July 7: Elvis begins to work on rehearsals for his Vegas show, constantly reworking his set list.
July 10: The Graceland Christian Church, situated next to but otherwise unaffiliated with the Graceland mansion, allows Elvis to use their driveway to access his home on days when he does not wish to be greeted by fans.
July 14: Presley begins to assemble his Vegas band, led by former Ricky Nelson guitarist James Burton. Burton hires Larry Muhoberac (piano), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), and Ronnie Tutt (drums). Elvis, as usual, picks his own backup vocalists, settling on the Imperials, a gospel quartet he has long admired, and the Sweet Inspirations, a female trio best known for backing Aretha Franklin. Burton and Elvis share a common vision: to perform all the styles of music Presley loves, including Elvis songs old and new and covers of other popular hits.
July 18: Rehearsals begin for the one-hour show, with Elvis and Charlie Hodge working and re-working the setlist.
July 25: Elvis and members of the "Mafia" attend, by invitation, Barbra Streisand's International Hotel show, which inaugurates the new ballroom.
July 31: After two hours of opening acts (during which time Elvis grapples with a severe case of stage fright), the show goes on at 10:15 pm with a fiery rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes." It is an instant sensation, and the audience, filled with members of the press corps, A-list celebrities, and former Presley associates like Sam Phillips, is rapturous in its appraisal. Later that evening the Colonel renegotiates Elvis' contract on a pink tablecloth in the hotel coffee shop, a contract which will guarantee the singer one million dollars per year through 1974 (minus expenses). Presley's contract holds him to only two months a year, which will allow him to get back out on the road, as well.
August 21: Felton Jarvis begins taping Elvis' midnight show for a contract-obligation live album. He will tape the next five nights.
August 26: Although Elvis has written a soprano part for singer Cissy Houston during "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" the actual performance of it strikes Elvis as amazingly funny this evening for some reason, leading to a collector's classic: a performance where the King cannot stop laughing. "That's it, man, fourteen years right down the drain," he jokes as the song ends.
August 29: Elvis and his full entourage, including Priscilla, attend Nancy Sinatra's show at the International, then head off to a party hosted by her father, Frank.
October 12: Perhaps looking to regain some control over his client, the Colonel refuses to allow Elvis and his entourage to vacation in Europe, making arrangements for the Bahamas instead. Intense wind and rain caused by near-hurricane conditions, however, make the vacation an unpleasant one, and it is cut short.
November 6: Rona Barrett, notorious gossip columnist, claims that Elvis is surrounded by beautiful women while gambling in Vegas, "reportedly losing and signing markers while two beauties stood at his side catching soul (French) kisses in turn with each flip of the cards." He is supposedly overheard joking "That's what a bad marriage will do for you!"
December 25: Vernon plays Santa again at the Graceland Christmas party.
December 31: The traditional Elvis New Year's Eve Party in Memphis moves to a new club, T.J.'s. Ronnie Milsap, the house act, headlines, and songwriter Mark James is called upon to perform his own version of his "Suspicious Minds."
Next... Elvis 1969 recording sessions
