Elvis Presley 1975-1977. Every concert, studio recording and important event in Elvis Presley's Life from the Las Vegas in 1975 to August 1977.
Elvis Presley 1975
January 20, Elvis put down a deposit of $75,000 on an impounded Boeing 707 but the deal fallsl through. The previous owner had been Robert Vesco, the fugitive financier who had fled to South America after allegedly embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars from international investment firms. Buying his plane would involve some complicated wrangling with the IRS. And Elvis was warned about another complication: If the plane ever landed in any of the countries Vesco was establishing a base in, there was every reason to believe that he might try to seize it.
In April Elvis buys a Convair 880 Jet recently taken out of service by Delta Airlines for the then-substantial sum of $250,000. With complete refurbishing the total exceeded $600,000. He immediately rechristened it the Lisa Marie.
Late January 1975, instead of in Las Vegas for his usual season Elvis is admitted to Baptist Memorial Hospital. Several physical problems forced him to stay in the hospital until February 14, but no surgery was necessary. A positive side effect of Elvis' stay in the hospital was that he kicked off a bit from unnecessary addictive pills.
The cancelled shows from January/February were moved to the second half of March.
February 5, Vernon Presley has a heart attack and is admitted to the hospital, where he recuperates in a room next to Elvis'
February 14, Elvis is discharged from the hospital, returning to Graceland to
recuperate.
March 3, Elvis flies to California for a recording session that starts on March 10.
March 10, The session begins at RCA's Sunset Boulevard Studios at 9.00am when Elvis arrives with Sheila Ryan and Lisa Marie .
March 10 1975 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California
Fairytale EPA3 1594-03
March 11 1975 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California
Green Green Grass Of Home EPA3 1595-05 I Can Help EPA3 1596-02 And I Love You So EPA3 1597-05 Susan When She Tried EPA3 1598-06
March 12 1975 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California
T-R-O-U-B-L-E EPA3 1599-04 Tiger Man (Jam) WPA5 2575-01 Woman Without Love EPA3 1600-01 Shake A Hand EPA3 1601-03 Bringing It Back EPA3 1602-04
March 13 1975 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California
Pieces Of My Life EPA3 1603-04
Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nv
This engagement started very well, according to the PR- boss of the Hilton, who attended all opening nights since 1969, Elvis never appeared more relaxed or sung better than in most of this season. Elvis' choice of songs also showed that he felt on great form vocally. He had never included so many musical pearls together – and almost all nostalgia, the quick renditions of songs from the 50s, was gone. When Elvis, perhaps on his best vocal form ever, in one and the same show can present songs like 'My Boy', 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me', 'And I Love You So', 'Big Boss Man', 'The Wonder Of You', 'Fairytale', 'How Great Thou Art' then the result has to be very good. The karate acts were skipped and Elvis concentrated more on the songs and spent less time on other things during his stage performances in this season.
18 Mar 8.30pm
19 Mar 8.30pm
19 Mar Midnight
20 Mar 8.30pm
20 Mar Midnight
21 Mar 8.30pm
21 Mar Midnight
22 Mar 8.30pm
22 Mar Midnight
23 Mar 8.30pm
23 Mar Midnight
24 Mar 8.30pm
24 Mar Midnight
25 Mar 8.30pm
25 Mar Midnight
26 Mar 8.30pm
26 Mar Midnight
27 Mar 8.30pm
27 Mar Midnight
28 Mar 8.30pm
28 Mar Midnight
29 Mar 8.30pm
29 Mar Midnight
30 Mar 8.30pm
30 Mar Midnight
31 Mar 8.30pm
31 Mar Midnight
01 Apr 8.30pm
01 Apr Midnight
April 17, Elvis buys a Convair 880 Jet recently taken out of service by Delta Airlines for the then-substantial sum of $250,000. With complete refurbishing the total exceeded $600,000. He immediately rechristened it the Lisa Marie. But this wasn't just an impulse purchase of some sort of ultimate flying Cadillac. The plane was in great mechanical shape, and had already been customized to include personal quarters, a meeting area, and even a dance floor.
