BILL & SUE-ON HILLMAN: A 60-YEAR MUSICAL ODYSSEY


Hillman Book Project:  ~ Roots Section and Gigs Section
Presents
ELVIS AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY
 https://www.hillmanweb.com/elvis/opry
October 2nd, 1954, there was magic in the air that night in Nashville.
On one of the most magical nights in Nashville/country music history. Elvis Presley played The Grand Ole Opry for the first and only time. Some say he got a polite reception, some say he got a cold reception, a few say he got booed. He was performing his #1 hit on the radio at the time, a cover of Bill Monroe’s ”Blue Moon of Kentucky,” a version Monroe, the father of bluegrass and a notoriously crabby guy, didn’t appreciate. 

Those audiences in those days were extremely musically conservative. In fact, drums were banned from the Opry for a long time because people were of the mindset that drums have NO PLACE in country music! So to book rock and roll artist Elvis Presley was a notoriously bad idea, and having him perform a rocking version of this Bill Monroe song was just setting him up for failure. 

Now Elvis and his producer Sam Phillips, the father of rock and roll, didn’t know it until they arrived, but Bill Monroe was also booked on the Opry that day. Sam and Elvis spent their entire time backstage avoiding Monroe for fear he would “break their jaws.”

When Elvis, only a 19 year old kid, exited the stage, Jim Denny, the manager of the Opry famously told him “Go back to truck driving kid, you’ll never make it as a singer.” (Although it may have been Eddy Bond that said this) Elvis started crying. It’s easy to think of him as this iconic figure, but Elvis was also a human and this was a nasty thing to say to a teenage boy. Witnesses backstage say Elvis got so upset in fact that he ripped off his shirt and threw it in the trash. 

Shortly there after, Elvis spotted Bill Monroe. Monroe started pacing towards him as Elvis braced himself for a tongue lashing. Monroe walked up to Elvis and to his relief simply stated, “I liked your song.” Two days later, Monroe went into the studio and recorded Elvis’s version of his song to try and capitalize on some of that notoriety and money money Elvis was making. 

That night, Ernest Tubb was also booked to play. Tubb is considered the father of Honky Tonk and was one of the kindest most generous people in country music history (despite that one time he tried to murder Jim Denny). He had a live radio show that aired out of his record shop down on Lower Broadway called “The Midnight Jamboree.” Essentially, once the Opry finished and let out, everyone would head over to the record store and cram in there to see all the Opry stars get up on stage in a less formal show, often more like a jam session. If the Grand Ole Opry is the oldest radio show in the world, ET’s Midnight Jamboree is the second oldest. So when Ernest saw a shirtless Elvis back stage at the Opry tearing up over his less than well received performance, he went over to Elvis, offered him one of his own shirts, put his arm around him and said, “Son, don’t pay any mind to those people out there. You got something that those people just can’t see. You keep doing what you’re doing and you’re gonna be just fine. Look, I got this little radio show I do at the record shop right after the Opry.  Why don’t you come on down and get on stage. Elvis did, and he was much more warmly received than he was at the Opry.

Now, a few weeks earlier, Ernest Tubb had been introduced to a young female singer named Virginia Patterson Hensley, and he’d really taken a liking to her. He asked if she’d ever seen the Opry. She hadn’t. He asked her if she’d like to be his guest at his upcoming appearance and she said she’d very much like to be, so Ernest took her around and introduced her to many of the Opry folks backstage and she got to sit side stage watching Tubb, Presley, and Monroe perform on this very historic Opry. 
Tubb also invited her that night to perform on his Midnight Jamboree afterwards and when she got on stage to sing, her debut in Nashville, she didn’t introduce herself as Virginia Hensley, rather she used a new stage name given to her a few weeks earlier by her band leader. A name based on her middle name of Patterson.  This magical night was the first night Virginia Hensley performed as Patsy Cline. 
Herb Williams
Odd to me that Hank Snow gets airbrushed out of the story. Elvis had been appearing on Snows package shows and he was more or less acting as “ manager”. Snow used his own association and clout as an Opry star to get Elvis a spot on the program. — also, it’s odd that nobody can really verify that Jim Denny told Elvis to “ go back to driving a truck” but the retelling of that is now part of the history.- Elvis spent his time then with Snow’s son Jimmie Rodger’s Snow, the Carter Family, the Browns and others who would become associated with the Opry. He was basically a Country Music singer that outshined the established competition— others resented the attention he was getting from the public.— The Opry then was attended by a strange mix of people from many regions of the nation who were basically conservative and probably had no idea who this new upstart guest singer was- and it didn’t matter as the Opry management purposely put Elvis on late in the program assuming that the majority of their listeners were probably in bed by then.—- this event and the stories will continue but most accounts will just be hearsay.
Ira Gitlin
As my erudite colleague Mr. Weisberger points out, Monroe was positive about Elvis' version of "BMOK". He resented others for stealing his band style, as he saw it, but seems not to have had any problem with Elvis doing his song in a very different style. Of course, as songwriter, he would get royalties from Elvis' recording (and the Stanleys', too). Commenting on the royalty checks, he's reputed to have said, "Those were some powerful checks. Powerful!"
Jon D Weisberger
Nice, but Monroe recorded his second version of “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on 9/4/54, and the version of the song that he produced on the Stanley Brothers, which follows Elvis’ arrangement more closely, was recorded on 8/29/54 - I.e., both were cut before, not after, Elvis’ Opry appearance.
Monroe’s account of his encounter with Elvis there has him saying something like this of Elvis’ version: “if it helps you with your music, I’m all for it.”
James Townsend
Yeah, Bill was something else. He hated the Kentucky Headhunters version of, “Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine,” until he got that first check from BMI. He played my pink Tele one night at a jam session at my father in law’s house and I took a picture of him playing it. He told me he’d beat the hell out of me if that picture ever got out. I believed him
Richard Alan White
It wouldn't be until 1955 that Lucky White of the Dude Ranch Playboys would give Elvis a copy his 1946 sound recording of TEDDY BEAR on Courtney Records to cover. One America's very first 'rap' songs. Elvis was highly influenced by Lucky and his TEDDY BEAR song. So much so that Elvis hired writers to write his own version of TEDDY BEAR which he released in 1957. Lucky wasn't too happy with Elvis after that move. It negatively affected Lucky's fan base and his song brand. You can hear the original TEDDY BEAR at the link?????? https://youtu.be/UvfXEDaCqA0?si=hsMWzVY8BdgELMq5

