Author-researcher, Paul Bélard, has released his sixth and seventh book for 2025, and with nearly 10 other books at advanced stages, we can be sure that we'll see some more "day-by-day" photo-books in the months to come.
His last two titles take us back to April - August 1958, a period which was pivotal in both Elvis' career and personal life.
Design
I won't say much about the cover-art as I made those. Inside these two 200-page paperbacks, Bélard follows his well-known photo-journal format.
In an interview with the Elvis Information Network he stated: "Some of the pictures in this book are not of top quality. They were not taken by professional photographers. They are, however, important documents about Elvis in the Army and the author believes that rarity wins over quality."
Content
Bélard also said: "
It's a thrill every time I discover an Elvis picture that I had never seen before, even if the quality isn't perfect … There are so many pictures taken of the man that in some cases, there are photos for every day of a month … Through my books I want fans to be able to follow Elvis day by day, sometimes hour by hour."
And that is exactly what we get. Bélard seems to be a shadow following Elvis' every footstep, documenting them with photographs and relevant contextual documents and articles from that timeframe and more recent ones, completing the picture and adding a sense of being there.
Book 1 - April - MayThe book follows Elvis just after his induction into the U.S. Army which took him from his beloved Graceland and parents to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas for early processing. Then he is transferred to Fort Hood in Texas, where he is assigned to the Second Armored Division, General Patton's former "Hells on Wheels" outfit as a light truck driver in a tank crew. From that point on, Elvis would be "just another soldier," said an Army spokeswoman, and back to driving a "truck".
You would expect that once the gates of Fort Chaffee and Fort Hood had closed, there would be less photographs taken, but Bélard proves us wrong. He managed to unearth hundreds of images to present us an almost day-by-day overview of Elvis' first weeks in the service of Uncle Sam.
Being "just another soldier", we see Elvis as one of the boys, sitting in the grass, wearing a gasmask, on the pistol and rifle range and more. It is impressive to see how Bélard managed to identify Elvis on some of these images.
The "good luck" telegram from "Admiral Parker" shows the old carny had some humor and the Teen magazine asks the question Elvis probably asked himself "will the Army change Elvis?"
Included are some more recent articles on people who were there during Elvis' early Army days.
For example the memories of Ted Russ who in 1958, trained Army recruit Elvis Presley for two days, and he has the photos to prove it, including a favorite one of himself with Presley. "When we show that photo to friends, my wife always tells everyone that I am the good-looking one," he said.
"Elvis was a good trainee and well-liked by his Army peers," Russ said, "Presley took his celebrity status in stride. He realized that learning how to use a gas mask was serious business and went through exactly the same training as all other recruits. He asked no favors or for any special treatment."
At the same time, the business continued. On April 1st, RCA shipped 'Wear My Ring Around Your Neck'. The single did not sell as much as the ad in Billboard predicted. Side A reached number 3 on the charts and side B number 21.
It is a well-known fact that many friendships are struck while serving your country in the Army, and Elvis is no exception, in the Army he met Rex Mansfield, but also Charlie Hodge, and their common interest was the foundation of a friendship that would last until the day Elvis died.
Hodge remembered: "I never was stationed with Elvis. I was in 15th. Cavalry there. And when I found out where he was, I went over and renewed my acquaintance. I said, "I'm Charlie Hodge. I was the lead singer with the Foggy River Boys". And he said, "Hey, man, I used to watch you every Saturday night on TV, you know".
And I think our friendship was a natural friendship, because when we met there at Fort Hood and got on the ship going to Europe, we knew the same people in the gospel field. We knew the same people in the country field. We knew the same gospel songs. We were singing songs together on the way to Germany."
Looking at the many pictures of everyone from the G.I. to the general wanting to have his picture taken with Elvis, I wonder if Elvis had time to do any basic training … But an article from the Brownsville Herald, confirms he did on May 31, 1958.
Book 2 - June, July August
His basic training completed on Saturday May 31st, Elvis returned to Memphis on Sunday, June 1st, for a two-week leave. Swarms of teen-age devotees had made elaborate plans to welcome him home on his first visit home since his induction into the Army.
A day later, he already did his first photoshoot, one of the shots would be used for the 'A Date with Elvis' LP. Great to see so many images from this shoot.
They also took several pictures with his father and mother. Not knowing it yet, these images probably became very special to him. The pictures of him, walking in front of his Graceland Mansion, not wearing his Army fatigue are great, he really had it made, and life seems good.Funny to read the newspaper article on the "awards" he brought home, no Gold Record Awards, but medals designating that he had qualified as an expert with the carbine and as a sharpshooter with a pistol.
It was back to work a week later, with recording sessions on June 10th and 11th with classics like 'I Need Your Love Tonight', ' 'A Big Hunk o' Love', 'Ain't That Loving Baby', 'I Got Stung', and 'A Fool Such As I'. Being on leave, I do wonder why he wore his uniform in the studio.
Back in Texas he is visited by Disc Jockey Don Roscoe Joseph III, professionally known as Rocky Frisco and Rocky Curtiss. He as an American musician, best known as the longtime pianist for J. J. Cale, and for his role in the development of the music style known as the Tulsa Sound.
In July 1958 he embarked on a 500 mile bicycle trip to interview Elvis and to promote his radio station KOME in Tulsa at the same time. Elvis autographed Rocky's bicycle fender and a listener in Tulsa later won it in a radio contest. It has always made me wonder why this picture of Elvis holding the autographed bicycle fender was turned into an oil painting, that still hangs at the bottom left of the stairs when you enter Graceland …
Elvis' rise to fame had an impact on everyone around him, especially his mother. She once said: "I'm the most miserable woman in the world… I'm guarded... I can't buy my own groceries... I can't see my neighbors." In the book we read that in July, Gladys became very depressed and fell ill, so much so that in early August, she returned to Graceland where her doctor immediately had her transferred to the Methodist Hospital in Memphis. With her condition worsening, Elvis obtained an emergency leave.
A few days later she died, and knowing how attached Elvis was to his mother, his life would never be the same again. I felt sorry for him watching the images of him mourning with his father, and the funeral of Gladys.
But life goes on, and a few days later he was back on the base and it looks like nothing had changed for his fellow Army men, still wanting to take a picture with him.
Conclusion
Book by book Bélard is visualizing the Elvis Presley timeline. These two books mark an important period in Elvis' life, having to step down from his throne as the King of Rock and Roll to serve his country but more importantly because of the loss of his mother, one of the pillars of his life. With all the photographs Bélard takes us through this period, almost day-by-day, providing additional insights, literally.
Buy the book
The 'Elvis 1958 - April - May' book is available from >>> Amazon, and so is the 'Elvis 1958 June - July - August' book here >>> Amazon (associate links).
