The Elvis Museum located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is closing. The last business day is on or around October 31, 2013. The land has been purchased and the building will be torn down. A restaurant will be constructed in its place.

Mike L. Moon, former owner of The Stamps Quartet opened the Elvis Museum in 1979. The museum contains Elvis memorabilia from the collections of  Mr. Moon, Ed Enoch of The Stamps, Elvis' 1st cousin Billy Smith, Memphis Mafia member Marty Lacker and Sonny West - Memphis Mafia member. The prestigious collection has the title of "World’s Largest Private Collection of Elvis Memorabilia".


Click here to visit the website of the Elvis Museum to plan your last chance visit!

"Three of Elvis' Personal Books" on Ebay from the collection of Marty Lacker


The description notes, "It is well known that Elvis had a vast book collection on a number of subjects, religion, politics, the government and others with power and influence in the country. At times he and Marty discussed politics because he knew Marty was interested in it. After reading a book he would sometimes hold onto it for a few years and then give it to one of the guys, he gave Marty a number of books through the years on subjects he knew he was interested in.

Three of the books Elvis gave Marty are, “Confessions Of A Hollywood Columnist” by well known and famed Hollywood Entertainment Columnist of years ago, Sheila Graham. Another book is an inside look at the ending of Lyndon Johnson’s Presidency written by longtime Washington Insider and Assistant to Johnson, George E. Ready entitled, “The Twilight Of The Presidency” The examination of power and isolation in The White House. The third book is, ”The History Of The Second World War” by B.H. Liddell Hart, acclaimed as the foremost Military analyst of that era.

All three books will come with a COA by Marty.

GO HERE to Ebay to check them out!

Graceland Voted 2013 #1 Iconic American Attraction
September 13, 2013

It’s official. Elvis Presley’s Graceland has been selected as 10Best.com’s “Best Iconic American Attraction” by readers of USA TODAY. In a multi-week voting period that lasted through September 9, readers from across the country voted on the American attraction that best represents the United States.

Posted on 10Best.com, "The name is synonymous with Memphis and with rock 'n' roll. But for the shy young man who bought this house to give his family privacy in the wake of his meteoric rise to stardom, Graceland was only one thing - home. From the moment one steps on the 13-acre estate, it’s obvious that Graceland equaled love and sanctuary for Elvis."

When asked about the award in an interview with USATODAY.com, Lisa Marie Presley was very surprised. She stated, "Wow. That's really incredible. I'm very humbled and flattered to hear that. It's incredible . . . it's just incredible."

In addition to Graceland, there were many other great attractions chosen by readers including the National Civil Rights Museum here in Memphis, a must see attraction when visiting the city. Others included Mt. Rushmore (SD), Grand Canyon (AZ), Statue of Liberty (NY), Las Vegas Strip (NV) and the Golden Gate Bridge (CA).


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Five New Follow That Dream Releases Expected in October and November
September 16, 2013

Elvis fans can check out the latest releases from the Follow That Dream Collection by visiting Elvis.com/FTD. The following two titles are expected to be released in October 2013 and three more releases to follow in November 2013.


"CAFÉ EUROPA – G.I BLUES VOL. 2"
This 2-disc 7” set follows on from the successful Volume 1 release earlier this year. The 16-page booklet features great photographs and contains the In and Outtakes section for both releases. Sounding better than anything before, the original masters including studio banter have been NEWLY REMIXED from the original multi tracks.  Elvis at his best on RCA and Follow That Dream Records.


"THE ON STAGE SEASON" – The Opening and Closing Shows, 1970
This 2-CD release features the 2 shows from January 26, 1970 and February 23, 1970. It comes with a 16-page 4-color booklet featuring great photographs from the season and a insightful essay by Ann Moses Marino.  These historic soundboard recordings were made by Elvis’ sound engineer Bill Porter at the request of Tom Diskin. 

