The show began with Elvis, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black performing, "That's All Right (Mama)." They also performed, "Blue Moon of Kentucky", before Slim Whitman began his performance. Girls of all ages went crazy because of Elvis, and they began screaming, jumping around, losing control of themselves and applauding. When Elvis came off the stage, he asked "why people were yelling at him." Elvis, was very nervous for his performance and he did not know he was shaking his body in a sexual way. Scotty Moore said, "We didn't know what was going on when all those people started screaming and hollering." Much later in the show, Elvis came back to the stage to perform his first two songs again, and also "I'll never let you go (Little Darlin)."

Other performers on July 30, 1954 were entertainers: Billy Walker, 'Sugarfoot' Collins, 'Sonny' Harvelle, Tinker Fry and 'Curly' Harris. 

Elvis' thoughts on his first billed performance, many years later

“I was scared stiff. It was my first big appearance in front of an audience, and I came out and I was doing my first number ['That's All Right'], and everybody was hollering and I didn’t know what they were hollering at.”


Sam Phillips describes Elvis’ demeanor on July 30, 1954

“When I got there he was standing on the steps at the back of the shell looking kind of pitiful – well, maybe pitiful is the wrong word, I knew it was the way he was going to look: unsure. And he just grabbed me and said, ‘Man, I’m so glad to see you, Mr. Phillips. I – I – I – I —’ You know, that was just the way Elvis did. ‘I – I – I – I just didn’t know what I was going to do.’ Well, you know, it’s like when somebody’s mother is real sick and you tell them everything is going to be all right, and yet you know there’s the possibility that his mother might die. I said, ‘Look,. Elvis, we’ll find out whether they like you or not.’ And then I said, ‘They’re gonna love you.‘ Now I didn’t know that, and if you want to call me a liar or a fake for saying something that I didn’t know to be the truth – but I believed that once he started to sing and they saw him, I don’t mean the stage act, once they heard that voice and the beautiful simplicity of what those three musicians were putting down."

The Overton Park Shell was built in 1936 by the City of Memphis and the Works Progress Administration for $11,935. The Shell was designed by architect Max Furbringer, who modeled it after similar band shells in Chicago, New York and St. Louis. The WPA built 27 band shells and the Levitt Shell is one of only a handful that are still standing.

In 2005, the Shell partnered with the City of Memphis and the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation to renovate the Shell and present 50 free concerts every year. It was renamed Levitt Shell at Overton Park and renovation began in 2007. It opened again with free music for all on September 4, 2008. The Levitt Shell presents 50 free concerts every year, with performances by nationally and internationally touring musicians from all over the world. Using free concerts as a catalyst for bringing people together, the Levitt Shell is building a stronger community through music, finding common ground for a diverse audience. The Shell’s rich musical heritage, prime location, thoughtfully renovated facility, and multi-cultural musical programming make it the ideal setting to bring the Memphis community together.



article sources: scottymoore.net, elvispresleymusic.com, levittshell.org and Wikipedia

Groundbreaking On Hotel At Graceland Set For August 14
Published: July 29, 2014
By Amy Hanford

Elvis Week will mark the beginning of an exciting new era at Graceland.

On August 14 Priscilla Presley will join fans for the official groundbreaking of a new hotel that will serve visitors who travel to Memphis to tour the famous home of ‘The King’ of rock 'n' roll.  

The full service 450-room hotel, called "The Guest House at Graceland," will be constructed along Elvis Presley Boulevard on the same side of the street as the landmark mansion.

The hotel is expected to open in fall of 2015. 


source: My Fox Memphis

Press Release

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – (July 29, 2014) 

Elvis Week 2014 will mark the beginning of an exciting new era at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis as the first additions to the tour experience in 20 years debut to the public, a first-ever auction of Graceland Authenticated artifacts is held, and ground is broken on a new world-class hotel. The Presley family, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), along with the new owners of the Graceland operation, have been exploring the best ways to make improvements in the Graceland attraction in order to ensure its growth and continued success for years to come.  

Priscilla Presley will join fans for an August 14 groundbreaking at the site of a new hotel at Graceland that will serve visitors who travel to Memphis to tour the famous home of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.  The full service 450-room hotel, called “The Guest House at Graceland,” will be constructed along Elvis Presley Boulevard on the same side of the street as the landmark mansion on land acquired by EPE in 1994. The new hotel will feature spacious rooms and a range of elegant and contemporary facilities, including two restaurants, meeting and special events space, and a 500-seat theater for live performances. Priscilla Presley will guide the look of the interior design of a number of the special suites, pulling inspiration from Elvis’ personal style and historic Graceland mansion. The hotel will be owned and operated by EPE and upon opening will be one of the largest full-service hotels in Memphis.

A special component of the new hotel will be The Founders, a new membership concept. Founders will be guests with VIP privileges, including special access to the Graceland mansion and grounds, exclusive invitations to events and receptions, and priority room and dining reservations. Details will be posted on Graceland.com very soon.

“When we assessed the needs of the Graceland operation and our guests, a new hotel facility was the number one priority,” said Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland LLC. “The time is right for growth at Graceland and with not only The Guest House at Graceland, but also new additions to the visitor experience that mark the beginning of a new era at Graceland for fans and our guests. We are committed to growing Elvis’ legacy by looking toward the future.”

