It’s July second, and on this day in 1963… Elvis Presley arrived in Hollywood to begin work on *Viva Las Vegas*, his fifteenth film. Originally titled *The Only Girl in Town*, the movie paired Elvis with rising star Ann-Margret, whose chemistry with Elvis sparked an off-screen romance as well. Their closeness quickly drew attention—not just from Elvis’s entourage, but from gossip magazines and newspapers, including a headline in the *Memphis Press-Scimitar* that read, “It Looks Like Romance For Presley And Ann-Margret.” The relationship would become one of the most talked-about in Elvis’s life, leaving a lasting mark on his personal and professional legacy.

It’s July second, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley walked into RCA Studios in New York City and took full control of the recording session for the first time in his career. What followed would become one of the most iconic moments in rock and roll history. Over the course of the day, Elvis recorded “Hound Dog,” pushing through 31 takes to get it just right. He also recorded “Don’t Be Cruel,” a track that would pair with “Hound Dog” as a groundbreaking double A-side single, and “Any Way You Want Me,” a ballad that showed the depth of his vocal range. This session not only produced three of his most memorable recordings but also marked the moment Elvis began shaping his sound on his own terms.

It’s June thirtieth, and on this day in 1954… tragedy struck the gospel world when R.W. Blackwood and Bill Lyles of The Blackwood Brothers were killed in a plane crash in Clanton, Alabama—just two weeks after winning first place on the *Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Show*. Cecil Blackwood stepped in to lead the group, leaving an opening in their affiliated younger act, The Songfellows. The group offered the spot to Elvis Presley, but he had just begun recording with Sun Records and turned it down. The Blackwood Brothers were Gladys Presley’s favorite gospel group, and in 1958, Elvis flew them to Memphis to perform at her funeral.

It’s June twenty-ninth, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley arrived in New York City to begin rehearsals for his upcoming appearance on *The Steve Allen Show*. At the rehearsal hall in midtown Manhattan, Elvis was greeted by Colonel Tom Parker and representatives from the William Morris Agency, along with Steve Allen and co-stars Andy Griffith and Imogene Coca. Elvis and Griffith, already acquainted from earlier shows in Florida, caught up before the run-through. This appearance would become one of the most talked-about moments of Elvis’s early career—featuring him in a tuxedo, singing “Hound Dog” to a basset hound in a top hat, and joining the cast in a comedy skit titled “Range Round Up.”

It’s June twenty-eighth, and on this day in 1962… while home in Memphis for the summer, Elvis Presley acquired his most notorious pet—Scatter the chimpanzee. Originally a TV performer in Memphis, Scatter quickly became a fixture in Elvis’s Hollywood home, known for his wild antics and party tricks, including his fondness for peeking under women’s dresses. Alan Fortas often chauffeured Scatter around town, letting the chimp wear a driver’s cap and pose behind the wheel at stop signs. But Scatter’s charm faded as he developed a taste for alcohol and became increasingly unruly, eventually landing him in a pen at Graceland.

It’s June twenty-seventh, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley got his first real shot at Sun Records. Marion Keisker, assistant to Sam Phillips, urged her boss to give the young man with the sideburns a chance to try out a new song from Nashville publisher Red Wortham. Elvis hurried to the studio and spent the afternoon working on “Without You,” but couldn’t deliver a usable take. Still, Sam Phillips saw something in him. A few days later, during another session, Elvis would spontaneously break into “That’s All Right”—and music history would begin.

It’s June twenty-sixth, and on this day in 1909… Andreas Cornelius van Kuijk was born in Breda, Holland. The man who would later become known as Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s lifelong manager, immigrated illegally to the United States in 1929, reinventing himself as a native of Huntington, West Virginia. After serving in the U.S. Army, Parker launched a colorful career in carnivals and fairs, eventually managing artists like Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. In 1956, he took on Elvis Presley as a client—his only client—and remained by Elvis’s side as manager, promoter, and gatekeeper for the rest of the King’s life.