Go Susan Go Susan. Mobile, AL. August 29, 1976

This was my first concert of any kind. We were supposed to be sitting way up top. My cousin from Texas was with us and he said one minute before show time we were going to go sit on the fourth row from the stage. The whole row was empty! We walked past the ushers and sat in the empty seats. There were four of us. My mom, sister, etc. was still way up top on the other side of the coliseum. People starting coming in late, everyone except me had to leave. God answers those kind of prayers? He must have. He knew it was my dream come true.

The whole concert I kept trying to get to the stage. Every time I stood up, a security guard made me sit back down. I did that the whole concert! I knew the concert had to be about over, so I knew I had to make my move. They had only let one other girl up to the stage. I got to the end of the first row, the security guard grabbed my around the waist. I guess all the other women thought the same thing....It was about to be over. They all started trying to get to the stage. I was standing real still. When the security guard let go of me to stop them, I took off for the stage. As soon as I got up there, Elvis turned to walk away. I thought...OH NO!!! Thank God, he must have seen that someone finally made it to the stage out of the corner of his eye. He walked over to Charlie, got a scarf, came back to me. I gave him the red rose. He knelt down, kissed me on the lips and handed me the scarf. I don't remember walking away from the stage. The next thing I knew, I was at the other end of the stage just standing there staring....in a daze.

My family said he asked me my name and my favorite song, I don't remember any of that. They also said the next time we go see Elvis that I better get to the stage on the first song. They were watching me the whole time instead of watching Elvis!!! They were yelling, Go Susan, Go Susan!

Susan

Saginaw, MI

I have seen Elvis in concert the first of the 2 shows he did in Saginaw Michigan in the 70's a year before he died. (I forgot the date) Actually, I spent most of the show back stage. I'll start from the beginning.

In 1968 I was in a top 40 rock group that had records out nation wide. I knew quite a few of people. In the 70's after our group broke up I was playing bass in a band and tending bar in the daytime and on some week-ends. I was working at the Airport. I had bought tickets to go and see Elvis that Friday night but the girl friend and I had a fight and she told me she was going to take her sister. I was mad! Well, that day I ran into a old friend. Mike Slusher from "The Hot Hilton Horns" He remembered me when I asked him what he was doing in town he told me about working for Elvis that night. He asked if I'd like to meet him. Naturally I said yes. So, he waited for me to get off work and then I took him to a music store and then to my place. He said I needed a cowboy shirt to get back stage so I dropped him at the back door to the civic center and went looking for a shirt. An hour or so later I knocked at the back door of the civic center. They were expecting me. I found Mike and he told me I missed Elvis by 5 minutes. I hung around the back stage for most of the night and never met Elvis. My girl friend yelled at me from the seats above and asked how I got back stage. I said it's not what you know sweetheart, it's who you know! I then watched the rest of the show from the 3rd row. (I went and got my girl friend and her sister) When the show ended I went back stage and Elvis had already gone. I then met his whole band and my friend Mike at the Holiday Inn (They had the whole 3rd floor) Elvis band sat in at the Holiday Inn bar and we had a blast.. That's my Elvis Story. If I hadn't been in a Top 40 band Mike would have never known me.

Art

Memories of Elvis: Kansas City, Missouri June 1974

I have been an Elvis fan since the 50s. I grew up watching him on TV, movies, and buying his records. So when he was in Kansas City in June, 1974 I purchased 2 tickets....$10 a ticket! Even though we were nowhere close to the stage, in fact we were in the nose bleed section high atop the Municipal Auditorium, it was okay...we had our binoculars. It seemed like forever before Elvis would appear and the anticipation was really getting to me, which was surprising, because I have never been a movie star worshiper, and I never thought I would be one of those screaming, screeching women I had seen on TV....I had MUCH more control than that (yea, right!). We were just sitting there watching the acts that preceded Elvis, and my husband had the binoculars and was casually looking around the auditorium, when the lights went down and the band started playing the 2001 intro and then, THERE he was! Flashbulbs lit up the auditorium to the point that it was hard to see him. As soon as he stepped onto the stage, I was on my feet screaming with the rest! I remember thinking...this cant be me screaming, I don't do that. Then without knowing what I was doing, I reached over and grabbed the binoculars from my husband. Unfortunately the strap was still around his neck and I was about to pull his head off! He yelled at me to stop screaming and sit down and act my age (I was 30 at the time). Needless to say I didn't. Call it what you want, but Elvis had that affect on women...it was pure electricity in that auditorium from the time he stepped onto the stage until he left the building. While I was looking through the binoculars, I noticed a lot of policemen around the stage that we knew, as my husband was on the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department at the time. When I told him that some of his buddies were working the show, he told me that he could have worked the show, but thought I wanted him to sit in the audience with me, plus he wanted to watch the show! My chance to meet Elvis and he BLEW it! I was so mad at him....he was in the doghouse for weeks, and I have never let him forget it.

