LIST OF NON GRACELAND ELVIS WEEK 2015 EVENTS:

Fan Appreciation Day in Tupelo
Saturday, August 8th
10:00a.m.
Tupelo, MS
Elvis Presley's Birthplace
306 Elvis Presley Drive. 
Birthplace tours & most events require tickets. Elvis' artist, Betty Harper, will be there to meet fans. Day features house tours, multiple activities & ETA performances throughout the day.

George Klein's Memphis Mafia Reunion
Sunday, August 9th
4:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.
Alfred's on Beale
197 Beale Street.
Tickets are $45. Call Alfred's for reservations: (901) 525-3711. 
Includes dinner meal & ticket to the event show & Q&A. Hear George Klein & members of Elvis' “Memphis Mafia” share their memories.

Sandi Pichon's TCB Elvis Style Fan Club Luncheon & Charity Auction
Monday, August 10th
12 Noon
Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant
4381 Elvis Presley Blvd 
Enjoy Elvis, friends, & great food at the annual Fan Club meeting & Charity Auction. Open to the general public. Please pay for your own food & drinks. Guests include: Elvis' live in Nurse Tish Henley Kirk, who will have her brand new book for purchase, and Elvis' former 1975 girlfriend JoCathy Brownlee Elkington. More guests to be announced!

Filming screening of the Elvis short film "Nobody" 
Monday, August 10th
6:00p.m.
The Hard Rock Cafe
Beale Street. 
A film screening of the Elvis short film, Nobody. Nobody, is about Elvis' senior year of high school in the Humes High School, talent show. Writer & director William Bryan, will be there for a Q&A. DVD's will be available at the screening for purchase. 

The 37th Annual Elvis Collector Festival
August 11 - 15th
11:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. daily
FREE admission
The Kings Signature Hotel – (the lobby & event rooms adjoining the lobby)
1471 E. Brooks Road. (Formally the Clarion Hotel and the Cedar Hotel)
Featuring rare Elvis Presley memorabilia from well known vendors. Rare & limited releases, 1956, Vegas, Concert Tour Memorabilia, DVD's, Books, Autographs, Vinyl, Magazines, CD's, Movie Posters, & much more! 
Nancy Rooks, Elvis Presley's cook & maid is a special guest – the night of Friday, August 14th.

Poplar Tunes Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony
Tuesday, August 11th
10:00a.m.
FREE to the public
308 Poplar Avenue. (the former building of Poplar Tunes Record Shop.)
Quick ceremony to officially unveil the marker.

Lauderdale Courts Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony
Tuesday August 11th
11:0a.m.
FREE to the public
282 North Second Street. 
(the west side of the former Lauderdale Courts, now known as Uptown Square.)
Quick ceremony to officially unveil the marker.

Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Elvis Week Fan Reception – Meet Dixie Locke
Tuesday, August 11th
10:00a.m. - 12 Noon
FREE to the public – but you must RSVP at (901) 545-6176
Meet Elvis Presley's first girlfriend, Dixie Locke. 
Regional One Health Medical Center – Park Cafe (formerly known as The MED)
877 Jefferson Avenue.
Tour the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center & see the Elvis Fan club donor plaque wall. Lite refreshments & cake will be served.

E-Rock Elvis Family Show with Joe Esposito & Shirley Dieu
Tuesday, August 11th
6:00p.m.
The King's Signature Hotel (formerly The Clarion Hotel & Cedar Hotel)
1471 East Brooks Road. 
Enjoy Elvis' songs by Elvis Tribute Artist E-Rock. Meet Elvis' dear friend & Road Manager, Joe Esposito & Joe's longtime former girlfriend, Shirley Dieu. E-Rock, will have CD's available for purchase. Joe, will have autographed photos & autograph copies of his book, “Elvis: Intimate & Rare.” Shirley, will autograph copies of her book “Memphis Mafia Princess”, & t-shirts will be available for purchase.

The 23rd Annual Collecting the King® Memorabilia Show 2015
August 12th - 15th 
10:00a.m. – 6:00p.m. Daily
FREE admission
The Peabody Hotel – the Bert Parker Ballroom on the Mezzanine level.
149 Union Avenue.
Vinyl, CD's, Movie Posters, RCA Promo Items, books, 1956, Vegas, Souvenirs, Magazines, Photos, Concert Tour Items, Posters & much more!

Meet & Greet with EPE official Elvis Presley Artist Betty Harper
The Heartbreak Hotel – lobby
3677 Elvis Presley Blvd.
12th - 15th
12 Noon – 5:00p.m.
FREE
Meet Betty & say HI while admiring her Elvis artwork.

Meet & Greet with EPE official Elvis Presley Artist Joe Petruccio
Everything Elvis Gift store, Graceland Crossing
12th - 15th 
3:00p.m. – 9:00p.m.
FREE
Meet Joe & say HI while admiring his Elvis artwork.

"Wyatt and The King" - Book Release & Signing Party
Wednesday, August 12th
6:00p.m.
The Hard Rock Cafe
"Wyatt and The King", is new Elvis, children's book written by Kristin Brooks, about a puppy named Wyatt. Wyatt, and his siblings sing, dance to celebrate the life of Elvis. Wyatt, discovers what it is like to be the King!

Dinner benefit for Sandi Pichon
Wednesday, August 12th 
Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant
4381 Elvis Presley Blvd.
7:00p.m. – 9:00p.m.
Enjoy dinner at Marlowe's while hearing Elvis Presley's songs sung by Elvis Tribute Artist, Terry Turner. You must pay for your own food & drinks.

Joe Petruccio "COME ON IN" Autograph Signing 
Thursday, August 13th 
11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. 
Lansky's at Hard Rock Cafe
Joe, has painted a very special painting of Elvis, at Lansky's

USPS Elvis Stamp Unveiling Event at Elvis Presley's Tupelo Birthplace
Thursday, August 13th
306 Elvis Presley Drive. Tupelo, MS.
11:00a.m. – with cake & punch 
FREE to the public
Purchase your Elvis stamps & first day covers. The Postmaster will be on site.

Marian Cocke's 24th annual Elvis Presley Memorial Dinner Charity Event
Thursday, August 13th
6:30p.m.
Lindenwood Christian Church
2400 Union Avenue.
Enjoy a fantastic evening with a wonderfully catered meal, entertainment & charity auction. Tickets are $80 without alcohol & $90 with alcohol. Contact Marian Cocke or Lori McGee Holland via Facebook, to purchase your tickets.

Elvis Week 2015 Days Inn Graceland Hawaiian Pool Party
Thursday, August 13th
6:30p.m. - until LATE
Days Inn Graceland
3839 Elvis Presley Blvd.
An Elvis, Hawaiian themed pool party. Everyone is welcome! Entertainment by Colin Paul. 
FREE admission

Elvis Fans Pool Party
Friday, August 14th
4:00p.m. - 11:00p.m.
The King's Signature Hotel
1471 East Brooks Rd. 
Memphis Style BBQ, Live DJ, Pool fun & much much more! 

Ronnie McDowell Concert – featuring Billy Joe Royal and Rockin' Raffi
Friday, August 14th 
6:00p.m.
The Kings Signature Hotel
1471 E. Brooks Road. (Formerly the Clarion Hotel and Cedar Hotel)
Tickets are $20

Meet & Greet with Joe Esposito & Shirley Dieu 
Saturday, August 15th
12 Noon – 6:00p.m.
The former home of Elvis' Father, Vernon Presley
1266 Dolan Drive. 
(located in the subdivision directly behind Graceland Mansion)
There is a $5 donation entry fee. Donations benefit the upkeep of the home. 
Joe Esposito, was Elvis Presley's dear friend & Road Manager. Shirley Dieu, friend to Elvis Presley, & Author of “Memphis Mafia Princess”, is the former longtime girlfriend of Joe Esposito. Joe & Shirley, will each have their books & autographed photo's for purchase. Joe, “Elvis: Intimate & Rare” & Shirley, “Memphis Mafia Princess.”

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Elvis Week 2015 Benefit Concert
Saturday, August 15th
1:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.
The Historic New Daisy Theater - Beale Street
330 Beale Street. 
Tickets start at $20 – with 100% of the proceeds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Enjoy tons of performances from dozens of Elvis Tribute Artist's.

George Klein's Elvis Memorial Service
Sunday, August 16th
12 Noon
FREE admission
The University of Memphis - the main Theater Building
3745 Central Avenue.
Hear George Klein & other associates of Elvis Presley, share their memories.

