Elvis performs at the great festivals of the South
– First appearances at “Lousiana Hayride” –
Elvis appears for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry on October 2, 1954, not with much luck. They perform the B-side of their recent single “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” by Bill Monroe, which is precisely there that same day. One of the Grand Ole Opry officials suggests Elvis drive a truck again after seeing his performance. The Opry was very big at that time. This was a painful disappointment for Elvis early in his career.
Elvis, Scotty and Bill will continue to record and travel. It was in mid-October 1954 when the three made the important decision to leave their jobs and dedicate themselves fully to music.
The performances did not stop and on Saturday, October 16, 1954 they appeared live for the first time on the “Lousiana Hayride”, a Saturday night radio program dedicated to country music. Originating in Shreveport, Louisiana, and broadcast on KWKH radio, the show is the main competitor to the “Grand Ole Opry,” broadcast on 190 stations in thirteen states.
The performance is very good, returning to interpret both sides of their single. This leads to the group making regular appearances at the Hayride. In November, Elvis signs a one-year contract for 52 Saturday night appearances. This is a big step and as Elvis’s popularity grows, his commitment to the Hayride prevents him from traveling much outside the South to follow his career on a larger scale, but he doesn’t complain. He knows that by working like this, opportunities will come.
Information provided by Club Elvis Spain http://www.clubelvis.org
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