The show was magnificent. His performance was electrifying, but what really impressed me the most was his personal charm and charisma. He was so nice to his fans...spent a lot of time talking to them from the stage. He had a way of making you feel like family and you knew he really cared about his fans. I don't know what I was expecting, but I thought he would come out, sing his songs and be gone, like other entertainers I have seen, but not Elvis...no not Elvis. There was more to him than that. At one point in the show, he had them turn up the house lights so he could see us. He said we all looked like frogs out there with those binoculars pasted to our eyes. He had a great sense of humor and you could tell he really enjoyed what he was doing. This wasn't just a job to him. When he sang How Great Though Art, I had goosebumps and tears streaming down my face and the whole auditorium was singing it with him at the end. It was unbelievable. What other performer has ever mixed gospel songs in with their other songs? He wasn't afraid to let people know he believed in God. What you saw was what you got. There were mistakes made on stage...he didn't get upset...just laughed and joked about it and went on. He was human and I think that's what endeared him to us.

When the show ended (much too soon) and he left the stage, I felt emotionally drained and sad....I could have stayed there and watched and listened to him forever. He could have sang the yellow pages and it would have sounded great! What a guy!

I don't know about the rest of his fans, but the 25 year anniversary of his death has been very hard. The fact that he is still drawing crowds and filling auditoriums 25 years after he died, says so much about the man himself. I miss so much about him...his smile, his laugh, his sense of humor, the songs he never got to sing. We will never see his kind again.

Reading all these messages just proves that he has the greatest fans in the world and he is truly missed by all. Its wonderful to be able to share our memories of him on this website, and, even though I was never fortunate enough to meet him personally as many of the fans on this website did, I feel so lucky to have seen him in concert.

On a personal note, we will never forget you Elvis...your memory is pressed between the pages of our minds forever. Rest in peace...you've earned it.

Sharla
Kansas City, Missouri

The Flight attendant got lucky!

In 1973 I was a Flight Attendant for Hughes Airwest based in Phoenix,AZ. I had just completed flight attendant training and was called out for my first trip. This was a charter leaving at 12:00 midnight flying an empty plane to Portland, Oregon on April 27 and we would be flying to Spokane,WA (my hometown) for an overnight. I couldn't believe my first flight was back to Spokane; I hadn't seen my parents for 6 months and I would get to soon.

As we were approaching Portland the captain advised us we may want to brush our hair and put on some lipstick, because we were picking up Elvis Presley !! We couldn't believe it. It seemed Elvis had chartered 3 of our DC9 planes one for his backup bands, one for the sound techs and one for Elvis, his bodyguards and Linda Thompson his girlfriend at the time. The captain had flown quite a few Elvis charters and told us to be calm and not act any differently than we would with any other passenger. Well, I was standing in the aisle greeting Elvis's people and when Elvis came up to me he said, "And how long have you been flying sugar?" I said, "This is it!! My first flight !" ..well Elvis leaned over and kissed me on the cheek !! The captain was standing behind Elvis and I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled. The flight to Portland was not a very long one. The plane was catered with lots of liquor, however Elvis only drank lemonade and sat with Linda and read the Bible. None of his group drank any of it, they were all very polite, I was really impressed.

I had told my parents I had a Spokane overnight ...my first trip and it was a charter. My mom had called the airport to find out when I would get in. The agent told her he couldn't say, however since I was one of the flight attendants that my mom and dad might want to go to the end of the runway to a side terminal. Mom put two and two together having read in the paper that Elvis was having a concert in Spokane and she figured I was on Elvis's flight. She knew it before I did! So, when we arrived in Spokane there was about 50 screaming ladies and mom and dad ...waving at me as I opened the door. Mom said some lady commented, "Who is that flight attendant waving at, let's see Elvis!".

Well, the other two flight attendants and I went home to mom and dad's..Elvis had invited us to the concert that night and he said he would have a limo pick us up. In 1973 you didn't see very many limos in Spokane, Wa. let me tell you!! Well, we went to the concert, it was great, then we were invited to the party afterwards. The party was very low key everyone sitting around laughing and joking, Elvis singing some. Linda asked me if there was any way I could get some time off and meet them in Tahoe in about a week. I said "sure!" ( now remember this was my first flight and I was already figuring out how I could get a week off!). When I returned to Phoenix the next day I caught a ride to my apartment with one of the senior flight attendants, she said, "Where have you been?" When I told her she couldn't believe it; she had been trying to get one of the Elvis charters for a yr. The reason my roomate, the other flight attendant, and I got it was we were the three bottom girls in Phoenix and everyone else had flown their maximum hours for the month, so Scheduling had to take the bottom girls. Boy was she upset!!

Well, I went into see my base manager and asked if there was any way I could get a week off work. She looked at me rolled her eyes, and when she heard why...said," let me see what I can do". She was able to get me 5 days. So on the first week of May 1973 I flew to Reno, NV. Being I was flying standby, the first two flights were full and I didn't make it there till late in the day. When I got there there was a limo driver waiting with my name on a card. He drove me to Lake Tahoe where I was issued a name tag that would get me passed the guard and up the elevator to my room. I had a suite next to Linda's and Elvis's overlooking the lake. They were in-between concerts and having a get-together, as I walked in Elvis said "Everyone I want you to meet our flight attendant Colleen !" I couldn't believe he remembered my name. Well, as it went the days I spent there were fantastic, Linda and I would play the slot machines between sets, (Elvis would hand us a roll of money to play with ) and sit in the front row for each concert. I felt like I knew all the songs by heart by the time I left. One thing about the whole experience was how we ate all our meals in a large conference room. One night Elvis was hungry for Mexican food and had his favorite chef from San Diego flown in and another time we had Chinese and his favorite restaurant from San Fransciso served us. One thing I can say, I went to lots of parties during these 5 days, and I never saw any drugs being used or anything else. Everyone was just having a good time laughing and talking about the concerts.

