January 27, 1956
Elvis Presley's debut single for RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel," is released. The first of Presley's 17 Number One hits, it holds down the top spot for eight weeks. "Heartbreak Hotel" establishes Elvis Presley and rock and roll itself as national phenomena.
January 28, 1956
Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on network TV as a guest on Stage Show, hosted by jazz bandleaders Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. Throughout 1956, Presley's biggest year, he will also appear on The Milton Berle Show, The Steve Allen Show and The Ed Sullivan Show.
April 15, 1956
Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
July 22, 1956
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
August 4, 1956
What many consider to be one of rock's greatest double-sided singles, "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog," is released. Both sides will share the top spot for 11 weeks.
August 12, 1956
Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
October 28, 1956
Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
November 15, 1956
The film Love Me Tender, which features Elvis Presley in the first of 31 Hollywood movie roles, premieres at the New York Paramount. Two months earlier, on September 9th, he performed the title song on the Ed Sullivan Show to a record viewing audience estimated at 54 million.
December 4, 1956
Four legendary past and present Sun Records recording artists Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash rather at Sun for an informal jam session. Later dubbed the Million Dollar Quartet, the stars (sans Cash, who stays only briefly) perform gospel standards and recent hits in relaxed, impromptu fashion.
December 4, 1956
The "Million Dollar Quartet" Presley, Perkins, Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis records old gospel, country and pop songs at an impromptu session. The recordings aren't officially released until the mid-Eighties.
1957
Leiber & Stoller are summoned to New York by Elvis's Brill Building music publisher to write songs for the movie 'Jailhouse Rock.' The title song soon reaches #1.
January 6, 1957
Elvis Presley sings five songs in his final performance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
January 8, 1957
Elvis Presley passes the pre-induction exam for the Army.
February 3, 1957
Too Much (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
April 7, 1957
All Shook Up (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
July 2, 1957
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
September 1, 1957
Jimi Hendrix goes to see Elvis Presley perform at Sicks Stadium.
October 15, 1957
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
December 19, 1957
Elvis Presley is served with his draft notice while home at Graceland for the Christmas holidays. He is sworn in as a private in the U.S. Army on March 24, 1958, and later sent to basic training in Fort Hood, Texas. Shipped to Germany, he will serve in Company D, 32nd Tank Battalion, 3rd Armor Corps, from October 1, 1958, to March 1, 1960.
February 4, 1958
Don't (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
July 15, 1958
Hard Headed Woman (Elvis Presley) was a hit.
August 4, 1959
A Big Hunk O' Love (Elvis Presley) was a hit.