Inspired by what I read in Geoff Lambert’s weekly music newsletter, today we celebrate a very special anniversary …
From an article in Cash Box Magazine, dated February 5th, 1955
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Elvis Presley, the 19-year-old country songster who clicked with "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" and "That’s All Right, Mama" on the Sun label and was catapulted into a starring spot on the Louisiana Hayride, has signed a personal management contract with Bob Neal, popular WMPS country disk jockey, in this city. Although Neal has been in the country music field for eight years with DJ shows, promotions, bookings, etc., this is his first venture into personal management.
Pictured are Elvis Presley (seated), Bob Neal (right) and Sam Phillips President of Sun Records.
The contract referred to was actually signed on January 1st ... but the story above appeared in the February 5th issue of Cash Box Magazine ...
exactly 70 YEARS AGO TODAY!
(For those of you who are curious, Elvis' contract with Bob Neal lasted
until March 26th of 1956, at which time he signed with Colonel Tom
Parker, who remained his manager for the rest of Elvis’ life.)
Earlier this week in 1955 ... on the 3rd of February ... Elvis was back at Sun Records recording what would be his next single.
With Scotty Moore on guitar and Bill Black on bass, he recorded Arthur Gunter’s, "Baby Let's Play House."
It would be released on April 25th as Sun 217.
(John Lennon would famously "borrow" a line from this tune and use it as his own on "Run For Your Life," recorded for The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album ten years later.)
Recorded at this same session were Elvis' versions of "Trying To Get To You" and "I Got A Woman." The session was produced by Sam Phillips.
Then, on the evening of February 5th (70 YEARS AGO TODAY), Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, wearing pink trousers and tie with a charcoal jacket. For his short four song set, he sang "That's All Right, Mama," "Blue Moon Of Kentucky," "Tweedle Dee" and "Money Honey."