When it was time for me to leave Vernon Presley drove back with me to Reno. He was picking up Lisa Marie at the airport, she was a young child then. I remember when we drove through Carson City, NV he saw a small train and wanted to find out who owned it to see if he could buy it and ride it around Graceland. We laughed a lot about this.

The week was one of a lifetime for me I was thinking boy this really is a glamorous job I had !! It definitly went down hill from there. I did have quite a few other movie stars on my flights especially from Las Vegas to Hollywood Burbank airports, but none were as exciting as that first week. And now here I live in Memphis, TN. which I never would have dreamt I would be living here back in '73. Colleen from Memphis

Memories of March 6, 1974

The night of March 6, 1974 is a night I will never ever forget. I was ten years old and had been an Elvis fan for most of those ten years. I had all the records, posters, and had wondered if I would ever get to see the "man" when the tickets arrived in the mail.

I counted down the days one at a time. I still, 28 years later, recall the events of that day, the afternoon, and the show. The most incredible image is still engraved in my mind of the blue jumpsuits pouring out of the rear stage entrance. One at a time I felt a thrill then realized it wasn't Elvis. Finally, after what seemed like two or three minutes, the man stepped out in the white-sequenced jumpsuit that set him apart from everyone and everything else within the city limits of Montgomery. I cannot begin to describe how much this show means to me even today. As a child who has grown into a man, I treasure this memory as one of the most cherished ones spent with my mom, watching Elvis rock Montgomery. Mom has been gone for almost a year now, and each year I have called her on March 6 and asked her if she knew what she was doing so many years before. Most years she recalled, although in later years I would have to remind her. Once on track though, ha ha, she could tell me all the specifics.

Elvis was just a man. A man with incredible persona, magnetism, and talent. Elvis is gone. But for the things he gave us while he was here, I will always and forever be grateful. I cherish the fact that I got to see him in Montgomery, and later in Huntsville on June 1, 1975. Thanks Elvis! AND, thanks MOM for making a kids dream come true, and for giving a man something to relive for a lifetime!

Paul Gore
Knoxville, Tennessee

July 29, 1976 Springfield, MA.

Back in 1976, an old college friend (Brandeis Class of 1972) called to tell me he had Elvis tickets for a concert at the Springfield (MA) Civic Center. I asked him to get me 2,. no matter the cost or where the seats were for the show. He got me 2 tickets for the July 29, 1976 show just behind and to the left of the end stage in nearly the last row of the building. None of that mattered. Elvis was ELVIS. He was overweight and a bit sluggish when he spoke, but could he sing. It was Elvis at his best on every number. He turned back to us a few times because he knew there were "paying folk back there", as he put it. To this day, I tell everyone it was worth it, sitting there behind the stage at $100.00/ticket to be able to say I saw Elvis and HE WAS GREAT.

Marc E.
Worcester, MA

Linda from Atlanta - Saw Elvis approximately 45 times in concert.

Well, you can't say enough about Elvis in concert. He was truly the most remarkable performer to ever grace the stage. I have been a fan of the King since I was 8 years old. I never dreamed of getting to see him in person. I went to the theater to see "That's the Way It Is" and decided right then and there that I WAS going to go to Vegas to see Elvis. I went home from the movie and called the International and found out what I needed to do to go see him.

I was 21 years old and so excited. Well, my first time seeing Elvis was in Vegas. I only got to see one show, which was so wonderful. I didn't know anything about how to tip the waiter to get a good seat so I was on the very back row of the showroom. But it was Elvis and I was absolutely thrilled. He did not give away scarves at this show, but instead he was throwing out little stuffed hound dogs. I vowed to come back and see three or four shows and do what I had to do to get a stage seat. My next trip to Vegas was in 1973, and I managed to get a stage seat to the far right of center stage. EP came over our way during the show, but all the girls stood up and were reaching and screaming, so even though he tried to give me a scarf, I couldn't reach him. Well, I was flying home the next morning and was determined to get a scarf. At the end of the show, EP was standing at the microphone in the center of the stage, and I just jumped up on the stage and started slowly walking towards him. The beautiful gold curtain was coming down, but he motioned to me and said "come on honey," and so I went over to him and gave him a small gift I had. I reached up and gently pulled the scarf from around his neck, and he bent down and kissed me.

From that, moment onI spent many, many hours finding out where EP was performing and trying to get tickets. I managed to get many front row seats at concerts throughout the Southeast and many stage seats in Vegas. I ended up with 12 scarves and EP's guitar pick, which I got in Vegas in December of 1976. What wonderful memories I have.

Linda
ldhspam@aol.com

May 26, 1977. (8.30 pm) Binghamton, NY.

I was only 10 years old in May of 1977, but I was deeply in love with Elvis. My mom, bless her heart, knew how much I loved him so she stood in line for over 24 hours to get tickets to his May 26th concert. It paid off because our seats ended up being 4th row from the stage.

We lived about 30 miles from Binghamton at the time and left early enough so we wouldn't feel rushed. That was a good thing because on the way to the Arena, my mom had to pull the car over so I could get sick. It was definitely nerves. I just couldn't believe I was going to see the King.

