It's May 15, and on this day in 1956, Elvis Presley performed at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee, during the Cotton Carnival. This marked a key moment in his career, as he closed the show with "Hound Dog" for the very first time, a song that would go on to become a defining anthem of his career. Elvis, dressed in a black shirt, Kelly green jacket, and black pants, received an enthusiastic welcome from the hometown crowd, who roared with approval when it was announced that Elvis would be performing a charity benefit show later that summer. The performance also included "Heartbreak Hotel" and a tribute to Little Richard with "Long Tall Sally." It was a night that further cemented his place as a musical icon in his own hometown.
