Frequented Places

Studios, stages, and cities that shaped Elvis's life and career

Beyond his homes, Elvis is associated with a constellation of studios, stages, and cities that shaped his journey. These locations were integral to his musical development, breakthrough performances, and later triumphs.

Studios & Gigs

  • Sun Studio, Memphis: where he cut his first songs and developed the rockabilly sound with Scotty Moore and Bill Black.
  • Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport: the weekly radio show that helped build a devoted southern following.
  • Beale Street & Black churches, Memphis: teenaged Elvis absorbed blues rhythms and gospel harmonies by visiting clubs and services.
  • The Ed Sullivan Show, New York: his 1956–57 television performances introduced him to an audience of 60 million viewers.
  • American Sound Studio, Memphis: the 1969 Chips Moman sessions produced “Suspicious Minds,” “In the Ghetto,” and “Kentucky Rain.”

Residencies & Tours

  • International Hotel (Westgate), Las Vegas: beginning July 31, 1969, he played hundreds of sold‑out shows over seven years.
  • Honolulu International Center, Hawaii: site of Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite, the first concert broadcast worldwide via satellite.
  • NBC Studios, Burbank: where the 1968 NBC special (the ’68 Comeback) was filmed.
  • Friedberg/Bad Nauheim, Germany: during Army service he lived off‑base at Goethestrasse 14, where he met Priscilla.
  • Madison Square Garden, New York: in 1972 he sold out four shows in a row—an MSG first.
  • Houston Astrodome, Texas: landmark appearances at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (1970, 1974).
  • Mid‑South Coliseum, Memphis: major homecoming concerts during the 1970s.
  • Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, NV: a series of early‑’70s concert engagements.

Shops & Landmarks

  • Lansky Bros., Memphis: “Clothier to the King.” Bernard Lansky helped craft Elvis’s early look in the 1950s. Today located inside the Peabody Hotel.
  • Overton Park Shell (Levitt Shell), Memphis: site of Elvis’s first paid concert on July 30, 1954.
  • RCA Studio B, Nashville: hub for his early-’60s Nashville sessions, including hits like “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “It’s Now or Never.”
  • Stax Records, Memphis: 1973 sessions here contributed to his strong 1970s output.
  • Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport: home stage of the Louisiana Hayride, where his regional fame exploded.
  • Tupelo Hardware Co., Tupelo: store where he obtained his first guitar.
  • Humes High School, Memphis: Elvis’s high school, tied to early performances and local roots.