16th March 1974, Saturday

[Graeme]

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Opened in 1963, the Mid-South Coliseum had hosted a range of musical events, from The Beatles on their 1966 US tour, to Rod Stewart and The Faces' performance there in April 1972. As Elvis toured around the country year after year, his Memphis fans wanted to know when their idol would finally return home. His most recent local concerts took place on February 25, 1961 at the Ellis Auditorium, so it was then decided that starting on Saturday March 16, 1974, Elvis would work his way through five sold-out appearances at the coliseum (the last show was added by the Colonel following the demand for tickets). This homecoming had apparently been in the works since September 1972, and it was finally happening.

“Hello Memphis, it’s good to be home," uttered Elvis to a packed hometown crowd of 12,300 on the Saturday afternoon. Pianist Glen Hardin remarked, "I can't recall him being nervous for the Memphis shows. Elvis never was intimidated by anything; he knew the reaction was gonna be good." According to bodyguard Jerry Schilling, although the venue was only eight miles from Graceland, Elvis decided to stay in a Howard Johnson motel down the street.

The concert was praised by fans and critics alike; Elvis had put on an astonishing show. DJ George Klein remembers, "After the show, we all went back to Graceland and I said to Elvis, 'Man, you knocked them out!' and he said, 'I saw some old friends in the audience and it just felt so good to be back onstage in my own hometown.'"

[Private Presley]