1956
In 1956 The Residents were not yet formed. The future members were in their tweens.
January
- 27th: Elvis Presley releases 'Heartbreak Hotel'. It reaches number 1 in the US charts. The Residents later cover it for their 1989 album, The King & Eye
February
- Carl Perkins releases 'Blue Suede Shoes', a song that The Residents would later cover on their King & Eye Album.
March
- James Brown and the Famous Flames release Please, Please, Please, which The Residents later cover on their 1984 album George & James.
June
- 13th: Earth vs. the Flying Saucers is released.
July
- 13th: Elvis Presley releases 'Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog'. It reaches number 1 in the US charts, and The Residents cover it for their 1989 album, The King & Eye
September
- 8th: Elvis Presley releases his cover version of Blue Suede Shoes
- 11th: Rex Ray is born in Germany.
- 28th: Elvis Presley releases Love Me Tender. It reaches number 1 in the US charts. The Residents later cover it for their 1989 album, The King & Eye
Unknown
- Hal Halverstadt joins the military as a reporter and news editor.