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Elvis biography   -   1954


January 4, 1954

Elvis makes another demo acetate at Sun. This time the songs are "Casual Love Affair" and "I'll Never Stand in Your Way". Sam Phillips, the owner, is in this time and, like Marion Keisker, is intrigued by this unusual looking and sounding young man. (There has recently been scholarly argument about which songs were recorded this time around. The two songs listed here are those most typically identified as the ones he recorded.)

Summer 1954

At Marion Keisker's suggestion, Sam Phillips calls Elvis into the studio to try singing a song Sam hopes to put out on record. The song is "Without You".Despite numerous takes, Presley failed miserably and and Elvis does not sing it to Sam's satisfaction. Sam asks Elvis what he could sing, and Elvis runs through a number of popular tunes.

Phillips enlisted lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, both of whom were then playing country & western music in Doug Pointdexter's Starlight Wranglers.  Though some sources cite the date of their first meeting as July 4, 1954, the three had actually rehearsed for several months, and on July 5, 1954, they recorded three songs:  "I Love You Because," "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and what would become Presley's debut, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right."a showcase for his rich, multi-textured vocal dexterity, with sharp, solid backing from his compatriots.

Nothing really clicks until July 5, when after a tedious session, Elvis and the guys break into a sped-up version of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right". Local response to these strange-sounding performances was encouraging and Phillips eventually shifted 20,000 copies of the disc. Their early sessions showed considerable promise, especially when Presley began alternating his unorthodox low-key delivery with a high-pitched whine. The amplified guitars of Moore and Black contributed strongly to the effect and convinced Phillips that the singer was startlingly original.

Two days later, Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips (no relation to Sam) played the song on his "Red Hot and Blue" show on radio station WHBQ.   Audience response was overwhelming, and that night Presley came to the studio for his first interview.  Scotty Moore became Presley's manager, and "That's All Right" b/w "Blue Moon of Kentucky" became his first local hit. 

Phillips then began to believe that he had finally found what he had been looking for:  "a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel." This song, backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky" would be the first of five singles Elvis would release on the Sun label. Elvis, Scotty, and Bill start performing together, with Scotty acting as the group's manager. Elvis continues to work at Crown Electric as the group starts to play small clubs and other smalltime gigs locally and throughout the South, enjoying moderate success with the records and personal appearances. Quitting his job at CROWN, he formed the BLUE MOON BOYS with MOORE and BLACK.

On September 25, a second single came out, with "GOOD ROCKIN'TONIGHT" and the zingy "I DON'T CARE IF THE SUN DON'T SHINE". The more roots-influenced 'Milkcow Blues Boogie' followed, while the b-side, 'You're A Heartbreaker', had some strong tempo changes that neatly complemented Presley's quirky vocal. 'Baby Let's Play House'/'I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone' continued the momentum.
It was successful enough to get him to the Grand Ole' Opry in Nashville. These appearance on the Grand Ole Opry doesn't go over particularly well, with one of the Opry officials suggesting that Elvis go back to driving a truck. The Opry is very important at this time. This is a painful disappointment in Elvis's early career.

Late 1954 - 1955

Elvis, Scotty, and Bill continue to record and to travel.

October 16, 1954

They appear for the first time on the "Louisiana Hayride", a live Saturday night country music radio show originating in Shreveport, Louisiana, broadcast over KWKH Radio. The show is the Grand Ole Opry's chief competitor, carried by 190 stations in thirteen states. This leads to regular appearances on the "Hayride" and, in November, Elvis signs a one-year contract for fifty-two Saturday night appearances. This is a great break, but as Elvis's popularity grows, his commitment to the "Hayride" prevents him from traveling much outside the South to further his career on a larger scale. During Elvis's association with the "Hayride" he meets "Colonel" Tom Parker, a promoter and manager connected with various acts, and connected with the "Louisiana Hayride". Parker is also the manager for country star, Hank Snow. A previous client was country star Eddy Arnold.