Vintage Rock Magazine, issue 10 is out now. Inside you’ll find their Elvis 60th anniversary Special.

VR tells the story of Elvis’ first single That’s All Right and explore the making of his first iconic major label album.


source: http://www.elvismatters.com

Elvis Presley’s Love Affair with Cars Returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway
March 07, 2014

When Elvis Presley wasn’t singing to thousands of adoring fans, he was working on his always expanding car collection. Elvis’ love affair with automobiles started when he was young and grew over time, just like his music career, ever changing and evolving.

So which famous car will be on display at the Charlotte Motor Speedway AutoFair hosted by OldRide.com on April 3 - 6? We’ll just have to wait and see. The yet to be announced special car on display at the Charlotte Auto Fair will come from Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis.

Last year, Charlotte Motor Speedway displayed one of his most famous cars, his 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II, courtesy of Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland. The celebration of Elvis and his passion for cars will continue this year at the April 3-6 AutoFair hosted by OldRide.com as an even more famous and historic vehicle will be on display in the Showcase Pavilion. The automobile will be announced in a special unveiling at the end of March.

“We were fortunate enough to work with Elvis Presley Enterprises last year to bring the King of Rock ‘,n’Roll’s Lincoln to the spring AutoFair. The fans truly loved the chance to get up close and personal with that vehicle,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

“At the speedway, we like to make things bigger and better than the year before, and fans from around the globe will be in awe of what we’re going to display at the show in April.”

When Elvis’ career took off in the 1950s, so did his collection of vehicles. He set his sights on Cadillacs, purchasing perhaps his most famous vehicle, the Pink Cadillac, which he eventually gifted to his mother. While he served in the Army and was stationed in Germany, he bought a second-hand Volkswagen and two BMW 507s. 

By the 1960s, the crooner continued his collection of Cadillacs and expanded into the Ford Lincoln market and purchased a Rolls Royce, among many other vehicles. In the 1970s, Elvis acquired a Mercedes-Benz 600 and a Ford T-Bird, in addition to a couple of Stutz Blackhawks. 

Elvis didn’t just share a love for automobiles, but for speed as well. He often used to drive souped-up go karts around his Graceland property with friends and family; and his passion for horsepower extended into the multiple horses he had housed in his Graceland stables and at. 

Today, Graceland has a museum dedicated to his expansive collection of cars. More than 30 vehicles are on display, including the Pink Cadillac, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, cars from his movies, a dune buggy, a pedal car, a six-door Mercedes Benz limousine, his John Deere 4010 tractor and many more.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway AutoFair hosted by OldRide.com annually attracts more than 100,000 visitors, features nearly 50 car club displays and offers a surplus of automotive parts and memorabilia for sale or trade. There’s also a collector car auction conducted by Dealer Auctions Inc. and more than 1,500 collectible vehicles of all makes and models will be available for sale in the car corral that rings the 1.5-mile super-speedway.

The AutoFair is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids 13 and under with a paying adult. A four-day pass is available for $30. For tickets or additional information about AutoFair or other events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, call 1-800-455-FANS or visit CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. 


source: http://www.elvis.com

Fifty four years ago this week, Elvis was mobbed by screaming fans as plane stops at Prestwick Airport, Scotland on March 2, 1960. 

The heartthrob was flying back to America after finishing his military service in Germany.

However, their plane made a stop in Prestwick - which would turn out to be Elvis's one and only visit to Scotland.

Wearing his full military uniform, the 25-year-old, posed for pictures, hugged fans and then asked: "Where am I?".

Fans, mostly teenage girls chanted 'We want Elvis' as he made his way from the plane into a waiting car.

Elvis chatted to the fans for a few moments then walked into the terminal buildings. Inside the terminal building the singer told them that he was looking forward to seeing his family again.

He said his plans for the future, "Well, I want to see my friends and relatives before I do anything" There will be more movies. But Elvis said: "I would like to branch out and do something more serious. But nothing like Shakespeare . . . I know my limitations."

Go here to the Daily Record for the full story.


source: http://www.elvisinfonet.com - Elvis Information Network

Actress Gail Gerber (AKA Gail Gilmore) who was in Elvis' films 'Girl Happy' and 'Harum Scarum' passed away on March 2nd, 2014 due to complications from lung cancer. 

