1953 ~ Elvis Presley would visit Gene Smith at the Hall’s Grocery located at 1588 Mississippi Boulevard, nearly every afternoon after school. They would wander to the back of the store, to the dairy bar, and sip Purple Cows, a float made from grape soda and vanilla ice cream. Gene ended up working full time for Hall’s Grocery, delivering groceries by bicycle. In many families such a difference in circumstance could have driven the two boys father apart.
As Gene Smith entered the work force, Elvis Presley didn’t want his cousin to feel alone. He would listen to Gene talk about his hopes for simply finding a better job someday. In turn, Elvis would talk about his aspirations, how he wanted a career in music and was anxious to begin working as a gospel singer or musician.
