Shortly after he failed an audition for a vocal quartet local Songfellows. He told his father, "they said I can not sing." Songfellow Jim Hamill later claimed she was dismissed because she showed no ear for harmony at the time. In April, Presley began working for Crown Electric Company as a truck driver. His friend Ronnie Smith, after playing some local gigs with him, suggested he contact Eddie Bond, a professional conductor Smith, who has the opening song. Bonds fell after a trial, Presley advised to continue to drive the truck "because you never will do as a singer."
Phillips Meanwhile, still looking for someone who can do the voice of black musicians on which Sun is brought to a wider audience. As Keisker said, "Many times I remember Sat saying:" If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and Negro feel, I can make a billion dollars. "" In June, he received a recording a demo of the song, "Without You", which he thought might suit teenage singers. Presley came to the studio, but can not do it justice. However, Phillips called Presley to sing the numbers as much as what 'he knew. He was very affected by what he heard to invite two local musicians, guitarist Winfield "Scotty" Moore and bassist Bill Black standing, something to work with Presley for the recording session.
In the early shows and signed to RCA
The trio played in public for the first time at the club on July 17, Bon Air, Presley was still wearing a guitar body size of children. In the end, they appeared at the Overton Park Shell, with Slim Whitman headlining. The combination of a strong response to the pace and nervous playing in front of a crowd led by Presley shook his leg as she played: wide-cut pants emphasized his motion, causing the young woman in the audience to start yelling. Moore recalled, "During the instrumental part he would resign from the microphone and playing and shaking, and the crowd is going to be wild" [53] Black, a natural showman. Rejoice and take his bass, knocking twice lick Presley will be remembered as "the voice is really wild, like jungle drums or something."
Soon after, Moore and Black out of their former band to play regularly with Presley, and DJ and promoter Bob Neal became director of the trio. From August to October, they often play in clubs Eagle's Nest and returned to Sun Studio recording sessions more, and fast-growing Presley more confident on stage. According to Moore, "His movement is normal, but he was also very aware of what was the reaction he will do something once and then it will expand with real quick .." Presley did what would be the only appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Oct. 2, after a polite audience response, Opry manager Jim Denny Phillips said that the singer is "not bad" but not by the program. Two weeks later, Presley was booked on the Louisiana Hayride, head of the Opry, and adventure, a rival. Shreveport-based show broadcast to 198 radio stations in 28 countries. Presley had a nervous breakdown during the first series, which drew mixed reaction. A more tranquil and the second game inspired energetic enthusiastic response. Homes drummer DJ Fontana brings a new element, with the beats accented movement Presley that mastered playing in clubs. Immediately after the event, Hayride involved Presley in the value of appearances on Saturday night. Trade in his old guitar for $ 8 (and see immediately sent to the trash), he bought the tools Martin $ 175, and his trio began playing in new places, including Houston, Texas, and Texarkana , Arkansas.
In early 1955, Presley Hayride regular appearances, tour constantly, and the notes were well received has made him a regional star significantly, from Tennessee to West Texas. In January, Neal has signed a management contract with Presley and formal setting singers to the attention of Colonel Tom Parker, who was considered the best promoter of the music industry. Of Dutch origin Parker, although he claimed to be from West Virginia has a commission-colonel of the Governor of Louisiana turned country singer Jimmie Davis. After successfully completing high state star Eddy Arnold, he is currently working with the first country singer Hank Snow. Parker has been a Presley tour in February snow. When the tour reached Odessa, Texas, a 19-year Roy Orbison saw Presley for the first time: "His energy is incredible, his instinct just incredible ... I do not know what it does .. It no reference point in the culture to compare them. "Presley made his television debut on March 3 at KSLA-TV broadcast Louisiana Hayride. Shortly after he failed an audition for scouts in the Arthur Godfrey television network CBS. In August, Sun has released ten sides credited to "Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill" in the latest recording, the trio joined with drummer. Some songs, like "That's All Right", is what the journalist described Memphis as "language R & B to jazz field nigger", others, like "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "more in the country" "But there are curious combination of two different songs in" both. This mix of musical styles, it is difficult to find Presley broadcasting. According to Neal, a large number of jockeys country music CD not play, because it sounded too much like a black artist and no rhythm and blues stations will not touch it because "it looks too much like a village." The mixture became known as rockabilly. At the time, Presley varied as "The King of Western Bop", "The Hamlet of cat", and "The Memphis Flash". Presley Neal management contract was extended in August 1955, at the same time appoint Parker As special adviser. This group is maintained by an extensive tour throughout the second half of this year. Neal recalled, "It was almost frightening, the reaction that came to Elvis's teenage children Many them. As a sort of jealousy, would practically hate him. There are opportunities in several Texas cities when we should be sure to have a police guard because somebody'd always tried to take a crack at him that 'they will. get the gang and tried to stop him or something. "Trio is a quartet when drummer Hayride Fontana join as full members. In mid-October, they played a few shows of support from Bill Haley "Rock Around the Clock" is a number one hit last year. Haley notes that Presley has a natural feel for rhythm, and suggested she sing ballads less.
In the State Disk Jockey Convention in early November, Presley was voted Most Promising Male Artist of the year. Some record companies have by now shown interest in signing him. After three major labels have made offers up to $ 25,000, Parker and Phillips entered into an agreement with RCA Victor November 21, to acquire Presley's Sun contract for an unprecedented $ 40,000. Presley, 20, still small that his father signed the contract. Parker agreed with the owner of Hill and Range Publishing, Jean and Julian Aberbach, to create two entities, and Gladys Music Elvis Presley, to treat all new material recorded by Presley. Songwriter forced to abandon their use of a third of the royalties in return he has played in their composition. In December, RCA began to really promote the new singer, and before the end of the month has been reissued several of his recordings Sun.