EPIC (Elvis Presley Impersonator Championships)
Crowne Plaza Memphis East
2625 Thousand Oak Boulevard. 
Prelim - August 10th 6:00p.m. – The Cotillion Ballroom
Finals - August 12 7:00p.m. – The Pyramid Ballroom
Tickets: http://www.elvistributecontest.com

Images of the King – Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Contest
The Historic New Daisy Theater - Beale Street
330 Beale Street. 
August 10th – 12 Noon - 5:00p.m.
August 12th – 12 Noon – 5:00p.m.
August 14th - Finals 11:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Tickets: http://imagesoftheking.com/elvisweekschedule/

Jeff Lewis and Friends Elvis Week 2015 After Parties
Monday, August 10th
Tuesday, August 11th
Thursday, August 13th
The Hard Rock Cafe
Beale Street. 
10:30p.m. - until late ish
$10 Cover
Hear Elvis' music by Jeff Lewis & tons of other Elvis Tribute Artists

The Sweet Inspirations Inducted into The Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame 
 

by Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville
www.elvispresleyfansofnashville.com

 Thursday, September 4th, 2014

The Sweet Inspirations, were inducted into The Rhythm, and Blues Music Hall of Fame located in Cleveland, Ohio in an induction ceremony conducted August 24, 2014 at the Canton Palace Theater. The award was accepted posthumously by the families of Myrna Smith and Sylvia Shemwell.  

"We did not only accept in honor of the late Myrna Smith and the late Sylvia Shemwell, but gave well deserved credit to Estelle Brown and also to Portia Griffin, said Martin Smith, son of the late Sweet Inspiration Myrna Smith. As well as mentioned that all members of the group need to be individually acknowledged since they worked very hard. "
 
The Sweet Inspirations founder Emily "Cissy" Houston, was unable to attend the induction ceremony. Cissy did compose a beautiful letter that was read out loud at the ceremony, said Martin Smith, the son of the late Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations. The letter merely affirmed how Cissy developed The Sweet Inspirations and expressed how very much she appreciated the acknowledgement. Cissy's late daughter Whitney Houston, was also inducted that day into the R&B Hall of Fame and Museum. 

The Sweet Inspirations were founded in the early 1960's by Emily "Cissy" Houston, mother of Whitney Houston. Original Sweet Inspirations members are Emily "Cissy" Houston, Myrna Smith, Estelle Brown, Sylvia Shemwell, Judy Clay and later Ann Williams.  
 
The Sweet Inspirations first record album "Sweet Inspirations" was released in 1967 on Atlantic Records. Cissy's last recording session with The Sweet Inspirations was in October 1969. The Sweet Inspirations spent many years creating albums, and backing up popular musical entertainers such as Van Morrison on "Brown Eyed Girl," and Jimi Hendrix and Aretha Franklin. In 1978, The Sweet Inspirations sang backing vocals on Frankie Valli's No.1 hit "Grease" from the film of the same name. The Sweet Inspirations last album "In The Right Place" was released in 2005.  
 
Albums by The Sweet Inspirations: 
1967 Sweet Inspirations - Atlantic  
1968 Songs of Faith & Inspiration - Atlantic  
1969 Sweets for my Sweet - Atlantic  
1969 What the World Needs Now is Love - Atlantic  
1970 Sweet Sweet Soul - Atlantic  
1973 The Estelle, Myrna and Sylvia - Stax  
1979 Hot Butterfly - RSO  
2005 In the Right Place - Frixion  
 
The Sweet Inspirations recorded albums and sang back up on concert tours with Elvis Presley beginning July 31st, 1969, and they continued with Elvis Presley all the way throughout to Elvis' last concert on June 26th, 1977. The exquisite voices of The Sweet Inspirations can be heard on numerous Elvis Presley albums including, "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii" and "Elvis Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden." The Sweet Inspirations can be observed and heard on the award-winning 1972 documentary "Elvis on Tour," as well as "Elvis: That's The Way It Is."  
 
The Sweet Inspirations were hired by Elvis Presley in 1969 without an audition, due to Elvis being very familiar with The Sweet Inspirations. Elvis stated to his musical associates and entourage that he must otain The Sweet Inspirations. The Sweet Inspirations had a close, playful and well-respected friendship with Elvis Presley. Often for several hours after Elvis' Las Vegas shows The Sweet Inspirations and The Imperials would join Elvis in his Hilton Hotel suite to sing Gospel music.  

Article is COPYRIGHT (c) Caroline Pratt, all rights reserved. For noncommercial use: permission is granted with proper credit attributed to “Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville.” 

Ginger Alden, the last girlfriend and Fiancee of Elvis Presley gave an interview September 3rd, 2014 on the NBC TODAY Show. 


After remaining silent for 30+ years Ginger Alden has finally broken her silence. Her autobiography 'Elvis & Ginger' was released nation wide September 2nd, 2014.

"Elvis, you and I know the truth and unfortunately you’re not here to set the record straight. With this book, I will try to..."  - Ginger Alden

From Amazon:
"Elvis Presley and Graceland were fixtures in the life of Ginger Alden, having been born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. But she had no idea that she would play a part in that enduring legacy as Elvis Presley’s fiancée, and his last great love. For over three decades Ginger has held the truth of their relationship close to her heart. In her own words Ginger details their whirlwind romance—from first kiss to his stunning proposal of marriage. She details his exploration of Eastern religions, his perception of being a “legend,” his devotion to family and friends, and her attempt to know the insular group surrounding Elvis. For the very first time she talks about the devastating end of it all, and the 80,000 mourners and reporters who descended on Graceland in 1977, exposing Ginger to the reality of living in the spotlight. Above it all, Alden rescues Elvis from the hearsay, rumors, and tabloid speculations of his final year by shedding a frank yet personal light on a very public legend." 

Ginger Alden is an actress and model, known for her role on the daytime soap opera Capitol. She was also featured in a number of television shows including Hollywood Beat and Life Goes On. A spokeswoman for the Claridge Hotel and Casino, Ginger also starred in more than 100 television commercials and had a successful modeling career for such products like Clairol, Vidal Sassoon, Maybelline, Aziza, Avon, and Viriginia Slims.


source: http://www.amazon.com

Click here to order your copy of "Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiancee and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story" from Amazon.com! 

Legends of Sun Records Exhibit at Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville

Published: Aug 15, 2014
photos courtesy PLA Media

The Johnny Cash Museum in downtown Nashville unveiled a new exhibit, Legends of Sun Records, at an exclusive industry gathering at the museum, Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 13). The exhibit officially opens to the public today, Aug. 15, and will run for 18 months.

Legends of Sun Records features artifacts, record covers, vintage photos and other fascinating items spotlighting the artists who made the Memphis-based record label famous: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and drummer W.S. Holland.

Fans visiting the exhibit will also enjoy a video featuring legendary performances, including Elvis Presley singing “Don’t Be Cruel,” Jerry Lee Lewis on “Great Balls of Fire” and a hilarious segment with Johnny Cash impersonating Elvis.

Attending the sneak peek unveiling were Johnny Cash’s brother and sister Tommy Cash and Joanne Cash Yates, Sun Records’ Jerry Phillips, Roy Orbison’s son Alex and other special guests.

Johnny Cash Museum founder Bill Miller addressed the crowd, noting, “We wanted to continue to let the museum evolve. Sun Records played such an important part in the history of rock ’n’ roll.”


source: http://www.countryweekly.com

Elvis Week 2014: The World Premiere of 'Nobody,' an Elvis Presley short film by William Bryan 


by Caroline Pratt – Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville 
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 
www.elvispresleyfansofnashville.com 


Elvis Week 2014, is held annually in Memphis, Tennessee August 9th-17th with events celebrating and honoring the man, the music and the legend, Elvis Presley. It has been 37 years since Elvis passed away on August 16, 1977. Thousands of Elvis fans from around the world make the annual pilgrimage to commemorate the anniversary of Elvis' passing. Additionally, the 2014 year acknowledged the July 5, 1954 - 60th anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll! 

Elvis Week, additionally bore something new and different to celebrating Elvis' life, with respects to Elvis' senior year of high school, where he graduated from Humes High School in 1953. Elvis fans had the delight of attending the world premiere of the highly anticipated Elvis short film, Nobody! Prior to Nobody, a film depicting the essential core of Elvis Presley at Humes High School had never been accomplished. 

Tickets to the world premiere 5p.m. screening of Nobody sold out online in less than 24 hours! All admission ticket proceeds from the 5p.m. world premiere screening and a couple of very generous donations from various audience members, measuring well over 1,500 dollars, were donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude, established in 1962 by actor Danny Thomas, is a nonprofit hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, therefore families never pay a cent for medical treatment for their children battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. 