https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1957-december-21.html
https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1957-december-21.html
https://www.facebook.com/owenbradleysquonsethut/

Ryman Auditorium, Nashville | December 21, 1957

Gordon Stoker came over to the Colonel's area of Madison to pick up the Jordanaires' Christmas bonus's,
amounting to four thousand dollars.
Apparently Elvis asked if Gordon was going to the Grand ole opry that night,
'If I had some kind of clothes, I'd go with you guys' and
Elvis then picked up a Tuxedo outfit from Mallernee's outfitters in Nashville,which Gordon arranged.

Elvis and his group then made their way to the Grand Ole Opry where he didn't perform on stage that saturday evening,
but did hang around backstage and meets lots of old friends.

Location: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville.
Date 21st December 1957.
Time: 8.30pm - 9.00pm
Network: NBC radio
Sponsers: Prince Albert Grand
The 950th Grand Ole Opry Christmas show
 


Nashville booking Agent, Hubert Long | Elvis Presley | Colonel Parker | Faron Young


Hank Snow | Elvis Presley
Hank Snow introduced Elvis on October 2, 1954 when he appeared on Hank's portion of the Grand Ole Opry.
Colonel Tom Parker was Hank Snow's manager and the two were partners in Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions.
Elvis briefly sang Hank's 'I'm Gonna Bid My Blues Goodbye'
on the Million Dollar Quartet session on December 4, 1956, and recorded 'I'm Movin On' at American Sound in 1969.


Gorden Terry | Elvis Presley | Ray Price


Johnny Cash | Elvis Presley | Gordon Stoker


Brenda Lee | Elvis Presley
This was Brenda's first Grand Old Opry Performance;
December 1957 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
She met Elvis Presley for the first time which is said to be one of her fondest memories'.


Jimmy Rodgers Snow, (Hank's Snow son), who was also an entertainer,
was with Elvis and other performers in 1955 on Jamboree tours. Jimmy came backstage to say hello.
Elvis invited Jimmy to visit him at Graceland, which Jimmy did flying to Memphis on New Year's Day 1958.


The Jordanaires | Hugh Jarrett | Gordon Stoker, Elvis Presley | Neal Matthews | Hoyt Hawkins


Ferlin Huskey | Elvis Presley | Faron Young | Hawkshaw Hawkins | Tom Perryman
 
 

2013 Facebook
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville | December 21, 1957
Faron Young

Ray Price. Heard him in an interview on WSM 650 am not long ago with Eddie Stubbs.
He has been battling cancer and is in remission right now.
Can go to the archives on line and listen to the podcast of the show.

Hank Snow introduced Elvis on October 2, 1954 when he appeared on Hank's portion of the Grand Ole Opry.
Colonel Tom Parker was Hank Snow's manager and the two were partners in Hank Snow Enterprises and Jamboree Attractions.
Elvis briefly sang Hank's 'I'm Gonna Bid My Blues Goodbye' on the Million Dollar Quartet session on December 4, 1956,
and recorded 'I'm Movin On' at American Sound in 1969.

Teddy & Doyle had toured with Elvis the previous year.

