When Elvis Presley Last Concert Tour?
Elvis Presley's Final Tour
by the mid-1970s, Elvis Presley was approaching the twilight of his reign as the king of rock and roll. Elvis’ health and energy were not as vibrant as before, but he could not stop touring and performing for his admirers. This last tour was done in 1977 and it was followed by death at the age of 42 years.
Planning the 1977 Tour
Thanks to his impressive 1970s schedule, Elvis found himself in a comfortable touring cycle where he would do a string of concerts in one city, then another, take a break to relax and recharge, then return to the road for another round of shows. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, contacted concert promoters across the United States to organize these tours and he got extremely profitable offers that provided Elvis with a big share of ticket revenues.
Parker scheduled the shows in 12 cities in 15 days during June for the 1977 tour. The tour was set in Cincinnati, Duluth, Madison, Omaha, Rapid City, Austin, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Montgomery, Mobile, Jacksonville, and Ann Arbor. The schedule would be very tight with virtually no time for breaks and very often performances in different cities separated only by distance. After that, Elvis intended to rest and get ready for another even more extensive tour, which was scheduled for the summer.
Life on the road: Elvis’ entourage
Elvis had a whole entourage of people with him on the tours for his professional and personal requirements. Some of the members of the entourage were bouncers who oversaw his security, fashion dressers who assisted in choosing his customary flashy jumpsuits, and barbers who ensured he retained his signature quill. Another entourage that accompanied Elvis was The Memphis Mafia, which comprised his close friends that he had been associated with for several years.
Elvis not only hired assistants but also invited some family members to join him on tours as well. His then-girlfriend Ginger Alden joined for much of the 1977 tour. His daughter, Lisa Marie, 9 then, and ex-wife Priscilla accompanied him to some of the June shows. He was free to spend time with the child during his spare time after shows or before moving to the next one.
Performing Through Declining Health
Virtually no fan who watched Elvis sweep the audience off their feet with his final concerts in 1977 could have guessed how much the performer was suffering physically. His intensive Vegas performance schedule and disorganized touring routine had begun to affect him. Elvis had problems with insomnia and high blood pressure, his liver was damaged and he did have glaucoma. Addictions to painkillers and prescription drugs had grown more pronounced as Elvis attempted to manage a failing physical self.
The constant traveling was quite taxing and strains came in the form of extreme fatigue. Priscilla later noted that he stated, “He did it because he was a performer. He felt as if it was his duty. ” Even when Elvis had pain and symptoms, he persevered for the sake of his fans. They had no idea that this was going to be their final chance to watch him perform live in concert before the summer came to an end.
Highlights from the Tour
Some of the most memorable shows of the tour in Elvis’ final year in the public eye were still terrific in several ways. On June 19 Elvis made a performance at the Municipal Auditorium Arena in Duluth, Minnesota and the audience received him with a lot of joy. The 10,000th concert of his career was held on June 23, 1975, in Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, where Elvis presented a special jumpsuit in the style of the American Eagle.
Another spectacular show was held on June 25 in Alexandria, Louisiana, and it became one of the most emotional ones. In his state, Elvis appeared to have near physical contact with the audience. He sang ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘How Great Thou Art’ in dramatic style using his deep voice. He said once, “I want to live here one day. ” Unfortunately, he would die only two months later.
End Performance and Proposed Activities Stopped
The last show of Elvis’ 1977 tour was on June 26 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. Twenty thousand fans were electrified and Elvis did not disappoint them playing more of their darling tunes such as ‘Hound Dog’, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘Polk Salad Annie. ’ Finally, Elvis wished them good night in these words “Thank you and good night, sleep tight”. Few people could have imagined that the farewell words of the man were rather too close to the actual events.
Soon after, Elvis went back to his mansion in Memphis, known as Graceland. He was to have several weeks of rest and recreation before the next series of concerts was due to begin in mid-August, 1977. Sadly, however, Elvis never got to go back on the road again as he was to die shortly after. His girlfriend Ginger Alden found him dead on the bathroom floor on the morning of August 16. Elvis Presley was dead on arrival at the young age of 42 though efforts to revive him were on despite his lifeless body.
Legacy of His Final Performances
Later that summer, Elvis was found dead in his bathtub, and his fans could now only dream of going to a concert to witness his performance. Luckily, they can watch his electrifying last performances in the saved concert videos and broadcasts. Such albums as ‘Moody Blue’ and ‘Way Down in the Jungle Room’ contain songs recorded during the last tour of the king of rock ‘n’ roll in 1977.
Watching Elvis expending all his energy during those final shows demonstrates why millions grieved over the sad demise of this legendary singer. As his physical strength dwindled, his voice and personality remained grand and strong to the last. The world had lost their King of Rock and Roll much too soon. But the memories and the music from Elvis’s final tour before he died are unforgettable and will always remain with us.
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