On this day in 1955, Elvis Presley had the chance to play at the Overton Park Shell, as part of “Bob Neal’s 8th Anniversary Jamboree.”
The event drew an overflow audience of 4,000 people, hundreds of whom had to be turned away due to the congestion.
Not only did this concert feature The King early in his reign but also saw such future notable musicians as Johnny Cash and Wanda Jackson get their first tastes of the spotlight.
One performer humorously recalled loaning Elvis his guitar (since the latter could not find his own in time), only to be annoyed when The King returned his guitar with two broken strings.
