It is difficult to summarize the profound influence Elvis Aaron Presley had on Rock & Roll in a few short words. No single performer ever had the wide reaching and long lasting impact as he did. Even John Lennon was quoted as saying that had there been no Elvis, there never would have been the Beatles. Elvis permanently changed the face of Pop culture and was the voice of a generation coming of age in post World War II America.

His breakthroughs in music and other areas set the stage for all that was to follow in the tumultuous '60's and beyond. Though he was often the object of ridicule in his later years, there is no argument as to his landmark contributions and the legacy he left behind. As a then little-known singer named Ronnie McDowell said in closing his tribute song to him, 'The King Is Gone', "Goodbye, Elvis. We'll miss you".

 

 

1956

WPGC Elvis Presley Membership Card

During the 'Elvis the Pelvis' controversy. 'Bob Rick'(man) worked at WPGC in 1956.

 

Elvis Debut Gets West End Flavor © Billboard - 08/18/56 - See enlargement.

 

 

Elvis' First Appearances in Washington

Elvis appears on WMAL-TV's, 'Town and Country Time', hosted by Jimmy Dean in the District on 03/23/56. Read more.

 

Still shot from Elvis' first local televised appearance in DC with Jimmy Dean on 03/23/56. Photo courtesy of the Dean family collection.

 

Elvis performs on the Wilson Line's, 'S.S. Mt. Vernon' on 03/23/56, though the ship never makes it out of port. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library.

 

By day, the Wilson Line took patrons to Mt. Vernon and Marshall Hall Amusement Park. By night, the ship was often chartered by Connie B. Gay for his Country moonlight cruises along the Potomac.

 

 

Elvis Returns to the Nation's Capital

1970

Elvis with Richard Nixon at the Whitehouse on 12/21/70. Elvis offers to lend his service in the fight against drug abuse. Read more.

 

 

1974

Elvis performs at the University of MD's Cole Field House on 09/28/74. The King stumbles and falls getting out of his limosine and is so impaired by illegal substances that his singing suffers, often being unintelligible.

 

 

1976

Elvis performs at the Capital Centre on 06/27/76.

 

 

Elvis Kicks Off His Final Tour

1977

The 'Big E' hits the road for the last time. WPGC gives away tickets.

 

Elvis' final show at the Capital Centre, a month before his last one ever.

 

The show lasts barely an hour.

 

 

Elvis Passes Away

08/16/77 - 'The King' dies. WPGC immediately goes into all-Elvis mode.

 

Stations Hustle to Air Their Tributes © Billboard - 08/22/77- See enlargement.

 

Caption reads: Ronnie McDowell - 'The King Is Gone (A Tribute To Elvis)' visits Dave Foxx for an exclusive interview on WPGC. Just 3 weeks after the passing of Elvis, the song debuted at #25.

 

 

Elvis' last hit while still alive, 'Way Down' debuted as an Extra on 10/08/77, despite having been released the previous June. See enlargement.

 

 

 

1978

Love Me Tender

Linda Ronstadt & Elvis

Dave Foxx

 

 

1980

The authors recount WPGC's special programming in the immediate aftermath of Elvis' death. Read more. © 1980, 1982 Neal and Janice Gregory.

 

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