On January 9, 1975 a tornado plowed through the state of Mississippi, killed ten people and caused damage of several million USD. Just four days later Bill Waller, the gouveneur of the state, announced Elvis' benefit concert for the victims of the natural disaster. The show was embedded in a tour, the tickets went on sale in the middle of the month.
Tour Stations
04/24/1975: Macon, Georgia; Macon Coliseum
(10,242 spectators)
04/25/1975: Jacksonville,
Florida; Veterans Memorial Coliseum (10,532
spectators )
04/26/1975: Tampa, Florida;
Curtis Hixon Convention Center (15,000
spectators, 2 shows)
04/27/1975: Lakeland,
Florida; Lakeland Civic Center (16,400
spectators, 2 shows)
04/28/1975: Lakeland,
Florida; Lakeland Civic Center (8,200
spectators)
04/29/1975: Murfreesboro,
Tennessee; Athletic Center (12,000 spectators)
04/30/1975: Atlanta, Georgia; Omni Coliseum
(17,228 spectators)
05/01/1975: Atlanta,
Georgia; Omni Coliseum (17,228 spectators)
05/02/1975: Atlanta, Georgia; Omni Coliseum
(17,228 spectators)
05/03/1975: Monroe,
Louisiana; Civic Center (16,354 spectators, 2
shows)
05/04/1975: Lake Charles, Louisiana;
Civic Center (20,000 spectators, 2 shows)
05/05/1975: Jackson, Mississippi; State Fair
Coliseum (10,242 spectators)
05/06/1975:
Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Athletic Center (12,000
spectators)
05/07/1975: Murfreesboro,
Tennessee; Athletic Center (12,000 spectators)
Musicians
James Burton (guitar), John Wilkinson (guitar), Charlie Hodge (guitar and harmony vocals), Jerry Scheff (bass), Ronnie Tutt (drums), Glen D. Hardin (piano) and The Joe Guercio Orchestra. The harmony vocals were provided by The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell & Estelle Brown), J.D. Sumner & The Stamps (Bill Baize, Ed Enoch & Ed Hill), Voice (Donnie Sumner, Tim Baty & Sherrill Nielsen) as well as Kathy Westmoreland.
About The Tour
Elvis needn't to worry about his popularity. All shows were sold out, in several cities additional concerts were added. The benefit show generated 100,000 USD for the victims of the tornado, Elvis and his manager carried home seven times as much. On the outside the Presley camp tried to give the impression of business as usual, but behind the curtain the machinery showed some wear and tear. During the last few months Elvis had gained a lot of weight and his medication intake had gotten out of control. Hastily the usual Vegas stint was moved from January 1975 to March. It was explained, that the Hilton Group wanted to inaugurate the new wing of the Las Vegas Hilton with a Presley engagement. The recording session planned for December 1974, was also moved to March 1975. To save time and energy Elvis was to record with his live band at RCA Studio C in Hollywood/California, where he would rehearse for his live show anyway. The karate film "The New Gladiators" was scrapped altogether. Colonel Parker did everything to provide his client with enough time to recouperate, but to save face the show had to go on in March. When the Colonel heared about the tornado, he and Tom Hulett flew to Memphis to get Elvis interested in a benefit show. And of course they also tried to get the touring machinery running again. It worked out well, the king approved the plan and even Jerry Scheff could be lured back into the band. But even though Jerry wouldn't participate in the rehearsals for the Vegas stint, Elvis saw no need in staging another rehearsal session before the tour. The bass player just got some tapes of the Vegas shows and a list of songs. His latest single "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" even was added to the set list without being rehearsed at all. Instead of learning the words, Elvis simply read them from a paper sheet. The king continued to use the "White Two-Piece Suit & Blue Ornaments", the "Dark Blue Two-Piece Suit & Light Blue/Silver Ornaments", the "Dark Blue Two-Piece Suit & Blue/Gold Ornaments", the "Dark Blue Two-Piece Suit & Leaf Ornaments", the "Dark Blue Two-Piece Suit & Flame Ornaments" and the "Dark Blue Two-Piece Suit & Red/Gold Ornaments". During the first concerts Elvis focused on the newer material and did without the worn out oldies. But soon they returned one by one and on the next tour he would be back to wearing jumpsuits. Unfortunately the king missed the chance to give his set list and his appearance the overdue update. The press often called him chubby, pale and tired. The recordings reveal, that he was out of breath here and there and didn't hold the notes long enough. His singing also lacked the accuracy of the previous years. But he compensated for these things with his relaxed, humorous way and the good condition of his voice.
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