Elvis Presley | singing and playing gospel music | March 17, 1956
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Elvis Presley 1950s 
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When a young freelance photographer in New York City named Alfred Wertheimer started taking photographs of Elvis Presley, he had never even heard of him. That's how fresh Elvis was when Wertheimer first observed him with his camera on March 17, 1956, in New York City. Inside his suite at the 
Warwick Hotel in New York City, Elvis Presley finds an envelope containing dozens of fan letters that were sent to him which he proceeded to read. Elvis was appearing on Stage Show, the popular TV show hosted by the Dorsey Brothers.
Wertheimer was hired by RCA's pop record division to take some press photos of the young, new recording artist they had recently signed. Wertheimer shot about twenty rolls of film that day.
The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show
CBS Studio New York - 17.03.1956
Heartbreak Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes
With Heartbreak Hotel storming up the national charts Elvis performs this hit along with Blue Suede Shoes.
Just a few months later, Elvis returned to New York City to appear on The Steve Allen Show and to record a few songs for RCA. Elvis and television were made for each other. The new medium of TV was entertaining and exciting and so was Elvis. Wertheimer photographed Elvis during rehearsals for The Steve Allen Show.
One of those photographs, First Arrival, shows Elvis sitting alone at a piano singing and playing gospel music.
Elvis Presley sitting alone at a piano singing and playing gospel music - March 17, 1956.
It is a remarkable photograph that captures the charismatic twenty-one year-old in a private and unguarded moment. It was that image on the cover of 
Last Train to Memphis - Peter Guralnick's extraordinary biography of Elvis Presley - that first drew me to Alfred Wertheimer's photographs.
Elvis Presley 1956 - Day by Day
Elvis Presley : RCA Studio One, Memphis, Tennessee : July 2, 1956
Elvis Presley : Russwood Park, Memphis, Tennessee : July 4, 1956
Elvis Presley : On The Train to, Memphis, Tennessee : July 3, 1956
Elvis Presley : Joseph's Hospital Memphis Tennessee : July 6, 1956
Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, Memphis : June 1, 1956
Elvis Presley : June 3, 1956
Elvis Presley : June 8, 1956
June 16, 1956 : Wink Martindale TV Show
Elvis Presley : June 30, 1956
Back Link Elvis Presley 1956
Elvis on Holiday : Water Skiing : July, 1955 & 1956
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