Releases Expected in November 2013

“FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS - American Sound Sessions” – Special Limited-Edition 2-Disc Vinyl Set
"From Elvis in Memphis" is the latest in the classic vinyl series which dives into the 1969 sessions at American Sound Studio in Memphis. Fans can enjoy the recorded sessions of January and February of 1969. This 2-disc collector's edition features the original album, outtakes and rehearsals. "From Elvis in Memphis" is the product of the same 1969 American Sound Studio sessions under producer Chips Moman that yielded the recent "Back in Memphis" FTD.

• Vinyl cutting by ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
• DMM Copper Mastering
• 180 Grams heavyweight vinyl
• Strictly limited pressing
• Currently available on CD as FTD

The Follow That Dream series also welcomes two new releases in mid-November with more details to come.

• "MOODY BLUE" – 2-CD SET
• "ELVIS AT AMERICAN SOUND – 2CD SET" – 3RD volume from the 1969 Memphis Sessions

Stay tuned to Elvis.com for links to preorder at ShopElvis.com. Fans can also check out the complete Follow That Dream collection by visiting Elvis.com/FTD for the official database, which offers rare photos, exclusive audio samples and great deals on over 100 different Elvis CDs, books and LPs.


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Elvis World Japan has just posted some incredible footage of Elvis Presley Live in Hawaii, during the year of 1957. In the 4 minute clip you see can Elvis arriving by car, rocking on stage and even playing the piano.

The footage (8 mm) was shot by by Elizabeth Moore, the wife of Ken Moore who worked security for Elvis at the time. It's a recent acquisition from her collection.

This is  a lot more than the bits we've seen posted before, and on the screens at the Aloha Exhibit in Graceland. The sound is from 1961.

Parts of this footage, in far superior quality, can be found on the DVD Aloha from Hawaii - 40th anniversary edition    

YouTube

source: Elvis World Japan & Elvis Matters

http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/index1.htm

http://www.elvismatters.com

source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Rubberneckin' Podcast Celebrates as Graceland is Named "Best Iconic American Attraction"
September 12, 2013

Download Episode #140 of the Rubberneckin' Podcast where Elvis Presley Enterprises' Kevin Kern and Alicia Dean talk about some exciting events taking place here at Graceland and around the world. First, we celebrate as Graceland is named the "Top 10 Best Iconic American Attraction" by USA Today! Fans can learn more about this huge announcement tomorrow by visiting Elvis.com. Also, Elvis hits a new milestone as we reach nine million fans on Facebook! The podcast duo talks about what an honor it is to work for the greatest entertainer of all time and shows their appreciation to Elvis fans for their continued love and support. Also, we look at a new British singer who will be featuring a Christmas duet with the king himself, and we make plans for this year's "ELVIS LIVES: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event" where winners of the annual contest hosted here during Elvis Week will cover different eras of Elvis' life and legacy. Fans can learn more about the new tour, kicking off in October, by visiting ElvisLivesTour.com. As always we wrap up this week's podcast with our Elvis sightings - one featuring an appearance on the Game Show Network and another Elvis fan points out the king's influence on members of One Direction.

Visit the Rubberneckin' Podcast page to listen to the new podcast and subscribe to future podcasts. If downloading new podcasts from iTunes, please allow 48 hours from the day of release for the podcast to show up.


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Elvis.com Down for Routine Maintenance Tonight
September 12, 2013

Attention Elvis fans! Elvis.com will be down from 10:00 p.m. CT tonight (9/12) through 6:00 a.m. CT tomorrow morning (9/13).  The site will be down for routine maintenance and will be back up by normal business operating hours on Friday, September 13.

Our technicians will be working prior to the outage and immediately after power is restored to ensure that all systems are protected and that all services restored.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions pertaining to this temporary outage, please contact us at marketing@Elvis.com.