Nobody, is a short film by Sideburned Cinema; written, directed and produced by dedicated Elvis Presley fan and filmmaker, Mr. William "Bill" Bryan, a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. Nobody was co-produced by Mr. William Bryan, and fellow Columbia College Chicago graduate, Mr. Tom Radovich. 

Nobody chronicles a detailed account of the Humes High School 1953 minstrel show, which originally occurred April 9, 1953. Elvis was reluctantly entered into the minstrel show and took the stage after being signed up by his homeroom teacher, Miss Scrivener. She recognized Elvis' enchantment for music! And, as fate would have it, the audience adored Elvis' performance. Elvis' performance took first place, and females began to take notice of him! Nobody illustrates the vital, unbreakable mother-son relationship between Elvis and his mother, Gladys Presley. While attending Humes High School, Elvis connected with his homeroom teacher, a stern woman by the name of Mildred Scrivener, a well-respected authority figure. 

Nobody is the epitome of elegance and sophistication—a flavorful, well-done film that boasts an excellent concept, an amazing script, and the best cast imaginable!

Casting auditions for Nobody were conducted during the month of August at Elvis Week 2013. Actors and Elvis fans auditioned for roles after hearing about the casting call by various online social media outlets, local Memphis newscasts, and word of mouth from fellow Elvis fans. All actors were spot-on with their physical resemblance to the people they portrayed. Mr. William Bryan could not have discovered a better group of people to cast for Nobody! The mannerisms and facial expressions of Drake Milligan are an incredible sight of similarity to the real 18-year old Elvis Presley. The physical appearance and demeanor of Natasha Rudis to Mrs. Gladys Presley is a bit mind-blowing and unbelievable! Pam Williams had a good resemblance to Mildred Scrivener and showed the stern expression and attitude that assured and dignified school teachers often hold. 

Filming for Nobody was captured on location in Memphis, Tennessee. Filming occurred in the course of a weekend in April 2014 at Humes High School and Sun Studio, formerly known as the Memphis Recording Service. The minstrel show element of Nobody was shot in the authentic Humes High School auditorium. Filming of the foyer/office area at the Memphis Recording Service was shot in the authentic Sun Studio building in the precise location of Marion Keisker's original workspace. Minstrel show vocals for Elvis Presley were recorded during the month of December 2013, on location at Sun Studio by Mr. Ted Torres Martin. Costumes and set decorations for Nobody were accurately to the point of 1953, via the amazing talents of Costume Designer Loretta Harper and Production Designer Angela Messina. Wardrobe from Lansky Brothers Clothing for Elvis Presley, was graciously provided by Hal Lansky, son of the late Bernard Lansky of Lansky Brothers Clothing. The film posters were designed by two of Elvis Presley Enterprises official licensed artists, Mr. Joe Petruccio and Ms. Betty Harper. The Estate of Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Enterprises was extremely supportive of Bill throughout every step of the way to the complete result of Nobody. 

The world premiere of Nobody was held in Memphis, Tennessee at the Malco's Studio On The Square Theater at 5p.m. on Wednesday, August 13th, 2014. The world premiere of Nobody was screened to a sellout audience of zealous Elvis fans who were on the edge of their seats from beginning to end as Nobody graced the film screen! As excited Elvis fans entered the lobby of the Malco they were greeted by the writer and director, Mr. William Bryan! Before entering the theater, Elvis fans admired the large standing black frames showcasing each Nobody movie poster. The premiere event was hosted by Sirius Elvis Radio DJ Doc Walker. Doc Walker, was the first Elvis Radio DJ to ever interview William Bryan on air at Elvis Presley's Graceland! Event photography was provided by Kira Lynn Photography. 

At 5p.m. the world premiere screening of Nobody commenced with the Host, Mr. Doc Walker from Sirius Elvis Radio. DJ Doc Walker, vivaciously welcomed the excited audience to the premiere, and he gave a candid introductory speech regarding Mr. William Bryan. Doc Walker pointed out the complex work Bill put forth to ensure Nobody would be a professional first-class film success! As William Bryan took hold of the microphone, the audience beamed and listened very attentively as he delivered his sweet and touching speech. The audience could hear and definitely feel the emotional-charge in Bill's voice! Bill, detailed the process of writing and filming Nobody, which included his original vision and ambition to produce an Elvis Presley film to ultimately grant Elvis Presley the justice he indeed deserves. The closing speakers before the screening of Nobody were Burton Bridges, a Representative from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Elvis Presley Enterprises' President and CEO, Mr. Jack Soden. Burton Bridges, the Representative from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, gave a speech of gratitude to, William Bryan and he gave his thanks to all audience members for their donations to St. Jude. Jack Soden, President and CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, expressed his words of appreciation to Bill and to the Bryan family who was in attendance. 

After the conclusion of the world premiere of Nobody, a Q&A Session was hosted by Sirius Elvis Radio DJ Doc Walker. Bill, discussed the film more and at extent due to many of the questions received. Interesting and humorous behind the scenes stories while filming Nobody, were additionally revealed to the audience! The audience had several questions for the cast, and each cast member was happy to provide an answer. Following the Q&A Session, Bill and the cast gladly posed for photos, chatted with fans, and autographed Nobody movie posters and autographed Nobody film DVD's. 

Nobody grabs the viewer on a pleasant edge of your seat ride with a smile on your face as you grasp Elvis' persona at Humes High School! The viewer can certainly understand Elvis as a student and the relationship between him and his homeroom teacher, Miss Scrivener. Every Elvis fan has the knowledge of the juxtaposition of the Mother and Son bond shared between Elvis Presley and his Mother, Gladys Presley. Nobody illustrates a very endearing and understanding tribute of the adoration Elvis held for his Mother. An example of the tenderness is a scene between Elvis and Gladys, in their pure southern life, as Gladys is folding laundry. Gladys and Elvis, have a conversation that ends with a hug and the promise of Elvis granting his precious Mother a better and enhanced life if he were to become famous. Gladys Presley desired nothing more than to witness her beloved Elvis, happy and prevailing in life; living his dream if it had been singing or driving a truck! Nobody presents Elvis fans an image of the nervousness Elvis must have felt on that Spring night of April 1953 as he performed in front of his classmates. Nobody, captures the fear and uneasiness of Elvis, all the way up to the minute when Elvis decides to let go of his apprehension of rejection and take the descent to go on with his performance! Nobody, captures hand in hand the curiosity of the audience and the smiles as they were dazzled by Elvis' talent. 

The final scene in Nobody was captured in the very best way possible between Elvis and Ms. Marion Keisker, at Memphis Recording Service. Elvis, daydreams of recording a professional song at Memphis Recording Service and frequently gazes upon the Memphis Recording Service windows, but Elvis has always been nervous and reluctant to go inside. One day Elvis, finally musters up the courage to go into the Memphis Recording Service. Elvis rings the bell on the lobby desk and waits for Ms. Marion Keisker, who seems at first attentiveness to be uninterested. Marion speaks to Elvis, and Elvis inquires about recording a song on a double sided acetate for his Mother's upcoming birthday. After quickly discussing the acetate, Elvis asks if Marion knows of anyone searching for a singer. Marion, promptly asks Elvis, “What kind of a singer are you?” Elvis responds“I sing all kinds.” “Well, who do you sound like?" and Elvis contemplates Marion's question and then he replies, "I don't sound like nobody." And..... then BAM there it is, a beyond flawless and marvelous ending! 

Hollywood, could not have acquired every ounce of cultivation, contentment, tenderness and energy; obtained by William Bryan. Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville, firmly believes William Bryan, was born to write and produced Nobody. No one else other than Bill could have bestowed all the devotion and adverse work needed to write, create and produce a film that grabs a hold of you, causes you to fill overjoyed and leaves you hungering for more! Elvis Presley has absolutely without any doubt has garnered undeniable justice and everything else imaginable captured in William Bryan's, short-film, Nobody. Thank you, William Bryan for delivering Elvis Presley and his fans a fantastic, accurate and first class Elvis Presley, film! 

Throughout the process of producing Nobody, Bill and his production team had a potent standing motto. The motto is: “We carry our own sound equipment, we carry the best equipment that money can buy, we have the most expensive show on the road, but I do not care, I want the people to get the best!” The motto is a genuine quote said by Elvis Presley in 1974 regarding his concert tour. Nobody has attributed precisely that, the quintessential best!! 

Another screening of Nobody was held during Elvis Week 2014 earlier during the day before the premiere on August 13th. Elvis Presley Fan Club President's from all over the world had the pleasure of being the very first audience ever to see Nobody. The event was held nearby Elvis Presley's Graceland at the Elvis Week Main Stage Pavilion at Elvis Presley Enterprises annual Fan Club President's event. The film was very well received at the event with Elvis fan club President's giving the film a standing ovation! As Bill, came back out to the stage, everyone was smiling from ear to ear as they all longed to know more about the interesting young filmmaker, William Bryan. 

