Late May 2002
- Rock legends' memorabilia in live internet auction
(Ananova, May 31, 2002)
Elvis Presley's custom-built white Cadillac is being auctioned live on the internet. The 1974 car with the licence plate ELVIS has a reserve price of $60,000, the equivalent of £41,000. Other items in the auction include a signed cowboy hat worn by Madonna, a Trabant car signed by U2, and a Fender Stratocaster used by Jimi Hendrix. The Rock Legends online pop and rock memorabilia auction, which is being run by Ebay, starts on Saturday June 1.
- Barbecue and Elvis
By Ed Brock
(Clayton County News Daily, May 31, 2002)
Jeff Osenbaugh will be on stage with numerous other Elvis impersonators as part of the Elvis Extravaganza at the Beaux-Arts Barbeque Beach Party to benefit Arts Clayton. The event will be held at The Beach in Clayton County International Park starting this Saturday [ie June 1].
- One for the money
By Iain Shedden
(The Australian, May 31, 2002, p. 13, 16)
This year, the 25th anniversary of his death, breaks new territory in the marketing of Elvis the star and the commodity. In September, record company BMG will release a collection of Presley No 1 singles, inspired no doubt by the unprecendeted success of a similar project by EMI and the Beatles in 2000. There are also new books, documentaries, and, most likely, shoehorns to commemorate his passing in 1977. Other than on his original recordings one aspect of Elvis that hasn't been exploited - until now - is his voice. In an age where sampling is de rigueur, the Presley vocal has remained distinctly absent (legally at least) from the work of DJs and studio wizards keen to lend a touch, or a lot, of the Elvis magic to a modern backing track. Now it has happened. Thanks to a Dutch DJ, a swag of corporate dollars to the Presley estate and one of the biggest campaigns in the history of advertising Elvis will, over the coming month or so, become a chart star once more. You may have heard already the Elvis v JXL track "A Little Less Conversation", which matches lines from the obscure song from one of his rubbish movies "Live a Little, Love a Little" (1968) with dance track by Dutch DJ, producer and remix artist Tom Holkenborg, also known as Junkie XL, or, in this case, JXL. The fortunate performer, who with an ever changing band has had moderate success in Europe since 1995, scored the Elvis gig through a deal with Nike's Amsterdam-based global advertising agency, Widen and Kennedy. BMG in New York then negotiated the final deal with the Presley estate.
- Hadron finds work with ELVIS
By Jeff Clabaugh
(Washington Business Journal, May 29, 2002)
A recent acquisition by Alexandria, Va.-based Hadron. is already paying off. The company's new, wholly owned subsidiary, Analex, has been awarded the Expendable Launch Vehicle Integrated Support (ELVIS) contract by NASA. Total value of the work is $164 million over a nine-year period.
- After Elvis leaves building, fans flock
By Jan Witherspoon
(Citrus County Chronicle, May 29, 2002)
Pop culture and history sometimes blend uniquely together. When the Elvis Presley fan club visited recently, members toured the Old Courthouse in Inverness and docent Blanche Mogus brought in pieces from a friend's Elvis collection. On the venerable Judge Scofield's bench stood a mechanical, singing, hip-gyrating Elvis, courtesy of Mogus. Several members of the community played extras in the film that was shot in Inverness, Crystal River and Yankeetown, and Elvis has become a part of the county's history. The Elvis fan club has visited Citrus County for the last seven years and attended the museum's dedication when it opened in 2000. Not only are the fans loyal Elvis lovers, they are a dedicated group of people that raise funds for charity. Club members have raised more than $15,000 for causes including the Salvation Army, St. Jude Hospital and the Russell Home in Orlando, all in the name of the king, Elvis Presley.
- REMIX OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S "A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION" HAS EVERYONE TALKING [Media release]
(BMG, May 29, 2002) Full text
RCA / BMG and Elvis Presley Enterprises announce first remixed Presley song by a contemporary DJ / artist. Presley's classic "A Little Less Conversation," re-mixed by progressive DJ JXL, will be released by RCA/BMG as a commercial single on the 17th of June.