Everyone sat patiently while we waited for Elvis to come up on stage. Well, maybe we weren't REAL patient....I think we booed the warm-up entertainment off the stage.

My mom warned me to be calm when Elvis came out. I could do that.....my mom couldn't. She screamed louder than anyone in there!!! There he was, a little heavy but still sexy.....I couldn't believe it. It was really him. I don't think I listened to the first 5 songs....I was in shock...

The man that starred in 33 movies, the man that was filmed from the waist up on the Ed Sullivan show...the man I had been in love with since I was 5.......he was actually standing in front of me!!!

During the show, I climbed up on my Mom's shoulders (remember I was only 10) and I reached out over the women standing in front of the stage. Elvis had made his way over to our side. He was wearing a light blue scarf that he had on for at least 30 seconds. Elvis leaned over the edge of the stage and handed me, not threw me, his scarf.

My mom pulled me down just as we started being "attacked" by these women. I had blood running down my face and my hair was being pulled. Good old mom took that scarf and tied it in a knot around my waist.

Needless to say, I still have the scarf. It is in a plastic bag along with a picture of Elvis wearing it.

Karen

May 26, 1977. (8.30 pm) Binghamton. N.Y.

I don't have the exact date in front of me, but I do know that it was in 1977 at the Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena here in Binghamton, NY It was an experience we will never forget. I do remember that I wasn't working at the time. Money naturally was tight. It was announced in our paper tha tickets were going on sale Saturday morning.I felt that I was going to go see Elvis come hell or high water.

I was in the process of borrowing money for the tickets. Our mail was dropped in our mail box. Lo & behold, my federal income tax refund check was right in front of me. I ran like hell six blocks down to a local grocery store that at the time had a policy of not cashing income tax refund checks.

I pleaded & begged the store manager to please cash the check as there was no banks open on Saturday at the time. Luckily, he was an Elvis fan. He cashed the check, & I was out the door. I flagged a cab down, and asked him how fast could he get me down to the Arena without getting pinched, & there would be an extra $10 in it for him.

The Arena is about 4 miles from where we were living at the time. I got down to the Arena in record time. Naturally, there was a line of people that had camped outside the Arena all night the night before. Just when I got there, they announced that tickets were going on sale for another show as the demand for the first show had been so great. that's the show we got the tickets for.

Two strange things. First, the show we got tickets for were for a show that was ahead of the show that people had stayed up all night outside the Arena waiting for tickets to go on sale.

Two, our seats were ALL the way at the back of the Arena, one row away from the roof, but at least we can say that WE WERE AT AN ELVIS CONCERT!!!! The show as fantastic & an experience that we will never ever forget.

TCB, Tom tbrutis1@aol.com

July 3, 1976. (8.30 pm) Fort Worth, Texas Tarrant County Convention (14,000) .

I was fortunate enough to see Elvis in concert on July 3, 1976 at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Even though I sat very close to the back, the concert was incredible.

I could tell that Elvis had gained a little weight, but not nearly as much as people have said. He still looked wonderful to me and he sounded great!

What I remember mostly is that it is very true when people say that the "electricity" in the auditorium was incredible. I could feel it going through my body. The excitement of seeing Elvis in person was, for everyone I am sure, something they will never forget. As-a-matter-of-fact, I was just your age when this took place.

Ms Baby mhollowa@ix.netcom.com

This fan had the luck to see Elvis in 25 concerts , yes 25 !! It's fantastic .

I would have to have to pick the first and last times that I saw Elvis as my favorites. In early 1972, he made his first appearance in Indianapolis. I can hardly describe the feelings I had just knowing that he would soon set foot on the stage in front of me. At intermission when they changed the stage around and set the center microphone - I almost feel apart in anticipation of his arrival. And arrive he did! Strolling across the stage like a beautiful, king of the beast. Almost cat like - with that beautiful smile as he looked down at the audience. In those days they placed the front row several feet back from the stage and made an annoucement that no one should leave their seats. No one did, in fear that he might have to leave. He did songs like "'til it time for you to go" and "ain't it funny, how time slips away" of course also the medley. (Alot of the songs on the album "ELvis Now") He wore the light blue "On Tour" jumpsuit. and looked fantastic. My husband missed part of the show because he was so worried about me. I was so excited - I thought I would faint. : - )

We are from Indianapolis so we saw the last two shows on the final tour. Cincinnati, OH and Indianapolis. Although Elvis was ofcourse heavier than 1972, he voice could not have been better. That only got better ! I got two scarves that night. It was my birthday and I had a sign asking for a birthday kiss. The stage was too high, but I did get another scarf. I remember he did "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and it just blew me away. His voice was so powerful. I never heard him do it any better. Also, it was very special to see him sit at the piano and do "Unchained Melody". At every concert when "Can't Help Falling In Love" started it just seemed like it couldn't be over yet. You could not get enough.

I guess another favorite show was in 1976 in Ft Wayne, IN. We had the center front row seats and by then they put the chairs very close to the stage. It was a very low stage and I had made Elvis a little gift of a Memory Box which I gave him. I received a scarf and kiss for my efforts. But the best thing about that show was that we were so close that we could request some songs. Which we did and Elvis responded by doing some of them! He did "Reconsider Baby". We all just went nuts. He looked down and said, " What? These must be my people or something." and ofcourse, we yelled back the we were and that we loved him. I think it made him very happy. A good audience seemed to always just make him perform even better. ( If that was possible.