The next step for William Bryan is to enter Nobody into the short film festival circuit. There are countless film festivals and film organizations worldwide. Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville would like to wish William Bryan the best of success with Nobody and with his career in the film industry, where we know he will greatly succeed! 

Elvis fans can look forward to screenings of William Bryan's Nobody, at upcoming Elvis festivals and events. A list of screenings appears at the end of this article.  

Article is COPYRIGHT (c) Caroline Pratt, all rights reserved. For noncommercial use: permission is granted with proper credit attributed to “Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville.”

Long Live The King: 5 Questions with the Gatekeepers of the Elvis Brand
Posted by Paula Pou on August 29, 2014 03:58 PM

Every August, thousands of Elvis Presley fans descend upon Graceland to pay their respects to the King. Elvis Week, as the annual event has become known, is a celebration of the rock and roll icon’s life, and consists of concerts, movie screenings and candle vigils. This year’s event marked the 37th anniversary of Presley’s death, and while it wasn’t a landmark anniversary, change was in the air. 

And there’s good reason: Graceland is under new management. It’s not news that the Presley family no longer has majority control over Elvis’s intellectual property or management of Graceland itself—Lisa Marie sold that in 2005. But, in late 2013, National Entertainment Collectibles Association founder Joel Weinshanker acquired the rights to operate Graceland and its related properties in partnership with the Presley family and Authentic Brands Group (ABG). As part of that same transaction, ABG bought the Elvis intellectual property and oversees licensing and merchandising for the brand.   

The duo of brand managers have helped revive the King's brand for a new generation of fans, including the introduction of an iPad tour narrated by John Stamos, a 450-room hotel that will open next fall, and a deal with Pulse Evolution to bring The King back to life withholographic performances for live shows, films and ads.  

On the heels of this year’s Elvis Week, brandchannel chatted with Weinshanker, managing partner of Graceland, and ABG’s President and CMO Nick Woodhouse to find out what else the future holds for Elvis.

brandchannel: For the first time in 20 years, Graceland has announced new additions to the tour experience, but with two Elvis milestones in the near future (his 80th birthday in 2015, and the 40th anniversary of his death in 2017), what’s in store for Graceland and the Elvis Presley brand?

Joel Weinshanker: Elvis Presley is timeless, and Graceland is becoming not only one of the top attractions in the US, but the pop culture center of the world. Our goal is to continuously reinforce Elvis’s legacy as a true trendsetter and early adaptor, while continuing to update the visitor experience and maintaining the integrity of the mansion. 

bc: With an aging fan demographic, how are you attracting younger visitors, and what kind of experiences can they expect from their interactions with the Elvis brand? 

Weinshanker: If you visit Graceland, you will see that the average age of the guest is actually getting younger, not older. Elvis’s music, persona and legacy are being discovered by a new generation of modern, edgy fans. 

bc: Graceland just hosted its first-ever authenticated auction, which included a broad range of items, from a signed library card to a 1977 Cadillac Seville. With a collectible market that’s been thriving since 1977, why is Graceland getting involved now? 

Weinshanker: As we are all aware, many items have been offered over the years with “questionable” provenance. With over 1 million items, the Elvis Presley archive at Graceland is unrivaled by any other person’s archive, so we felt a responsibility to try and make sure that the items being offered to Elvis fans were legitimate. 

bc: ABG now owns the Elvis Presley intellectual property and manages the licensing and merch rights to the King’s image, but you’re also working closely with Joel [Weinshanker] and the Presley family to operate Graceland. How will this structure benefit the Elvis brand, and what is the collective vision you’re working towards?  

Nick Woodhouse: Just like we are focused on the Estate of Elvis Presley, Joel and the team at Graceland are tirelessly dedicated to growing the Elvis Presley brand while keeping the history of who Elvis was intact. Graceland has been a true partner in every sense of the word. The Presley family is also a partner of both properties and involved in all important decisions. We are collectively focused on reminding fans that Elvis was a true revolutionary not only in the music and entertainment industries, but in pop culture as well. 

bc: Are there any lessons you’ve learned from managing other celebrity brands like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali that are proving to be useful with the Elvis brand? Will we start seeing similar plans to refresh the other celebrity brands in your roster? 

Woodhouse: One important thing we’ve learned from working with Marilyn Monroe is that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. On the branding and merchandising side of our business, we are focused on working with blue chip partners who have a true understanding and respect for the integrity of the Elvis Presley brand. It is not about licensing every single item that comes our way. We are building on a legendary global brand. It’s a very exciting time to be in the Elvis business. 



source: http://www.brandchannel.com

September 1, 2014
by Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville

The Mid-South Coliseum, located in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, is in consequential jeopardy of being demolished. The Mid-South Coliseum, was once known as the entertainment capitol of the Mid-South! Robert Lipscomb, director of Housing and Community Development of Memphis, is ready to move forward with his controversial $134.2 million redevelopment of the Mid-South Fairgrounds. The decision to approve the demolition is less than three weeks away! 

The Mid-South Coliseum, has been closed since the year 2006. The closure came about when the building failed to meet the current ADA standards. The building has been left to deteriorate and has been occasionally used for storage. The Mid-South Coliseum, is the current location for the 100-year old Memphis Grand Carousel and the Memphis Liberty Bell, among other very distinguished Memphis artifacts. 

Elvis Presley, performed at the Mid South Coliseum several times during the 1970's. Elvis' performances include March 17th, 1974, March 20th, 1974 when Elvis recorded a live on stage album, and his last concert performance in Memphis on July 5, 1976 at the Mid-South Coliseum. Elvis, was scheduled to play the Mid-South Coliseum again on his upcoming concert tour, the one Elvis and his fans would never see. The scheduled concert date was  to be August 27th, 1977. 

Demolition redevelopment already commenced in late 2009-2010 at the other Mid-South Fairground attractions. The first targets were: Libertyland Amusement Park which closed in 2005 and eventually all traces of the park were desolated by 2010, and Elvis Presley's favorite roller-coaster ride - the Zippin Pippin was dismantled and sold to a Amusement Park located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Historic Markers, now stand near the entrance on Early Maxwell Road, for the Mid-South Fairgrounds honoring Libertyland Amusement Park and the Zippin Pippin. Redevelopment for retail space and other fruitless projects at the former Mid-South Fairgrounds have been in the works for an extended period of time. Plans have been postponed, abandoned and forgotten. Unfortunately, as mentioned above the plans for redevelopment are back on the table and the future for the Mid-South Coliseum, is  not looking too aspiring.  

Robert Lipscomb, confirmed that demolishing the Mid-South Coliseum is part of the overall redevelopment plan for the Fairgrounds. He said the facility can only be used for storage at this point, and not for sports due to non-compete clauses already in place. 

The Mid-South Coliseum, still has years of enchantment to offer Memphian's. If saved The Mid-South Coliseum, could be used for uses other than storage. The 100-year old Memphis Grand Carousel, which is stored inside tractor trailers on the arena floor of The Mid-South Coliseum could be constructed and utilized once again. There are countless visions to preserve The Mid-South Coliseum and facilitate it. Two ideas mentioned in the course of the years, incorporate: an indoor park with walking trails and rock climbing, and a multi-use athletic center with a swimming pool and ice skating rink. 

Save The Mid-South Coliseum, a Facebook Group has started a petition in attempt to save the Mid-South Coliseum, from demolition. The petition flyer, petition link and QR Code can be found below. 

A part of Memphis history & American Pop Culture~ Since 1964, known as "The Entertainment Capital of The Mid-South", the Coliseum was designed for a multi-purpose arena that seated 12000 people. It opened in 1964, and was the first desegregated public building in Shelby County. It was one of the few stops on The Beatle's final American tour. Elvis Presley performed at the Coliseum many times, as well as many famous performers. In addition to concerts, the coliseum was the home base of the United States Wrestling Association, the home of the Memphis Wings Hockey Team, University of Memphis Tiger Basketball and the home to three American Basketball Association teams. The facility was closed and moth-balled in 2006, because it failed to meet the current ADA standards. Placed on The National Register of Historic Places by The US Department of the Interior in the year 2000, this vital Memphis Icon is scheduled to fall to the wrecking ball, laid out by Robert Lipscomb, Director HCD, Memphis,TN… To be replaced with yet an unnamed 150 room Hotel, Retail strip, Apartment/Multi-Family housing segment, Parking garage, and amateur sports fields, to name a few…. Help us Save the Coliseum and share new venues in the future. Keep our public land Public and for the Public…Not Private development paid for by Tax & Bond money.

