Elvis: Brownwood 1955

Cherry Springs Tavern... 1955... October 9th (The very next day Elvis encountered 19 year old Sam Walk). Also note.. that means that my dad saw Elvis the night Johnny Cash, Porter Waggoner, Jimmy Newman, Wanda Jackson, and Bobby Lord joined the tour. What a difference a day makes. The lineup for October 10th was A LOT better than the previous day's lineup in my opinion. That lineup would play together for a little over a month. My Dad saw the first night Johnny joined the tour. Might explain why he "just stood over in the corner and didn't say much". He was getting acclimated. anyway... 

Jimmy & Johnny (Pretty good!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FtPf3g7UiI

Johnny Horton (Awesome)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6G0Pj1ACEw

Betty Amos (Pretty good!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ElZnnF53Jw

Dalton and Lula Jo

(crickets)

Willie Birdbrain 

(crickets)

and ol' Horace Logan - Founder of the Luisiana Hayride, who MC'd the event.

Here is Elvis the next day with Wanda Jackson... on 10-10-55 (where's Dad?)

Here is a copy of the infamous promo photo Elvis was selling that day. No doubt this is like the one my Dad got a signed copy of. 

The detail below was lifted from a larger picture taken on October 13th. Note, the above photo appears in a fan's hand. Also note, no signature is visible.

Here is the bigger picture to show context... fans meeting Elvis...

Note, a couple people have a copy of the Elvis promo shot. One person has a Johnny Cash promo picture as well.

By the way here is a copy of the Johnny Cash photo that can be seen in the above picture...

Two legends!!

My Dad walked through these doors and saw musical and cultural history in the making. Seeing Elvis, he probably thought.. “I could do this."

This is the man my Dad encountered that evening...

Apparently Elvis was actually wearing a white coat just like this. Amazing!!

Also the moon was in a waning crescent phase that night... LOL!

I asked my father if he was impressed by Wanda Jackson and he replied “not so much..” when I told him that apparently Porter Wagoner was there that night too, he was surprised. I guess ol’ Porter didn’t upstage Elvis that night.

He had no recollection of Jimmy Newman either. Truth to tell my father was actually looking forward to seeing this guy that night:

Bobby Lord