Posted on July 5, 2022
This is an update of my post published on July 5, 2011:
On this day in 1954, Elvis Presley recorded his first single, “That’s All Right,” in Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The song was written and originally performed by Arthur Cruddup; Elvis’s version sold around 20,000 copies and reached number 4 on local Memphis charts.
Actually, Elvis wasn’t really supposed to record this song at all. He was supposed to be resting between recordings of other songs, but he started fooling around, singing a sped-up version of Cruddup’s song. Two musicians who had been playing upright bass and guitar joined in. The three musicians were having so much fun with their impromptu song that the producer, a guy named Sam Phillips, asked them to start again so they could record it. It was produced as a “live” recording, with all the parts performed at once and recorded as a single track; Phillips chose not to add in any percussion or other instruments.
Phillips managed to get the song on the radio just two days later, and Elvis’s rise to stardom began…
Celebrate by listening to some Elvis!
You can listen to “That’s All Right” here or later tunes, such as Jailhouse Rock or Hound Dog.
Also on this date:
Algeria’s Independence Day
Dendrochronology pioneer Andrew Douglass’s birthday
Independence Day in Venezuela
Ommegang Pageant in Belgium
Tynwald Day on the Isle of Man
Saints Cyril and Methodius Day in Czechia and Slovakia
Independence Day in Cape Verde
Birthday of soccer great Megan Rapinoe
Birthday of showman P.T. Barnum
Plan ahead:
Check out my Pinterest boards for:
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July holidays
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July birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in July
And here are my Pinterest boards for:
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August holidays
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August birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in August