Please sign the petition and SAVE the MID-SOUTH COLISEUM! The decision to Deny or Approve its demolition is less than 3 weeks away! You can sign the petition using your smart phone, no problemo! The petition page is mobile-user-friendly and only takes a few seconds.

Lansky Bros. Clothier to the King - Julie and Hal Lansky
POSTED BY SOPHORN KUOY ON FRI, AUG 8, 2014 AT 

In 1952, Bernard Lansky notices a young man looking in the Beale Street storefront, welcomes him in, and shows him around. That young man was Elvis Presley, and before he was known as the King of Rock-n-Roll, he was a loyal customer to Lansky Brothers. As Mr. Lansky helped Elvis create his well-known and sought-after style, Bernard gained the title Clothier to the King. Together, they rose as American icons.

Today, Bernard’s son and granddaughter and Lanksy Brothers current owners Hal and Julie Lansky stand in the very building on 126 Beale Street where it all started, recounting that story of when the clothier met the King.

“Come on in and let me show you around!” Hal echoes his father’s first words to Elvis. Words also imprinted on the interior entry glass as you walk from the newly located Hard Rock Café to this fifth Lansky Bros. store: Clothier to the King, paying homage to Elvis and more importantly to the clothier himself.

Hal and Julie pointed to the framed black and white photographs of Bernard and young Elvis hanging above the racks of 1950s Elvis-inspired sport shirts and jackets. These photographs and other artifacts documented the friendship between the two. Bernard outfitted Elvis for his earth-shattering first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, floating the cost of the suit. As Elvis gained his stardom, he continued to buy his clothes from Lansky Bros. crediting them any chance he could, helping the Memphis establishment gain international attention.

“We’d like to think [Lansky’s] helped influence his style.” Julie says. For example, Bernard was the one that suggested Elvis flip up his collar and introduced him to the Pink and Black combination that soon defined the ‘50s.

Elvis enthusiasts will applaud - they did not forget the blue suede shoes. In laced and loafer versions, the iconic shoe is made exclusively by Hush Puppies. And for fun, they created the Jungle Room printed loafer (shown in slideshow).

Lansky Bros. Clothier to the King is largely dedicated to the vintage-inspired men’s clothing line of the same name but also caters to any modern man with a rock-n-roll edge. Not forgetting the original strong customer base of musicians, Lansky’s has kept a large stock of patterned shirts and jackets with their own stage presence. Some well-known customers and musicians past and present include Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Bobby Blue Bland, and Robert Plant. Other items offered in this location are custom women’s wear made from recycled Elvis T-shirts, jeans, Memphis T-shirts, Elvis socks and even a fragrance inspired by the King.

See more of what they have to offer in the slideshow below or shop online at www.lanskybros.com.

The other four shops - Lansky at the Peabody, Lansky 126, Lansky Lucky Duck, and Lansky Essentials - are located and will remain within the Peabody Hotel. The new store is just a quick walk south from the Peabody Hotel on Second Street - returning to its music-inspired roots near Beale Street.

This shop location is open 11am -7pm Sunday to Wednesday and 9am-9pm Thursday to Saturday.



source: http://www.memphisflyer.com

Elvis is always in the building at Georgia woman's home
by Ed Grisamore, The Telegraph
August 15, 2014


GRAY, Ga. (AP) - Elaine Greene visits the E.R. several times a day.

It is the first door on the left as you walk down her hallway. In the house on a hill overlooking Gray Highway, Elvis is always in the building.

The E.R. is the Elvis Room, where a king can live forever. The decor is All Things Presley. Elvis leaps across the floor, up the walls and over the top.

Elaine Greene is no ordinary Elvis fan. She is an Elvis fan with capital letters and exclamation points. Passionate is a keyword in her thesaurus. Even the diehards don't all have a room fit for a king.

Whatever you do, don't step on her Greene-suede shoes.

There are moments forever frozen in our memories. For Elaine, one of them is Aug. 16, 1977. The baby sitter called. Had she heard the news?

Elvis is dead.

She cried.

In the Elvis Room, she has been keeping him on life support.

Elaine has hundreds of Elvis books, post cards, soda bottles, 29-cent stamps, posters, pillows, coffee mugs, a blanket and a Monopoly board game.

On one side of the room is a bust of Elvis. It was left on her doorstep one night by a friend. Across the room is an Elvis slot machine. Drop in a coin and, if three Elvis heads pop up, it starts playing an Elvis song.

Among her favorite items is a red cap covered with 53 Elvis pins.

"It weighs a ton on my head," she said. "I can only wear it for 15 minutes."

She has a school desk from Humes High School in Memphis, where Presley graduated in 1953. She and her friend, Beth Davidson, an Elvis fan on equal footing, talked the janitor into letting them have three. (To show their appreciation, they made a donation to the library.)

There is no proof Elvis actually sat in any of the desks. His initials aren't carved in the wood grain. But at least the desk was in the company of a king. And that is enough.

Elaine taught school for 32 years. At Tattnall Square Academy, she was a seventh-grade English teacher. She included "Elvis" on the syllabus as a teaching tool. She once gave her students Reese's Cups (with Elvis on the wrapper) on the first day of school.

In her classroom at Tattnall, she kept an Elvis cut-out, album covers, a jigsaw puzzle and Christmas ornaments. When she retired in 2009, her husband, Wayne, helped move her Elvis collection to a spare bedroom. He has become a permanent house guest.

Elvis has run a thread through her life. Her crush began when she was 9 years old. She sat in front of a black-and-white TV and watched Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Known as "Elvis the Pelvis" for his hip gyrations, the TV cameras showed him only from the waist up.

In high school, she accepted Elvis records instead of baby-sitting money. She saw Elvis three times in concert -- twice in Macon and once in Atlanta. She kept the ticket stubs. (One cost $7.50.)

"Can't Help Falling in Love" was sung at her wedding at Hillsboro Baptist Church in 1970. She has requested that two songs from an Elvis gospel tape -- "Take My Hand Precious Lord" and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" -- be played at her funeral.

Elaine regrets not being in Memphis for "Elvis Week," which runs through Sunday. She and Beth Davidson have been attending since 1997, missing only four times in 17 years. "It's like going to a big family reunion," Elaine said.

They have made many trips to Graceland, the second-most visited home in America (next to the White House).

"You just feel the presence of Elvis there, and tell yourself that this is where he was," she said.

She and Beth have broken bread at Marlowe's Ribs, where Elvis fans from all over the world gather to swap stories. They once came home with Elvis tattoos, not letting on to family members that the tattoos were temporary.

Two years ago, they got to see Priscilla Presley. They once "stalked" Lisa Marie, when she was dating Nicolas Cage. A security guard let them watch Presley's daughter as she exited the theater after the first "Elvis Virtual Concert" at Mud Island.

They met Jerry Schilling, who was one of Elvis' bodyguards. He shared great stories and still lives in the house Presley gave him. They once invited an Italian man, dressed in a royal blue jump suit, to join them for pizza. He had earned a trip to "Elvis Week" by being named the Italian Elvis Entertainment Artist. He didn't speak a word of English but knew the words to every Elvis song. They later saw him weeping in the Meditation Garden at Graceland.

They introduced themselves to Sandi Miller, the "girl at the gate," who was part of the Presley entourage and had more than 30 scrapbooks of photographs.

"Sandi Miller's last conversation with Elvis was right before he died," said Elaine. "He asked her to come to Palm Springs for the weekend. She could not, and he said 'Maybe next time.' There never was a next time."

Even when Elaine is not at Elvis Week, the king is never far away. He is in the E.R. She goes there to write, listen to Elvis music or watch an Elvis movie.

When she sees one of her former students, she is reminded of those lasting impressions.

"Mrs. Greene," they will tell her, "every time I hear an Elvis song, I think of you."


source: http://mdjonline.com

Elvis Was Our Shabbos Goy

Some people lean on neighbors for a cup of sugar. The Fruchters, of Memphis, Tennessee, needed theirs to help them keep the Sabbath.

By Vox Tablet|August 25,  2014

We’ve all got our go-to story about brushes with fame, but Harold Fruchter’s is truly a conversation stopper. Fruchter, a singer and guitarist in a Jewish wedding band, and the son of a rabbi, was born in 1952. When he was a baby, and up to the age of 2, his family lived in the upstairs apartment of a two-story flat in Memphis. Their downstairs neighbors were the Presleys. The two families formed a friendship, and the future King of Rock, just a teenager then, learned to pick up the cues when the Fruchters needed someone to turn on a light or unlock a door on Shabbos. The Fruchters, for their part, helped Elvis out materially (if not spiritually) on occasion. 