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Opening Ceremony launches Elvis Presley capsule collection

By Adam Tschorn


Opening Ceremony has announced a fall and winter 2013 capsule collection inspired by the King -- and under license from Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Elvis has entered the building -- well, the boutique, anyway -- on a range of T-shirts, sweatshirts, button-front woven shirts and denim jackets bearing archival photographs (a still from "Jailhouse Rock," for example), song titles ("Suspicious Minds" and "Love Me Tender" among them) and a recurring broken-heart motif (a nod to "Heartbreak Hotel").

Prices of items in the now-available Opening Ceremony X Elvis Presley collection range from $95 (for cotton T-shirts printed with various Elvis imagery) to $355 (a wool sweater with a crystal-embellished design inspired by the King's "Taking Care of Business" ring).  

For the look book images (a few of which can be seen above), British photographer Jamie Hawkesworth headed to Memphis, Tenn., where street-cast models donned pieces from the collection.

While that's certainly cool, my favorite part is this throway line at the end of the announcement: "As a nod to the Elvis classic," it reads, "several Opening Ceremony men’s footwear styles are offered in blue suede."

And remember: Please don't step on them.

Thank you, thankyouverymuch.



source: http://www.latimes.com

Upcoming Highlights on SiriusXM's Elvis Radio - Channel 19 September 11, 2013

Elvis fans can now check out this week's upcoming highlights on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

Elvis Live In Concert: The Final Performances 1977
Big Jim Sykes hosts the weekly concert features focusing on EP's final live shows from 1977.
Time: Friday, September 13, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Rebroadcasts: Sunday, September 15, 2013, at 10:00 p.m. and midnight ET and Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at 6:00 a.m. ET

Saturday Special-His Favorite-Gospel Time!
Big Jim offers a listen into Elvis' favorite genre of music, it's an hour of Elvis Gospel time! 
Time: Saturday, September 14, 2013, at noon ET
Rebroadcasts: Tues, September 14, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET

Elvis Radio Soundtrack Saturday Night-It Happened At The World's Fair
Elvis and young Kurt Russell as Bill Rock presents the Movie Of The Week on Soundtrack Saturday Night! Bill also shares YOUR Elvis Memories. Call him at 888-ELVIS NOW (888-358-4766).
Time: Saturday, September 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET
Rebroadcasts: Tuesday, September 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET and Thursday, September 19 at 2:00 a.m. ET

Learn more about Elvis Radio on SiriusXM!


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Elvis Week 2013 in Memphis, Tennessee was held August 10th-18th with events celebrating and honoring the man and the legend, Elvis Presley. It has been 36 years since Elvis passed away on August 16, 1977. Elvis fans from around the world made the annual pilgrimage to Memphis to commemorate the anniversary of Elvis' passing. 2013 also marked the 40th anniversary of Elvis' "Aloha from Hawaii" via satellite 1973 concert special, and the 45th anniversary of Elvis' "1968" TV Special!

A less grasped anniversary milestone for 2013 among Elvis fans is the 60th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's June 3, 1953 Humes High School graduation, which took place at Ellis Auditorium. Humes is located at 659 North Manassas Street. The building was constructed in 1924, and was accredited on the list of National Register of Historic Places in 2004! During Elvis Week a special historic marker honoring the significances of Elvis Presley, Radio DJ George Klein and Actor/Songwriter Red West who are all members of the graduating class of 1953; was unveiled in a dedication ceremony. The historic marker ceremony was held in the original Humes High School auditorium which appreciatively remains substantially unchanged.

Casting auditions for an upcoming short-film about Elvis' senior year at Humes High School were also conducted during Elvis Week 2013. The upcoming short-film is titled "Nobody" and the screenplay was written by Chicago, Illinois Filmmaker, William "Bill" Bryan of Sideburned Cinema. Bill, has been a devoted Elvis fan since a very young age and first made the trip to Graceland with his Dad in 2003. He is not alone in the film process of "Nobody". The Co-Producer, Tom Radovich is along for the exciting journey! "Nobody" will be filmed and produced utilizing professional camera equipment, with parts of the film filmed on location at Humes High School.