On Tour April 1975 24 Apr 8.30pm Macon Coliseum, Macon, Ga
25 Apr 8.30pm Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Jacksonville, Fl
26 Apr 2.30pm Curtis Hixson Hall, Tampa, Fl
26 Apr 8.30pm Curtis Hixson Hall, Tampa, Fl
27 Apr 2.30pm Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Fl
27 Apr 8.30pm Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Fl
28 Apr 8.30pm Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Fl
29 Apr 8.30pm Mid Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tn
April 30, Elvis started giving away scarves almost as soon as he came on stage Wednesday night. One of the first ladies who received this endearment favored Elvis with two items in return: One appeared to be a furry, fluffy handbag and the other looked like her 'little black book'. Hmmm. But that wasn't all. About the time that one chick brought Elvis a huge toy tiger, something soft sailed onto the Omni stage and landed with a plop. It wasn't...? Yes, it was. A bra - bright green at that Elvis couldn't resist picking up this most intimate of souvenirs. Who did this, he wanted to know. The culprit brazenly stood and admitted that she had done the deed. And so it went all evening. Elvis' concert are not so much musical events as hilarious social occasions. His horde of feminine fans abandons all modesty in the presence of the Pelvis. He has greatly expanded his scarf-bestowing routine. Who can blame him? One titanic success after another must become tiring after a while and any change must be welcome for him. At Wednesday's show he gave away probably 50 scarves, each of which draped around his neck, if only for a moment. He granted kisses to about a dozen lucky ladies several of whom appeared immediately afterward to be in a state of shock. Elvis had to bend far over to award these oscillatory prizes, sometimes coming close to lying on the floor of the stage. A couple of the kisses went to girls small enough to be carried in their mothers' arms. Otherwise, his show is much the same as previously. The mere dimming of the lights is sufficient to set off a feminine uproar. Elvis arrives on stage after the '2001' intro. Squeals galore. Flashbulbs by the hundreds pop simultaneously, turning the huge auditorium into day. He moves across the stage. More shrieks. He takes up his guitar. More pandemonium. He begins to sing. The audience is beside itself. Surely the wall of the Omni will tumble at any moment. He has the audience wrapped around his little finger. He has only to go into his celebrated wriggle to cause a storm of reaction. On the other hand, the house gets quite still for his somber moments. (The percentage of ballads to rockers is favorable.) The important thing is that Elvis keeps it light. His shows are one laugh after another. The audience is as vital to the performance as the star. On Wednesday, the Presley show was the only place to be in Atlanta. The same will be true Thursday and Friday nights. Atlanta Journal (written by Scott Cain)
30 Apr 8.30pm The Omni, Atlanta, Ga
01 May 8.30pm The Omni, Atlanta, Ga
02 May 8.30pm The Omni, Atlanta, Ga
03 May 2.30pm Civic Center, Monroe, La
03 May 8.30pm Civic Center, Monroe, La
04 May 2.30pm Civic Center, Lake Charles, La
04 May 8.30pm Civic Center, Lake Charles, La
05 May 8.30pm State Fair Coliseum, Jackson, Ms
06 May 8.30pm Mid Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tn
07 May 8.30pm Mid Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tn
On Tour May / June / July 1975
30 May 8.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
31 May 2.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
31 May 8.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
01 June 8.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
01 June 8.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
Elvis during the Matinee performance in Huntsville, AL on June 1, 1975.
02 June 2.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, Al
02 June 8.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, Al
03 June 8.30pm University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Al
04 June 8.30pm Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, Tx
05 June 8.30pm Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, Tx
06 June 8.30pm Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas Tx
07 June 2.30pm Hirsch Coliseum, Shreveport, La
07 June 8.30pm Hirsch Coliseum, Shreveport, La
08 June 2.30pm State Fair Coliseum, Jackson, Ms
08 June 8.30pm State Fair Coliseum, Jackson, Ms
09 June 8.30pm State Fair Coliseum, Jackson, Ms
10 June 8.30pm Midsouth Coliseum, Memphis, Tn
08 July 8.30pm Myriad Convention Centre, Oklahoma City, Ok
09 July 8.30pm Hulman Civic Center, Terra Haute, In
10 July 8.30pm Cleveland Coliseum, Richfield, Oh
Ticket for the Cleveland Coliseum, Richfield, Oh
Show July 10, 1975 8.30pm
Buy Ticket
11 July 8.30pm Civic Center, Charleston, Wv
12 July 2.30pm Civic Center, Charleston, Wv
12 July 8.30pm Civic Center, Charleston, Wv
13 July 2.30pm Convention Center, Niagara Falls, Ny
13 July 8.30pm Convention Center, Niagara Falls, Ny
14 July 8.30pm Springfield C. Center, Springfield, Ma
15 July 8.30pm Springfield C. Center, Springfield, Ma
16 July 8.30pm Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, Ct
17 July 8.30pm Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, Ct
18 July 8.30pm Cleveland Coliseum, Richfield, Oh
19 July 2.30pm Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, Ny
19 July 8.30pm Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, Ny
20 July 2.30pm Scope Cultural Convention Centre, Norfolk, Va
20 July 8.30pm Scope Cultural Convention Centre, Norfolk, Va
Click link above for photo of Elvis hugging a young child - who is blind. When Elvis realised she couldn't see, he kissed his scarf and touched both her eyes with it.
Elvis Presley at Scope Cultural Convention Centre, Norfolk, Va july 20, 1975
21 July 8.30pm Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, Nc
The three last shows of the tour were held in Asheville. These became three very memorable shows, mostly because of a somewhat reserved audience... Elvis never got a standing ovation, which during one of the shows made him exclaim: 'I don't know who's asked you to stay in your seats - it's not me!!' But Elvis therefore did his best to ignite the audience: in the first show he did an improvised performance of 'Shake A Hand', showed a great karate demonstration after 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E' and had a great repertoire of songs. During the same show he gave J.D. Sumner a 10-carat diamond ring worth $40.000.
Before the last show in Asheville Elvis had had a box put up in the lobby in the Civic Centre in which the audience could put song requests, which resulted in a completely unusual repertoire with 'unknowns' like 'Return To Sender' and 'Wooden Heart'. Also during this show Elvis gave away rings - two copies of his own $16.000 diamond ring were given to two members of the audience.
After the tour Elvis felt guilty about his behavior against the Sweet Inspirations and Kathy Westmoreland. Elvis did as he so often did in situations he didn't feel comfortable in: he bought jewels a fortune's worth. He also bought 14 Cadillac's for all of the members of the band. Elvis in addition bought himself two aeroplanes...