Here’s the story of that friendship, told by Harold Fruchter. The piece was produced by Rob Sachs, with help from Bob Carlson, and first aired on KCRW’s UnFictional.

source: http://www.tabletmag.com

Elvis Presley 1956 Lincoln Continental up close and personal
by David B L Johnstone

• Paperback: 20 pages
• Publisher: Blurb (2014)
• ISBN-10: 1320100848
• ISBN-13: 978-1320100847
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inches

Previously unpublished private photos of the 1956 Lincoln Continental once owned by Elvis Presley. Some photos were taken prior to this iconic vehicle being fully restored and are up close and in never before seen detail.

Click here to purchase from Amazon!

The New leader In Las Vegas", a new hardcover 144-page Elvis book.

Foreword has been written by Joe Esposito and with every book comes a 8x10 bonus photo handsigned by Joe Esposito in person.

This is a limited release of 1000 copies worldwide.

CLICK HERE to order from Essential Elvis!

Young Man With The Big Beat Box set, Limited Edition

Elvis Presley  Format: Audio CD

This title will be released on September 15, 2014. 

Product details

• Audio CD (15 Sep 2014)
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Box set, Limited Edition
• Label: Sony Music Cmg

Elvis Presley™ Virtually Comes Back To Life - PR Newswire Press Release
     
Tuesday, August 26th 2014

 The King to Appear Digitally for a New Generation
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. and NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -

Pulse Evolution Corporation (OTC: PLFX) and The Estate of Elvis Presley™ have forged a partnership to develop a virtual "King of Rock 'n' Roll."  By leveraging state of the art human animation technology, Elvis will return to fans in the form of new and exciting entertainment and branding opportunities, including "holographic" performances in live shows, commercials, and more.

"For us, working with Pulse is about the opportunity to present Elvis to a new generation of fans who would otherwise never get to see him perform," said Jamie Salter, Chairman and CEO of Authentic Brands Group, owner of The Estate of Elvis Presley™ in partnership with the Presley family. "Our goals for a digitized Elvis are integrity and authenticity, to provide fans with an experience that they love and are proud to be a part of."

A trendsetter and an early adopter of technology, Elvis owned one of the first mobile phones, a projector TV before the masses and recorded albums live in his home.  Known as the leader of the rock 'n' roll revolution, Elvis was the epitome of a forward thinker.  Adds Salter, "This deal now positions Elvis at the forefront of the digital domain."

"We are thrilled about this partnership because we created Pulse to bring brilliant performers like Elvis to the millions of people who love him.  Through this digitally reimagined Elvis, new and younger audiences will be able to see firsthand why he is called the King of Rock 'n' Roll," said Frank Patterson, CEO of Pulse Evolution.

The Pulse team includes a powerful combination of artists and executives who specialize in character creation and human animation. Among the successes of the executive team are the virtual Tupac Shakur at Coachella 2012 and the award-winning visual effects for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, with supervising roles in high-end visual effects films like Avatar, Divergent, Forrest Gump and more.


About Pulse Evolution Corporation
Pulse Evolution Corporation (OTC: "PLFX") is a creatively driven, digital production and IP Company, established to produce specialized, high-impact applications of computer-generated human likeness for utilization in entertainment, life sciences, education and telecommunication. Founded by the world's leading producers of photorealistic digital humans, Pulse develops "virtual humans" for live and holographic concerts, advertising, feature films, branded content, medical applications and training. Pulse is headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Please visit www.pulse.co.

About Authentic Brands Group, LLC
Authentic Brands Group, in partnership with Leonard Green & Partners, is an intellectual property corporation with a mandate to acquire, manage and build long-term value in prominent consumer brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG's mission is to further enhance brand equity through partnering with best-in-class licensees and direct-to-retail partnerships. ABG brands include Marilyn Monroe®, Mini Marilyn™, Muhammad Ali®, Elvis Presley®, Juicy Couture®, Judith Leiber®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Palm Beach®, Misook®, Prince®, Spyder®, Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, Hind®, Ektelon®, Viking®, Bobby Jones®, TapouT®, Sportcraft®. www.abg-nyc.com

About Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland® and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel®, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com.


source: PR Newswire

How Elvis Presley's death saved over 300 record factory jobs

• Aug 11, 2014 19:00
• By David Morton

Pop music lovers in the 1970s were well familiar with the bright orange labels that adorned the discs of RCA Records.

Everyone from the Sweet to David Bowie released records on the famous record label.

But none of the artists on RCA’s roster were bigger than Elvis Presley. The mid-1970s saw the “The King” in full-on Las Vegas cabaret mode, but he remained the brightest star in the pop firmament.

Meanwhile, Washington New Town had been home to a giant factory churning out RCA records since 1970.

A report in the weeks before its opening announced: “The whole mammoth operation will be staffed by local workers.”

Indeed, during the early years of the decade, over 300 local people were employed there.

They helped the factory produce more than 18,000,000 records a year by Elvis, Bowie - and a whole range of pop and classical performers.

However, the changing face of the leisure industry began to take its toll. Sales of vinyl began to fall, and the introduction of the music cassette ate into the record market.

In 1976, only six years after the factory opened, the writing was on the wall.

In July 1977, RCA announced that 94 staff at the Washington plant were set to lose their jobs, with the entire 350 workforce about to be put on short-time working.

Negotiations between unions and bosses were frantic and heated, but there seemed only one ending in sight – closure.

The following month brought news from the United States that shocked the world - but would give the factory a reprieve.

Elvis Presley died on August 16 in Memphis at the age of 42.

As crowds gathered outside his Graceland home, people rushed to record shops around the world and cleared the shelves of every available disc The King had produced.

Word went out from RCA headquarters to its plants across the world that production had to increase, and Washington, being the most modern plant, was in the forefront of meeting the unprecedented demand for records.

Elvis records were effectively sold before they were pressed, and 12-hour shifts became the order of the day as the factory went on to 24-hour working, seven days a week.

A year after the King’s demise there were still 300 working at the factory.

Sadly, the boom was temporary and record sales continued to fall. In 1981 RCA sold up in Washington, and Dickens set about building the biggest DIY complex in Europe at the location.

Today on Washington’s Armstrong Industrial Estate, 37 years on from Elvis’s death, a B&Q home improvement store dominates the site where millions of copies of Jailhouse Rock were produced.

• Meanwhile, at 5.30pm on Thursday, September 4, Marek Norvid and Ritchie Lattimore would like to welcome anyone who worked at, or was directly associated with, the Washington plant to a small reunion at RPM Music. The Newcastle record shop is situated in 4 Old George Yard, just off High Bridge.  

source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Elvis scarf returned after 32 years

• August 23, 2014 10:10 am

Associated Press 

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — David Whitaker nearly hung up the phone when a caller from Florence started asking questions about his being an Elvis fan.

It was what the Lakeland, Florida, resident called an, "out of the blue call." But Whitaker stayed on the line when the questions turned pointed.


"The guy asked me if I had been given a scarf by Elvis at one of his concerts when I was a kid," he said. "And the fact was, I had indeed been given a scarf, then stupidly gave it up and have been trying to locate it the past 32 years."

That caller was Mike Adams, a local Elvis tribute artist, and he had obtained Whitaker's long-lost scarf.

Adams, a lifelong Elvis fan, has been working as a tribute artist since age 19, averaging 40-50 shows a year. He purchased the scarf in mid-July from a woman in Tennessee and was thrilled to get it. It had sweat stains that, in Adams' mind, made it even more personal. But it was also packaged in a Ziploc bag and had an old photograph of a boy standing in what appeared to be about a 1970s-model living room. With the picture was a handwritten note bearing the name, David Whitaker. The feminine handwriting also noted the words, "Given by Elvis, Sept. 4, 1976."

Whitaker's mother had written the note and inserted the picture for safekeeping in the bag with the scarf. She had taken her son to that Elvis concert for his 11th birthday. She approached a body guard and asked for Elvis to give her son a scarf for his birthday. The guard waved to get Elvis' attention, pointed at young Whitaker and The King reached down with the scarf saying, "Here ya go, son."

Whitaker remembers it vividly. He recalls a group of about 30 women swarming him, even knocking him down to take the scarf. But he held on. Tightly.

Adams' realized his call would seem random to Whitaker, which was why he got straight to the point after realizing from a Google search that he had the right David Whitaker.

"I really didn't want to give up that scarf, but I knew after seeing that photo that this guy, if he was even still around, would want it back," Adams said. "I even told God, 'If the first name on the list is the right one, I'll give it back because I'll know it was meant to be.'

Sure enough, the first call was the one.