- Elvis Festival features more than music: "Recliner Races" and "Pet Parade" return for 2002 event
By M. Scott Morris
(Daily Journal, May 28, 2002)
The 2002 Elvis Presley Festival [May 31 to June 2] has plenty of activities requiring audience participation. For instance, the "Recliner Races" that provided spills, chills and thrills at last year's festival are scheduled for the Downtown Tupelo festival site at 6 p.m. Saturday. "It's a lot of fun because people dress up in the theme of one of Elvis' movies and decorate their recliners. They get pretty creative," said Jim High, assistant director of the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association. The entry fee is $50 and teams must consist of at least one rider and four pushers, though there's no limit on team members. Trophies will be awarded based on speed as well as themes, costumes, decorations, imagination and team spirit. Movie themes are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Another crowd favorite at the 2001 festival was the "Pet Parade," which gave pets and their owners the chance to strut their stuff in front of the adoring masses. This year's parade will be at 6 p.m. Friday at the festival site. Categories include Elvis look-alike, owner look-alike, best dressed and most unusual. "They already have 35 entries for this year," High said. "We don't restrict the pets. It's not all dogs and cats. I think last year we had a ferret. Somebody asked if they could enter their husband." The "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" Charity Walk to raise money for the United Way is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Saturday.
- Elvis set to depose the Beatles
By Luke Leitch
(Daily Journal, May 27, 2002)
Elvis is poised to eclipse The Beatles record of No1 UK chart hits - thanks to Thierry Henry, Paul Scholes and a host of other World Cup stars. The King is a hot tip to top the singles charts in June with the release of a remixed version of "A Little Less Conversation" - soundtrack to Nike's football tournament advert. The previously obscure Elvis number featured in the Ocean's Eleven soundtrack before being chosen by the sportswear company for its World Cup advert - which features Henry, Scholes, Brazilian Roberto Carlos and footballers vying to win "The Secret Tournament", under the watchful eye of dandyish Eric Cantona. The song would be Elvis's first UK No1 since Way Down in 1977. The Beatles currently share joint top spot with Elvis at 17 No1 singles each. But the pre-release smoke-signals indicate The King is about to be crowned all-time chart champion in June.
- Monday morning: Fame caught this Elvis by surprise
By Blair Anthony Robertson
(Sacramento Bee, May 27, 2002)
He was born in 1950 and for a good portion of his life had to endure the endless questions. Ca you sing? Can you dance? Let's see you shake your hips. Before long, the strangely named young man shied away from being who he was. When he introduced himself, he used his initials. The young man with the provocative first name was in hibernation. Times changed, and it eventually became safe to be an Elvis, rather than the Elvis. But these days, this Elvis -- Elvis Schmiedekamp -- has become a star in his own right as the everywhere-you-look-or-listen voice and face of Cal Fed, the bank about to be purchased by Citigroup. Now, people think customer service when they hear the ads. They think Schmiedekamp. And they even pronounce it correctly (SMID-a-kamp).
- 100 reasons that Elvis will always be the King
(Philadelphia Daily News, May 25, 2002)
Lists 100 reasons, starting with:
- "Elvis Has Left the Building" turns up 823 hits on Google.com
- Sideburns
- Disney's new animated cartoon, "Lilo and Stitch," will feature five classic Elvis tunes and a new version of "Burning Love" by Wynonna
- Las Vegas
- El Vez, "the Latin Elvis," whose discography includes "Graciasland" and "Misery Tren"
- The official Elvis Web site www.elvis.com carries a 24-hour "GracelandCam" with live shots of the mansion, as if the "The King" himself might walk outside any minute
- British TV chef Nigella Lawson featured Elvis's fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches on her program "Nigella Bites"
- Just last month, a Florida company was granted rights by a division of Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis to use Elvis's image on its cellular phone face plates
- The list of countries that have issued an Elvis postage stamp now includes the Central African Republic, St. Vincent and the Malagasy Republic
- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sang "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" at a recent dinner in Australia and proclaimed it his favorite song.
- Eminem Is No Elvis [LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]
From BARRY SHAPIRO
(Los Angeles Times, May 25, 2002)
We tell teenagers to act their age, but who is to tell adults to do likewise? Robert Hilburn has obviously chosen to try to be hip rather than apply his years as a journalist and chronicler of popular music in a believable way. He is a middle-aged man pretending to understand today's youth by -- among other inappropriate postures -- lauding their temporary idols, such as singing the praises and acknowledging alleged talent of Eminem ("Eminem, On and On," May 22). To compare the controversy around Eminem to the ruckus Elvis stirred up at the start of his career not only demeans Elvis' historical and cultural importance, it elevates an illiterate, homophobic thug to a point of influence that I fervently hope he does not actually possess.