"Nobody" chronicles the story of Elvis Presley, before he achieved world-wild stardom and became recognized as the international superstar, Elvis Presley. At Humes High School in the year of 1953, Elvis was 18 years old and he was considered to be a bit of a loner. Elvis was not an Athlete, he wore flashy clothing & he carried around a guitar, and he truly liked music class. After accomplishing super-stardom, Elvis was known as a sex symbol; but at Humes High School the girls didn't really want to date him! "Nobody" will feature a detailed account of the 1953 Humes High School talent show which occurred April 9, 1953. Elvis reluctantly entered the talent show after being swayed by those who grasped his enchantment of music. As fate would have it the audience loved Elvis at the talent show, and he captured first place at the 1953 Humes High School talent show! "Nobody" also highlights the very vital and unbreakable Mother and Son relationship between Elvis and his Mother Gladys Presley. While at Humes Elvis connected with his homeroom teacher a stern woman, by the name of Miss Mildred Scrivener, who was a well respected authority figure at Humes High School.

Filmmaker, William "Bill" Bryan of Sideburned Cinema started writing the screenplay to "Nobody" during October 2012 for his senior thesis. He is a film graduate of Columbia University located in Chicago, Illinois. William, is yearning to produce the short-film "Nobody" which is based on Elvis' senior year at Humes High School. His aspiration is to produce the film "Nobody", the first of its kind in a accurate and honorable manor, all while preserving Elvis' legacy. "Nobody" will detail Elvis' personal relationships, and will also highlight the class of 1953 Humes talent show. The Humes talent show was positively an influential part of Elvis' personal growth discovery and acceptance among his peers! The auditorium where the talent show was held at Humes has not changed much in the 60 years since Elvis graduated. Filming for "Nobody" will substantially take place on location at the former Humes High School building, with the talent show being filmed in the auditorium. The historic building is now known as Humes Preparatory Academy.

Auditions for "Nobody" were conducted at The Courtyard Marriott, and the auditions occurred over the course of three days in a conference room. The auditions were to cast the characters of "Nobody" to find an 18 year old Elvis Presley, Elvis' Mother Gladys Presley, and Elvis' homeroom teacher Miss Mildred Scrivener. Preceding the Elvis Week 2013 auditions, world renowned Elvis Tribute Artist Ted Torres of Florida was selected to contribute the vocals of Elvis for "Nobody" and possibly provided his vocals for the films soundtrack.

Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville fan club, President Caroline Pratt had the awesome experince of interviewing William Bryan during Elvis Week. Caroline, also had the honor of observing a bit of the "Nobody" castings audition process! Dressed in a suit and armed with audacity William Bryan is professional, precised and dedicated. He kindly sat down with Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville, President Caroline Pratt one morning for a video interview which is shared above the start of the article. Auditions were filmed by camera man Carey Rayburn of Outlaw Films, who is known for his upcoming Elvis fan documentary "816" which will tell of the impact Elvis' passing had on the world. Bill was assisted throughout the auditions by assistant, Anna McDonald who gave support and insight. Caroline Pratt, was present for the auditions of two young men who audition for the part of Elvis, and for a woman who audition for the part of Miss Mildred Scrivener.

Developing a short-film might sound like an easy process but that is not the case in the financial sector! A financial campaign was established via the website "kick starter", and word rapidly spread around to the diligent Elvis fan community. Fans of Elvis Presley across the globe showed grand fascination in Elvis' life at Humes, and hoped the dream of William Bryan's "Nobody" screenplay would become a reality. Due to the generosity of Elvis fan's Bill's short Elvis film will soon become a reality! Elvis was regularly quoted to have said: "he had the very best fans in the entire world", and Elvis was certainly correct regarding that fact about his forever fanbase of admiring fans. Elvis fans are known to endlessly go above and beyond when help is sought. "Nobody" will definitely be a well received and beloved Elvis film!

