The photo is significant to Richmond fans in particular because the May 16, 1955, concert at the Mosque was the first time Elvis appeared here in Richmond. The singer was still on the SUN Records label at the time. Just six months later, he would sign with RCA Records and soon go from being a regional star to an international one.
Also covered in McQuade’s story is the Elvis At 21 exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition features legendary photos of Elvis snapped by photographer Alfred Wertheimer, including several of Elvis in Richmond in June 1956.
Elvis eventually did 15 shows in Richmond, the last one in 1976.
Thanks for sharing this, Ty!
“He never leaves you,” Sylvia says in the story about her photo of Elvis, and I couldn’t agree more.
And while on the subject of photos of the young Elvis, maybe you’ll find this interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2011/dec/27/rock-stars-radio-1950s#/?picture=383801715&index=9
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I didn’t think about this until just now, but I hope Sylvia has a copy of Elvis Now in her collection, featuring the song “Sylvia.”
That book you mentioned looks interesting. I actually mentioned it in a brief article a few months back, but I still haven’t obtained a copy yet.
New 1950s radio book includes Elvis photos
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Yeah, my wife had a relative in Chile who’s name was “Sylvia,” I always thought I should send her a copy of Elvis Now, but sadly I never did.
And now that yoy mention it, I do remember you writing about that book. Cool to see such a young Elvis portraited that way.
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That book definitely looks cool, full of rock ‘n’ roll stars of the era. So many books, so little time!
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