The Presley No One Knows by Steve Sholes (1960 article)

[The fool]

The Presley No One Knows
by Steve Sholes
as told to Gregory Merwin
TV Radio Mirror, January 1960

[George Smith]

Fascinating, as always, thank you.

The second Opry appearance must have been a Hayride gig.

And it's nice to see the origin of the fingers bleeding story -- thank you!

[drjohncarpenter]

The Presley No One Knows
by Steve Sholes
as told to Gregory Merwin
TV Radio Mirror, January 1960

Another cool share, thank you.

As always, these articles offer information that I don't think I've seen before. In this case, it comes from RCA's Steve Sholes:

- Sholes saw Elvis' 10-02-1954 Grand Ole Opry appearance and met him after (someone told him it was Elvis' "second public appearance," perhaps meaning after the Overton Park gig on 7-30-1954, and perhaps told to him by Sam Phillips).

- He had everyone take a food break at a nearby restaurant during the first RCA session on 1-10-1956, and Elvis politely asked him not to do in the future, as it broke the "swing" of the music they were making.

- After the first take of "Old Shep" on 9-02-1956, both Elvis and the engineers were in tears.

- He watched the April 1956 Paramount screen test with Cynthia Baxter ("a boy explaining to a girl who loved him that he was really in love with her sister"), and thought it the best acting he's ever done.

Thanks again, The fool.

[George Smith]

- Sholes saw Elvis' 10-02-1954 Grand Ole Opry appearance and met him after (someone told him it was Elvis' "second public appearance," perhaps meaning after the Overton Park gig on 7-30-1954, and perhaps told to him by Sam Phillips).

I mis-read that part of the article -- and the news that Sholes was at the Opry is certainly news to me too.

[The fool]

Fascinating, as always, thank you.

Another cool share, thank you.

Thank you both for your comments. I´m glad to be able to contribute something worthwhile to this great forum.

[drjohncarpenter]

- Sholes saw Elvis' 10-02-1954 Grand Ole Opry appearance and met him after (someone told him it was Elvis' "second public appearance," perhaps meaning after the Overton Park gig on 7-30-1954, and perhaps told to him by Sam Phillips).

I mis-read that part of the article -- and the news that Sholes was at the Opry is certainly news to me too.

It's more likely he saw Elvis in Nashville than Shreveport, and probably just by chance.

Perhaps he was there because of RCA artists on the bill, or maybe it wasn't by chance, could Sam Phillips have called him?

If so, why would no one remember?

[George Smith]

I have no previous record of Sholes meeting Elvis before 1st December 1955?

Unless I've missed the boat somewhere?

[drjohncarpenter]

I have no previous record of Sholes meeting Elvis before 1st December 1955?

Unless I've missed the boat somewhere?

Peter Guralnick wrote that Sholes was introduced to Presley by manager Parker at the DJ convention in Nashville in early November 1955. That's the earliest date I know about.

So my suggestion is that, if Sholes did say hello to Elvis at the Grand Ole Opry in October 1954, it was a very casual and brief meeting.

[mike edwards66]

Very interesting, thanks. Did anyone else notice that Frank Faylen is confirmed as the actor opposite Elvis in his screen test.

[Juan Luis]

Very interesting, thanks. Did anyone else notice that Frank Faylen is confirmed as the actor opposite Elvis in his screen test.

I did.

[mike edwards66]

Very interesting, thanks. Did anyone else notice that Frank Faylen is confirmed as the actor opposite Elvis in his screen test.

I did.

Well spotted. Frank Faylen was good but he was no Cameron Prud'homme.

[drjohncarpenter]

Fascinating, as always, thank you.

The second Opry appearance must have been a Hayride gig.

And it's nice to see the origin of the fingers bleeding story -- thank you!

Yes, indeed! I forgot to mention this, it's a striking story.

Unless biographer Jerry Hopkins did a fresh interview with Steve Sholes for his 1971 biography of Elvis, he clearly paraphrased this article.

[PiersEIN]

The Presley No One Knows
by Steve Sholes
as told to Gregory Merwin
TV Radio Mirror, January 1960

SENSATIONAL, thanks.
Great to have more info on Steve Sholes who is usually overlooked in the usual bios.
Cheers
Piers