Introduction
Elvis Presley – The CBS Collection 1977: The Final Curtain of the King
By the summer of 1977, Elvis Presley was no longer just a performer — he was a living legend, a man who had shaped the sound and image of 20th-century America. But that summer would also mark the end of his extraordinary journey. The CBS television recordings from June of that year — now known as “Elvis in Concert” or the CBS Collection 1977 — captured the final public performances of the King of Rock and Roll. What was meant to be a triumphant television special became, instead, a haunting farewell to one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived.
The Last Tour
In June 1977, Elvis embarked on what would unknowingly become his final concert tour. The CBS television crew, led by producer Bob Finkel, joined him in Omaha, Nebraska (June 19), and Rapid City, South Dakota (June 21), to film two live performances for an upcoming TV special set to air later that year. The idea was simple: show Elvis back on tour, giving fans across America one more chance to see the King doing what he loved most — singing.
But what CBS captured was something far more complex. The 42-year-old superstar was struggling with failing health, exhaustion, and the weight of two decades in the public eye. The once-sleek rock-and-roll idol now appeared bloated and fragile. Yet despite the physical decline, his charisma and his voice still burned with the soul of a man who lived for music.
Omaha and Rapid City – The Final Shows
The Omaha Civic Auditorium show opened the filming. Elvis walked onstage to thunderous applause, dressed in his white “Mexican Sundial” jumpsuit — the same outfit he would wear for his final concert weeks later. He smiled faintly, waved, and launched into “See See Rider.” His movements were slower, his energy dimmed, but when he opened his mouth to sing, time seemed to stand still.
Two nights later in Rapid City, he delivered what many now consider his last truly great performance. Before singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” he addressed the crowd with surprising warmth: “This is my favorite part of the show. I like to just stand here and talk to you for a minute.” Fans screamed as if trying to keep him with them a little longer. When he began “Unchained Melody” — sitting at the piano, drenched in sweat but pouring his heart into every note — it became a defining moment of human vulnerability and artistic grace.
That performance would later be regarded as one of the most emotional in his entire career. Despite the physical strain, his voice soared — pure, powerful, and filled with an almost spiritual longing. It was as if Elvis knew, somewhere deep inside, that this was his last song to the world.
The CBS Special – “Elvis in Concert”
After filming wrapped, CBS began editing the footage into what would become “Elvis in Concert,” first aired on October 3, 1977 — just eight weeks after his death on August 16. The timing was surreal. What was meant to be a celebration of his music became a posthumous farewell watched by millions grieving the loss of the King.
The special mixed live footage with backstage interviews, including rare moments with Elvis’ father, Vernon Presley, who appeared visibly broken, speaking softly about his son’s legacy. Fans across the country wept as they watched Elvis’ final performances — shaky, vulnerable, yet still magnificent.
While critics at the time were divided — some calling it too raw, too sad — the special has since become an invaluable historical document. It shows Elvis Presley not as the invincible rock god of the 1950s, but as a human being: tired, tender, and still determined to give his fans everything he had left.
The Controversy and Legacy
The Elvis Presley Estate later requested CBS not to rebroadcast the special, fearing it would overshadow the image of a young, vibrant Elvis. For decades, it remained unreleased commercially, surviving only through bootlegs and private collections. Yet fans around the world continue to seek out those haunting final moments — not to exploit them, but to understand them.
The CBS recordings reveal a truth that no myth could erase: Elvis Presley was an artist until his final breath. His voice — deep, resonant, full of gospel soul — still commanded the stage even when his body could no longer keep up.
Songs like “My Way,” “Hurt,” “How Great Thou Art,” and “Unchained Melody” became elegies of a man confronting his own mortality. There’s a raw, almost spiritual power in hearing him sing, “And now, the end is near…” as if he were already saying goodbye.
The Final Image
The closing shot of the CBS special lingers on Elvis walking offstage, waving softly to the crowd. The lights fade, and the announcer’s voice says, “Elvis has left the building.” It was a phrase fans had heard a thousand times — but this time, it meant something eternal.
Today, the CBS 1977 Collection stands not as a spectacle of decline, but as a monument to courage. It captures the final chapter of a man who gave everything he had to his music, right up until the end.
In his last performance, Elvis didn’t just sing — he confessed. And through that confession, he reminded the world why he was, and always will be, The King.