“Our family, along with Graceland management, have wanted to expand and enhance the Graceland experience for several years,” stated Priscilla Presley. “We’re thrilled that so many of our long awaited projects, plus several more are finally coming to fruition.” 

“We are excited about this hotel project, which will enable Graceland to enrich the visitor experience and deliver an even higher level of world class hospitality and customer service to the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit from around the world each year,” said Jack Soden, CEO. “Construction of a new hotel will truly enhance Elvis Presley’s Graceland, enrich the Memphis visitor experience, generate additional development and create more jobs within the community.” 

Two new offerings for visitors to enjoy while touring the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Memphis mansion starting August 9 are The Graceland Archives Experience in a new state-of-the-art Archive Studio on the grounds of Graceland for visitors who select the most popular ticket package, Graceland Platinum Tour  or the VIP tour, and a new multimedia tablet tour utilizing iPads and iBeacon technology for all guests touring the mansion.

Graceland will be one of the first historic homes in the United States to offer an interactive iPad tour that provides a fully immersive experience for guests. Narrated by celebrated actor and Elvis fan John Stamos, visitors will take a multimedia tour of the iconic music landmark while exploring content hotspots which, when activated, allow users to dive deeper into the story of Elvis’ life through unique archival audio, video and photo elements. Other features in the easy to use interface allow guests to “favorite” selected content found on the tour to review and share at the conclusion of their Graceland experience. 

Housed in the new Graceland Archives Studio, Graceland visitors will now get a rare peek inside the vault with the Graceland Archives Experience, allowing them to explore various aspects of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s life and career through daily presentations that highlight unique artifacts not seen on the traditional tour. Utilizing wardrobe, photographs, documents, film clips and other rare artifacts, guests will experience a special presentation from a Graceland host. 

The launch of these two new tour offerings on August 9 coincide with the annual ElvisWeek festivities at Graceland August 8-17, as thousands of fans from around the world gather in Memphis to celebrate the life and legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

The first-ever “Auction at Graceland” will be held on August 14 with collectors from around the world participating onsite and online for this unprecedented auction, featuring artifacts authenticated by the new Graceland Authenticated, LLC.,  a Graceland affiliated authentication and appraisal service for collectors and fans. Graceland Authenticated sets a new standard for pop culture authentication and appraisal to ensure pop culture artifact accuracy and provide evaluations of privately owned collections.

Among the items in the auction are rare and unique artifacts from the collection of Greg Page, founding member of The Wiggles® and one of the world’s biggest and well-known Elvis Presley collectors.  Page’s items include Elvis’ 1977 Cadillac Seville, a Martin D-28 guitar and Elvis’ copy of the original script for his first film, “Love Me Tender.” All of the items in the auction will be offered from third-party collectors and none of the items included in the auction will come from the treasured Graceland Archives.  The mansion and all artifacts in the Graceland archives continue to be owned by Lisa Marie Presley and are not for sale. 

For more information about these exciting new developments or to plan a visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, visit Graceland.com.

James Shigeta, a prolific and pioneering Asian-American actor whose 50-year career includes the popular movies "Die Hard" and "Flower Drum Song," has died in his sleep in Los Angeles, California on Monday, July 28th, 2014 his agent said. He was 81 years old. 

"It is with great sadness that I report the loss of my longtime friend and client," Shigeta's agent said. "James was the biggest East Asian U.S. star the country had known. ... The world has lost another wonderful actor, sadly I lost a dear friend."

James Shigeta, acted on screen with Elvis Presley in the 1966 film "Paradise Hawaiian Style" in the character role of Danny Kohana. 

Elvis' character Rick, returns to his home in Hawaii after being fired from his job as an airline pilot. He and his buddy Danny Kohana (James Shigeta) go into the helicopter charter business together. But Rick's reckless flying and his careless negotiations with local women may cost Rick the business and Danny his home. Disaster looms as Danny becomes overdue on a flight after Rick has been grounded by government officials. Rick must decide if he should risk losing his license forever by going to look for his friend.

According to Variety, Shigeta was born in Hawaii and went on to study acting at New York University before joining the Marines. His big-screen debut came with the 1959 crime drama "The Crimson Kimono," in which he played a detective named Joe Kojaku. The next year, the Golden Globes gave the actor the "new star of the year" award.


source: http://www.independent.co.uk and Wikipedia

Priscilla Presley, the former wife of Elvis Presley made a special guest appearance July 29th on NBC's Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda. 

http://www.today.com/entertainment/rare-elvis-items-go-auction-graceland-1D79991140

Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley's former wife made a special guest appearance July 29th on NBC's The Today Show, with Matt Lauer. 

Priscilla and Matt Lauer, discussed the Graceland Auction from the collection of Greg Page, and the new interactive experience beginning at Graceland August 9th. Guests will tour Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion with iPad's and enjoy a Graceland Archives presentation experience via the Graceland Platinum tour and Graceland VIP tour. 

