On this day in 1954, Elvis Presley made his professional concert debut

The show, performed at the Overton Park Shell in Memphis (now the Levitt Shell at Overton Park) was a Slim Whitman concert in which Elvis was scheduled to open alongside various other artists. Originally advertised as a ‘Hillbilly Hoedown’, the show eventually changed it’s advertising, making the show Presley’s first advertised performance.

Presley stole the show, performing songs he had written in a history-making session at Sun Studio, including “That’s All Right”, which had become a hit within days of its release, and “Blue Moon of Kentucky”. In the crowd was Presley’s girlfriend, Dixie Locke and his parents, Vernon and Gladys, alongside a large enthusiastic crowd. Elvis was so nervous he didn’t notice that his legs were shaking, causing the crowd to go wild.

Many music historians refer to this show as not only Elvis’ Professional debut but also as the first true rock and roll concert and a major turning point for the genre.

ON THIS DAY IN 1954, MUSIC HISTORY WAS MADE AS ELVIS PRESLEY SIGNED HIS FIRST RECORD DEAL

Presley had relocated to Memphis, Tennessee with his family, and was working as a truck driver for the Crown Electric company. He went into Sun Records in August of 1953 to cut a first single, and a receptionist took down his name. Throughout the next year, Presley recorded a couple of other songs until his eventual signing on the 12th of July, 1954.

Presley began working with producer Sam Philips, who was primarily concerned with mainstreaming the sounds of African-American music and making them more accessible. This tactic was immediately successful, as when Presley debuted on the radio, stations were inundated with requests to know more about the young singer.

Elvis went on to play his first live show on the 17th of July, at the Bon Air club, playing alongside two local musicians. This is where Elvis pioneered his signature leg-shaking dance moves, apparently starting as a combination of his rhythmic responses and nervousness at playing for such a large crowd. The moves reportedly caused many a young woman in the crowd to start screaming. And so began the career of a truly remarkable performer and one of the first rock and roll greats.

ON THIS DAY IN 1894, A STAPLE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN THE FIRST ISSUE OF BILLBOARD WAS RELEASED

Originally called Billboard Advertising, the magazine declared it would be “a monthly resume of all that is bright, new and interesting on the boards.” The eight pages of the magazine would be focussed on “advertisers, poster printers, bill posters, advertising agents & secretaries of fairs.”

The first cover subject was R.C. Campbell, then-president of the Associated Bill Poster’s Association, claiming him as the most “eminent man” in the field that the magazine aimed to cover. Over the next 124 years, the magazine evolved to focus on the music industry.

In 1940, Billboard showed it’s first music chart, the 10-position “National List of Best Selling Retail Records”, topped by Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinatra’s “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Eventually this chart grew to become what we now recognise as the industry standard Billboard 200 and Artist 100.