22 July 8.30pm Asheville Civic Centre, Asheville, Nc
23 July 8.30pm Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, Nc
- Attendance:7.437
24 July 8.30pm Asheville Civic Center, Asheville, Nc
August 3, Elvis leases a Fairchild F-27 aircraft at $13,000 a month.
August 15, Elvis cancels the lease on the Fairchild F-27 and buys an Aero Jet Commander in its place at a cost of $508,000.
Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nv
18 Aug 8.30pm
19 Aug 8.30pm
19 Aug Midnight
20 Aug 8.30pm
20 Aug Midnight
36 Further Shows Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nv Canceled
August 27, Elvis enters into an agreement with Omni Aircraft sales, an airplane broker, who will sell the Colonel's airplane and the Jet Commander that he purchased just two weeks earlier.
September 2, Elvis buys a Lockheed JetStar aircraft for $899,702.60
October 8, Milo High, Elvis' personal pilot takes Elvis and five others on a brief one-hour flight in Elvis newly purchased Lockheed JetStar aircraft.
October 3, Milo High flies Elvis and eight others to Dallas and back.
November 10,The Lisa Marie is delivered to Memphis joining the JetStar and a 1966 Dessault-Falcon, which Elvis has bought for an investment.
November 27, Milo High takes Evis on his first real flight in The Lisa Marie, traveling with Linda Thompson to Las Vegas for the start of a two-week engagement.
Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nv
02 Dec Midnight
03 Dec Midnight
04 Dec Midnight
05 Dec Midnight
06 Dec 2.30pm
06 Dec Midnight - America The Beautiful was recorded on Soundboard. Excellent sound quality.
07 Dec Midnight
08 Dec Midnight
09 Dec Midnight
10 Dec Midnight
11 Dec Midnight
12 Dec Midnight
13 Dec 2.30pm
13 Dec Midnight
14 Dec Midnight
15 Dec Midnight
December 25, In the evening Elvis takes everyone up in The Lisa Marie.
The Lisa Marie in Flight 31 Dec Midnight Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Mi
Elvis Presley 1976
January 4, On the spur of the moment Elvis decides to fly to Colorado for a vacation. After checking into a Denver Hotel, Elvis dispatches Joe Esposito and two Denver Police officers, Jerry Kennedy and Ron Pietrafeso to Vail to find enough rental accommodation for the group.
January 8, Elvis spends the evening of his 41st birthday in a rental home on the slopes of Vail Colorado.
with Jerry Schilling and Myrna Smith, who have been living together for more than a year and will eventually marry.
Many of the guys and their wives and girlfriends have been taking skiing lessons, but Elvis wears a full face Ski mask during the day but mostly only appears on the slopes at night in a rented ski mobile, causing eighteen-year old Susan Ford, daughter of the President to protest his violation of local regulations.
Elvis spent his 41st birthday at the winter sports resort of Vail in Colorado - Photo The Concert Years 1969-1977
January 14, As a thank you gesture to his friends on the force, Elvis purchases two Lincolns and a Cadillac for Jerry Kennedy, Ron Pietrafeso and police surgeon Gerald Starkey, along with Cadillacs for Linda Thompson and Joe Esposito's girlfriend, Shirley Dieu. In all the bill comes to $70,000.
January 16, Construction on the racquetball court at Graceland is completed.
January 20, In reporting the story of Elvis generosity to his police friends it is said that Denver television newsman Don Kinney jokes on air that he'd like a car, too and that Elvis buys him a Seville. 'Elvis, if you're watching - I wouldn't mind getting a car too.'
Don Kinney contradicts this and tells his story .
February 2 / 3 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
Elvis has a week of recording sessions in the den at Graceland, with RCA bringing in mobile recording equipment. Songs from this will comprise the forthcoming album From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee (which will hit number one on the country album chart in May) and over half of the forthcoming Moody Blue album.
Bitter They Are Harder They Fall FWA5 0665-07 She Thinks I Still Care FWA5 0666-17 The Last Farewell FWA5 0667-SP
February 3 / 4 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
Solitaire FWA5 0668-11
February 4 / 5 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
Moody Blue FWA5 0669-10 I'll Never Fall In Love Again FWA5 0670-09
February 5 / 6 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
For The Heart FWA5 0671-08 Hurt FWA5 0672-07 Danny Boy FWA5 0673-10
February 6 / 7 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
Never Again FWA5 0674-14 Love Coming Down FWA5 0675-05
February 7 / 8 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
Feelings America The Beautiful ____-02 Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain FWA5 0676-05
On Tour March 1976
Back on the concert circuit for the first time since July 1975, Elvis Presley's 16th tour throughout the States was a very short one and started with some confusion. Glen Hardin resigned and James Burton and Ronnnie Tutt indicated that they would leave as well. At the last minute Burton returned, the others were replaced.
James Burton had threatened to leave the band, unless he was given a raise. Parker refused at first, but Elvis agreed… raising not only Burton's, but all fees.
Shane Kiester had replaced Glen D. Hardin on keyboards, and Larry Londin sat in for Ronnie Tutt, who joined the Grateful Dead. After just 8 shows, Kiester chose a career of his own and in April he quit the band leaving the keyboards to Tony Brown.
