Most people only see the star on stage, with all the lights and the roaring crowds. But what happens in the moments before the show? In 1970, a camera captured Elvis Presley during an informal rehearsal for his Las Vegas residency. It was August 7th. He was not recording an album. It was just Elvis, working out the song “Oh Happy Day” with his singers.
He sounds relaxed and happy. You can hear him finding the right notes and laughing with his backup singers. This is not the perfect, polished King of Rock and Roll. Instead, it is a man just enjoying a classic hymn. He is simply feeling the music in that small room. This is a very rare, unguarded moment.
ELVIS PRESLEY – Oh Happy Day ( Rehearsal – 1970)
People who watch this rare clip are simply amazed. One comment said, “This feels like finding a hidden secret, I have never seen this before.” Another viewer wrote that it is “like being a fly on the wall” for a truly private moment. Many fans point out how happy he looks. As one person put it, “You can just tell he loved this gospel music.”
That August 7th practice was only the beginning. Elvis was getting ready for the big stage, and he clearly loved the song. Just one week later, he decided to do something different. During his midnight show in Las Vegas on August 14th, he brought that same gospel song to the audience. It was a big surprise.
Elvis Presley – Oh Happy Day – Las Vegas, 14 August 1970
This was the main event. The lights were bright and the crowd was electric. He sang “Oh Happy Day” live, but history shows this was the one and only time he ever performed it for an audience. The sound is bigger, backed by his full orchestra. He hits all the high notes perfectly. It is the full Elvis experience.
Elvis always had a deep connection to gospel music. It was the music of his heart, and you could hear that love whether he was in rehearsal or center stage. His voice could move mountains and also whisper quietly. Follow Elvis Presley on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. His music is still touching people.