King For a Day

My vintage Elvis 8-track tape. It looks

mint condition... but will it play?

It was on this day way back in 1954 that a young man named Elvis Aaron Presley, signed a contract with Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. He also gave his notice at his day job at the Crown Electric Company. Elvis was just nineteen years old, but Sam Phillips at Sun saw potential, initially hiring the lad to cut demos for songs intended for other artists. But it didn't take long for Phillips to realize he had found someone with real talent. 

About a year earlier, Elvis actually went in to Sun to pay for a few minutes in the studio so he could record a couple of songs - and maybe get discovered. The staff there let the kid in and were modestly impressed with his chops. But nothing came of it.

Fast forward to '54 again, and Presley gave it a second stab at the studio mic. Again, nothing. So he took a truck driver job for the studio, and fiddled around singing with local bands. Phillips kept his eye on Elvis and gave him another opportunity. At this recording session, after hours of unsatisfying takes, Elvis grabbed a guitar and went crazy on the 1946 blues tune "That's All Right". Scotty Moore and Bill Black snapped up their instruments, guitar and bass, respectively, and joined in. Everyone loved it, they put it on tape, and suddenly this young unknown singer was a Memphis area radio sensation. 

The trio recorded a single,That's All Right with Blue Moon of Kentucky on the B-side, just days later. Elvis recruited Moore and Black to form a trio. They honed their act with plenty of gigs, and found a regular spot on a radio show that broadcast across the states. America was waking up to this rising star. But it was onstage that Presley developed his signature moves, and audiences ate it up. 

By the time 1955 rolled around, Elvis had added drummer D.J. Fontana to his combo, a formal contract under his belt, and a top promoter, Colonel Tom Parker, on his team. And,well... the rest, as they say, is history. 

Beam me up,Scotty....