The corporate management of Elvis' estate, Elvis Presley Enterprises, and CEO Jack Soden have been extremely supportive of William "Bill" Bryan and "Nobody." During Elvis Week 2013 Bill was extended a table at several Elvis events to advertise "Nobody", and he spoke at the annual Elvis fan club President event organized by the fan relations department at Elvis' Graceland. Bill also discussed "Nobody" on Sirius/XM's Elvis Radio which is broadcast live from Graceland and reaches to an audience throughout the United States! In addition to attention at Graceland, Bill also received local Memphis media exposure at Elvis Week. He was interviewed by Shelley Orman of ACB 24 News! The video interview conducted by ABC 24's Shelley Orman and can be watched on the website of ABC 24.

Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville fan club supports "Nobody" and we are here for William Bryan 100%. We are looking forward to the official announcement regarding the cast, and we will be thrilled to watch the ultimate final film result of "Nobody!" With the dedication, and confidence possessed by William Bryan "Nobody" will be a wonderful short-film!



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

Showbiz411's Roger Friedman reports exclusively that Boardwalk Empire's Michael Shannon is "circling the role" of iconic performer Elvis Presley in a new film which centers on The King's now famous White House meeting with President Richard Nixon. The photograph has already inspired a 1997 TV film.

A black and white photo taken on December 21, 1970 shows Elvis presenting a gun to the President. During the visit, Elvis bad-mouthed The Beatles and accused them of being Anti-American. Nixon sent the movie icon a personal letter following the occasion.

Michael Shannon has proven himself expertly adept at portraying anti-heroes judging from his stunning work onstage and onscreen in the Tracy Letts drama BUG as well as in Martin McDonagh's THE PILLOWMAN in addition to many other notable unpleasant characters to date, ranging from REVOLUTIONARY ROAD to BOARDWALK EMPIRE to the forthcoming THE ICEMAN. Shannon was most recently seen onstage last year in GRACE, co-starring Paul Rudd.


source: http://www.broadwayworld.com

Fourth Annual ELVIS LIVES U.S. Theatrical Tour Kicks Off in October September 10, 2013

On Stage Touring, LLC, in association with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), announced today that it will kick off the 2013/2014 touring season of the acclaimed theatrical attraction ELVIS LIVES “THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST EVENT” in Folsom, Calif. on October 7, 2013. Dean Z, the newly crowned 2013 winner of EPE’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest will join the touring cast of ELVIS LIVES during its winter 2014 engagements. American Express® will be providing marketing support and giving fans priority access to tickets for the tour. As of today, 18 markets are booked for the tour with more to be added.

After a highly successful 2012/2013 touring season that performed for over 100,000 fans in 65 cities across North America, the demand is greater than ever from communities requesting that the ELVIS LIVES tour be presented in their markets. The tour will begin for a week of performances in October and resume in the New Year. This fourth annual production of ELVIS LIVES will then embark on a schedule that will visit dozens of cities beginning in early January for the first half of 2014. It will be presented in many new cities across the United States as well as returning to several fan favorite markets for the second and third time.

ELVIS LIVES, which continues to capture the imaginations and interests of fans of all types including Broadway, concert and Elvis aficionados, is an unforgettable multi-media and live musical journey across Elvis’ life featuring finalists from EPE’s annual worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, each representing Elvis during different stages in his career. For the October engagements the Elvis Tribute Artists will be comprised of Bill Cherry (1st place 2009), Ben Klein (2nd Place 2011), Kevin Mills (2nd place 2010) and Leo Days (Finalist 2009). They will be joined by a live band, back-up singers and dancers, along with an Ann-Margret tribute artist, as well as iconic media and imagery made available from the Graceland archives including a never-before-seen exhibit of life-size images of Elvis’ stage-wear that will be on display in the lobby of each theater hosting a performance.