"After I realized he wasn't going to hang up on me, I just said, 'Well buddy, I'm pretty sure I have your scarf here.' "

Adams said Whitaker listened to the details of how he came by the scarf, accepted that the call wasn't a hoax and finally asked him the obvious question, if he could buy it back.

"I said 'No sir, you can't buy it. But you can have it, since it's yours.'"

Whitaker, now 48, remembers turning 16, getting his driver's license and a car. Even today he bristles at the memory of selling the Elvis scarf. He sold it to a collector for a mere $150 to put the money into his car, a hand-me-down from his parents.

"It didn't take long until I knew I'd made a mistake," he said. "The guy drove off with the scarf, and I felt pretty bad right away. My parents had told me I shouldn't sell it. Especially my mom, the huge Elvis fan."

Sometime later, Whitaker put an ad in the local newspaper to get it back. He learned a woman living nearby in the Lakeland area had bought the scarf, but had moved. The chance of finding the woman, or the scarf, seemed to be a lost cause. Until Adams called.

"It was a stupid thing I did, made right by a million-to-one odds, that call. And a good person, who went out of his way to do the right thing," Whitaker said. "I'm still amazed at all this. The lady who'd bought the scarf even called me after Mike found me. I think they were as excited about finding me as I was to hear from them. You just don't find people like them these days. This kind of thing restores your faith in mankind."

But there was still the issue of getting the scarf back into Whitaker's possession.

Still an Elvis fan himself, Whitaker always wanted to see Graceland, Elvis' Memphis mansion.

When Adams told him he would be performing in Memphis on the 37th anniversary of Elvis' death, Whitaker knew he had to make the trip. He immediately planned for a three-day excursion to Memphis, taking along his two brothers and nephew.

For Adams, as well as Whitaker, the concert brought the story full circle as Adams presented Whitaker with the scarf, still stained, still accompanied by a photo of a proud 11-year-old.

Whitaker's mother died two years ago at 86. She had always remained an Elvis fan, but never made it to Memphis to see Graceland.

"I just feel like Mom had something to do with all this, divine intervention," he said. "Here I'd beat myself up for all those years, and searched and searched for that scarf, and then Elvis himself calls me up and wants to give it back."

Whitaker, a member of a local Lakeland band called Focus Group, says he does a few Elvis numbers but, "I don't sound anything like as good as Mike Adams doing Elvis."

Whitaker said as he thinks back over the whole scenario and the nearly impossible odds of such a thing happening, he has to ask himself if he would have done what Adams did.

"Yeah, I'd have done the very same thing," he said, with certainty. "My father had polio, and he and my mom always taught me to be kind to people. I try to always be kind. And while I can't be more grateful to get this scarf back, I also have to think that me, Mike and Elvis, we have a lot in common. We believe in doing right by people."


source: http://www.moultonadvertiser.com

Memphis artist created a special gift for Elvis Presley
Michael Donahue Aug 9, 2014

As thousands of fans pass through Meditation Garden at Graceland during Elvis Week’s Candlelight Vigil Friday and Saturday, many will notice the modernistic statue of Jesus overlooking the grave, his arms outstretched, as if to welcome them.

The arresting figure has stood in the garden for decades, but the story of how he came to be, and almost didn’t, or who made him isn’t widely known. It’s a story of love for Elvis, who died on Aug. 16, 1977, and Elvis’ love for the Bible. And at the center is an eccentric sculptor who couldn’t say ‘no.’

Memphis artist John McIntire, who sculpted the piece in the 1960s, still carves marble at age 79 in his crowded Midtown backyard, which is filled with his abstract work, yard sale purchases, street finds, plants and cats. A retired Memphis College of Art sculpture professor, McIntire’s work can be found in private collections and in the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. One of his public sculptures, “The Muse,” stands across the street from City Hall.

In 1965, he was commissioned to make a statue of Jesus as a Christmas present to Elvis from members of the Memphis Mafia, the entertainer’s entourage. McIntire never dreamed he would sculpt a statue for Elvis. And he never dreamed he’d have to make an almost life-size statue in less than three weeks.

Brushing mosquitoes away with his hand as he sat on a metal chair in his backyard, McIntire related the story of how he once was sculptor for the King.

He never met Elvis, McIntire said, but he saw him around town and, on occasion, at the old Memphian movie theater. “He was extremely good looking,” McIntire said. “I thought he was some kind of Greek god. He had that look.”

During that time, McIntire taught sculpture and 3-D design at Memphis Art Academy, forerunner to the Memphis College of Art, and he owned the Bitter Lemon coffeehouse on Poplar. He lived at 2166 Madison in a house referred to as “The Beatnik Inn,” he said.

“Poets, writers and all kinds of weird freaks — and me — lived there. The front room, that was my studio. I lived upstairs.”

A laid-back atmosphere prevailed at The Beatnick Inn. “One night I woke up in the middle of the night and it was (poets) Randall Lyon and Allen Ginsberg trying to get me to get up to go to the river to do mantras.”

Memphis Mafia members Jerry Schilling and Marty Lacker would show up after Elvis went to bed, and hang out. “They’d stay sometimes for hours and hours.”

On one visit, Schilling and Lacker told McIntire they wanted to commission a statue of Jesus to give to Elvis for Christmas. McIntire asked what they wanted it to look like. “Marty Lacker put his feet together and stood with his arms sticking out. He says, ‘Just like this. Straight up and down.’”

They needed it by Dec. 24. “I said, ‘It’s Dec. 6. It takes years. Do you know how long it took Michelangelo to do the statue of David and all his stuff? That’s almost impossible.’”

They said they’d pay him $500. “I said, ‘Five hundred dollars? That’s more than I get paid at the Art Academy.’ I said, ‘OK,’ like an idiot. Here I am teaching all day, then trying to work at night, and contending with all the people at the coffeehouse.”

Memphis Mafia members tried to match their Christmas present to whatever Elvis was into at the time, Schilling said in a phone interview from Los Angeles.

“The year before, Elvis was really into guns, and the first Christmas present I gave him was a gun. I took my whole bonus and bought the gun. The next year Elvis was reading Bibles. He’d gone from shooting ranges to more serious things about life and Bibles and whatever. He had just completed the Meditation Garden about a year before. He was really into meditating and quiet time, so we thought this would be appropriate for a Christmas gift. Something special, unique. Something made especially for him,” Schilling said.

McIntire sculpted the about 5-foot statue of Jesus in clay and then made a 14-piece plaster mold of it. He found two men who had formulated a resin, which they mixed with marble dust to make sink tops and commodes.

He asked the men if they could pour their resin into his mold, to make the statue. They said they’d try anything, so McIntire transported the mold to them in a pickup.

McIntire was shocked when he returned to get the statue. “They didn’t secure the mold. That stuff swells up. It expanded the mold and this stuff oozed out all over the place. I was just sick: ‘There goes everything down the tube.’”

“I hauled this mess back to my front room and laid it on the floor. This stuff was setting up slowly; it wasn’t real crystal hard yet. So, I took scrapers and knives and carved the thing out of that stuff.”

The Memphis Mafia showed up. “I’m still working. Here comes that big stretch-mobile, that big black Lincoln they had. All of them come marching in the house.”

They began to pick up the statue. “I said, ‘Wait a minute, I’m not done.’ They said, ‘It’s Christmas Eve. Elvis has to see it now.’ So, I was running out the door trying to take pictures. They picked it up and carried it out on their shoulders.”

The statue was a success. “Elvis was very touched and pleased with it,” Schilling said. “It was not what he said, it was the look on his face that just said everything.”

George Klein, Elvis’ close friend, also believes Elvis appreciated the statue. “From what I understand, he (Elvis) really liked it,” Klein said. “Elvis was, very quietly, a very religious person.”

He thought McIntire should market copies of the statue. But, Klein said, “He never could get into it: ‘It’s not my schtick.’”

McIntire, who still owns the miniature model for the sculpture, copyrighted the statue and made a few miniature versions, but he never really did anything commercially with it. “I cast three or four bronze ones and gave them away,” he said.

Asked to comment on the statute, Elvis Presley Enterprises public relations director Kevin Kern said they have no “documentation on the statue as to who made it” in their archives.

Shortly after he made the statue, McIntire sculpted a bust of Elvis in clay. He borrowed some scrapbooks of old photos of the King when he was young. “He looked like a young cherub,” McIntire said.

Ten years later, McIntire redid the piece, making Elvis look older. He opened the mold of his new Elvis bust on a hot August afternoon. “I had the radio on. It said, ‘Elvis Presley just found dead.’'


source: The Commercial Appeal

The King of All Elvis Books? 73 Interviews, 9 Trips to Memphis and Hundreds of Research Hours Lead to Definitive Biography of History’s Most Enigmatic Star.