After the first show, Elvis made it clear that he was 'not amused' with the lack of security on and off stage. Later that day, local police officers managed to pull down a few female fans from the fire ladder outside the hotel – they had climbed the ladder in a futile attempt to see a glimpse of Elvis in his hotel room.
March 20, there were a pair of shows in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Coliseum. Attendance was over 12,000 for both the 2:30 and 8:30 p.m. shows, and the total box office take was about $260,000. During the Matinee Show, while Elvis was singing 'Steamroller Blues', a girl broke through the security forces and was able to make it to Elvis for a quick kiss, which cut his lip. Elvis was so rattled that he forgot the words to his next song, 'Burning Love'. Guitarist John Wilkinson had to restart the intro of the song. By the way, if you look closely, you can see John wearing glasses – a pretty unusual sight.
20 Mar 2.30pm Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, Nc
20 Mar 8.30pm Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, Nc
Elvis Presley - Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, Nc March 20 8.30pm
Following the evening show, Elvis flew to Cincinnati, where he occupied the twenty-fourth floor of the Netherland Hilton. Parker's staff was on the twenty-third floor.
The white two piece suit with blue ribbon that James and John are wearing on this picture, is one of the 20 TCB-suits to be displayed at a special exhibition in Mol, Belgium (June 8th) on the occasion of John Wilkinson's concert.
The Lisa Marie - Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International - March 1976
21 Mar 2.30pm Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Oh
21 Mar 8.30pm Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Oh
22 Mar 8.30pm Kiel Auditorium St Louis, Miss
On Tour April 1976
21 Apr 8.30pm Kemper Arena Kansas City, Mo
22 Apr 8.30pm City Auditorium Arena, Omaha, Ne Info
23 Apr 8.30pm Mcnicholes Sports Arena, Denver, Co
24 Apr 8.30pm San Diego Sports, San Diego, Ca
25 Apr 2.30pm Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, Ca
25 Apr 8.30pm Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, Ca
Elvis Presley at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, Ca April 25, 1976
30 Apr 8.30pm
30 Apr Midnight
01 May 8.30pm
01 May Midnight
02 May 10.00pm
03 May 10.00pm
04 May 10.00pm
05 May 10.00pm
06 May 10.00pm
07 May 8.00pm
07 May Midnight
08 May 8.00pm
08 May Midnight
09 May 8.00pm
On Tour May / June / July / August / September / October 1976
27 May 8.30pm University Of Indiana Bloomington, In
28 May 8.30pm Iowa State University, Ames, Ia
29 May 8.30pm Myriad, Oklahoma City, Ok Info
30 May 2.30pm Ector Country Coliseum, Odessa, Tx
30 May 8.30pm Ector Country Coliseum, Odessa, Tx
31 May 8.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Lubbock, Tx
01 June 8.30pm Community Center Arena, Tucson, Az Tuscon '76 CD
Elvis Presley at the Community Center Arena, Tucson, Az June 1, 1976
02 June 8.30pm Civic Center Grand Hall, El Paso, Tx
03 June 8.30pm Tarrant County Convention, Fort Worth, Tx
04 June 8.30pm Omni, Atlanta, Ga
Elvis Presley Omni, Atlanta, Ga June 4, 1976
05 June 2.30pm Omni, Atlanta, Ga
05 June 8.30pm Omni, Atlanta, Ga
06 June 8.30pm Omni, Atlanta, Ga
25 June 8.30pm Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, Ny
26 June 2.30pm Civic Center, Providence, Ri
26 June 8.30pm Civic Center, Providence, Ri
27 June 2.30pm Landover Capital Center, Largo, Maryland
27 June 8.30pm Landover Capital Center, Largo, Maryland
28 June 8.30pm Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pa
29 June 8.30pm Coliseum, Richmond, Va
30 June 8.30pm Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, Nc
01 July 8.30pm Hirsch Coliseum, Shreveport, La
02 July 8.30pm Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La
03 July 8.30pm Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, Tx
04 July 8.30pm Oral Roberts University Mabee Center, Tulsa, Ok
July 5, Elvis Presley performs what would be his last Memphis concert before a crowd of 12,000 at Mid-South Coliseum. Exactly twenty-two years earlier (7/5/54), Elvis recorded 'That's All Right' at Sam Phillips' little studio at 706 Union. Introducing the song on, he said: 'I've had some people say - well, you can't do that song anymore - well, you, by God, just watch me.'
