Elvis, Scotty and Bill | The First Live Performances

Before this they payed first at the 'Bon Air' Club on July 17 then at the Overton Park Shell on July 30 and once again at the 'Bon Air' Club on July 31. It is at the Overton Park Shell that Elvis is evidently so nervous that without even being aware of it, he says later, his legs begin to shake. On the orther hand, this is the hallmark of his idol, 'Big Chief's performing stlye, and the crowd goes wild for Elvis, just as they always do for the Statesmen's bass singer. Elvis Scotty and Bill encore with Blue Moon Of Kentucky and Elvis shakes some more.

Elvis Presley | The Eagles Nest | 1954

The Eagles Nest on August 7, 1954.

In the 1950's the Eagle's Nest in Memphis was a small nightclub/dance hall that catered primarily to a country and western swing dance crowd. Located off Highway 78 (Lamar Ave.) close to the intersection of Winchester.

Elvis, Scotty and Bill first played The Eagles Nest on August 7, 1954, it was their fourth ever performance. And the 'event' was advertised in the 'Memphis Press-Scimitar' newspaper. On September 9 they play the Katz Drug Store opening with Johnny Cash in attendance. They are then back at The Eagle Nest on September 18, 24, 25 and October 1st.

September 9, Elvis, Scotty and Bill were still playing strictly small gigs in and around Memphis. They were hired to perform at the grand opening of the Lamar-airways shopping center on September 9, 1954

9 September. Memphis, Tn. Lamar-airways Shopping Center - Katz drugstore Elvis' appearance at Katz drugstore draws a a huge crowd of teenagers and is MCed by Elvis' former Humes classmate George Klein.

Johnny Cash : The first time I saw Elvis, singing from a flatbed truck at a Katz drugstore opening on Lamar Avenue, two or three hundred people, mostly teenage girls, had come out to see him. With just one single to his credit, he sang those two songs over and over. That's the first time I met him. Vivian and I went up to him after the show, and he invited us to his next date at the Eagle's Nest, a club promoted by Sleepy-Eyed John, the disc jockey who'd taken his name from the Merle Travis song and was just as important as Dewey Phillips in getting Sun music out to the world.

Elvis Presley at the Eagle's Nest 1954

Elvis Presley : The Eagles Nest : 1954.

Elvis Presley : The Eagles Nest : 1954.

Elvis Presley : The Eagles Nest : 1954.

Elvis Presley : The Eagles Nest : 1954.

Elvis Presley : The Eagles Nest : 1954.

17 July. Memphis, Tn. Bon Air Club (8pm)
24 July. Memphis, Tn. Bon Air Club (8pm)
30 July. Memphis, Tn. Overton Park Shell (8pm)
31 July. Memphis, Tn. Bon Air Club (8pm)

1 August. West Memphis, Tn. KWEM Radio
7 August. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9pm)
27 August. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest
29 August. Memphis, Tn. Kennedy Hospital, Gerwell Road

September 9, Elvis, Scotty and Bill were still playing strictly small gigs in and around Memphis. They were hired to perform at the grand opening of the Lamar-airways shopping center on September 9, 1954

9 September. Memphis, Tn. Lamar-airways Shopping Center - Katz drugstore Elvis' appearance at Katz drugstore draws a a huge crowd of teenagers and is MCed by Elvis' former Humes classmate George Klein.

Johnny Cash : The first time I saw Elvis, singing from a flatbed truck at a Katz drugstore opening on Lamar Avenue, two or three hundred people, mostly teenage girls, had come out to see him. With just one single to his credit, he sang those two songs over and over. That's the first time I met him. Vivian and I went up to him after the show, and he invited us to his next date at the Eagle's Nest, a club promoted by Sleepy-Eyed John.

I remember Elvis' show at the Eagle's Nest as if were yesterday. I thought Elvis was great. He sang That's All Right, Mama and Blue Moon of Kentucky once again (and again) plus some black blues songs and a few numbers like Long Tall Sally, and he didn't say much. Read more from Johnny Cash.

10 September. The Eagles Nest, Memphis, Tennessee (9.00pm) (Elvis + 2 Ads)
11 September. The Eagles Nest, Memphis, Tennessee (9.00pm)
18 September. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)

September 17, Sometime during this period Elvis played the high school gymnasium in Bethal Springs, Tennessee. This was the first time Carl Perkins saw Elvis perform.

24 September. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
25 September. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)

October 2, Sam Phillips has been trying to set up an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, which he is finally able to arrange with Opry manager Bill Denny after Sam convinced him to 'just give the boy a chance'.

Elvis sings 'Blue Moon of Kentucky' and receives a polite, but not vociferously enthusiastic reception. Bill Monroe on meeting Elvis, Scotty and Bill backstage complimented them and said he had just cut a new version of his song for Decca following their pattern, due out the next week.

2 October. Nashville. Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium (10.15pm)
6 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
8 October. Atlanta. Ga. Silver Slipper
9 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest
13 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
15 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
16 October. Shreveport. Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium
20 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest
23 October. Shreveport. Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium.
29 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
30 October. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)

Bob Neal brings Oscar Davis to the club on either the 29th or 30th.

Davis at the time is working as a front man for Colonel Tom Parker.

6 November. Shreveport. Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium (8.00pm)
8 November. Memphis. Memphis State (Solo appearance)
13 November. Shreveport. Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium (8.00pm)
17 November. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
19 November. Shreveport, Lake Cliff Club - 'Elvis Pressley' tops this bill at this show.
20 November. Shreveport, Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium (8.00pm)
21 November. Houston Texas. Magnolia Gardens
21 November. Houston Texas. Cook's Hoedown Club
23 November. Gladewater, Texas. Ksij Radio, Mint Club
24 November. Municipal Auditorium, Texas
25 November. Houston, Texas. Paladium Club
26 November. Houston, Texas. Paladium Club
27 November. Paladium Club, Houston, Texas
27 November. Cook's Hoedown Club, Houston, Texas
28 November. Magnolia Gardens, Houston, Texas

2 December. Catholic Club, Helena, Arkansas
3 December. Texarkana, Arkansas. Municipal Auditorium.
4 December. Shreveport, Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium (8.00pm)
10 December. Memphis, Tn. Eagle's Nest (9.00pm)
11 December. Shreveport, Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium (8.00pm)
17 December. High School Gymnasium, Hawkins, Texas
18 December. Shreveport, Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium (8.00pm)

Elvis Presley on The Louisiana Hayride

Elvis Presley : Eagles Nest : October 15, 1954
Elvis Presley : Louisiana Hayride : October 16, 1954
Elvis Presley : January 29, 1955 The Louisiana Hayride
Elvis Presley : Last Louisiana Hayride Show : Saturday, December 15, 1956

January 1954

Acetate Receipt | I'll Never Stand in Your Way / It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You

June

Acetate Receipt | Casual Love Affair (?) | June 9, 1954

July

July 5, 1954 | The recording notes for 'I Love You Because' and That's All Right'
July 6, 1954 | Book Except, A Boy From Tupelo
Elvis Presley Backstage at the Overton Park Shell | Friday, July 30, 1954

September

Elvis, Scotty & Bill | Katz drugstore | Lamar-airways Shopping Center Opening | Sept. 9, 1954

October

Elvis Presley Eagles Nest 1954
Elvis Presley Louisiana Hayride | October 16, 1954

November

Elvis Pressley: November 19, 1954 (Ad)
Elvis Presley Gladewater, Texas. KSIJ Radio, Mint Club | November 23, 1954

Elvis Presley The King of Rock 'n' Roll

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