In addition to speaking with Matt Lauer, Priscilla also spoke with Kathie Lee & Hoda on their portion of the Today Show.

http://www.today.com/video/today/55747269#55747269

Enhancements at Elvis Presley's Graceland to Revolutionize Guest Experience with New Hotel, Multimedia iPad Tour and Archives Studio
JULY 29, 2014

Groundbreaking on 450-Room Guest House at Graceland Scheduled for Elvis Week 2014, Opening Fall 2015 

iPad Tour Narrated by John Stamos & Graceland Archives Studio Added to Tour Options Starting Elvis Week 2014

First-ever Auction At Graceland to be Held with Graceland Authenticated
Elvis Week 2014 will mark the beginning of an exciting new era at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis as the first additions to the tour experience in 20 years debut to the public, a first-ever auction of Graceland Authenticated artifacts is held, and ground is broken on a new world-class hotel. The Presley family, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), along with the new owners of the Graceland operation, have been exploring the best ways to make improvements in the Graceland attraction in order to ensure its growth and continued success for years to come.  

Priscilla Presley will join fans for an August 14 groundbreaking at the site of a new hotel at Graceland that will serve visitors who travel to Memphis to tour the famous home of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The full service 450-room hotel, called “The Guest House at Graceland,” will be constructed along Elvis Presley Boulevard on the same side of the street as the landmark mansion on land acquired by EPE in 1994. The new hotel will feature spacious rooms and a range of elegant and contemporary facilities, including two restaurants, meeting and special events space, and a 500-seat theater for live performances. Priscilla Presley will guide the look of the interior design of a number of the special suites, pulling inspiration from Elvis’ personal style and historic Graceland mansion. The hotel will be owned and operated by EPE and upon opening will be one of the largest full-service hotels in Memphis.

A special component of the new hotel will be The Founders, a new membership concept. Founders will be guests with VIP privileges, including special access to the Graceland mansion and grounds, exclusive invitations to events and receptions, and priority room and dining reservations. Details will be posted on Graceland.com very soon.

 “When we assessed the needs of the Graceland operation and our guests, a new hotel facility was the number one priority,” said Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland LLC. “The time is right for growth at Graceland and with not only The Guest House at Graceland, but also new additions to the visitor experience that mark the beginning of a new era at Graceland for fans and our guests. We are committed to growing Elvis’ legacy by looking toward the future.”

“Our family, along with Graceland management, have wanted to expand and enhance the Graceland experience for several years,” stated Priscilla Presley. “We’re thrilled that so many of our long awaited projects, plus several more are finally coming to fruition.” 

“We are excited about this hotel project, which will enable Graceland to enrich the visitor experience and deliver an even higher level of world class hospitality and customer service to the hundreds of thousands of guests who visit from around the world each year,” said Jack Soden, CEO. “Construction of a new hotel will truly enhance Elvis Presley’s Graceland, enrich the Memphis visitor experience, generate additional development and create more jobs within the community.” 

Two new offerings for visitors to enjoy while touring the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Memphis mansion starting August 9 are The Graceland Archives Experience in a new state-of-the-art Archive Studio on the grounds of Graceland for visitors who select the most popular ticket package, Graceland Platinum Tour  or the VIP tour, and a new multimedia tablet tour utilizing iPads and iBeacon technology for all guests touring the mansion.

Graceland will be one of the first historic homes in the United States to offer an interactive iPad tour that provides a fully immersive experience for guests. Narrated by celebrated actor and Elvis fan John Stamos, visitors will take a multimedia tour of the iconic music landmark while exploring content hotspots which, when activated, allow users to dive deeper into the story of Elvis’ life through unique archival audio, video and photo elements. Other features in the easy to use interface allow guests to “favorite” selected content found on the tour to review and share at the conclusion of their Graceland experience. 

Housed in the new Graceland Archives Studio, Graceland visitors will now get a rare peek inside the vault with the Graceland Archives Experience, allowing them to explore various aspects of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s life and career through daily presentations that highlight unique artifacts not seen on the traditional tour. Utilizing wardrobe, photographs, documents, film clips and other rare artifacts, guests will experience a special presentation from a Graceland host. 

The launch of these two new tour offerings on August 9 coincide with the annual Elvis Week festivities at Graceland August 9 - 17, as thousands of fans from around the world gather in Memphis to celebrate the life and legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

The first-ever “Auction at Graceland” will be held on August 14 with collectors from around the world participating onsite and online for this unprecedented auction, featuring artifacts authenticated by the new Graceland Authenticated, LLC.,  a Graceland affiliated authentication and appraisal service for collectors and fans. Graceland Authenticated sets a new standard for pop culture authentication and appraisal to ensure pop culture artifact accuracy and provide evaluations of privately owned collections.

Among the items in the auction are rare and unique artifacts from the collection of Greg Page, founding member of The Wiggles® and one of the world’s biggest and well-known Elvis Presley collectors.  Page’s items include Elvis’ 1977 Cadillac Seville, a Martin D-28 guitar and Elvis’ copy of the original script for his first film, “Love Me Tender.” All of the items in the auction will be offered from third-party collectors and none of the items included in the auction will come from the treasured Graceland Archives. The mansion and all artifacts in the Graceland archives continue to be owned by Lisa Marie Presley and are not for sale. 

For more information about these exciting new developments or to plan a visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, visit Graceland.com.


source: Graceland

Graceland gussies up for Elvis Week with new extras
Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY
July 29, 2014

When Elvis Presley fans descend upon Memphis next month for Elvis Week, they'll find some changes at Graceland.

Starting August 9th, visitors will be guided through the King of Rock 'n' Roll's home via an iPad tour voiced by actor John Stamos. 