‘Elvis: An American Trilogy’ is the work of professional Presley impersonator, Dennis W. Forbus. Disgruntled by the abundance of misinformation, misunderstanding and often blatant lies surrounding the life and death of Elvis Presley, Forbus decided to compile a series of books that would set the record straight – with Elvis’ life told through the star’s own eyes. The first volume, ‘Family’, deals with Presley’s tumultuous childhood and the characters that shaped his future. Research was gathered through over seventy interviews (including classmates, family members, and childhood friends) as well as photographs, historical documents and public records.

For Immediate Release

Blairsville, Georgia – While nobody can deny Elvis Presley’s history-changing influence on both music and popular culture, six-hundred-million record sales still result in a man few actually understand. In fact, many career Elvis experts and impersonators such as Dennis W. Forbus are steadfast in their belief that most existing information about ‘The King of Rock-n-Roll’ is misunderstood or skewed. In an effort to showcase the real man behind the music, Forbus has set out on a worlds-first and most unique literary project.

‘Elvis: An American Trilogy’ tells Presley’s accurate and compelling life story, through his own eyes. The three books are poised to clear up the confusion and assumptions made about the legend, while shunning the public’s mold to expose a man whose personal life was equally as fascinating as his extroverted stage presence.

Volume one, ‘Family’, starts right at the beginning.

Synopsis:
Our story takes you on a journey through the eyes of Elvis himself, as he introduces us to his grand grandparents, all the way up to his own birthday. From then on, we find true stories from those that were there and told us many things that happened to or with Elvis in his childhood growing up as a poor boy from East Tupelo, Mississippi. The challenges involved in moving from house to house, a father being sent to prison, becoming the new kid in schools time and time again, are but a few of the problems he faced everyday. Dreams and imagination were his doorways to escape, and music was the vehicle which he used to travel. Readers will discover great areas of his family roots, birth, education, childhood in Tupelo, move to Memphis, his high school years, recording at Sun Studio, and the purchase of Graceland.

“Many of the Elvis biographies that are out today, and even new ones being released, are constructed from existing information, the same stories and photographs. Some even contain misleading information, which only raises more doubts in the minds of others, admits Forbus. “So, I set out to gather primary information directly from the documents and people that knew Elvis the man, not the Icon. My journey spanned nineteen years, taking me on nine trips to Memphis, seven trips to Tupelo and into the homes and offices of over seventy people who knew Elvis best personally including house staff, friends, band members and business acquaintances. All accounts were backed up through countless hours scouring historical documents, school records, public records, and over three-hundred photographs – each of which is printed in the book. I can put my hand on my heart when I state that I have learned more about Elvis than ever before, and wrote this book with integrity not for popularity. My personal rewards have been the added knowledge of becoming an Elvis Historian over the past decade of studying the life of this great person that continues to change our world.”

Continuing, “All of this is now poured into a new series and available for anyone who wants to learn more about the Elvis Presley, his purpose in life, and the man himself. So many people today, only want to remember Elvis’ struggles with addiction and tend to forget the good things that he did while living. We all suffer with problems and I’ve always felt that folks dwell on Elvis’ personal failures to lessen the load of their own. So, I am now exposing the story of the real Elvis Presley, with the help of many that really knew him. This is his story, and he’s giving you the chance to get to know Elvis Presley.”

Early reviews for this first volume have been overwhelmingly positive. Marian J. Cocke, Presley’s private nurse, comments, “I have finally read, in its entirety, your book. I found it to be very well done, and felt his presence throughout. Well Done. Thank you." 

Presley’s cousin, Mackey Hargett, adds, "Thanks for the time you spent gathering information, spending hours interviewing and learning about our family, and then investigating the stories and photos you chose to use in your book. I'm so proud to be a part of such a wonderful project, and you've done such a great job putting things together.”

The star’s hairdresser and Spiritual Advisor, Larry Geller, sees wide appeal for the book. He writes, “Dennis, I love the book! Everybody has an Elvis book, but I've never seen one designed, laid out, and written like yours. This is a very unique Elvis book and I would recommend it to all Elvis fans and collectors."


‘Elvis An American Trilogy - Volume One Family’, published by DenKar Publishing Group, is available now: http://www.elvisanamericantrilogy.com.

Publisher’s website: http://denkarenterprises.com.

Two further volumes are scheduled for release later this year.

About the Author:
Dennis W. Forbus was born and raised in Anniston, Alabama, to a middle-class Christian family. He grew up with strict morals, going to church, and parents that wasn’t afraid to correct him. He realized a talent he had at a young age of being able to write poetry and short stories. He completed his first published book in 1981, at the age of seventeen, and continues with this project being his thirteenth to go to press. He has been working a job since the age of thirteen, lived on his own since eighteen, and owned businesses for over twenty years. Many times he has worked three jobs at once. He holds degrees in the fields of Psychology, Christian Counseling, and Criminal Justice from Liberty University, and has worked in many areas throughout his life. He worked in local Law Enforcement, started three non-profit organizations, worked with At-Risk youth in the Juvenile system, and is a minister of over 34 years. He calls that experience!

He is married to a wonderful lady, Karen, has four children, three grandchildren, and now lives in the Northeastern Georgia Mountain; a small town called Blairsville, Georgia. It is there that this first book of the Trilogy was completed after spending four years of writing. He enjoys sitting on his cabin porch with his side-kick, Reese, (Shiatsu), drinking coffee, answering emails, and doing his writing. He also enjoys riding horses and watching deer walk and play in his yard.

Many may know him as D. Wayne Forbus, a 2013 Award Winning Professional Elvis Impersonator, also known as the “Alabama Elvis.” He enjoys traveling to shows and book signing events and meeting new Elvis fans and fans of his own along the way. His requests for you, is to come out to one his concerts, or book signing events and say hello and tell him your Elvis story since he is sharing his with the world.

 For personal Book Orders - click here.

Contact: Dennis W. Forbus / dennis@denkarenterprises.com

Elvis Express Radio have posted the exclusive news direct from Stig Edgren of SEG Events, that he no longer has any association with the Elvis Presley shows.

In his message regarding the issue, Mr Edgren wrote, "....however, we are no longer involved and you should check the Graceland website for any future touring plans." 

SEG Events have been the team behind the Elvis video Concert Tours since 1994 and 'Elvis Presley - The Tribute', 'Elvis Presley The Concert' and more. 

With the recent European Tour a sell-out even without the participation of the TCB Band this comes as a surprise. Does this mean that EPE are looking for a new partner and better profits?   

As Elvis Express Radio notes, "Now what does that future hold for Elvis Live in the 21st Century?"


source: Elvis Express Radio and Elvis Information Network

King of the Hilton is a book about Elvis Presley in Las Vegas, seen through the eyes of someone who was there.

After many requests from fans, respected Elvis writer and researcher Anne E Nixon, (author of Ten Years After and The Elvis Archives), is for the first time publishing her detailed show reports from the Vegas years.

Anne attended 40 Elvis Presley shows from 1972-1976, and wrote copious notes on each performance. A few of her show reports were printed in books and magazines at the time, but only now has she opened the vaults and every show she attended is given in-depth coverage.

With the help of  Richard Harvey, she has written a text-rich 300 page A 5 sized softback book that will delight all fans of Vegas-era Elvis.  King of the Hilton is an affectionate, and sometimes poignant diary that takes the reader right back to the Hilton Hotel in the seventies, when Elvis reigned supreme.

Crammed with show anecdotes, complete set-lists, musician/celebrity/jumpsuit checklists, and verbatim Elvis dialogue - the authors had access to previously uncirculated private audio - and loaded with never before published facts about the Hilton scene during those heady days. All of this delivered at a fan-friendly price. 


Inside this handsome book you’ll find -
*Complete first hand reports of every show of the final Vegas season in December ‘76.
*The famous 1974 ‘Desert Storm’ closing show as seen from a front booth.
*Over 100 illustrations including Hilton artifacts.
*The '74 monologues.
*Cancelled! The 1975 season.
*In-depth appendix of songs, suits and show times.
*Closing Night '73 'Monkey' show, exactly what happened on-stage .
*Each edition of this limited print run publication will be signed and numbered.


King of The Hilton, will be published October 2014. 

The Founder and Owner of the fashion chain "Dolce & Gabbana", Domenico Dolce, visited Elvis Presley's Graceland on August 11, 2014.


source: Graceland

Actress Anna Kendrick, visited Elvis Presley's Graceland on August 9th, 2014. Anna, was glad to pay her respects to the King of Rock 'n' Roll, while celebrating her 29th birthday.


source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk