In 1954 SUN Records released the single "That's All Right" / "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" and Elvis, Scotty and Bill started to promote the record by performing live. From October onwards they appeared on the radio show "The Louisiana Hayride", which was taped on a weekly basis in front of a live audience. At the "Hayride" the trio also met the drummer D.J. Fontana, who soon joined the group. The Hillbilly Cat, as Elvis was dubbed by now, played his own live gigs, but also appeared on tours of "The Louisaiana Hayride" and on package shows with other singers like Bill Haley, Johnny Cash and Hank Snow. In March 1956, now managed by Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis terminated his contract with the radio show. A few weeks later he appeared in Las Vegas for the first time, but the older audience neither liked his songs, nor his way of presenting them. The try to broaden his target group failed miserably. In 1957 the concert schedule was cut short, due to his service in the US Army Elvis didn't perform any live shows between 1958 and 1960.
In February and March 1961 Elvis returned to the concert stage, albeit just for three charity shows. A real tour was planned for 1962, but when the main sponsor (RCA Victor) refused to pay a million USD in advance, the project was laid to rest. There were plans for another tour in the mid-sixties, but in the end just Elvis' golden Cadillac was presented in several cities. The man himself didn't tour again until September 1970.
Musicians
Scotty Moore (guitar), Bill Black (bass), DJ Fontana (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Homer Randolph (saxophone), Hank Garland (guitar) and The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker, Hugh Jarret, Neal Matthews & Hoyt Hawkins). Not all the mentioned people played at every concert, at the beginning it was just Elvis, Scotty and Bill. At "The Louisiana Hayride" Elvis might have been joined by musicians, not mentioned here.
Audio
