Elvis at the USS Arizona Memorial Concert in 1961

Elvis Presley’s manager Colonel Parker read one of these articles in the Los Angeles Examiner and asked Elvis if he could consider sponsoring such a charity event. Elvis, who had already taken part in the Memphis Charity Show in his hometown a month earlier on February 25, 1961, immediately accepted.

Parker set up a press conference on January 11, 1961 at the “Hawaiian Village Hotel” in Honolulu to publicize the support of Elvis Presley.

Parker made it clear that his protégé would only appear if the ticket prices, which should be between $ 3 and $ 100, were used entirely for charity

The day of the concert was proclaimed March 25, 1961 in the Bloch Arena in Honolulu.

On the morning of March 25, 1961, Elvis boarded a Pan American Airways plane in Los Angeles and took off for Honolulu, Hawaii

The plane reached its destination at 12:15 p.m. and Elvis appeared at 12:27 p.m. at the rear exit of the plane, followed by Hollywood producer Hal Wallis and comedian Minne Pearl, who had also been hired for the show.

The fans greet their star with the typical flower wreaths (leis) and Elvis is clearly having trouble handling all of these floristic gifts. The vehicle starts, escorted by a police convoy, towards the Hawaiian Village Hotel. Elvis had booked the hotel for 3 weeks because – after the charity concert – he started shooting his new film “Blue Hawaii”.

At 3:45 p.m., the rock star, followed by his manager Tom Parker, enters the Carousel Room of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel. At the press conference that followed, Elvis patiently answered questions from over 100 reporters, radio moderators and even representatives of local school newspapers.

The USS Arizona Memorial Concert started punctually on March 25, 1961 at 8:30 p.m. with a welcome melody from the Phil Ingall Orchestra, followed by the appearance of the Hawaiian comedian Sterling Mossman

the King Of Rock ’n‘ Roll took the stage in the famous gold suit and black trousers. It was the last time that Elvis wore the so-called Gold Lame Suit.

It was the last live performance in 8 years. It was not until 1969 that Elvis appeared again in front of an audience in Las Vegas.

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