The kick-off in Folsom, Calif. will feature three shows followed by four performances in Fort Collins, Colo. The nationwide tour resumes in January 2014 with performances in dozens of markets. The principals for the entire cast for 2014 will be announced soon. It will be comprised of finalists of EPE’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and will include 2013 contest winner Dean Z, who won the competition against finalists from 29 cities across four continents.

“The partnership between On Stage Touring and EPE provides the only authentic touring showcase of Elvis tribute artists for fans who want to experience the music and live performance charisma of one of the most popular recording artists in history,” said Brian Brigner, Chief Operating Officer of On Stage. “Our thriving production showcases each performer portraying Elvis in one of four eras: the 1950s, 1960s, his movie career and his concert years, so it is the complete musical package.”

“We are very pleased that ELVIS LIVES continues to delight audiences from coast to coast and that even more Elvis fans will be given the opportunity to see these talented entertainers in these expanded markets,” said Kevin Kern, Director of Public Relations for EPE. “We are especially delighted that the latest Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Dean Z, will be joining the tour in January.”
 
Visit ElvisLivesTour.com to see updated performance dates and markets for the 2013/2014 tour of ELVIS LIVES and to purchase tickets directly from individual theaters, or contact your local authorized box office or official ticketing agency.  American Express Card members receive access to American Express Seating.  Preferred Seating is also available to eligible Card members.

ELVIS LIVES fans are also invited to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a seven-day cruise for two in an ocean view stateroom on board the Norwegian Epic. For more information, visit ElvisLivesTour.com.


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises

Drums man served in Army with Elvis
By Tom Ragan (Staff Writer)
Published: September 9, 2013

James Reil can honestly say he knew Elvis Presley.

The Drums man - who is 78, the same age Presley would be if he were still alive - met the charismatic young crooner in the U.S. Army and got to know him better as they served in the same platoon in West Germany.

"He was a regular guy to talk to," said Reil, who was the only man from Pennsylvania who served in the unit.

On Jan. 8, 1957, his 22nd birthday, Presley was classified "1-A" in the selective service. But he did not want any special treatment, and even turned down offers from the Navy and Air Force.

Elvis already was making his mark in the music industry that year, topping the Billboard charts with his No. 1 hit, "All Shook Up." He also had three more hit songs in the top 20 and a total of six in the top 100 that year.

By the time he was inducted into the Army on March 24, 1958, Elvis was a singing sensation, a movie star and probably the hottest entertainment ticket in town, regardless of where he ventured.

So how was it that a megastar met up with a small-town GI? Fate, pure and simple.

Reil met Presley on a train en route from Fort Hood, Texas, to Brooklyn, N.Y., where they would board the USS Gen. George Randall along with more than 1,100 American servicemen, headed for a place near Frankfurt, West Germany.

"I got on the same train as Elvis, and I remember the Army terminal was packed," Reil recalled.

Presley and Reil were assigned to the 32nd Battalion of the American Third Armored Division near Friedberg, West Germany, serving in Company C, a scout platoon.

And so it began.

Presley always had a lot of women and a gaggle of photographers following him around, Reil said. But the Army did not allow the women and photographers on base (unless it was approved by Col. Tom Parker, his manager and promoter).

A book, "Like Any Other Soldier," was published about Elvis' years in the Army from 1958 to 1960. Reil owns a copy of the book, in which his picture appears with Elvis and other members of the platoon.

Presley lived off base most of the time, said Reil, who quickly remembers that Presley did indeed show up every day and did what other soldiers did, including taking his turn on "KP" (kitchen police) duty, which also meant cleaning the latrines. Presley also earned "sharpshooter" and other marksman levels in the service, and learned karate from a private trainer. "He was always showing us different holds," Reil said.

He recalled that Elvis rarely carried money, usually because Parker was always around to make sure he had whatever he needed or wanted. Parker wasn't a real colonel nor was his real name Tom Parker. He was born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in Holland on June 26, 1909, and died in Las Vegas, 20 years after Presley died, in 1997, at the age of 88.