A newly constructed archive studio has been built on the back of the property, for live presentations of artifacts as part of Graceland's platinum and VIP tours.

On August 14th, Graceland will host its first auction of authenticated Elvis artifacts, including Presley's first known signature, on a library card from the school he attended in Tupelo, Miss., and his copy of the original script for his first film Love Me Tender.

Elvis Presley Enterprises also will break ground on a $70 million, 450-room hotel project called the Guest House at Graceland.

"We've been wanting to expand for a long time and to give Elvis the credit due his legacy," says the singer's ex-wife, Priscilla Presley. "These experiences are doing just that."

The auction will feature 72 items, many of them coming from the collection of Australian singer Greg Page, a founding member of the children's band The Wiggles. Page's items include the Love Me Tender script; a maroon-and-silver 1976 Cadillac Seville, the last Cadillac Elvis purchased for his personal use; and a Martin D-28acoustic guitar he gave to one of his bodyguards.

None of the items up for bid come from the Graceland archive. In fact, Graceland might add to its collection during the auction.

"We are definitely going to be bidding on those things, too," Priscilla says.

In May, EPE announced the launch of Graceland Authenticated, an authentication and appraisal service for private collectors of Elvis artifacts and memorabilia.

Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, "kept everything, all the documentation of purchases," Priscilla says. "He kept receipts, checks, even if something was paid for in cash. We have such an extensive archive in our building. It's just amazing."

The new Guest House hotel, scheduled to open in fall 2015, will sit just north of Graceland on Elvis Presley Boulevard.

"It'll have a Southern feel, as Graceland does," says Priscilla, who is helping design the Guest House's suites. "We're going to make it, I think, very much what Elvis would have made it. I know his style. I know what he liked. I know how he liked to feel comfortable."

"He always thought that one day it would be great to have a nice hotel around so people who came to visit could go there."

The opening of the Guest House means the existing Heartbreak Hotel eventually will be phased out. "It's on its last legs," Priscilla says of the older hotel, which opened at an existing property in 1999. "It's a little antique, let's put it that way."

The tour upgrades and new projects grow out of the partnership between Graceland and Authentic Brands Group, which purchased the rights to market the Elvis Presley brand in November.

"One of the deciding factors on partnering with them was they really got Elvis' DNA," Priscilla says. "We don't really want anything that's not the culture of Elvis. Everything we have decided has been so carefully thought out, making sure this is something Elvis would do and would love."


source: USA Today

Elvis Presley: A Listener's Guide, by Shane Brown, will be available in mid-August, 2014. The paperback edition will be 6in x 9in, and will contain approx. 320 pages. A Kindle version will also be available.

July 5th, 2014 saw the 60th anniversary of Elvis Presley's first commercial recording session, the night on which he cut That's all Right, the song that would launch his career. Less than six months later, on January 8th, 2015, will be celebrations for what would have been Elvis's 80th birthday. Since Elvis's death in 1977, hundreds (probably thousands) of books have been written about Presley, but very few concentrate on the most important thing: the music.

When I first became interested in the music of Elvis Presley as a teenager back in the early 1990s, the first book I bought was Elvis Presley: A Study in Music by Robert Matthew-Walker. It was hardly a hefty tome, but it did what I wanted at the time - it gave me some guidance through the minefield of Elvis's legacy which was then being issued, slowly but surely, on CD. 

Matthew-Walker's A Study in Music was/is an important book, and it seems rather strange that other full-length works of a similar nature did not follow it. Bearing this in mind, I hope that Elvis Presley: A Listener's Guide will manage to be a rather more thorough critique of Elvis's music. Working through from 1953 to 1977 one session at a time, one song at a time, the book discusses the remarkable (and yet often frustrating) legacy that Elvis left behind. All recordings released during Elvis's lifetime are discussed, as well as those released posthumously where appropriate.

Why do we need a new critique? Well, times change and opinions change with them. Our views on Elvis's music are still based on what critics wrote forty or more years ago. Of course, the critics who panned Elvis in the 1950s were quickly proven wrong as the years passed, but the accepted view of the 1960s and 1970s recordings is still based on contemporary reviews, often from rock critics who somehow couldn't see how or why Elvis was recording material outside of rock 'n' roll. As I discuss each session, therefore, I make reference to, and quote from, those contemporary reviews from the 1950s to the 1970s - around 170 of them - in order to put into context my own evaluation of the recordings.
This is not primarily a book of facts or figures - there are plenty of other works on the market that can supply those. What there isn't on the market is a "listener's guide" to Elvis's music, in which each and every master recording is discussed. 

Shane Brown, hasn't written his book because people should agree with his evaluations or thoughts but because, as we approach what would have been Elvis's 80th birthday, it seems important to take a fresh look at the one thing that seems to be ignored most: the music.


source: For Elvis CD Collectors Forum, Shane Brown, and Elvis Information Network

Elvis Fans Get $2 Off Admission to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
JULY 28, 2014

In 1986, Elvis Presley was among the first group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Elvis fans can now save $2 off a general adult admission ticket while visiting the famed museum in Cleveland, Ohio! 

Please print this coupon and show it at the box office for your discount. One coupon per person required for discount. Cannot be combined with other promotional offers or discounts. Not valid for special events or towards the purchase of a two-day pass. Offer expires December 31, 2014.

