14th April 1956, Saturday

[Graeme]

Day number 7768Site Date Map

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[silverwings]

After Sam Phillips sold Elvis' contract to RCA Victor the first recording sessions the band did with the new label were held in Nashville on January 10 and 11, 1956. The studio at 1525 McGavock St. was RCA's first permanent recording facilities there. Nashville itself was not yet the recording center it would eventually become, in fact up to then there were only a few studios in town.
Later that year, in April, they returned to McGavock St. to record one more time, with pretty much the same line-up except for Marvin Hughes replacing Floyd on piano. While on tour in Texas they flew to Nashville immediately after a show in Amarillo on the13th to record for one day on the 14th and were back in San Antonio to perform on the 15th. The pilot got lost in the dark after takeoff, and nearly ran out of gas. They arrived a little shaken to say the least and were not in the best mood to record but they did manage to cut 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You'. Steve Sholes presented Elvis with a Gold record for 'Heartbreak Hotel'. With the success of that single Nashville suddenly became 'the' center and publishers, recording companies, songwriters, pop and rock musicians from all over began to flock there.
(by https://www.elvis.com.au/)
      

Chet Atkins, Elvis, Gordon Stoker, Ben and Brock Spear .

Bill Black, DJ Fontana, Chet Atkins, Elvis, Gordon Stoker, Ben and Brock Spear

Bill Black, Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, Elvis, Ben Spear and Steve Sholes

The one millionth record of Heartbreak hotel Presented to Elvis by RCA Victor

Elvis signing autographs for fans as he leaves the studio

[Private Presley]

[Private Presley]

[Private Presley]

Elvis and his Gold Record of Heartbreak Hotel

[Private Presley]

Bigger version

[Alan]

Wow! Someones been very busy!
      
That's just wonderful. Thank you so much PP. April 14th 1956 has come to life, I love it.

[Private Presley]

[Private Presley]

2 more
      

[Private Presley]

Elvis Presley boards a plane headed to Memphis, Tennessee on April 14, 1956 in Nashville, Tennessee.
      

[silverwings]

You did an awesome job with these pics! Thank you very much!

[Private Presley]

You did an awesome job with these pics! Thank you very much!

My pleasure!

[Alan]

[Alan]

Photographer Don Cravens is responsible for taking most, if not all, the photographs seen from this day for and on behalf of LIFE.
      
I couldn't see the following photos above :-
      

      
From "Elvis - A Celebration"

1956 RCA, NASHVILLE More photographs from over a hundred shot, from the 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' session. Above [ left ], Elvis tunes up with vocalists Gordon Stoker and Brock Speer in the background. On this session Stoker wasn't with his group the Jordanaires. He and the brothers Ben and Brock Speer making up the backing vocals trio. Above [ right ] Elvis is flanked by Ben Speer and (on his right) the legendary Nashville guitarist Chet Atkins

Chet playing Elvis' guitar.