Nice to talk to you. Hope that gives you a little insight into the excitment of seeing Elvis in concert. There was and never will be anything like it. Elvis was a true phenomenon that is almost impossible to explain. It has been twenty years and I don't see any signs that his popularity is waning - if anything his fandom only grows.

PLipps@aol.com

Margie has seen Elvis 3 times. Cinncinnatti , Columbus & Dayton .

I was fortunate to see Elvis perform live three times in the early 70s. These are some of my favorite memories. I have been to a lot of concerts featuring a lot of different artists; nothing has ever equaled the Elvis concerts. Elvis was the ultimate singer, and he was also a supreme performer. He had a love for his fans that shone through every song he sang; and that was returned to him. Elvis sincerely enjoyed what he was doing on stage. This was not a job to him; performing was his life!

I first saw Elvis in Cincinnati in 1973. I was so excited that after being a fan for years that I was finally going to get to see him! I was 17. We went early to Cincinnati Gardens so that we would not miss anything. When we were finally able to enter the arena, I was very disappointed to see that my seat was in the second balcony. As I sat there with my binoculars, I noticed a seat in the second row from the stage that was empty! Telling myself that this might be the only chance I ever got to see Elvis, I waited and watched that seat through the comedian's dialogue. It was dark in the arena, so I took my chance and very carefully shimmied down the support beams going very slowly to the main floor, where I quickly made my way to that empty seat. I had a great view of the stage for the intermission. Unfortunately, the ticket holder came in time for Elvis; and I was very nicely escorted back to the second balcony. So I sat there with the binoculars glued to my face for the entire show. When JD Sumner hit those low notes he is so famous for, it sounded like a plane going over. We were so high up! But it didn't matter. I was in the same room with Elvis; and he looked and sounded fantastic! Not even a bad seat could spoil that first concert experience for me!

You can imagine how thrilled I was when I discovered that Elvis was coming to my home town of Columbus, Ohio, in June of 1974. Tickets were again available by mail order only. I sent in my request immediately. Fortunately, I had much better seats this time. Once again my shyness was overcome as I told myself that this might be the last time I would ever have the opportunity of seeing Elvis perform. Once again, I was escorted back to my seat, but this time it was because I had slipped backstage without having a backstage pass. (You can't blame a girl for trying!) Elvis had a great time at this concert remembering how he had been in Columbus in 1956. He accepted gifts from the audience; and had a great time laughing at himself when he started to sing the same song over. Part of this can be heard on the album "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage". And have fun we did! It was a great concert!!

My last time to see Elvis perform live was in October, 1974, in Dayton. Once again, I had good seats for the show. However, no seat was close enough; so I had binoculars with me. The stranger next to me was kind to offer me the use of his binoculars, which were much stronger than mine. I thanked him and returned them to him. He put them back around his neck. Somewhere out there is a man who probably still has rope burns on his neck from the binocular cord. When Elvis began "Fever", I forgot to ask and just grabbed the binoculars to get the best view! That poor man was basically pulled to my lap trying to disengage himself from the cord! (If you are out there and reading this---I apologize again! :) ) He was very nice about the whole thing, but he never put the binoculars back around his neck until after the concert!

I wish I had a recording of the concerts I attended. They were all very special. My favorite songs to see Elvis perform are "American Trilogy", "Fever", "Polk Salad Annie", You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" and especially "Suspicious Minds". Even more than the music, I loved to hear Elvis talk. From the excitement and expectation level that reached a fever pitch when the band began "2001" to the sadness of hearing the beginning notes of "Can't Help Falling In Love", Elvis held the audience in the palm of his hand. Every person felt that Elvis was singing and looking only at them. You didn't just go to an Elvis concert; you experienced it! Elvis made you feel special just by being in the audience. Elvis' rich, strong, flawless voice could sing anything. He proved that many times through the years. This was especially evident in concert. In the psychedelic era of the 70s, I realized that I was sitting there hearing the true voice that defined rock and roll. The saddest words were when it was announced that "Elvis has left the building".

Margie Whitis <75371.3151@CompuServe.COM>

Dean has seen Elvis in Las Vegas & Chicago !. 

Seeing Elvis Presley in concert was the most wonderful experience of my life. I saw him twice in Las Vegas and once in Chicago. The Chicago concert was pretty good although it was held at the old Chicago Staidum and he was at one end and we were at the other. Binoculars came in handy to see him. Ah, but to hear him was wonderful. The sound system was set up just right and he played it to the hilt in front of a standing room only audience. He wore his blue jumpsuit and cape and as he left the stage he kneeled and opened up the cape, left, center and right. And that famous smile coulsd be seen even from as far back as we were. It was a truely great night.

Then, in January of 1971, I made reservations for my wife and I to stay at the International Hotel. I wrote to him telling him what days we would be there. We went and we saw the most spectacular concerts we ever saw or have seen since. The first time, after tipping the waiter, we sat at the tables in front of the stage. He was awesome. Especialy when he did Sweet Caroline and the strobe light was put on him, what great moves during the chorus. He wore a white jumpsuit both nights. The second night was even better, we were seated far in the back because we had arrived late. Our waiter went by and I asked him if we could be moved up to the front. Of course handing him a bunch of rolled up singles. I'm sure he didn't realize just how little money was in that roll. He put us at the front tables again, this time right next to the stage. I couldn't believe it! It was almost like being alone with him. My wife was even lucky enough to get a kiss from him. This show contained some different songs than the previous night. Of course Polk Salad Annie and You Gave Me A Mountain were terrific. And An American Triology with JD Sumner and the Stamps, Kathy Westmorland, and the Sweet Inspirations all gave the performance of this song one that sent chills up my back. Well, that's it. It was truely the greatest moment of my life, until my children were born.