Presley was popular with the soldiers in his platoon, according to Reil.

"He was a nice fella," Reil said, looking back.

He recalled one Christmas when Elvis was "homesick," so he rented a bar in Germany and made food and drink available for his platoon after they received passes.

"He didn't show up right away," Reil said, but eventually came with a couple of carloads of German women.

"He sang a little bit, he had a good time and we had a good time," Reil said. "They were nice girls, not prostitutes or anything like that, but nice German women who danced with us while we all had a good time."

Elvis was always doing nice things for people, according to Reil.

For example, the men's barracks in West Germany had concrete floors and it was very cold sometimes. Elvis felt sorry for the soldiers having to get out of their bunks and put their feet on the cold cement floor, so he bought rugs for them.

Being a Southern boy, Presley was always cold, Reil said. "Elvis would sit on the hood of an Army vehicle that was recently used to keep warm."

Reil recalled how Presley enjoyed playing touch football every Sunday and how the others in his platoon joined in. Presley was a good athlete, Reil said, and kept in good shape while in the Army.

"I wasn't his best friend but we got along well," Reil said.

He also talked about how Presley did not drink or use drugs while he was serving in the Army, and sang gospel songs to himself while on duty.

"He was a regular guy and did what we did," Reil said, summing up the 18 months he served in the Army with Presley.

In 2010, Reil and seven other Army buddies who served with Presley were invited to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that era.

Presley's relatives and caretakers of Graceland "were really nice to us," Reil said.

The veterans brought some of their mementos of Presley and they were given photos and other items to commemorate the occasion.

At the time they were visiting Graceland, there were many rumors about Presley being alive, but Reil said he and his friends only remember seeing Elvis impersonators, not the real Elvis.

"We had a lot of fun with it," he said.

Reil was impressed with Presley's many solid gold records and his costumes on display at Graceland.

He recalled another example of Presley's generosity when one of the guys who served with them talked about Elvis buying a new Cadillac for a West Virginia soldier.

Reil has many photos of himself with Presley in Germany and with the other members of the platoon. They are memories of a young man who would become famous throughout the world before his tragic death at his Graceland home on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42. Presley's fans never seem to get enough of him and continue to visit Graceland by the thousands.

He is one of few people who can say they knew Presley when he was young and innocent, and just another GI serving his country.



source: http://citizensvoice.com - Citizens Voice

'Love Me Tender' Blu-Ray Edition Review

Elvis' first movie is now out on the high-quality Blu-Ray in 1080 presentation. This release contains the same extras as featured on the 2006 50th Anniversary DVD release with the added commentary by Jerry Schilling plus short bonus documentaries.


Go HERE as EIN's Piers Beagley - with the help of Harley Payette - checks out this new Blu-ray release. Plus some cool Screen Grabs..

Let's hope this leads to Blu-ray releases of other Elvis movies.


Click here to purchase your copy from Amazon!


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

Last Call for "Official Elvis '68 Comeback" Fan Mosaic!
September 09, 2013

Last call for Elvis fans to order the "Official Elvis '68 Comeback" Fan Mosaic! They are close to selling out and you can order more copies or snag one, if you haven't already, by visiting FanMosaics.com/Elvis68.

The "Official Elvis '68 Comeback" Fan Mosaic is our largest to date! Over 10,000 photos were submitted from 27 different countries - proving that Elvis' legacy continues to live on through his fans around the world! Featuring the iconic image of Elvis dressed in his legendary leather suit, this officially licensed 24 x 30 Fan Mosaic collector's is built entirely from fan-submitted photos. This limited-edition print appears black and white from a far, but up-close is compiled of full-color fan photos. A wall-sized mural was revealed here at Graceland during Elvis Week 2013.

