Pearl Harbor Memorial Benefit Performance

One of Elvis's most lasting patroitic acts was to put on benefit concert to raise money for the Pearl Harbor memorial in Hawaii.

In the Elvis Aron Presley Silver Box Set, there is the "early benefit performance" recorded on March 25, 1961 at the Bloch Arena in Pearl Harbor.

Songs on the recording are:

Heartbreak Hotel
All Shook Up
Now and Then There’s a Fool Such as I
I Got a Woman
Love Me
Such a Night
Reconsider Baby
I Need Your Love Tonight
That’s All Right, Mama
Don’t Be Cruel
One Night
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
It’s Now or Never
Swingdown Sweet Chariot
Hound Dog

It’s interesting to compare this to what Elvis was singing in concert 25 years later – at the New Years Eave Pittsburgh, PA 1976 concert (songs also performed at Pearl Harbor in bold):

2001 Theme
CC Rider
I Got a Woman
Amen
Big Boss Man
Love Me
Fairytale
Lord, You Gave Me a Mountain
Jailhouse Rock
It’s Now or Never
My Way
Funny How Time Slips Away
Auld Lang Syne
Blue Suede Shoes
Trying to Get to You
Polk Salad Annie
Early Morning Rain
What I’d Say
Johnny B. Goode
Love Letters
Hail Hail Rock and Roll
Fever
Hurt
Hound Dog
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Reconsider Baby
Little Sister
Unchained Melody
Rags to Riches
I Can’t Help Falling In Love

The band in 1961, whom Elvis introduces on the record, are Hank Garland (guitar), Bobby Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana (drums), Scotty Moore (guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano) and Boots Randolph (sax). The Jordanaires provide "vocal accompaniment."

THE KING ON THE ROAD covers Elvis's Pearl Harbor concert in detail.

From the book:

The concert began with an orchestra, followed by another featuring Polynesian-style music. There was comedy, piano music from Floyd Cramer, Boots Randolph played "Yackety Sax," the Jordinaires sang; Grand Ole Opry favorite Minnie Pearl was a special guest. Following the intermission, while Elvis’ band found their places, the chairman of the Pacific War Memorial Commission was introduced, so he could introduce the Admiral of the 14th naval District, so he could introduce Elvis. Before doing so, he read a telegram from the Secretary of the Navy: "The generosity and public spirited zeal which you donate your services to the Arizona Memorial fund tonight are deeply appreciated by all of us in the Navy." The Admiral, who probably had other notions in 1956, added, "he’s a fine American. He has had many starring roles, not the least of these has been as a soldier in the US Army."

The 4800 Hawaiian fans were dazzled by his famous gold jacket, set off by dark blue trousers, a white shirt, and string tie. His hair was sleek on the side and sans sideburns, but sported a towering top. In the course of just under an hour, he gave them 16 songs, including "Lonely in the Night," "Butter cup," "A Fool Such as I," "Surrender," "Don’t’ Be Cruel," and "Hound Dog."

The book also quotes Minnie Pearl:

Minnie Pearl: "We got off the plane, girls were screaming…. He walked over to sign autographs… I’d never seen anything like it before. . I was just horrified…I thought…they were going to kill him."



Own Your Own Copy		Own Your Own Copy