Following Elvis: Never-Before-Seen Photos of the King at Work and Play

On the train from Richmond, Virginia to New York, Elvis reads a fan letter to DJ Fontana (his drummer), and shows him the enclosed photograph that says, "I love you."

While having his soup and crackers at a Richmond, Virginia diner, Elvis talks to Barbara Gray, his date for the day (in the foreground).

Elvis records his future classics "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Any Way You Want Me" in New York.

After arriving in New York's Penn Station from Richmond, Elvis is absorbed by headlines of a missing airliner with 127 people aboard.

Private Elvis, in profile after having been given the typical military crew cut, waits to board the USS Randall on its way from Brooklyn to Germany, to perform occupation duty. Later on that year he meets the young Priscilla, who would become his wife.

Elvis listens to his new recordings of "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog" and "Any Way You Want Me."

Elvis and a fan have a private moment during a break in the rehearsal of Stage Show, a program hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and produced by Jackie Gleason. Elvis performed two songs on the New York-based show.

Elvis plays drums between the early and late show at Richmond, Virginia's Mosque Theatre.

Riding from the Richmond, Virginia, train station en route to his hotel, Elvis is slightly nervous as he twirls his lucky horseshoe diamond ring. He will freshen up for two shows at the Mosque Theatre that evening and meet his date for the day, Barbara Gray.

Elvis and Barbara Gray exchange an intimate look while the rest of the musicians rehearse for the evening show.

At the Jefferson Hotel Coffee Shop, Elvis shows Barbara Gray the script for Range Round-Up, written by Steve Allen, in which Elvis will play the lead role of Tumbleweed Presley. The NBC-TV show will air that July.