Listen

Description

It's April 9th, and on this day in 1953, Elvis Presley made his debut on a big stage at the Humes High School "Annual Minstrel Show." Encouraged by his teacher, Mrs. Scrivener, Elvis performed in front of a packed crowd at the Humes Auditorium. Despite being billed as "Elvis Prestley, guitarist," Elvis took to the stage and sang "Take Them Cold Icy Fingers Off of Me," a 1950 country hit by Pee Wee King. His performance received an enthusiastic response, earning him the honor of the only encore of the night, where he sang "Till I Waltz Again with You." This marked the first of many memorable performances for Elvis, with 1,500 students, faculty, and parents witnessing a glimpse of the legend he was to become.