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One of the greatest moments in music history, “ELVIS PRESLEY: ’68 COMEBACK SPECIAL” – December 30 at 12:30 pm
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Airs on WOUB Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 12:30 pm
The King of Rock and Roll’s Triumphant Performance
Throughout the 1950s, Elvis Presley led the rock and roll revolution in music and pop culture. In the 1960s, he concentrated mainly on his successful movie career. By 1968, it had been more than seven years since he had appeared on stage in front of a live audience. In June 1968, Elvis taped his first television special in Burbank, California. It aired on December 3 that same year and accomplished two things: it saved his career and showcased some of the best music of his life.
1968 Come Back Special
Premiering on NBC, the special attracted 42% of the viewing audience, was the network’s biggest ratings victory that year and the season’s top-rated show. It stands today as one of the great moments in rock music history and as a stunningly brilliant milestone in Elvis’ career.
About Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is one of the most influential pop culture figures of the 20th century. Often referred to as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Elvis’ commanding voice and charismatic stage presence unleashed a musical and cultural revolution that changed the world. Over the course of his extraordinary career, Elvis was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards (three wins), sold over one billion records worldwide, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named “One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation” by the United States Jaycees, and was the 2018 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to his musical accolades, Elvis starred in 33 films and made numerous television appearances.
More than 60 years after his global debut, Elvis’ legacy is stronger than ever. His life and music have inspired countless hit musicals, movies and TV series, fiction and non-fiction books, musical covers and commercial endorsements, as well as a robust merchandise program spanning collectibles and fashion collaborations. Last summer, Warner Bros. Pictures’ epic big-screen drama, ELVIS, from filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and starring Tom Hanks and Austin Butler, debuted in theaters globally and additionally, Netflix has ordered an animated action-comedy series Agent Elvis, coming in early 2023.
An enduring symbol of “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s” stardom, Graceland, Elvis’ Memphis home, is the second most-visited home in the United States after the White House, drawing over 600,000 visitors annually and tens of thousands of fans for its Elvis Week celebration. With more than 17 million fans across social media and a growing multimedia presence, the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” continues to inspire today’s most influential musicians, designers, entertainers, and social influencers and captivate audiences around the world.
For more information, visit elvisthemusic.com.