Elvis Presley - Midsouth Coliseum, Memphis, Tn July 5, 1976 - Last show in Memphis
23 July 8.30pm Freedom Hall, Louisville, Ky
24 July 2.30pm Civic Center, Charleston, Wv
24 July 8.30pm Civic Center, Charleston, Wv
25 July 8.30pm Onondaga War Memorial, Syracuse, Ny
26 July 8.30pm Community War Memorial, Rochester, Ny
27 July 8.30pm Community War Memorial, Syracuse, Ny
28 July 8.30pm Civic Center, Hartford, Ct
29 July 8.30pm Civic Center, Springfield, Mass
30 July 8.30pm Veteran's Memorial, New Haven, Ct
31 July 8.30pm Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton Roads, Va
01 Aug 8.30pm Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton Roads, Va
02 Aug 2.30pm Civic Center, Roanoke, Wv
03 Aug 8.30pm Cumberland County Memorial, Fayetteville, Nc
04 Aug 8.30pm Cumberland County Memorial, Fayetteville, Nc
05 Aug 8.30pm Cumberland County Memorial, Fayetteville, Nc
27 Aug 8.30pm Convention Center, San Antonio, Tx
28 Aug 2.30pm Hofneinz Pavillion, Houston, Tx
29 Aug 2.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, Al
29 Aug 8.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, Al
30 Aug 8.30pm University Of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Al
31 Aug 8.30pm Macon Coliseum, Macon, Ga
01 Sep 8.30pm Coliseum, Jacksonville, Fl
02 Sep 8.30pm Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Fl
03 Sep 8.30pm Bay Front Center, St. Petersburg, Fl
04 Sep 2.30pm Civic Center, Lakeland, Fl
04 Sep 8.30pm Civic Center, Lakeland, Fl
05 Sep 8.30pm State Fair Coliseum, Jackson, Ms
06 Sep 2.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
06 Sep 8.30pm Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
Elvis and Kathy Westmoreland - Septermber 6, 1976 - Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, Al
07 Sep 8.30pm Convention Center, Pine Bluff, Ar
08 Sep 8.30pm Convention Center, Pine Bluff, Ar
14 Oct 8.30pm Chicago Stadium Chicago, Il
15 Oct 8.30pm Chicago Stadium Chicago, Il
16 Oct 8.30pm Duluth Arena, Duluth, Mn Info
17 Oct 8.30pm Metropolitan Sports, Minneapolis, Mn
18 Oct 8.30pm Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls Sd
19 Oct 8.30pm Dade County Coliseum, Madison, Wc
20 Oct 8.30pm Notre Dame University, South Bend, In
21 Oct 8.30pm Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mi
22 Oct 8.30pm University Of Illinois, Champaign, Il
23 Oct 8.30pm Cleveland Coliseum, Richfield, Oh
24 Oct 8.30pm Roberts Municipal, Evansville, In
25 Oct 8.30pm Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, In
26 Oct 8.30pm University Of Dayton, Dayton, Oh
27 Oct 8.30pm Southern Illinois, Carbondale, Il
October 29-30, 1976
Continuation of recording in the den at Graceland.
October 29 / 30 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
It's Easy For You FWA5 1048-02 Way Down FWA5 1049-02 Pledging My Love FWA5 1050-06
October 30 / 31 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
There's A Fire Down Below (Track) FWA5 1051-NA He'll Have To Go (Track) FWA5 1052-02
October 31 1976 The Jungle Room, Graceland, Memphis
He'll Have To Go (V.O.) FWA5 1052-NA
Early November, 1976
Elvis and Linda Thompson, his steady girlfriend since 1972, split up.
On Tour November 1976
24 Nov 8.30pm Reno Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nv
25 Nov 8.30pm Macarthur Court, Eugene, Or
26 Nov 8.30pm Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Or
27 Nov 8.30pm Macarthur Court, Eugene, Or
28 Nov 8.30pm Cow Palace, San Francisco, Ca
29 Nov 8.30pm Cow Palace, San Francisco, Ca
30 Nov 8.30pm Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Ca
Elvis Presley at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Ca Nov 30, 1976
Late November, 1976
Elvis meets Ginger Alden who will be his steady girlfriend until his death.
Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nv
02 Dec 8.30pm
03 Dec 8.30pm
03 Dec Midnight
04 Dec 8.30pm
04 Dec Midnight
05 Dec 9.00pm
06 Dec 9.00pm
07 Dec 9.00pm
08 Dec 9.00pm
09 Dec 9.00pm
10 Dec 8.30pm
10 Dec Midnight
December 11, The first show on the 11th showed Elvis in a slightly reckless mood - maybe because Priscilla and her parents were in the room: 'There's someone in the room whom I dearly love. You all know - perhaps- who Priscilla is? Her mother and father are here. He is retired from the air force. This is the first time they've seen me in two years. I will dedicate the next song (My Way) to him because.....he's crazy.
Later that night the audience experienced one of the most delightful Elvis shows ever. Vocally Elvis was at his very best, and in a sparkling good mood he played on his whole register as comedian and singing sensation - with comments and asides about various things which made the audience roar with laughter every time Elvis opened his mouth to speak. There are no words to describe the atmosphere in the room.....Elvis' mood. Priscilla's parents are introduced and dedicated 'My Way'. 'Hurt' then follows the usual introduction of the band and the backing singers, which includes 'Love Letters', before Kathy Westmoreland probably does her best performance in an Elvis concert of 'My Heavenly Father'. Shaun Nielsen is also at his very best and hugely impresses with 'Danny Boy' and 'Walk With Me' - like he impressed earlier in the show during 'O Sole Mio'. Elvis then takes over again with a highly improvised 'Reconsider Baby'. Elvis gets completely lost in the lyrics, but gets it together again before he finishes the show with 'Can't Help Falling In Love'. He had done it again. Done the really big show..
