, he’s extremely sexy… 😉
June 10, 1958 — Elvis was on leave from the military and held a recording session in Nashville. He recorded the following songs:
I Need Your Love Tonight
A Big Hunk O’ Love
Ain’t That Loving You Baby
(Now And Then There’s a) Fool Such As I
I Got Stung
This would be his last session until after his discharge from the army in 1960.
June 26, 1977 — Sadly, Elvis gave the last concert of his life on this date at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. I’d seen him March 25 of that year in Norman, Oklahoma at the Lloyd Noble Arena, not knowing it would be the last time I would ever have the pleasure of attending an Elvis concert. 😦
Elvis Bites Reporter
Elvis was in Charlotte, North Carolina for a concert in June, 1956. A female reporter walked up to Elvis, who was sitting in a car, to take a picture. Elvis leaned his head out the window and bit her on the hand. Not at all pleased, she called him a “big bruiser” and asked him ‘what’s the big idea.’ He said, “I was only being friendly, like a little puppy dog.” The reporter told him no one had ever bitten her in friendship, and he replied, “Lady, if you want to get ahead, you gotta be different.” The reporter didn’t file a lawsuit, but in this day and age, I would imagine the outcome would have been quite different. 🙂 (It’s unfortunate that he chose to bite one of the very few young women who did NOT like getting bitten by him :))
This is a picture from that same trip to Charlotte (this girl is not the reporter :))
Elvis dog tags
While Elvis was in the army, tons of merchandise was released to keep him in the forefront of the public’s mind. One of the more unique items was Elvis Dog Tags. They were available in either silver or gold and included Elvis’ Army serial number, his blood type, a picture, and copy of his signature. The tags weren’t made available until July, but the buzz for them began in June. A deejay in Boston had the idea for a gimmick where he offered six tags to the first three girls who came to the station wearing a bathing suit and to the first three boys who arrived with guitars. More than 600 people showed up on the rainy night at the studio. Three police vehicles were dispatched to maintain order. Among the crowd were twenty-two boys with guitars and sixteen girls wearing bathing suits.
Can you imagine what those would be worth now? I wasn’t born yet, or I definitely would have one. 🙂
Thanks for joining me…have a fabulous weekend!
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EOLS Charity
Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.
Learn more here, including how to donate:
http://www.graceland.com/epcf/
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On Elvis’ 80th birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.
All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.
Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.
What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?
Author Alicia Dean 