>From - Dean Propp email DPropp8071@aol.com

Pat has seen Elvis in concert in 56, Wisconsin....and in 72, San Diego,CA

I have been an Elvis fan for as long as I can remember. I consider myself very lucky to have seen the King of Rock and Roll in person!! I first saw Elvis when I was child about 8 years old. Back then I really didn't know who he was only that music was Elvis. And everyone was talking about Elvis. Well i got to see him because my Mother was going to see him, and took me too. It was really something to see. whenyou are only 8 you don;t know alot. One thing I learned that night was Elvis and we became bonded together forever. I don't remember where in Wisconsin it was, that it was there in 1956. I remember watching all the people going crazy with excitment of the Elvis. Then they introduce Elvis and he came on stage, he was so shy, and quite, at first. He liked to say Thank-you, Thank-you very much in a low voice. Then he started playing and sining. And the people were going crazy, and Elvis just seem to take control of it all. I don't think I had ever seen a person move his body the way he did!!! I had never know this kind of excitment before. I kept trying to look around to see how everyone else was reacting to him. But every time I did, it like somthing turned them right back to Elvis. i rmeber how people talked about the way he moved. But I didn't see anything wrong with it. Although my Grandmother thought he was valguer. We had pretty good seats back then, and I just became an Elvis fan forever.!!!

The second time I saw Elvis was in San Diego, Ca. And by then I was grown and married, with a baby of 9 mos. My husband was in the Navy at the time. We found out that Elvis Presley was coming to town. I wanted to go to this concert really bad. To my surprise my husband got Elvis tickets on the base. Like I said i had grown up and I couldn't wait to see him. I must admit that our tickets weren't the best. Infact there were striaght back in the back on the top. But I didn't care. I was just so happy to be there. This was a sold out concert at San Diego Sports Arena. We also took Mom with us again too. My husband had brought some very special binoculars home with him. Well I let Mom use the binoculars and that was it. She keep them the rest of the night. Every time I used them she would tug on the binoculars cord. So I just gave up and let her enjoy the show. I was very happy just to be there, and believe me, the sound system was very good. Just to be in the same room with Elvis was the coolest thing. I felt I had died and gone to heaven. Elvis is the greatest.!!! The difference between this concert and the first one is little things. He wore different colthing now then back then. They were more of a jumpsuit, and his hair was darker and longer. But he sounder better than ever. He voice seemed to have gotten better if that is possible. I also notice that he felt more at ease on stage. He talked and would joke around with the people now. But the voice was still the best. So smooth and so rich. But the one thing that hadn't changed was the electricity that you feel in the same room as Elvis. Elvis always made you feel like he was singing just to you alone. Elvis cared for his fans, and he always made you feel that way. That was part of the electricity.

I am so glad that i had the oportinity to have seen Elvis in concert. It is something I will never forget. Once you seen him concert, you seen the best!!! I have seen alot of other concerts since then and not one could come close to him.

Mompac@aol.com Pat Clemins, President of Elvis Connections fan club

Betty saw Elvis when he was just beginning his career.

Elvis came to our small town , Lexington March 21, 1956 and played a show at our national guard armory. I attended with my cousin Gail. I was only fifteen at the time so my father had to drive us there and pick us up after the show. He was the most exciting thing our little town had ever seen. And naturally I was absoutely bonkers over him. We sat very close to the stage and could see everything.

What a show! Hounddog, Heartbreak Hotel and all his songs from the early years. What a georgeous hunk he was back then. After the show, I went backstage with anyone and everyone who could squeeze down that narrow hallway. Just wanting to get as close to him as I could. We were told that he had already left, that he was staying at the hotel in Lexington. Well we only had two. So not even thinking about my dad who was waiting for me outside the armory, I took off uptown to the March Hotel and was told that he was not staying there. So I took off to the Lexington Hotel and sure enough he was there.

You have to remember that this was very early in his career so he did'nt necessarily stay in huge hotels with armed guards. There were about twenty or twenty-five girls with me. Boy, were we determined. The manager of the hotel must have been told that if anyone showed up, to let us come up to the room. Which we did. But we weren't screaming or misbehaving. We knocked on his door. And he opened it. Himself. He was wonderful. He came downstairs to the lobby. I got to hold his hand. He sat there and signed autographs for us. I got two. One for me and one for my cousin Gail. She wasn't as daring as I was. Or maybe foolhardy. I don't know which. I will never forget meeting Elvis Presley. He was very polite and he seemed to appreciate his fans.

I don't guess I need to tell you what my father had to say to me when I got back to the armory. He was still waiting for me. As worried as any father would be when he did'nt know where his fifteen year old daughter was. And to this day he won't let me forget it. It may have been very foolhardy and in these days and times you just can't do things like this. But I'm not sorry. I'll always remember. I still love him.