Johnny Cash Gordon Stoker   Stoney Cooper

This was Brenda's first Grand Old Opry Performance;
December 1957 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. She met Elvis Presley for the first time which is said to be one of her fondest memories'

Jimmy Rodgers Snow, (Hank's Snow son), who was also an entertainer, was with Elvis and other performers in 1955 on Jamboree tours.
Jimmy came backstage to say hello.
Elvis invited Jimmy to visit him at Graceland, which Jimmy did flying to Memphis on New Year's Day 1958

Jordanaires

 Ferlin Husky, Faron Young, and Hawkshaw Hawkins. Tom Perryman, a DJ and promotor.

Parker Lamar Fike: 'After the Opry we went over to the governor's mansion to see Governor Frank Clement.

We stayed up there until one o'clock in the morning playing the piano.

The Marigolds, (evolved from The Prison Aires), with lead singer Johnny Bragg,
performed for Elvis at Governor Frank G.Clement's mansion.
They sang Jailhouse Rock for Elvis, and he was impressed with their harmonies
, and wanted to record with them, but apparently Colonel Parker did not consider this a good career move.
Elvis joined them for a rendition of Just Walkin' In The Rain,a song Elvis did not record.
Elvis and his party returned back to Memphis in the early hours of Sunday 22nd of December 1957
 
 


Governor of Tennessee- Frank G. Clement ,Elvis and Colonel Parker.
This was Brenda's first Grand Old Opry Performance; December 1957 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
She met Elvis Presley for the first time which is said to be one of her fondest memories'.
 
 

Lamar Fike 'After the Opry we went over to the governor's mansion to see Governor Frank Clement.

We stayed up there until one o'clock in the morning playing the piano.

The Marigolds, (evolved from The Prison Aires), with lead singer Johnny Bragg, performed for Elvis at Governor Frank G.Clement's mansion.
They sang Jailhouse Rock for Elvis, and he was impressed with their harmonies, and wanted to record with them,
but apparently Colonel Parker did not consider this a good career move.
Elvis joined them for a rendition of Just Walkin' In The Rain,a song Elvis did not record.
Elvis and his party returned back to Memphis in the early hours of Sunday 22nd of December 1957.

Elvis Presley Photos Little Junior Parker, Elvis, Bobby Blue Bland :
WDIA Goodwill Revue December 6, 1957
January 1957

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Kennedy Veterans Hospital | January 4, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley January 6, 1957 | Warwick Hotel, New York
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show | His third and final Appearance | January 6, 1957 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis, Monday evening, January 7, 1957 following his last appearance on the Ed Sullivan show
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Elvis may move into Graceland Newspaper article | 1957
March

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley displays the toy pistol that caused him some trouble | March 22, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Pfc. Hershel Nixon and Elvis Presley shake hands | March 26, 1957
Elvis Presley MP3 Audio Interview Elvis Presley Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 30, 1957
April

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Buffalo, NY. Memorial Coliseum | April 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Maple Leaf Gardens Canada | April 2, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Ottawa Canada | April 3, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sports Arena | April 5, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Knox Phillips | Memphis, TN | Tuesday April 9, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley with Yvonne Lime | Easter 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley New Music Gates at Graceland in 1957 | April 22, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos April 30, 1957 | Bill for Stone Wall Built at the front of Graceland
May

Elvis Presley Photos The Dog House That Frank Helped Build | May 17-19, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos May 1957 | The Jailhouse Rock Recording Sessions
June

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley with comic Lou Costello and actress Jane Russell | Russwood Park | June 28, 1957
August

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Vancouver, Canada. Empire Stadium | August 31, 1957
September

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Tacoma, WA. Lincoln Bowl (Matinee Show) | September 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Seattle, WA. Sick's Stadium (Evening Show) | September 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Multnomah Civic Stadium Portland, OR | September 2, 1957
October

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley October 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Joan Adams | Las Vegas, October 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley October 28 & 29, 1957 | Pan Pacific Auditorium
November

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Hawaii | November 9, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Hawaii | November 10, 1957
Elvis Presley Video Interviews with or about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Honolulu Stadium, Hawaii November, 10 1957
December

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley WDIA Goodwill Revue | December 6, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley December 16, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Graceland | December 20, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Colonel Parker | Isetta Sports Car | Saturday | December 21, 1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley December 21, 1957 | Evening | Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Hannerl Melcher | December 1957

DVD. Elvis Presley The King of Rock 'n' Roll

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Telegram to Young Fan
The Movies Of 1957

Elvis Presleys Movies 1957, Loving You, Paramount
Elvis Presleys Movies 1957, Jailhouse Rock, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Movies In Photos

Elvis Presley Photos Loving You New page link
Elvis Presley Photos Jailhouse Rock New page link
Video

Elvis Presley Video Video | Amazing new Hawaii 1957 footage


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