The year 1960 begins, a new decade that will offer many changes in relation to the musical field. For Elvis Presley it is a change of scenery, a new direction since the music announces another panorama.
Elvis becomes more romantic, sensitive and sexual in his music, this causes his circle of admirers to expand towards other previously unforeseen expectations. Rock has also taken another direction, another dimension. New trends that are going to invade the music market.
Elvis returns after two years of disconnection from the real world, since his departure brought with it an insecurity for him that he would have to face. In Germany he experimented with his voice and learned from his new friend Charlie Hodge, who gave him some advice.
His voice seemed to have matured and grown in this time, although he didn't know what he would find. The truth is that his fans had not forgotten him and were eagerly awaiting his return.
Colonel Parker had worked while busy publishing past hits and songs to remind his followers.
His return to the United States was on March 2, 1960, Elvis returned home dressed in his sergeant's uniform. On his way home by train he found himself besieged by his fans who wanted to see him again and this meant that until he reached Tennessee he had to satisfy them by greeting them at the train stops.
There were new musical expectations, since he was scheduled to record on March 20 in Nashville for RCA.
Everything was important for him in the present, since he once again wanted to act, sing and above all not disappoint his fans.
Although he really wouldn't know what this decade was going to change for him.
"Following the Way of the King..."
Elvis Presley turns 25 and celebrates with a party at the local recreation center in Bad Nauheim. Accompanied by Pricilla Beaulieu, his gang and about two hundred guests.
He is interviewed by Dick Clark for American Bandstand about his future. Elvis talks about his upcoming appearance on Fran Sinatra's TV show, his future recordings in Nashville and a new movie for Paramount, which is being filmed under the title G.I Blues. He already had several projects to carry out when he returned to the US, but before that he had asked for a few days of leave and took a trip to Paris.
On January 12th he travels to Paris with Joe Esposito, Cliff Gleaves, Lamar Fike. and his karate instructor, Jürgen Seydel. During the visit they attend five karate classes taught by Tetsuii Murakami. His interest in karate will increase over the years.
In Paris he goes to see the performance of the Golden Gate Quartet Gospel group. Charlie Hodge told him a lot about this group of which Elvis had several recordings. After the show, he sits backstage with the group singing Gospel songs. Elvis happily enjoyed this moment since he always wanted to sing in a quartet and they sang one song after another.
When he returns from Paris Elvis is promoted to Sergeant, he has little time left to graduate, but before leaving for the maneuvers of "Operation Winter Shield" in Grafenwöhr.
In February he celebrates his promotion to sergeant with a party. In an interview with Armed Forces Radio Elvis talks about the army and the experience he had for a year and a half. Elvis commented that people expected that he was going to make a mistake, that he would not be able to endure military service and that he decided to prove the opposite, trying his best.
He also talked about his future albums, Elvis said that he believed it would be a serious mistake if someone else told him what to record and how to record it, because he worked strictly by instinct and impulse... Elvis chose his songs and had the public in his mind visualizing as if he himself were buying the album.
Elvis thought a lot about his fans, but he really didn't know that despite choosing his songs, there would be copyright problems because of Colonel Parker.
"Following the Way of the King..."
EP: "A Touch of Gold" Vol 3. published on February 23, 1960. RCA continued to publish Elvis Presley material, to keep it fresh in the memories of his fans until he recorded records again. It would be the third volume with past hits, but unlike the previous two, this one did enter the Billboard charts, reaching number 17. But the sales of the album were not really great, they would be just over 50,000 copies. This already shows that they are abusing the publications of their already recorded songs and the fans would not respond in the same way.
On March 1, 1960, a press conference is held before Elvis's departure from Germany, at the Friedberg soldiers' club. More than one hundred reporters and photographers attended and witnessed the delivery of a certificate of Merit to Elvis by the commanding officer. The certificate highlights "joy, drive and continually outstanding leadership." You really have to take into account that Elvis was out of his environment, but in some way he was taking a break from that tireless hubbub that was surrounding him with his fame. In military service he would demonstrate his cheerful and tenacious temperament.
Also present at the press conference was Marion Keisker of Sun Records, who was also serving her tour of duty in Europe.
Elvis was very happy to see her after three years and very excited to see someone of her kind after so many months of service.
While Colonel Parker is in New York trying to make improvements to Elvis' contract with RCA, retroactive to January 1st. He arranges for any recordings Elvis makes in his films to be used to fulfill his contractual agreement of two LPs and eight singles a year. Financially, Elvis and the Colonel will receive three-quarters of 1 percent royalties, in addition to another five percent regular royalties. In addition to accepting that the payments that will be made for musicians, vocalists, arrangements in recording sessions do not have to be deducted from royalties.
Tom Parker also maintained control of advertising, promotion and publicity material for which he received an annual payment of $27,000, always with the authorization of Elvis. The Colonel supplied photographs for album covers, exploitation, etc.
"Following the Way of the King..."
On March 2, 1960, Elvis was bound for Germany and Priscilla Beaulieu, who came from the Rhine-on-Main base area. All over the world, she was already a young woman who had Elvis, who wanted to be able to have a relationship so as not to damage his image, since she was only fourteen years old.
She was photographed by journalists and her image was inspired by Elvis in the review of "Life", but the name was "Girl Left Behind".
The plane took off from McGuire Air Force Base at Fort Dix in New Jersey in a snowstorm. Everything is celebrated without the press conference, followed by a welcome party in his country. The Colonel and several representatives of RCA are there and also Nancy Sinatra, who would receive him with a gift, a shirt that Elvis would wear the next day with his uniform.
The Fort Dix Road Trip Elvis and Colonel in Limousine then dodge the press to get to Trenton New Jersey where Lamar Fike and Rex Mansfield are waiting, to take a private train to Washington, D.C.
All we have to do is take a private ride on the "Tennessean", bound for Memphis and all the time, Elvis was happy with his fans. In one of the havens of Bristol, Tennessee, lived a young journalist named David Halberstam who wrote about Elvis, in Nashville Tennessee.
Elvis arrived in Memphis in the middle of a snow storm and after greeting his fans, he returns to his house in Graceland in the patrol car of one of his police friends, Fred Woodward.
Elvis lived in his house in Graceland and married Anita Wood, his novelty in many different years, in a normal life he wanted to contact the girl who lived in Germany, Priscilla Beaulieu.
Elvis is his friend Joe Esposito and he asks that she works for him, so Joe always lives there. Elisabeth Stefaniak, Vernon Presley's eponymous secretary and Elvis' grandmother. This means my friend Rex Mansfield is part of the group.
In recent days, Billboard reports that Elvis Presley has sold eight million singles to date, an unbeatable record in music history.
Now, on the way, Elvis pays a visit to his father's office, in the building located at Graceland. You will be beaming and happy with your home, including the dice of the journalists, who will not be able to believe that everything is there.
"Following the King's Highway..."
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