How many concerts did Elvis perform?

[a mess of polk salad]

Interestingly while watching the excellent Beatles documentary - EIGHT DAYS A WEEK I was struck by the fact that Elvis & the Beatles both played well over a thousand gigs during their careers. Maybe even around the two thousand mark in total? Does anyone know Elvis' total gig count? I'm sure from 1969-77 Elvis played over one thousand shows. Of course his 1950s shows must be taken into consideration also...the fact remains besides his several Hawaiian concerts in the early 1960s, that classic decade was devoid of personal appearances until his legendary 1968-69 Comeback --> thus his phenomenal GIG count would be higher...

[SteamrollerBlues]

Going from the elvisconcerts.com database...

646 concerts from 1954-1961 (though I imagine there's still a lot of dubious and missing information from that time)
1,147 concerts from 1969-1977 (though I've seen various numbers, 1,126 I believe being one of them...)

So, when taken at face value with no further research, from Elvis Presley's whole career, he performed 1,793 shows. Not counting the 1968 special shows.

[a mess of polk salad]

Going from the elvisconcerts.com database...

646 concerts from 1954-1961 (though I imagine there's still a lot of dubious and missing information from that time)
1,147 concerts from 1969-1977 (though I've seen various numbers, 1,126 I believe being one of them...)

So, when taken at face value with no further research, from Elvis Presley's whole career, he performed 1,793 shows. Not counting the 1968 special shows.

That's brilliant - Thanks

[LesterB]

You would think that if Elvis had done 600 plus shows in the 50s then we would have more recordings than we currently have ..... or perhaps there are a few yet to be discovered in someone's attic??

[Ciscoking]

1,147 concerts from 1969-1977 (though I've seen various numbers, 1,126 I believe being one of them...)

1126 is correct

637 in Las Vegas
98 in Lake Tahoe
391 tour etc.

[Joern]

How many of them were afternoon, matinee, evening or midnight shows?

[brian]

If you take out all the Vegas shows he did he really didn't play that many concerts during those years.

[drjohncarpenter]

How many of them were afternoon, matinee, evening or midnight shows?

That's the "tricky" part. For some.

[charroman]

I recently started to ease up on the number of gigs I do as a solo vocalist and at times over the years I have done 140 or so in a year which is slightly less in average than what Elvis was doing 69-77 and I can say from experience it is too many and a heck of a toll on your body/voice/sanity ( not to mention relationships and family life).

I would be interested to learn how his work rate of gigs compared to his contemporaries ? Were other artists of stature doing a similar amount of gigs at the time . Was it considered "normal" and accepted back then?

[charroman]

Thanks for the info Greystoke and interesting to hear about the Neil Diamond deal.
I know certain artists do still maintain a high schedule of individual appearances on the road but I have always thought the sheer volume at the time for Elvis; particularly the Vegas schedule would have been a strain for anyone and it is useful to look at what other artists did and how they handled the career balance.
Residency type bookings can be useful and offer performers a different kind of audience and show to tackle but hard for it not to become stale or routine particularly under the pressure of two or more shows a day! I just think its amazing that he was signed up for that in the 70's when I don't think other artists were committed to that type of intense workload ? But I don't know enough about the Vegas set up then and if it was "the norm" for artists to do that in the 70's???

[TeddyGirl]

Thank you Greystoke, for another interesting and informative post. I always look forward to your insight - always fair and balanced, and respecting of our man!

[charroman]

Greystokes industry knowledge is invaluable and fascinating to me and puts what Elvis was doing / being asked to do into a lot of context. Other stars of his stature had options and exercised those options presumably via their respective managements and were prepared to hold out or go in search of other things and unafraid to take time out and do other things. Those that perhaps needed the money or were trying to re-establish careers did what they had to do. Thats the conundrum for me in trying to understand the driving forces at play.

[Ciscoking]

For me Greystoke is the absoute forums king. His brilliant postings are always insightful, knowledgable, respectful, friendly and without any agenda. This makes him the most appreciated member of this board.
Please keep on,mate. Kudos !

[Delboy]

Thank you Greystoke for your research and insights. The more I learn about the mismanagement of Elvis the more annoyed I get. Clearly Elvis was a guy from humble beginnings who was overwhelmed by the wealth he found. However, this does not excuse the appalling business decisions made on his behalf. He should have always been the highest paid star in Vegas during his tenure as he was the biggest draw though was quickly overtaken. Sound management could have afforded him to take the time from his gruelling schedule he clearly needed. Regarding the Neil Diamond Vegas run, it was the job of Presley management to understand market forces. Neither party cared unfortunately.

[charroman]

There is definitely a book still to be written I feel that really delves deep into the business dealings and career highs and lows putting it all in perspective of the impact then and legacy now. For anyone who was not around in the early years or was too young in the 70's to appreciate etc and for general music fans who are fascinated by the career side of things. Not ignoring the personal story but focusing more on what was successful and what was not and what maybe should have been in terms of projects, releases and those that didn't make the grade against the backdrop of what else was going on in the music and entertainment scene at the time. Think its been said before but if Greystoke ever gets around to that he has a buyer here!

[r&b]

Interestingly while watching the excellent Beatles documentary - EIGHT DAYS A WEEK I was struck by the fact that Elvis & the Beatles both played well over a thousand gigs during their careers. Maybe even around the two thousand mark in total? Does anyone know Elvis' total gig count? I'm sure from 1969-77 Elvis played over one thousand shows. Of course his 1950s shows must be taken into consideration also...the fact remains besides his several Hawaiian concerts in the early 1960s, that classic decade was devoid of personal appearances until his legendary 1968-69 Comeback --> thus his phenomenal GIG count would be higher...

