EAP Index World: February 25, 1961: Elvis' First Return to the Stage

Elvis during press conference at the Claridge Hotel; February 25, 1961

After putting aside an extremely meteoric career that started in 1954 to risk a crazy marketing maneuver by the Colonel, Elvis left the stage at the end of 1957 to serve in the US Army for two years starting the following year. Fortunately, the move was a great hit and the King of Rock returned to studio recording in 1960 to even greater popularity than he had three years earlier.

All the LPs, EPs and singles released that year would be absolute hits and his two films would also be well received. But Elvis already missed the stage and that was something that made him worried about his career, since he thought that only his voice on records and his image on movie screens would not be able to maintain his status forever.

For Parker, there was no need to do shows with millionaire contracts with RCA and movie studios in hand. That mindset quickly changed on December 4, 1960, when the Colonel read in a newspaper that Hawaii officials were having difficulty raising funds for the construction of the USS Arizona Memorial, a museum honoring those killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Seeing the opportunity to expose his gold mine, the agent received Elvis' endorsement and started making his phone calls, scheduling two benefit concerts in Honolulu. During an extensive press conference on January 11, 1961, Elvis and the Colonel explained that the performance would have all proceeds collected with tickets reverted to the memorial in Pearl Harbor and that it would take place on March 25 of that year. Parker also made it clear that he and Elvis would also donate money to the cause and that all artists involved in the event would be paid out of his and Elvis' pockets.

Elvis and Parker at the Claridge Hotel press conference; February 25, 1961

The media began to publicize Elvis' return to the stage euphorically, whether in positive or negative reviews, leaving fans in an uproar. But before the Hawaiian show took place, Elvis' record catalog at RCA reached an incredible 75 million copies produced during the pressing of the single "Surrender" in January 1961, and that could not go unnoticed.

The president of RCA contacted Parker and informed him of the event. The Colonel, in turn, passed the news on to Elvis and entered into conversations with the Memphis City Hall and the record company to hold a ceremony to deliver awards to the singer and two benefit concerts that would raise funds for previously selected entities on the 25th of February 1961.

The mayor of the city then decided that, given the importance of this event, it would be declared Elvis Presley Day in Memphis. Seizing the moment, the Governor of Tennessee awarded the King of Rock and Roll the honorary title of Colonel Aide-de-Field on the Governor's Staff.

At 12:15 pm on February 25, 1961, a grand luncheon attended by officials, representatives of RCA, Vernon and Dee, Elvis and the Colonel, took place in the auditorium of the Claridge Hotel in Memphis. Each person paid $100 to attend the lunch, generating an initial fundraiser of $17,000. Subsequently, the King of Rock received documents that recognized the establishment of Elvis Presley Day and his appointment as Colonel, in addition to a commemorative plaque and a watch studded with diamonds for the pressing of 75 million copies of his records.

A press conference took place at 1:45 pm, right after lunch and prize giving. Local reporters across the country took turns asking Elvis questions, but the question that most resonated through the air and caused some embarrassment came from Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Studio, who had discovered Elvis in 1953: "Why doesn't Sun get the deserved recognition for Elvis' success? If it weren't for us, RCA wouldn't have him."

After the event, Elvis was taken by limousine to the Ellis Auditorium to prepare for his show.

ABOVE: Elvis receives a prize for the pressing of 75 milion records.
BELOW: Talking to Sam Phillips.
Claridge Hotel; February 25, 1961

At 3 pm that day, Elvis took the stage for the first time after nearly three and a half years since his last performance. In his band were Scotty Moore and Bob Suggs on guitar, Bob Alexius on bass (Bill Black had left the group in 1958), D. J. Fontana and Don Capone on drums, Floyd Cramer on piano, Boots Randolph on saxophone, The Jordanaires on backing vocals and Larry Mohoberac (who would later work with Elvis in the studio and on stage) and his orchestra, The King's Men, in accompaniment.

Elvis appeared onstage in style, in a silver gray suit with navy blue accents, white shirt, black pants with navy blue accents and black shoes. The crowd of 3860 fans screamed hysterically for several minutes as Elvis sang the first few songs of the set.

For 45 minutes, the King of Rock yielded his biggest hits since 1956, including the brand new "Surrender", and performed for the only time the song "Doin' the Best I Can", from the soundtrack of "G.I. Blues", from 1960. After the performance closed with an electrifying "Hound Dog", Elvis was rushed to his limousine and then to Graceland.

PHOTOS: FEBRUARY 25, 1961 - 3 PM

Elvis returned to the Ellis Auditorium stage at 8:30 pm, this time to perform in front of 6540 people. The master of ceremonies, comedian George Jessel, who was unable to open the 3 pm show because of an airline strike that was taking place at the time, received the singer with an exaggerated salaam that drew laughter from everyone.

With a white suit and shirt, black pants and shoes, Elvis put on an even better show. For 50 minutes there was hysteria from fans, quality music and the singer's classic pelvic movements in an almost hypnotic sequence. "Doin' the Best I Can" and "Surrender" were replaced by "Fever" and "Swing Down, Sweet Chariot", two other hits from 1960. Elvis forgot a few lines in "Don't Be Cruel", but knew how to disguise it with a wonderful improvisation. "Hound Dog" would again close the performance. Leaving in a hurry, Elvis was again taken to Graceland, where he threw a party for select guests.

PHOTOS: FEBRUARY 25, 1961 - 8:30 PM

All the critics in newspapers of the following day stated that the biggest memory of both concerts was "the excitement of the fans, the euphoria and the hysteria caused by the singer." The reporters also wrote that the total audience was 10,400 people, who paid US$ 33,000 in tickets, and that the total collection - including the US$ 17,000 for the lunch - ended at exactly US$ 50,000 which would be divided among 26 charities across Tennessee.