In the early 1950s, rock and roll was often dismissed as loud, rowdy music for bars. Then came Elvis Presley—young, daring, and ready to change everything.
Before he became a global icon, Elvis was just another ambitious musician chasing his big break. That all changed in 1956 when he made his unforgettable television debut.
His promo for Heartbreak Hotel caused such a stir that it caught the attention of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, who invited him for a six-week run on their CBS variety show, Stage Show. On January 28, 1956, Elvis hit the stage with Shake, Rattle and Roll, sending shockwaves through audiences and forever changing the course of music history.