Elvis Concert Tours - 1969 to1977  - Elvis Presley in Concert 

Elvis had excellent material to choose from and pours his heart and soul into the sessions. He worked with some of the top-notch Memphis musicians. The sound is full, fresh, and gutsy. On every track one can sense his creative excitement and joyful energy. It was joyful work after years of movie boredom. Two albums will result from these sessions yielded Elvis greatest four hit singles of the 1970: "In the Ghetto", "Suspicious Minds", "Don’t Cry, Daddy" & "Kentucky Rain" For the ’68 Comeback Television Special offered Elvis a creative that was lacking in his previous movie career. It took a live audience and 14 years to get there. 

Within minutes of the opening gospel songs there was no doubting Elvis’ natural talent, charisma, sensuality and stage presence. In fact, he looked, sounded, moved, and grooved better than he ever at age 33 then at 23.  For the group jam session segments and solo stage performances Elvis wears a tight fitting black leather outfit (that would forever be enshrined s one of the most famous of his career) was specially designed for the show by Bill Belew, who had also designed for whole cast. (He would become famous as the tailor to the King’s countless jumpsuits of the 70’s.) The look of the show evokes the era of James Dean and the Brando motorcycle films genre of the fifties. The era when Elvis was first proclaimed the King of Rock 'n' Roll. For the end segment of the show chairs were arranged in a circle for Scotty Moore, Charlie Hodges (Hodge Interview) and DJ Fontana sat expectantly holding a pair of drumsticks poised over a guitar case waiting for Elvis to appear. 

Elvis steps into the round with, "What do I do now folks?" He appears calm but a little self-conscious. This soon turned to complete confidence as the roaring applause washed over him. Elvis joked with the musicians for awhile. Then, all of a sudden, everybody's feet are flying, as Elvis launched into a spirited, "That's All Right Mama” and "Heartbreak Hotel…"  It was an awesome performance reminiscent of his 50’s stage shows as he reached out to the audience while mocking himself. Later, when performing “Love Me Tender” Elvis looks straight at Priscilla, seated among the crowd in the bleachers, and toys with the lyrics, saying, "you have made my life a wreck", then he ending with… "Phew! It's been a long time baby…” After the show Elvis said, "It's like a surge of electricity going through you, it's almost like making love…” Elvis was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of America by the national Junior Chamber of Commerce: better known as the Jaycees. Over the years, honorees have included John F Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Orsen Wells, Howard Hughes, and Henry Kissinger. The night Elvis accepted the honor, at a banquet held at the Memphis Municipal Auditorium, he was reflective, misty-eyed and clearly humbled to be in the company of the nine others, who included Thomas Atkins (Boston's first black councilman) biophysicist, Dr. Mario Capecchi and cancer researcher Dr. George Todaro. During Elvis' acceptance speech, he was every bit the rock star in a tailored tuxedo worn with yellow easy rider sunglasses and massive diamond rings on his fingers

"When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen," said Elvis at the podium to a crowd of 2 thousand. "I was a dreamer... I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I’ve dreamed has come true a hundred times. I learned very early in life that without a song the day would never end. Without a song a man ain't got a friend. Without a song the road would never bend. Without a song. So I keep singing a song"

Elvis was booked for a 40-week, 57-show engagement at the International Hotel, which has been built to claim the largest showroom in the city in Las Vegas. Elvis put together top-notch rock n roll musicians, full orchestra, and white male and black female gospel/soul back-up groups for his show. They rehearse for several weeks The shows are a delightful mix of fresh arrangements of classic Elvis hits, exciting new material he has recorded, a few covers of current and past hits of other artists, and charming on-stage antics and sharing of personal recollections of his career.  There are 113 hotels currently in Las Vegas. On the Vegas Strip itself, there are approximately 38 large hotels for you to choose from. Most of these include at least 1,000 rooms. The most popular hotels on the Strip include the Mirage, the Venetian, the Bellagio, the Hard Rock, the Sahara, Paris Las Vegas, Caesars Palace and Mandalay Bay. Off the Strip, you will find Green Valley Ranch & Fairfield Grand Desert Resort. A Las Vegas is one of the best places to go for entertainment

Looking more handsome than ten movies stars on July 31, 1969 Elvis appeared in Vegas at the International Hotel. This was the beginning of an eight year span of 1,126 shows and he never played to an empty seat. To salute the landing on the moon, the Sweet Inspirations opened Elvis' first Vegas show with "How High the Moon. The audience packed with Hollywood celebrities and fans from every corner of the planet - went berserk. Elvis was doing what he did best - and it showed. 

Elvis talks to the press after the first of his two opening night shows.