Want to celebrate all year? Receive a 20% discount across the board on new memberships for any fan club member that presents the coupon (above) at the membership desk.

Also, Elvis fans can receive a 10% discount on all orders throughRockHallStore.com. Use promo code FANCLUB14 during checkout. Not valid with any other offers, discounts, sale merchandise or memberships. Valid until September 30, 2014.


source: Graceland

See the World Premiere Screening of “Nobody" During Elvis Week
JULY 28, 2014

Join us during Elvis Week for the world premiere of the short film about Elvis and the spring talent show that sparked the big bang of rock 'n' roll! The highly-anticipated “Nobody" will make its exclusive debut the morning of the Fan Club President's Event on August 13. Fans can then see the world-premiere screening that evening at Studio on the Square in Memphis.

The biographical production was filmed entirely in Memphis, recreating true events at Sun Studio and the Humes High School auditorium where Elvis performed on April 9, 1953. The world premiere screening will feature the 15-minute short film, followed by a Q & A session with the film’s writer, director and producer William Bryan, in addition to lead cast members. 

"Nobody" will be included in a special sneak-peek screening during the Fan Club President's Event taking place at 10:00 a.m. inside the Elvis Week Main Stage on August 13. The world-premiere will take place at 5:00 p.m. on August 13, at Studio On the Square in Memphis. 

Tickets for the world-premiere are $12.00 and available by visiting NobodyShortFilm.com or at the door of the event, pending availability. All proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For a complete schedule of events, featured guests, and more visit ElvisWeek.com.


source: Graceland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Press Release
CYNTHIA PEPPER'S HOLLYWOOD STORY IS FINALLY TOLD.

Cynthia Pepper’s Hollywood memoir, “Pigtails, Presley & Pepper” is now available for purchase by the public.

Cynthia Pepper’s book, “Pigtails, Presley & Pepper” is a celebrity memoir of Fame without Fortune.

Cynthia's new book exposes her Hollywood acting career that started at age eleven with one scene in “Room for One More” with Cary Grant and Betsy Drake. Her passion for acting and performing grew from that one on set experience. 

Her book chronicles her life through the decade of the 1960’s. From 1959 to the early 70’s, her ordinary life would transform to an extraordinary life. She would find herself as a co-star on TV’s “My Three Son’s”, and later starring in her very own TV series called “Margie” on ABC.

Cynthia moved on to making Hollywood movies, including “Take Her, She’s Mine” with Jimmy Stewart and Sandra Dee. 

2014 marks the 50th anniversary of MGM’s release of “Kissin’ Cousins” starring Elvis Presley. In this film, Cynthia co-stars with Presley, playing his love interest Midge Reilly. Although she states: “this is not another Elvis book”, she devotes a large chapter of intimate stories and pictures to her friend Elvis.

Cynthia can also be seen in some of TV's Golden Age episodes of "Wagon Train", "Julia", "The Flying Nun", "Lassie", "Three Coins In The Fountain", "Sally & Sam", "The Addams Family", "Perry Mason", and "The Jimmy Stewart Show".


Visit Cynthia at: www.Cynthia-Pepper.com

Contact: Victor J Hanson - http://www.victorj.com

Victor J Hanson is a comedian, musician, actor, writer, and entertainer. When not touring his one-man comedy show, "Splitting Hairs" he can be found applying his skills as a guitarist performing with numerous "A" list Elvis Tribute Acts from all around the world.

On Wednesday, August 13, Chips Moman and the American Studios band will finally get some long-overdue recognition with the unveiling of a Shelby County Historical Marker near 827 Thomas Street. 

The address — at Thomas and Chelsea Avenue — is the site of the former American Recording Studio, the place where Moman and the band cut Elvis’ crucial 1969 “comeback” sessions, and recorded dozens and dozens (roughly 120, depending on the source) of chart hits between 1962 and 1972.

Moman — who’d also been a catalyst in helping develop Stax Records — wooed members of the staff bands at Hi Records and Phillips to form the classic American Studios group: guitarist Reggie Young, drummer Gene Chrisman, pianist Bobby Wood, organist Bobby Emmons and bassists Mike Leech and Tommy Cogbill. Mostly with Moman at the helm, that unit — known variously as the 827 Thomas Street Band, the American Group, and, later, the Memphis Boys — would help sire a succession of hits for artists such as Dusty Springfield (“Son of a Preacher Man”), Neil Diamond (“Sweet Caroline), Merrilee Rush (“Angel of the Morning”), B.J. Thomas (“Hooked on a Feeling”), Joe Tex (“I Gotcha”), Bobby Womack (“Fly Me To The Moon”) and, most famously, Presley (“Suspicious Minds”).

The push to honor Moman and his musicians has been an organic and collaborative effort among a group of fans, educators and civic-minded Memphians. This contingent includes WEVL radio hosts Eddie Hankins and Chuck Porter and program director Brian Craig, attorney Eric Plumley, deejay Kenny Bosak, former Rhodes fellow Charles Hughes, and John Bass, head of Rhodes’ Mike Curb Institute for Music.

“We felt somebody needed to not just speak up, but to do something concrete to honor the legacy of Chips and the studio,” says Hankins, who wrote a long 2007 feature for Memphis magazine on American and has helped spearhead the campaign.