11 Dec 8.30pm 11 Dec Midnight
12 Dec Midnight
Charlie Hodge & Elvis Presley - Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NvDecember 12, 1976
Elvis Presley - Birmingham Dec 29, 1976
27 Dec 8.30pm Wichita St. University, Wichita, Ks
28 Dec 8.30pm Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Tx 29 Dec 9.30pm Civic Center, Birmingham, Al
12 Feb 8.30pm Sportatorium Hollywood, Fl
13 Feb 8.30pm Auditorium, West Palm Beach, Fl
14 Feb 8.30pm Bay Front Center, St Petersburg, Fl
15 Feb 8.30pm Sports Stadium, Orlando, Fl
16 Feb 8.30pm Garretti Coliseum, Montgomery, Al
17 Feb 8.30pm Civic Center, Savannah, Ga
18 Feb 8.30pm Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, Sc
19 Feb 8.30pm Civic Center Freedom Hall, Johnson City, Tn
20 Feb 8.30pm Coliseum, Charlotte, Nc
21 Feb 8.30pm Coliseum, Charlotte, Nc
March 3, After his February '77 tour Elvis returned to Memphis. Elvis had planned a vacation in Hawaii in order to show the islands to Ginger Alden. Before leaving, he takes care of several business matters, including a loan to Dr. Nick for an additional $55.000 at 7 percent interest with a repayment schedule of twenty-five years. Also, at his father's urging, in the early hours of the morning of March 3, Elvis finally signed his will , which designates Vernon as executor and trustee, entrusting to him total responsibility for the 'health education, comfortable maintenance and welfare' of himself, Grandma, and Lisa Marie, the sole heir. Ginger is witness to the will.
Ginger Alden, a local beauty queen (Miss Traffic Safety, Miss Mid-South and runner-up Miss Tennessee University), who has the distinction of being Elvis' last girlfriend and the last person to see him alive on the night he died. Elvis was introduced to Terry Alden, the present Miss Tennessee, by George Klein on November 19, 1976. Terry brought her two sisters Rosemary and Ginger with her. George thought it was Terry to whom Elvis would be attracted, but Elvis was immediately drawn to the youngest sister. Elvis' Saturday-night date with Ginger started as a flight to view the Memphis skyline but ended with a trip to Vegas, chaperoned by his cousin Patsy and her husband. Ginger called her mother for permission.
Friday March 4, Elvis and his party of thirty arrive in Hawaii, checking into the Hilton Rainbow Tower. After two days Elvis and the Alden sisters and a couple of the guys move to a beach house at Kailua on the west side of Oahu.
Elvis Presley playing Football in Hawaii March 1977
March 12, A visit to the USS Arizona memorial is canceled as Elvis prepares for an abruptly scheduled return to Memphis. He has gotten sand in his eye, and Dr. Nick, concerned that he may have scratched his cornea, suggests that he recuperate at home for a week or so before going out on tour once again.
Elvis playing house with Ginger's sister Rosemary
23 Mar 8.30pm Arizona State University, Tempe. Az
24 Mar 8.30pm Civic Center, Amarillo, Tx Yes Info
25 Mar 8.30pm University Of Oklahoma, Norman, Ok
26 Mar 8.30pm University Of Oklahoma, Norman, Ok
27 Mar 8.30pm Taylor County Coliseum, Abilene, Tx
28 Mar 8.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Austin, Tx
29 Mar 8.30pm Rapidas Parish Coliseum, Alexandria, La
30 Mar 8.30pm Rapidas Parish Coliseum, Alexandria, La
31 Mar 8.30pm Baton Rouge, La Canceled Info
01 Apr 8.30pm Mobile, Al Canceled Info
02 Apr 8.30pm Macon, Ga Canceled Info
03 Apr 8.30pm Jacksonville, Fl Canceled Info
21 Apr 8.30pm Coliseum, Greensboro, Nc
22 Apr 8.30pm Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Mi
23 Apr 8.30pm University Of Toledo, Toledo, Oh
24 Apr 8.30pm Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Mi
25 Apr 8.30pm Saginaw Center, Saginaw, Mi
26 Apr 8.30pm Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mi
27 Apr 8.30pm Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, Wi
28 Apr 8.30pm Brown County Veterans, Green Bay, Wi
29 Apr 8.30pm Duluth Arena, Duluth, Mn
30 Apr 8.30pm Civic Center, St. Paul, Mn
01 May 8.30pm Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Il
02 May 8.30pm Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Il
03 May 8.30pm Saginaw Center, Saginaw, Mi
20 May 8.30pm University Of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tn
21 May 8.30pm Freedom Hall, Louisville, Ky
22 May 8.30pm Capital Center, Largo, Md
23 May 8.30pm Civic Center, Providence, Ri
24 May 8.30pm Civic Center, Augusta, Me
25 May 8.30pm Community War Memorial, Rochester, Ny
26 May 8.30pm The Broome County Arena, Binghamton, Ny
27 May 8.30pm The Broome County Arena, Binghamton, Ny
28 May 8.30pm Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pa
29 May 8.30pm Civic Center, Baltimore, Md
30 May 8.30pm Coliseum, Jacksonville, Fl Yes Info
Ticket for Elvis Concert that was cancelled. The show was re-scheduled for August.