Purchase your copy of the "Official Elvis '68 Comeback" Fan Mosaic today by visiting FanMosaics.com/Elvis68. Come see your photo on display here at Graceland and check out great savings with specials and packages featured on Elvis.com.


source: http://www.elvis.com - Graceland-Elvis Presley Enterprises

Walker and Judy McCutcheon, are serious lifelong Elvis Presley fans who reside in Clarksville, Tennessee which is a suburb of Nashville. The ClarksvilleOnline.com Newspaper has written an article featuring Walker and Judy's life as Elvis fans.

Way to go and congratulations, Walker and Judy!!

We are proud to have Walker and Judy as members of Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville. They are both fabulous people!

Click here to read the article!

Doc Walker can be heard live on Elvis Radio Saturdays 2 pm - 7 pm & Sundays 3 pm - 7 pm.

From SiriusXM.com:
Doc Walker has worked in radio “on and off for 25 years” and of course he's a huge Elvis fan, so getting to play music from The King 24/7 is a huge thrill. “My favorite song right now is an outtake of ‘When It Rains, It Really Pours,’ and my favorite album is Elvis Live At The International from 1969.”

Recently announced, an Online Casting Call for the movie from the sensational book “Last Train to Memphis” about the early days of the Elvis that is in production to become a major motion picture.

Producers are looking for an unknown actor to play the young Elvis Presley. 

More recent music biopics have often used well-known leading actors like Jamie Foxx and Joaquin Phoenix to play the title character.

So if you think you’ve got what it takes to play Elvis at around the ages of 18 to 22, head on over to YoungElvisCasting.com.

You’ll find instructions on how to submit your audition tape.  Besides acting chops, you’ll also need to be able to sing like Elvis Presley.

"Last Train to Memphis" focuses on the years between Elvis's first, earth-shattering recordings and his meteoric rise to national prominence in 1956. These were years of revolutionary cultural turmoil, largely precipitated by Elvis's music.

The screenplay recounts the story of his against-all-odds success due to his uncanny gift for self-invention, his unstoppable drive, and the new sound he created that changed the music world forever.


CLICK HERE if you have what it takes to play Elvis in this new movie.


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

The owner of a planned Holiday Inn Express has lauded the city’s efforts to revitalize the road leading to Graceland, home of iconic pop singer Elvis Presley. In an emailed statement, Sandip Patel, the owner of the planned Holiday Inn Express, said the city's "efforts and commitment to revitalize Elvis Presley Boulevard was a factor in the decision to build near Graceland."

To make the road more welcoming for tourists and more pleasant for residents of the working- and middle-class community of Whitehaven just past Graceland, the city has begun making a series of infrastructure improvements. Workers already have widened and repaved one main intersection and plan to do the same to several others. The $43 million project began early this year and is expected to be completed in 2016 or 2017.


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

Entertainer Susan Boyle has recorded a Christmas duet – with Elvis. Britain’s Got Talent sensation "SuBo", age 52, is the first British artist to perform with the legendary King of Rock ’n’ Roll by means of studio wizardry.

Her fifth studio album "Home For Christmas" features the voice of Elvis alongside hers on the famous carol Oh Come All Ye Faithful.

Susan is a self-confessed Elvis fanatic and said that singing with him was a “dream come true”. She has dedicated the track to her late father, who was also a big Elvis fan.

Producers have used digital technology to combine the vocals of the Scottish singer and Elvis.

SuBo said: “To put a unique twist on classic Christmas songs is truly wonderful. I grew up listening to Elvis and to sing with him, well, I didn’t think it would be possible. Isn’t technology brilliant?”

The Christmas album is out on November 25.


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

A Facebook page concerning the improvements regarding Elvis Presley Blvd has announced the next public meeting.

From
Elvis Presley Boulevard Improvements:

"Our next Public Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 26th at The Middle Baptist Church located in Whitehaven. We will be presenting a construction update as well as information about the intersections of Elvis Presley at Brooks Road and Elvis Presley at Winchester Road."


Click here to visit the official website for ALL project updates regarding the Elvis Presley Boulevard area!


source: https://www.facebook.com/epbmemphis