Almanac: "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite"

And now a page from our "Sunday Morning" Almanac: January 14th, 1973, 45 years ago today -- the night that saw the broadcast of "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite," a cancer benefit concert billed as the world's first live satellite concert by a solo artist.

Performed just after midnight in Honolulu, the show was broadcast live to Asia during their prime time ... and by tape delay to the rest of the world.

In his glittering white jumpsuit, bedecked with leis, Elvis delivered his biggest hits, from "Hound Dog" to "Blue Suede Shoes," and more.

He closed with a slightly shaky version of "Can't Help Falling In Love."  

To watch Presley perform "Steamroller Blues" from "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite" click on the video player below:

The concert was a huge ratings success, although claims of more than a billion viewers seem unlikely.

Whatever the number, few that night could ever have imagined that in just four-and-a-half years, Elvis Presley would be dead at age 42.

A statue of The King has stood for years outside that Honolulu concert hall. And in THAT sense, at least, Elvis has still only JUST left the building.

        
For more info:

• "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite" (DVD) available via shopelvis.com
  
• "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite" (Soundtrack album) available on CD (Amazon, Barnes & Noble), Vinyl Legacy Edition (Amazon, Barnes & Noble), Digital Download (iTunes) and Streaming (Apple Music, Spotify)
  
• elvis.com (Official site)
  
• The Concert Seen Around the World: "Aloha from Hawaii" (graceland.com)