Elvis Presley - 1st national TV gig - Jan 28, 1956

Wow. Has it really been 55 years ago today that Elvis Presley kicked up his greasy southern heels and a battered acoustic guitar and did his thang on national TV? Yup.

Elvis first appeared on US TV on January 28, 1956, on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in New York. He played "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Flip, Flop and Fly" in his first appearance - watch it below. I love the way Bill Black kicks his bass on this one, and D.J. Fontana kicks it out nicely on the drums. Shame Scotty Moore's guitar isn't that loud in the break, but we're watching Elvis gyrate anyway, so who cares?



Elvis's combo ended up being on the show five times in the following weeks before he hit Milton Berle's and Ed Sullivan's shows later in 1956.

That's rock n roll, right there....