“At the time when there were so many great Memphis studios, American drew artists, not just from the South or solely from the R&B world, but from everywhere and every genre,” says Hankins. “You think about Dusty Springfield coming from England to record and record successfully. And there are so many songs that people would recognize immediately but wouldn’t necessarily associate with Memphis that were recorded at the studio. ‘Sweet Caroline’ — everyone knows it, but no one thinks of American. ‘Angel of the Morning’ — people don’t associate that with American. ‘Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues.’ All these hits were cut at that studio. The fact that those musicians were so versatile … they could cut soul songs, pop songs, rock songs, R&B, little bit of country, they even had a No. 1 jazz album — those musicians could play anything. They were musical chameleons under Chips’ guidance; he steered them to the right sound for so many artists and created this incredible body of work.”

Hankins and his fellow American enthusiasts had been congregating on a Facebook page run by Erick Crews, son of American studio partner Don Crews, when the marker effort took shape.

With the help of local historian Jimmy Ogle, the American marker initiative was shepherded through the Shelby County Historical Commission office and finally approved late last year.

The original American Studios building was razed in the late ’80s with little fanfare. A new building — used as an auto-parts store and later a day care center — took its place. Another more recent structure replaced that one, and currently houses a Family Dollar store, where the marker will be placed (officially at 831 Thomas Street).

The Aug. 13 unveiling event will take place at 2 p.m. Memphis television personality Dave Brown will serve as emcee, and various guests are scheduled to attend. Among those tentatively slated to appear are Moman and American band members Young, Wood, Emmons and Chrisman. Relatives of the late Tommy Cogbill will also be there. Don Crews, longtime studio manager Marty Lacker, American writers/artists Johnny Christopher and Mark James, along with author Roben Jones, who wore the definitive biography of the studio, “The Memphis Boys,” are also expected.

The Memphis Boys will be playing a concert at Graceland that night as well. 

This coming January is, hopefully, the dedication for the Poplar Tunes marker on Poplar Avenue.


article source: The Commercial Appeal

Elvis movie co-star Cynthia Pepper reflects on career

Lorne Bell, Special to The Enterprise-Bulletin
Sunday, July 27, 2014


On Saturday, July 26th Cynthia Pepper went back in time 50 years, and showed still had the moves.

“The outfit is a replica of my old uniform from the movie (Kissin’ Cousins),” said Pepper, “And it was so much fun to be in that uniform again.”

The actress who played Midge in the classic Elvis movie, Kissin’ Cousins (1964) was in Collingwood over the weekend for her fourth Elvis Festival, and also to promote her new book, Pigtails, Presley, and Pepper. It was written with the help of Victor J. Hanson, of Alliston.

“It’s not just about Elvis, but also a story about my life in show business,” said Pepper. “It was a long distance effort to put this book together. Victor was in Canada, and I was in Las Vegas. So we worked thru e-mail and phone calls. We really worked well together.”

Pepper enjoys meeting her fans, and she has traveled all over the world. For her, Elvis has a universal appeal.

“I do a lot of festivals,” said Pepper, “I was in Australia in January, and in Denmark four months ago. I have also met Elvis fans in England and Ireland. I love that Elvis fans are all over the place”.

Pepper met Victor J. Hanson at the Elvis Festival in 2007, and they talked about one day putting a book together with all her stories.

“She told me all these great stories, and I was sitting there listening to this lady that had an extraordinary life,” said Hanson. “And my wife and I got to know her and her husband. My wife suggested I help her put her story on paper, and she (Pepper) said okay.”

The first role Cynthia played was at age 10, as an unbilled part in the 1950 movie Cheaper By The Dozen. In 1960, Cynthia landed a major role on the all-male cast of My Three Sons. She was then offered to do her own series, called Margie in 1961. In 1963, she did a movie with Sandra Dee called Take Her, She’s Mine. Finally, in 1964 she played Midge Riley opposite “The King” in Kissin’ Cousins.

“She (Pepper) had some amazing stories. The stories go back to the ‘60s, when she could walk the streets without being recognized,” said Hanson. “And it takes you backstage to all these different studios, such as Fox and Desilu.

She was working with many fine actors, including William Frawley (I Love Lucy), as well as Stanley Livingston and Fred McMurray (My Three Sons),” said Hanson. “It takes the reader on a journey, and it explains the ups and downs of her show business life.”

Pepper was at the Elvis Festival attending an event called A Salute To Kissin’ Cousins, a 50th anniversary celebration at the Olde Town Tavern, hosted by veteran tribute artist Roy LeBlanc. He was the 2001 Grand Champion, and in 2008 he won the Gospel competition.

The pair sang the title theme song to Kissin’ Cousins.

“She has not done that since she filmed the movie with Elvis,” said LeBlanc.


source: http://www.theenterprisebulletin.com

By WILLS ROBINSON
PUBLISHED: 21 July 2014 

A prized possession of one music's biggest petrolheads, Elvis Presley, is set to fetch up to $300,000 at auction next month.

Elvis bought the Rolls-Royce Phantom V brand new in 1963 and had it custom-fitted with the latest gadgets including a telephone, electric windows and a microphone. 

The car was initially midnight blue.

When his new purchase arrived, he sent it to Britain where coachbuilder James Young installed the newest gadgets including a Blaupunkt Koln radio, parking and flashing lights and air conditioning.