Gerber was born on October 4, 1937 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and began studying ballet at age seven. At fifteen she became the youngest member of Les Grandes Ballets Canadiennes in Montreal, soon moving to Toronto to work as an actress. She appeared on stage, on CBC TV as well the Ed Sullivan Show. 

She moved to Hollywood in 1963 and appeared on popular TV series such as My Three Sons and Perry Mason. She made her film debut in 1965's 'The Girls on the Beach' (co-starring The Beach Boys). 

Changing her name to Gail Gilmore, she then appeared opposite Elvis Presley in Girl Happy (1965)(right) and Harum Scarum (1965). Other film roles include 1965's 'Beach Ball' and 'Village of the Giants'. In 'Harum Scarum' as "Sapphire" she was one of the gypsy dancers who befriend Elvis.

She said, "I had so much fun working with Elvis. The film's finale also was a big production number set in Las Vegas and I danced again with Elvis as he sang, 'Harem Holiday'." 

She left Hollywood in 1966 after she married Author & scriptwriter Terry Southern (The Magic Christian, Dr. Strangelove). In 2009 she published her book 'Trippin' with Terry Southern: What I Think I Remember' where she recalls what life was like with "the hippest guy on the planet."

For more about Gail Gilmore / Gail Gerber go here to her fan club page.


source: http://www.elvisinfonet.com - Elvis Information Network

The biggest tv show without a reference to Our Man? Impossible! 

Elvis was referenced as being the son of Angela Lansbury's character in "Blue Hawaii" at the Academy Awards and a brief clip was shown from the film. A cheer went up at the Oscar party! We congratulate the very wonderful Miss Lansbury on her prestigious honor as well.

Congratulations to the great Darlene Love who stole the show by singing her acceptance speech for winning an Oscar for "20 Feet from Stardom", the story of the unsung female background singer. She sang behind Elvis in the '68 Special and here in '69's CHANGE of HABIT. Way to go, girl!


source: http://www.elvismatters.com - Elvis Matters

Sierra Sid’s casino and Travel Centers of America (address: 200 N. McCarron Blvd., Sparks, Nevada) treats visitors to a laminated display case on a wall halfway between the coffee shop and the convenience store with some of the King's guns. Amid a small but impressive collection of Elvis memorabilia – rings, and watches and pens, all gold- and diamond-encrusted – there sat three gleaming pistols propped up for maximum exposure. The first was a Ruger Blackhawk .44, the second a Smith and Wesson .38, the third a Colt .38 WCF, next to a handsome, monogrammed (“EP”) holster.

Proof that these firearms belonged to Elvis came in the form of photos of Elvis grasping the guns, plus a notarized legal document from the executrix of the estate of Vernon Presley, Elvis’ dad.

 Click HERE


source: http://www.elvismatters.com - Elvis Matters

"60 Years of Elvis" Exhibit Now Open at Graceland

July 5, 1954 is a momentous time in music history. On that fateful day, Elvis Presley was having a jam session at Sun Studio with backup help from musicians, Scotty Moore and Bill Black. Elvis was trying to prove to studio owner, Sam Phillips, that he was worthy of a major recording contract, and Phillips was not impressed. During a break, Elvis began experimenting with Arthur Crudup’s song, “That’s All Right,” but he played it at almost double the original tempo. Moore and Black joined in, and Phillips’ ears perked up. He came out of the recording booth, and Elvis started to apologize. Phillips told them to start over so he could record it. Sam Phillips heard something that night that would change history of music forever, and that was the day that rock ‘n’ roll was born.

In 2014, Elvis Presley’s Graceland is celebrating 60 years of rock 'n' roll through a special exhibit. “60 Years of Elvis” traces rock ‘n’ roll through the eyes of “The King,” from his start as a delivery truck driver to the height of his success as the ultimate performer. The exhibit includes rare artifacts like Elvis’ personal 45 rpm copy of “That’s All Right,” his 1955 recording contract with RCA and even a nod to Memphis with the rhinestone jumpsuit he wore during his 1974 concert at the Mid-South Coliseum right here in the Bluff City. Visitors will find telegrams that Elvis sent to his mom and dad during his early touring days and Western Union transfers where he sent his parents money to pay the bills. It was really important to Elvis to be successful enough so his mother wouldn’t have to work. This is the perfect addition to any Elvis enthusiast’s itinerary. 

“60 Years of Elvis” is available for VIP tour ticket holders and will be open through February 2015.

Click here for more Elvis trip ideas in Memphis.


source: http://www.memphistravel.com