31 May 8.30pm Louisiana St. University, Baton Rouge, La
01 June 8.30pm Coliseum, Macon, Ga
02 June 8.30pm Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, Al
On Tour June 17-26, 1977
Elvis tours in concert. Shows on June 19, 20, and 21 are recorded by RCA for an upcoming live album and are videotaped for an upcoming CBS-TV television special. (Footage from the show on the 20th is not used in the special.) The special will be called Elvis in Concert. It will first air on October 3 after Elvis' death in August. The camera gives a shocking picture of Elvis' poor health in his final days, but his voice is strong.
17 June 8.30pm Southwest Mo. State University, Springfield, Mo
18 June 8.30pm Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Mo
19 June 8.30pm Omaha Civic Center, Omaha, Ne
20 June 8.30pm Pershing Municipal Auditorium, Lincoln, Ne
21 June 8.30pm Mount Rushmore, Rapid City, Sd
22 June 8.30pm Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, Sd Info
23 June 8.30pm Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Des Moines, Ia
24 June 8.30pm Dade County Coliseum, Madison, Wi
25 June 8.30pm Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Oh
June 26, This concert at Indianapolis, Indiana's Market Square Arena was Elvis' very last concert performance.
August 12,
Elvis was unable to get an advance copy of the unreleased film 'Star Wars' to view with his daughter Lisa Marie, so they watched the James Bond film 'The Spy Who Loved Me' instead. As they cam e home, Lisa was siting on Ginger Alden's lap, holding her bag of popcorn from the theater. The photo below, snapped just four days before his death is the last ever taken with his daughter Lisa Marie.
Photo from the book Elvis Behind The Image Volume 2.
Elvis, Ginger and Lisa Marie August 12, 1977
August 16, 1977
Shortly after midnight Elvis returns to Graceland from a late-night visit to the dentist. The photo below is the last known photo of Elvis taken on his return from the dentist.
The last known photo of Elvis Presley - August 16, 1977
Through the early morning of the 16th Elvis takes care of last minute tour details and relaxes with family and staff. He is to fly to Portland, Maine that night and do a show there on the 17th, then continue the scheduled tour.
Elvis retires to his master suite at Graceland around 7:00 AM to rest for his evening flight. By late morning, Elvis Presley is dead of heart failure. It is announced by mid-afternoon. In a matter of hours the shock registers around the world.
Cancelled Tour Dates
17 Aug 8.30pm Portland, Me Canceled
18 Aug 8.30pm Portland, Me Canceled
19 Aug 8.30pm Utica, Ny Canceled
20 Aug 8.30pm Syracuse, Ny Canceled
21 Aug 8.30pm Hartford, Ct Canceled
22 Aug 8.30pm Uniondale, Ny Canceled
23 Aug 8.30pm Lexington, Ky Canceled
24 Aug 8.30pm Roanoke, Va Canceled
25 Aug 8.30pm Fayetteville, Tn Canceled
26 Aug 8.30pm Asheville, C Canceled
27 Aug 8.30pm Memphis, Tn Canceled
28 Aug 2.30pm Memphis, Tn Canceled
The Death of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley died at Graceland on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. Girlfriend Ginger Alden found him slumped over in the bathroom. Paramedics were called, but they failed to revive Elvis, and he was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital where further attempts to resuscitate him failed. He was pronounced dead by his physician, Dr. George Nichopolous, who listed the official cause of death as erratic heartbeat, or cardiac arrhythmia.
As the news of Elvis' death spread across the country, radio stations immediately began to play his records. Some stations quickly organized tributes to Elvis while others simply played his music at the request of listeners, many of whom were in a state of shock over his sudden death. Some people called their favorite radio stations just because they wanted to tell someone their stories about the first time they'd heard Elvis sing or to talk about how much his talent and his music meant to them.
Ticket for Cancelled Elvis Presley show - August 28, 1977
Ticket for Cancelled Elvis Presley show - September 28, 1977
In the same way that many people remember exactly where they were when they heard President John F. Kennedy had been killed, most of Elvis' fans remember where they were the day Elvis died. Mick Fleetwood, of rock group Fleetwood Mac, recalls, 'The news came over like a ton of bricks. I was driving back from the mountains, and I had the radio on. They were playing an Elvis medley, and I thought, 'Great.' And then they came back with the news.'
The manner in which the major television networks handled the news of Elvis' death illustrated his enormous popularity and the tremendous impact he had on America, something few realized until he was gone. Data from the television-ratings service Arbitron revealed that on the day Elvis died, there was a huge increase in the number of televisions tuned to evening news programs.
The staffs of television newsrooms considered Elvis' death a late-breaking story. There was not enough time for TV reporters who had been sent to Memphis to file stories for the evening news. Executives had to decide quickly what film footage they could use from their files and where to place the story in relation to the other news of the day.
NBC-TV not only rewrote their news lineup to lead off with the story of Elvis' death, but the network also made immediate plans to delay The Tonight Show and put together a late-night news documentary. David Brinkley, a national news anchor for NBC at the time, opened his broadcast with three minutes devoted to Elvis' sudden death. ABC-TV also decided to lead with the Presley story. When they learned that NBC would be doing a late-night news special about the significance of Elvis Presley to American music, ABC announced that they would also air a half-hour documentary.
CBS did not follow suit, however. The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, featuring the most respected man in broadcasting at that time, had led the news program ratings for more than a decade. CBS executives chose not to open the evening broadcast with the Presley story. Arbitron's records indicate that when millions of viewers realized this they immediately switched the channel to another network.
The CBS decision not to lead with Elvis' death gave the CBS Evening News its lowest ratings in years. (For the record, Roger Mudd was substituting for Walter Cronkite that evening.) CBS devoted only 70 seconds to its story on Elvis, placing it after a lengthy segment on the Panama Canal. The producer for that evening's news was vehemently opposed to leading off with Elvis' death, in spite of other members of the CBS programming staff suggesting it repeatedly. Interviewed later, the producer agreed that he was out of sync with the national consciousness. Two days later, CBS tried to save face by putting together a documentary on Elvis.
Even though Elvis never performed in Europe, countries from all over the world sent reporters to Memphis. The press coverage in foreign newspapers and on European television was almost as extensive as the reporting in the United States. Everywhere in the world, people lamented the loss of an irreplaceable entertainer.
Within one hour after Elvis' death, fans began to gather in front of Graceland. By the next day, when the gates were opened for mourners to view Elvis' body, the crowd was estimated at 20,000. When the gates closed at 6:30 p.m., about 80,000 fans had passed by Elvis' coffin. Many had come from different parts of the country; many from different parts of the world.
Eventually, so many mourners arrived that it was impossible for them all to be admitted to Graceland, even with extended calling hours. Law enforcement officials were afraid there might be problems with crowd control, but there were none. However, an unrelated tragic incident occurred: A drunk driver's car careened into three teenagers in the crowd, killing two of them.
As the group of mourners grew around the gates of Graceland, a carnival atmosphere developed; people hawking T-shirts and other souvenirs began to work the crowd. The people who were unable to get into Graceland to pay their last respects to Elvis consoled each other by exchanging anecdotes about their idol. When reporters asked them why they were there, people inevitably gave the same reply: They didn't really know, but they felt they wanted to be where he was this one last time. The hot Memphis weather and the close crush of the crowd caused many people to pass out. A medic was stationed nearby to assist anyone who fainted, but no one left because of the heat.
Elvis' fans sent a tremendous array of flowers, which were set out along the bank in front of the house. Every blossom in Memphis had been sold by the afternoon of August 17, and additional flowers were shipped in from other parts of the country. It was the biggest day in the history of FTD, a florists' delivery service. FTD employees claim that more than 2,150 arrangements were delivered. The arrangements were shaped like lightning bolts, guitars, hound dogs, and stars, as well as more traditional wreaths and bouquets. Many of the arrangements were sent immediately to Forest Hill Cemetery, the site of the burial. After the funeral, Vernon Presley allowed the fans to take away the flowers as mementos.
Numerous celebrities attended Elvis' funeral, including Caroline Kennedy, country music guitarist Chet Atkins, performers Ann-Margret and George Hamilton, and television evangelist Rex Humbard, who was one of the speakers during the service. Comedian Jackie Kahane, who had opened many of Elvis' concert performances, delivered his eulogy, and a local minister also spoke.
Gospel performers sang, including Jake Hess, J.D. Sumner, James Blackwood, and their vocal groups, as well as singer Kathy Westmoreland. The casket was carried to Forest Hill Cemetery in a long motor cortege of all-white automobiles.
Later, when someone threatened to steal Elvis' remains, his casket was moved to the Meditation Garden behind Graceland. Gladys's body was also moved to the Meditation Garden in 1977; Vernon Presley died and was buried there in 1979; and Minnie Mae Presley was laid to rest beside the rest of her family in 1980.
Elvis Day By Day - By Ernst Jorgensen & Peter Guralnick is a complete account of public, private, rare, forgotten, and renowned moments, captured with such detail and immediacy they read like diary entries in a life--from first steps to the first time the young 'hillbilly cat' stepped on stage; from the creation of a revolutionary new sound to the last days of a universally known, tragically misunderstood music legend. No longer in print. Grab one if you find one.
Elvis A Life In Music - The Complete Recording Sessions Book (Ernst Jorgensen) is a superlative book combining beautiful illustrations and searching text. The author, responsible for BMG's modernisation of the Elvis Presley catalogue, has dug well beneath the surface to present the definitive story behind Elvis Presley's recording sessions. In the process the reader is taken into the recording studio to experience the atmosphere: 'Altering the lyrics, laughing as his voice cracked, throwing in the first two lines of "A Little Less Conversation". Elvis was relaxed and energetic as they ran through a series of incomplete takes, finally making it to the end at take ten'. If you are interested in Elvis' recoding sessions you will without doubt consider this your most prized possession - book wise. Read Review
Elvis The Concert Years - 1969-1977 - There are so many good things to say about this book - excellent material deserves praise and any fans of the concert years has to have this book on his shelf. Somehow Mr. Skar realized the impossible and produced the BEST Elvis Presley book ever available on the concert years from 1969 to 1977, this is now the reference on the subject .... Buy it, enjoy it; I am sure you will not regret it! Read Review
Stop, look and listen baby that's our philosophy .... First thing in the morning, last thing at night ... look, stare everywhere and see everything inside .... Stop, look and listen!
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- Feb 12, 1975
who will be his steady girlfriend until his death.
17 Aug 8.30pm Portland, Me Canceled
50's Masters
60's Masters