The car will go under the hammer next month at a Bonhams sale in The Quail, California and is expected to sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

The centre rear armrest featured a writing pad, mirror and clothes brush while a fitted cabinet contained cut glass decanters and crystal glasses.

Under the bonnet was a 6.2-litre, V8 engine which gave the 2.6-ton car 200bhp and a top speed of around 100mph.

Elvis, then a 28-year-old global sensation, had the 20-foot long car shipped out to his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, where he entertained the likes of The Beatles.

Memphis's most famous son held on to the Rolls-Royce for five years before donating it to charity, where it sold for $35,000 (£20,500).

It then disappeared for the next 20 years until it was bought by its current owner at a memorabilia auction in London.

They have kept it in a private museum and used it sparingly, with the car regularly maintained by English Rolls-Royce restorers Frank Dale and Stepsons.

Bonhams yesterday described the Rolls-Royce as 'one of the more significant Phantom V's to have come up for sale in recent years'.

The auction house added: 'It is a most interesting model of this highly desirable motorcar complete with undisputed Elvis provenance

'It is offered with copy of its original chassis card confirming the original owner as well as his exacting specifications.

'This important and significant Rolls-Royce Phantom V, with its undisputed place in pop culture history, will surely be jewel in the crown for any Elvis collector.'

The car comes with its original documents. The form states that the owner is 'Elvis Presley' and the coach builder who designed the interior is Briton, James Young


source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

BMW Will Restore Elvis' 1957 BMW 507 Roadster
By Jason Torchinsky
July 24, 2014

The BMW 507 is an absolutely lovely car. They only made 254 of them, so it's rare as well. When you factor in a famous owner, things can get pretty nuts pretty quickly. Which is probably why BMW themselves will be restoring Elvis Presley's BMW 507.

BMW has announced it is preparing to fully restore a 1957 507 roadster purchased by rock star Elvis.

Elvis' 507 was actually a used racing car, having been driven competitively (and successfully) by Hans Stuck for some hillclimbs and "mountain races." Elvis, had a new engine put in, and used the car while he was a GI stationed in Germany. 

Interestingly, Elvis didn't even really buy the car — he leased it. Though he thought he was buying it. He didn't really understand the German contract, and didn't question why he was only paying $3750 when the car new cost $7160. 

Elvis did swap the white 507 for a this red one later, because adoring fans were leaving phone numbers and love notes written in lipstick on his car.

Elvis also seems to have had an Isetta.

Since Elvis' 507 was a lease, it was returned to BMW, though how and where it spent the intervening years isn't clear. BMW has it now, of course, and the full restoration will take place under the direction of BMW Group Classic. 


source: http://jalopnik.com

SD Museum, Collector Dispute Elvis' Broken Guitar
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.
Jul 24, 2014

An acoustic guitar Elvis Presley smashed during his final tour has sparked a custody fight between the South Dakota museum that currently displays it and a collector who insists the instrument never should have ended up there.

Now a federal judge must sort out whether blues guitarist Robert A. Johnson even technically owned the broken instrument last year when he donated it to the National Music Museum along with one of Bob Dylan's harmonicas, a guitar made for Johnny Cash and two other items.

The museum, based in Vermillion, insists in a lawsuit that it is the legal owner of the Martin D-35, which the rock-and-roll king played during his 1977 tour and gave to a fan in St. Petersburg, Florida, after he broke it when a strap and string snapped.

But Larry Moss, who has a long history of litigation against Johnson, contacted the museum, arguing that Johnson agreed to sell the guitar to him before it was donated. Johnson and Moss, both of whom live in Memphis, Tenn., are each listed as defendants in the museum's complaint.

The museum in court filings argues that even if Moss was the owner of the Elvis guitar before Johnson donated it to the facility, his ownership ended when the museum acquired it. The complaint states that if Moss feels he was wronged, he should sue Johnson for damages.

"There are significant issues with his claim including the fact that this guitar was apparently on display for an extended period of time in his hometown and he made no effort to go get the guitar," the museum's attorney, Mitchell Peterson, said Thursday.

Johnson, who played with singer Isaac Hayes and the band John Entwistle's Ox in the 1970s, donated the Elvis guitar and other items to the museum in April 2013, and in exchange received $250,000 for his 1967 Gibson Explorer Korina wood guitar. That instrument was formerly owned by Entwistle, who is best known as a member of The Who.

Moss's attorney, Randall Fishman, moved this week to transfer the case from state court to federal court. Moss did not return phone messages left at his businesses, and Fishman declined to comment about the specifics of the suit.

Records for a libel and defamation lawsuit filed by Johnson against Moss in state court in Tennessee in January 2014 shed light on the collector's dispute over the guitar.

The lawsuit's exhibits include a payment agreement signed by both collectors in 2008, in which Moss agreed to pay Johnson $120,000 for various guitars including the one now on display at the museum. Those records also include an email Moss sent to the museum in December 2013 claiming ownership.

"Johnson did not have the right to transfer ownership of that guitar in any way, via sale, via donation, via trade, via loan, or any other method," the email stated. "(I) will not yet claim that the guitar is stolen, but I paid him for that guitar 5 years ago, and have been trying to get possession ever since."

In an affidavit filed in the federal lawsuit in South Dakota, Moss claims that the value of the Elvis guitar is "well in excess of $75,000."

