It's May 16th, and on this day in 1954, Elvis Presley attended the annual Cotton Festival in Memphis. Two years before he would become a headliner at the event, he was in the audience, watching the performance of Eddy Arnold, who had once been managed by Colonel Tom Parker. The Jordanaires, who would go on to become a crucial part of Elvis's sound, were backing Arnold during the show. After the performance, Elvis made his way backstage, where he famously told the group, ""If I ever cut a record, I want you guys singing background with me."" This moment would foreshadow the collaboration that would shape Elvis's musical career.

In 1956, Elvis gave two performances at the Robinson Memorial Auditorium in Little Rock, Arkansas. During an interview between shows, he mentioned that his favorite song was ""I Was The One"" from his first RCA session.

In 1957, Elvis was released from the hospital after an unspecified health issue.

In 1967, Elvis visited the Memphian Theater to watch Peter Sellers' film *A Shot In The Dark*.

And in 1971, while recording his upcoming Christmas album in Nashville, Elvis and his band jammed during a break, playing Bob Dylan's ""Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"" for over 11 minutes. Elvis lost interest in the Christmas album afterward, and the band recorded three instrumental tracks instead.

It's May 15, and on this day in 1956, Elvis Presley performed at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee, during the Cotton Carnival. This marked a key moment in his career, as he closed the show with "Hound Dog" for the very first time, a song that would go on to become a defining anthem of his career. Elvis, dressed in a black shirt, Kelly green jacket, and black pants, received an enthusiastic welcome from the hometown crowd, who roared with approval when it was announced that Elvis would be performing a charity benefit show later that summer. The performance also included "Heartbreak Hotel" and a tribute to Little Richard with "Long Tall Sally." It was a night that further cemented his place as a musical icon in his own hometown.

It's May 14th, and on this day in 1957, while working on the dance sequence for *Jailhouse Rock*, Elvis accidentally swallowed a cap from one of his teeth. This mishap would become a notable moment in his legendary career as the King of Rock and Roll continued to face both the pressures and challenges of his rising stardom.
Also on this day in 1968, Elvis met with Bob Finkel to discuss his upcoming Christmas special. With a desire to make the special stand out, Elvis expressed that he wanted it to be completely different from his previous work, aiming to showcase his true capabilities as a performer beyond the typical Christmas show format.