Betty Ross dsmlswmp@erols.com

Andrew has seen Elvis in one of the last shows in 1977 with his parents

When I was twelve, I saw Elvis perform at Assembly Hall, Indiana University. I went with my parents (Mom is an Elvis fan). We saw one of his last shows, 1977. He died after the show in Indianapolis.

I remember the awful wait, mom wanted to get there early. I remember the white jumpsuit and pastel scarfs. He would wipe his face, throw the scarf to the fans, and grab the next scarf. I remember mom's hysterics, and I remember the music and the volume. I remember "Kentucky Rain," "Burnin' Love." and "Lord, You Gave Me A Mountain."

Elvis still makes me cry.

Andrew M. Dewar amdewar@students.wisc.edu

Scott saw Elvis in 1975 and 1976 !

I was fortunate enough to see Elvis two times. Both at The Coliseum near Cleveland, Ohio. I was visiting up there at the time and got tickets even though I'm from Memphis. I never saw Elvis at the Mid-South Coliseum, but saw the family several times at Graceland. I went to college with one of Elvis's nurses whom he gave a 1976 Monte Carlo. She was about 27 at the time and had returned to Memphis State to finish up her master's degree. Anyway she was a real looker. She stated to me it was a platonic relationship and he just talked to her a lot. There is a picture of her standing in the background while Elvis and some buddies ride a three wheel motorcycle out the Graceland gates.. Who knows if it was platonic. I'd like to believe it was.

The first concert I saw him at was in July 1975 and the second was October 1976. I remember the best tickets sold for about $15 apiece and both shows sold out quickly. In fact, I believe they added a second show in 1975..

In the 1975 show, Elvis looked pretty good, but appeared to be in a foul mood as he told the sound engineer to "Screw Off" because the microphone was not at the proper height when he came out and began singing "See See Rider."

At that show, the audience was in a trance.. They clapped politely, but really appeared to be in some sort of a daze. It was bizarre.

In the 1976 show, Elvis was obviously overweight and had his hair in bangs ala Moe Howard. The audience was the typical screaming, hysterical crowd. A 180 from the other audience.

Personally, I enjoyed the 1975 show much more.. Even though he was a bit "curt" at times, it was a very good performance and the electricity was incredible. At the 1976 show, he appeared to be "silly" and apathetic.

Scott

Frankie Rider II saw Elvis in concert a total of 9 times !! 

Greetings from Arkansas................

I was fortunate enough to see Elvis in concert a total of 9 times between 1971 and 1976, and had tickets for his upcoming second 1977 Memphis show that was scheduled for after his death. There are so many fond memories that there is not just one particular concert that stands out in time, as they all were memorable in their own right. So I will just share some of the highlights of some of the concerts with you..............

The first date was 11/14/71 in Tuscaloosa, AL. I remember as we rolled into town, we stopped for gas and the female clerk was just beside herself. She had 10 paper sacks that EP had signed for her personally and was so embarassed that she could not find something else for him to sign. He had stopped in to pick up some DiGel antacid and some toiletries and she told us the whole story about 5 times in about 5 minutes! Anyway, the concert itself was fantastic but, with this being our first Elvis experience, we really did not know what to expect. We had seen "Elvis -That's The Way It Is" but were not AT ALL prepared for the 2001 opening theme and when EP walked out in a BLACK jumpsuit, I thought my mom was about to just BAWL! We really could not see a thing............ We were seated on the risers at stage left and, to this day have some really good Polaroids of a red-lined cape but that's about it. I remember when he sang "Funny How Time Slips Away" and got to the line about "gotta go now...." there was a big commotion at the stage exit and the crowd had it BLOCKED! After the song, Elvis said that he would love to stay and sing all night but that he "had to be in Kansas City tomorrow night". After another 3 or 4 songs, he finally was able to bow off and leave everybody wanting a little bit more...........

Show # 2 was on 4/17/72 in Little Rock, AR and was only 100 miles from home. We were lucky enough to get seats on row 3, stage right. This time EP came out on stage in the now-famous "Burning Love" red suit and ripped right into "See See Rider" at a blistering pace which would last the entire show. My > mother kept saying "when is he going to wear a WHITE suit, for god's sake......" The MGM guys were on hand to do some filming for "Elvis On Tour" and my mom still swears that there is some film footage of me somewhere today taken by the center-stage camera, but who knows? I remember the Elvis fumbled with his black Gibson guitar at the end of "See See Rider" and it fell and broke off at the joint of the body/neck and he just kicked it off the stage saying "I really didn't mean to break my guitar........." To this day, I have one of the RCA ELVIS NOW '72 stage banners that were hanging on the stage and it is the center point of my collection of EP memorabilia.

Show # 3 was on 6/18/72 in Fort Worth, TX and, at last, a WHITE JUMPSUIT!!!!!! We were so far away, though, that I could not really tell which one it was. I still think it was the one with the gold square buckles and the red trim (the 6/10/72 evening MSG suit) since I remember it had a red cape. I have some tiny Polaroid shots of Elvis during this one, at least I'm pretty sure that it is him. This show was basically a re-hash of the afore-mentioned MSG album(s), but exciting nonetheless.

Show # 4 was on 4/22/73 in Phoenix, AZ on Easter Sunday, also my father's birthday. We were "up in the boondocks" for this one too, but the show featured a beautiful "How Great Thou Art" and also a surprise: "I'm Leavin". It was the only time we ever heard him do this song live and it was fantastic; I wish BMG would release a live version of it. A lot of folks in the audience did not even know the song. One funny aside: after the band intros, EP mentioned that he had recently done a TV special and he "hoped we might have seen it, called Aloha From Hawaii.....". Like there was a chance we had missed it, right?...............