Federal court records show Johnson has not responded to the lawsuit. An attorney for Johnson has not being named in court filings and phone numbers listed for him and his business, Mint-Man, LLC, have been disconnected.

Johnson's donation to the museum also included a Chet Atkins hollow body guitar given to country pianist Floyd Cramer and later played by Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, a 1966 custom Grammer guitar made for Johnny Cash, a 1961 Kay Value Leader guitar signed by blues legend Muddy Waters and one of Bob Dylan's Hohner Marine Band harmonicas.


source: http://abcnews.go.com

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Wall Street Journal Features Exclusive Look at "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" Deluxe Box Set
JULY 25, 2014

We are only a couple of weeks away from the world-premiere of "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" during Elvis Week and the Wall Street Journal has a sneak peak at new material included in a new 8CD/2DVD deluxe box set. Fans can listen to a previously unreleased live performance of Elvis' 1956 hit “Heartbreak Hotel” by visiting WSJ.com.

"This take on the song comes from the dinner show on August 12, 1970 (he was performing two shows a night), and after Presley calls out chords, he and the band launch into the song to a wave of applause from the audience at the International Hotel. The King cracks up briefly midway through—it’s not clear why—but otherwise sounds like he’s at the peak of his powers."

On Tuesday, August 5, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release "Elvis: That’s The Way It Is" (Deluxe Edition), the most ambitious Elvis Presley restoration package ever created. The new release brings together for the first time ever - the album, the theatrical and home video versions of the film, six full-length concerts (featuring previously unreleased performances), rehearsal highlights and other rare recordings in one astounding and essential package. 

The new deluxe edition combination set is now available for pre-order on Shop.Graceland.com. Want to attend the world-premiere during Elvis Week? Tickets for this event are available through Ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, at any Ticketmaster outlet or at the Memphis Orpheum box office.


source: Graceland

Elvis' Lifelong Friend Jerry Schilling To Speak at Official Insiders Event During Elvis Week
JULY 24, 2014

We are excited to announce another special guest for Elvis Week 2014! Elvis' lifelong friend Jerry Schilling will be speaking at the Official Insiders Event taking place August 14, at the Elvis Week Main Stage. Purchase your tickets through Graceland Reservations by calling 800-238-2000 or 901-332-3322 or online here at Graceland.com.

Jerry Schilling is a veteran music industry professional and childhood friend to Elvis Presley. He was with Elvis the day he met President Richard Nixon and he also worked with Elvis throughout his career. As his lifelong friend, he traveled around the country on Elvis' tours. Schilling co-edited the now famous "Elvis On Tour" with Martin Scorsese. He has spent forty years in the entertainment industry working as an actor, film editor, producer, and manager for acts such as the Beach Boys and Jerry Lee Lewis. He still currently resides in the West Hollywood Hills home that Elvis gave him. 

Other guests at the Official Insiders Event include The Memphis Boys’ members Bobby Wood, Gene Chrisman and Reggie Young; representatives from Sony and Warner Bros. talking about “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is; Elvis artist and fellow Insider Joe Petruccio; Elvis’ jeweler Lowell Hays; and authors of the new Follow That Dream book "Elvis Presley: Memphis To Nashville '61" Pål Granlund and David English. 

For more on Elvis Week events and special offers from our Elvis Week partners, visit ElvisWeek.com or download the new Elvis Week app. 


source: Graceland

Meet The Elvis Week Online Hosts
JULY 21, 2014

We are excited to announce this year's Elvis Week online hosts! Fans can tune in and hear from video host Memphis Jones and daily blogger Jon Waterhouse each day as we celebrate the life and legacy of Elvis Presley! As we prepare to kick off a week filled with live Elvis entertainment, special guests, concerts and much more, fans will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of Graceland and experience Elvis Week 2014!

ONLINE HOSTS

Memphis Jones 
2014 Elvis Week Video Host
Memphis Jones is a professional fan and he brings his unique brand of enthusiasm to every job. Whether he's emceeing, interviewing, tweeting or shooting promotional videos, he brings the excitement with his positive, uplifting and spirited personality. Family friendly and fun for all audiences, Memphis Jones works hard with every group to create an atmosphere of unity and does not stop until everyone is playing along. Memphis Jones has been a life-long Elvis fan and is an expert on the birthplace of rock 'n' roll. His love for the king turned into a lifetime dedicated to music and educating people about the unique sound of Memphis's finest musicians.

Jon Waterhouse
2014 Elvis Week Blogger
Entertainment journalist and lifelong Elvis fan Jon Waterhouse returns as the official blogger for Elvis Week 2014. With a journalism career spanning more than 20 years, Jon has had the pleasure of interviewing music legends from Ringo Starr to Dolly Parton. He even served as publicity writer for Rock Hall of Famers, Van Halen. Yet Jon counts his Elvis-related projects as some of his all-time favorites. He’s interviewed some of the king’s closest comrades. Jon’s work regularly appears in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and his weekly Atlanta-based radio program, “The Pop Culture King Show,” snagged a 2013 award for his annual Elvis special. Keep an ear open for Jon’s guest DJ specials on SiriusXM’s Elvis Radio. 

Come already prepared for this year's celebration and download the Elvis Week app today at iTunes or Google Play. Don't miss great deals from all of our partners now featured in the new app and see a complete scheudle of events, live entertainment and special guest by visiting ElvisWeek.com.



source: Graceland