FULL BIOGRAPHY OF ELVIS PRESLEY
(1968-1970)
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| ELVIS IN CONCERT AT THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS |
ELVIS RETURNS TO THE STAGE
In July 1969 Elvis began to prepare for his imminent return to the stage. He works on his song list and at the same time shapes the rhythm section that will accompany him at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Elvis obtains on July 10, 1969 the easement of the church that is located next to a driveway to Graceland.Â
On July 31, 1969, Elvis begins 57 concerts at the Las Vegas International Hotel, which has just been built and has the largest performance room (showroom) in the city. Elvis brings together top-notch rock’n’roll musicians (James Burton, John Wilkinson, Ronnie Tutt and Jerry Scheff), an orchestra (Bobby Morris), and finally a gospel group (The Imperials) and a girl group (The Sweets Inspirations). ) as a backup group for your show. They rehearse for several weeks and make the premiere on July 31 and the closing on August 28. The show is a delightful mix of fresh arrangements of Elvis’s classic hits, exciting new material he has recorded, covers of current and past hits by other artists, and the charming onstage antics and sharing of personal memories of their career. It ends with a press conference after the opening concert.
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THE SHOW IS A DELICIOUS MIX OF FRESH ARRANGEMENTS OF CLASSIC HITS
This commitment breaks all existing attendance records in Las Vegas and attracts rave reviews from the public and the written press. It is a triumph. Elvis’s first live album, “Elvis In Person At The International Hotel,” is recorded on this engagement and will be released soon. Opening night is so successful that Colonel Parker renegotiates Elvis’ contract on a tablecloth in the hotel cafeteria. Elvis will also receive a gold belt from the hotel commemorating his record attendance this season. For these concerts, a lean Elvis, in impressive physical shape, wears simple, unique suits, karate-inspired two-piece suits in black or white. These costumes are designed by Bill Belew, who already did the costumes for the “68 Special.” These are the predecessors of the famous one-piece jumpsuits that will be easy to put together at first, and then become the flashier and more elaborate ones of recent years. Comments from music critics in the press on Elvis’s performances are very positive:
” There are several incredible things about Elvis, but the most incredible is his staying power in a world where meteoric careers fade like shooting stars .”
Newsweek, August 11, 1969
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THE CULMINATION OF THE RETURN OF ELVIS ARRIVES WITH SUSPICIOUS MINDS, Nº1 IN OCTOBER 1969.
“…a style and panache that borders on pure magic. Agile, raunchy, sweat poured down his face, now he moves with the precision of an athlete, the grace of a dancer… extravagant and flashy and sexy Self-mockery, he works with the instincts of a genius from performing poetry to grassroots rock“.
– WA Harbinson, from his 1975 book. “The Illustrated Elvis.”
*NOTE: The orchestra was conducted by Bobby Morris. The band consisted of James Burton (guitar), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), Larry Muhoberac (piano), and Ronnie Tutt (drums). The singers were The Sweet Inspirations. The male singers were The Imperials. Charlie Hodge provided additional guitar and vocals and general stage assistance. Millie Kirkham, who had worked on studio recordings of Elvis, joined the show as a soprano.
“The Trouble With Girls,” Elvis’s 30th film, opens in September 1969 and doesn’t make much noise at the box office. From the American Sound Studio sessions RCA releases “Suspicious Minds,” which will soon become Elvis’ first number one since “Good Luck Charm” in 1962 and will be the last #1 pop single, though it will have many more. successes. “Change of Habit“, Elvis’s 31st film, opens on November 11, 1969 in theaters nationwide, peaking at #17. Â
Information provided by Club Elvis Spain
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