Show # 5 was the hometown evening show in Memphis, TN on 3/17/74. We did good to hear this show at all. I never heard an Elvis audience respond like this one did and he responded in kind. All the EP favorites were there, old and new, and it was great. The song list was basically like the LP except for the inclusion of "That's All Right" in place of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy".

Show # 6 was the evening performance in Kansas City, MO on 6/29/74. We had seats on row 6 for this Elvis extravaganza and what a show it was. EP was in top form and was sporting the stunning "Inca Gold Leaf" jumpsuit which we argued about the entire show trying to figure out just what the design really was. We have some really great Polaroids of this show too, one with Elvis posing for my dad with one foot propped up on a stage monitor. The real highlight of this show was the third-row launching of a middle-aged lady in the general direction of the stage during one number. Elvis saw her coming, sidestepped the assault, and watched her slide right into the band area, laughing the whole time. However, she did get a scarf and a kiss for her efforts. Musically, this marked the last time we would hear "Polk Salad Annie" for some 2 years and the final time that we would hear Elvis sing "Suspicious Minds" in live performance.

Show # 7 was on 6/10/75 in Memphis, TN. Elvis was in good musical form for the hometown crowd but looked very puffy and overweight for this show. He sported the "Indian" suit but no choker as in some photos. The musical highlight was the medley "Mystery Train/Tiger Man"; it was the first time we had ever seen him do it live, and what a sight it was. I also seem to recall him doing an encore chorus of "How Great Thou Art" as well. This was the first show where there were more songs that you "didn't really expect Elvis to do" and not so much of the standard Elvis set.

Show # 8 was on 7/5/76, again in Memphis. This time Elvis made a much better appearance than the previous show, both musically and physically. More of > the "old Elvis songs" were back, i.e. "Polk Salad Annie" and also some we had never seen him perform before as well such as "Jailhouse Rock", "Love Letters", and "It's Now Or Never". He was sporting the white "Prehistoric Bird" outfit with the blue bell sleeves. He just seemed to be more in control of the show this time around in Memphis.

Show # 9 was on 9/8/76 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, just a short 3 hour drive from home. This time Elvis was wearing the reverse outfit from Memphis, the blue suit with the white sleeves. He really had the folks going during the 2001 theme by shaking the backstage curtain around to where you could see his blue legs behind it. This show was one of the few where the 2001 theme was not played in total darkness, but with a point spot on where Elvis would come out from behind the curtain. This show was much like the July show in Memphis. Elvis really put on a great show; he was the first big-name act to appear in the town's new convention center and HE KNEW IT! All the Elvis favorites were present and accounted for and, little did we know it, it was a great send-off for us as we would not see Elvis perform live again after that night.

Boy, it seems like just yesterday, talking about all these good times> again......... I hope that this is not too much information for you to digest and if it is, I apologize. It was an honor to be able to share the auditorium with this great man during his lifetime and the joy that his music has brought us is something that will be able to be shared for a long time to come.....................

Regards, Frankie Rider, II

Steve has seen Elvis 12 times. He tell us his last concert. Dec 28, 1976. Dallas, TX

He date was December 28,1976 and the place was Dallas, Texas at the convention center.

Luckily, I had real good seats, about three rows from the stage.Little did I know that this the 12 time I had seen Elvis in Concert would also be my last.

Elvis made his entrance and the sold-out crowd responded just like always.Blinding flash bulbs exploding everywhere and screams and cheers that tried to raise the roof.

Elvis was a little heavier and at first seemed tired, but it didn't take long for the King to get rolling.The stage movements were not as wild as a couple of years earlier.But that didn't seem to matter.I don't think I had ever heard him sing better.His range was just awesome and very powerful.It was like he was saying,"I am just going to sing my heart out."

So when the anouncement "Elvis has left the building" came I didn't realize that would be the last time I would see the greatest entertainer in the world in the flesh. I cherish all those twelve evenings I witnessed Elvis. There will never be another one like him.

Steve-19

Hampton Roads, Virginia (April 9, 1972, evening show)  

After seeing him the first time at age 16, I was "in love". Pictures of Elvis were hard to come by at first. The ones I could get went on my bedroom wall, just as most teenagers do with pictures of their idols.

The image in my mind of Elvis coming out on that stage in New Orleans, La., is one that will remain throughout my life. Good-looking, long sideburns, golden-blonde hair combed into ducktails. I can't remember exactly what he was wearing, but I'm sure it was a sport coat, slacks & shirt. He usually wore bright colors, and pinks and blacks, which were really "in" back then (if you were a cool cat). I hadn't appreciated his records, "That's All Right, Mama", and "Blue Moon of Kentucky", until I saw him sing them in person. How can I tell you how I felt? There was electricity in the air, certain of it. Every girl in the theater was screaming and jumping up and down.

I thought to myself, this guy is going to the top - he's the greatest - he's wonderful, and I love him, and he'll always be my favorite. Well, guess what? It happened, but in much, much, greater proportions than I ever could have imagined.

And although I saw him several times more, that first time at Jesuits' High School in New Orleans was the most exciting and unforgettable.