In a nutshell , not enough in his prime 1961-68, and too many after his prime 1973 forward. The best years were ignored concert-wise, and these were essential years for the music industry, especially after 1963. It would have been nice for a few TV gigs as well, but the Col put Elvis in an awful movie and record deal and we suffered for it with the likes of movies and albums getting worse and worse. By the way, not to derail or anything how is Eight Days A Week? Was thinking of getting it, but the reviews on Amazon are not great in regards to footage (no Shea Stadium?). For Beatles fans, they say nothing we havent seen before, especially if u have the Anthology.

[jurasic1968]

Elvis from November 1957 to July 1969 performed 3 benefit concerts (February and March 1961). This was one or maybe the greatest mistake of Colonel Tom Parker. And regarding touring : zero from November 1957 to September 1970!

[EPA4368]

Nobody's career is perfect, of course. And whilst it's hard to imagine Elvis cleaning himself up and becoming more ambitious, productive and in greater control of his own business, it's just as easy to forget that he died very young and was stuck in vicious circle of poor management and drug abuse that had been going on for years. There was almost nothing right about his career in 1976/1977. Which can distort perceptions when the end result is always negative. And whilst Elvis deserves some empathy and understanding, there is a lot of question marks hanging over his career for numerous reasons. Which takes me off topic ever so slightly, because the best and most positive aspects of his career can't be sullied by the inevitable.

This said, I do think Elvis was quite restless as a performer. He needed new challenges and opportunities, but he must have been worn down by playing live so often. Worn down in ways other artists may not have been. Because different artists and performers thrive in their own, unique, ways. And may stumble or find obstacles to overcome for the same reasons.

Awesome post, Greystoke!

True, but Elvis made the same mistakes. When Elvis made his TV special in '68, he was coming off a string of forgettable films and a long dry spell on the charts, and the music he’d helped pioneer had given way to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. Coming off a powerful & successful TV Special in '68 and his brilliant work at American Sound Studio in early '69, many fans & DJ's thought Elvis signing up for Vegas was a huge mistake. Like many DJ's echoed over the airwaves... "We're talking Elvis Presley! The man who changed the world of music, entertainment, fashion, merchandising and innovation. Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles. And he's returning to live performances in Vegas! Its Crazy!" Elvis should've returned to live performances at major venues across US not in a Vegas showroom.

[StefanKock1]

Nobody's career is perfect, of course. And whilst it's hard to imagine Elvis cleaning himself up and becoming more ambitious, productive and in greater control of his own business, it's just as easy to forget that he died very young and was stuck in vicious circle of poor management and drug abuse that had been going on for years. There was almost nothing right about his career in 1976/1977. Which can distort perceptions when the end result is always negative. And whilst Elvis deserves some empathy and understanding, there is a lot of question marks hanging over his career for numerous reasons. Which takes me off topic ever so slightly, because the best and most positive aspects of his career can't be sullied by the inevitable.

This said, I do think Elvis was quite restless as a performer. He needed new challenges and opportunities, but he must have been worn down by playing live so often. Worn down in ways other artists may not have been. Because different artists and performers thrive in their own, unique, ways. And may stumble or find obstacles to overcome for the same reasons.

Awesome post, Greystoke!

True, but Elvis made the same mistakes. When Elvis made his TV special in '68, he was coming off a string of forgettable films and a long dry spell on the charts, and the music he’d helped pioneer had given way to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. Coming off a powerful & successful TV Special in '68 and his brilliant work at American Sound Studio in early '69, many fans & DJ's thought Elvis signing up for Vegas was a huge mistake. Like many DJ's echoed over the airwaves... "We're talking Elvis Presley! The man who changed the world of music, entertainment, fashion, merchandising and innovation. Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles. And he's returning to live performances in Vegas! Its Crazy!" Elvis should've returned to live performances at major venues across US not in a Vegas showroom.

Agreed ! Sadly Vegas wasn't a artistic decision, but a financial one.

[jurasic1968]

Yes, he could do MSG in 1969. No Vegas. Tho or three tours in the US, and after that in 1970 a world tour.

[G-Hubb]

He didn't have the confidence,

He was crapping himself, asking, "Will they still like me?"

No need I guess, but one season of Vegas should have been enough - then he should have been let loose - on the rest of the world - for the biggest bucks.

See ya Colonel, thanks and all, but now it's time for me to break away from your carnival.

[Juan Luis]

Vegas was very comfortable at first for Elvis. Great penthouse suite. Go downstairs to go to work. Come back up to women, parties! Harder on the road, and he wouldn't have that partying at Graceland with his wife and daughter there. So Las Vegas was perfect for a vampire until it took its inevitable toll.

[brian]

Did Parker even ask Elvis if he really wanted to play Vegas or did he make the deal with the International and then get Elvis to go along with it. I know what Elvis really wanted to do was tour Europe in 1969 because he had specifically mentioned that to Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana.

[G-Hubb]

Did Parker even ask Elvis if he really wanted to play Vegas or did he make the deal with the International and then get Elvis to go along with it. I know what Elvis really wanted to do was tour Europe in 1969 because he had specifically mentioned that to Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana.

He mentioned that to them in 69?

[brian]

Did Parker even ask Elvis if he really wanted to play Vegas or did he make the deal with the International and then get Elvis to go along with it. I know what Elvis really wanted to do was tour Europe in 1969 because he had specifically mentioned that to Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana.

He mentioned that to them in 69?

Not sure if it was talked about specifially with them in 1969 it was probably in 1968 when he first brought it up with them. I mentioned Europe in 1969 because that's when he first started playing concerts again after the tv special.