- Elvis Tracks Burn Up 'Lilo & Stitch' Soundtrack
By Barry A. Jeckell; edited by Jonathan Cohen
(Billboard, May 24, 2002)
Songs by Elvis Presley, as well as Elvis songs by Wynonna and the A*Teens make up the soundtrack to the forthcoming animated Walt Disney Pictures film "Lilo & Stitch." Due June 11 via Walt Disney Records, the album also leans on the film's lush Hawaiian setting with two songs by Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and the Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus. Wynonna covers Presley's "Burning Love," while the Stockholm-based A*Teens take on the King's "Can't Help Falling in Love," which will be heard over the movie's end credits. Five Presley recordings, including "Hound Dog" and "Heartbreak Hotel," and three pieces from the Alan Silvestri-composed score round out the release. "Lilo & Stitch" centers around a lonely Hawaiian girl obsessed with Elvis who adopts what she thinks is an ugly dog, but is really a mischievous alien -- a genetic experiment who escaped and crash landed on Earth. [A track listing of the songs is supplied.]
- Atmosphere electric for Elvis' show
By BETTY ADAMS
(Kennebec Journal / Morning Sentinel, May 24, 2002)
Elvis wowed Augusta 25 years ago, opening his appearance at the Civic Center with "C.C. Rider" and then burst out with old favorites - "Jailhouse Rock," "It's Now or Never," "Don't Be Cruel" and "Heartbreak Hotel." Fans went crazy. They breathed in Elvis. They breathed out adulation. Elvis Presley was late arriving from Portland, but who cared? They would have waited even longer without complaint to see the King of rock 'n' roll. ... It was May 24, 1977, when the king of rock 'n' roll played to a sellout crowd of 7,000 at the Augusta Civic Center, and it started a honeymoon with the promoters who brought Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Bad Company to the Civic Center in the wake of Elvis. True Fans for Elvis Fan Club President Dot Gonyea of South Portland remembers the heat in the Civic Center's main auditorium and the hot lights on Elvis 25 years ago. "In later years, his poor body had taken a beating," Gonyea said. "But when he opened his mouth, his voice was just as gorgeous as it always was. It just blew the roof right off the Civic Center. It was so powerful."
- Elvis is still in building -- and he's all shook up
By Rebecca Swain Vadnie
(Orlando Sentinel, May 25, 2002)
Think you've spotted Elvis lately? Before rushing off to phone the tabloids, look again -- it just might be Elvis tribute artist Jack Elton. "Something happens. I get into that jumpsuit and boom! I'm it -- I'm Elvis," the Philadelphia native and longtime Central Florida resident says. This is one Elvis tribute artist who doesn't mind being compared with the King; in fact, it's what he's aiming for. While most Elvis-artists are content with a pitch black bouffant and a sequined jumpsuit, Elton and his band, World Star Tour Orchestra, are out to get the experience as close to perfection as possible. "I have to do it right, or we don't do it. That show has to be exact," he says. "Elvis could walk on my stage with my band and do his show -- we're that close." Elton brings the Elvis tribute concert to the Bahia Shrine Auditorium in Orlando at 7 p.m. Sunday for a fund-raiser to benefit the National Vietnam War Museum in Bithlo. The museum was founded four years ago as a means of helping veterans and civilians to better understand the Vietnam War and its place in history.
- Cher does Elvis for Divas gig
(Ananova, May 24, 2002)
Cher dressed up as Elvis at the VH1 Divas concert in Las Vegas. Other performers included Celine Dion, Shakira, Mary J Blige and Whitney Houston. Anastacia and Celine Dion played air guitar and danced across the stage as they began the show with a duet of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long. The finale involved the divas performing a string of Elvis hits. Shakira wore an Elvis-style jumpsuit and Cher sang Heartbreak Hotel in a black wig.
Cher dressed up as Elvis at the VH1 Divas concert in Las Vegas
- Divas do Vegas with duets and Elvis tribute
(RGJ.com, May 23, 2002)
A Las Vegas show wouldn't be complete without Elvis, even if it's in the form of Cher in a black wig and sideburns. "VH1 Divas"came to the city for the first time Thursday night, mixing veteran divas like Cher and Celine Dion with first-timers Anastacia and Shakira. Ellen DeGeneres hosted, Wayne Newton announced the acts and pop music's biggest female singers even threw in a tribute to the King himself. For the finale, the divas performed a string of Elvis hits. Shakira wore an Elvis-style jumpsuit and Cher was almost unrecognizable as she sang"Heartbreak Hotel"with her platinum blonde hair tucked in a black wig.
- Cars owned by Frank Zappa, Elvis Presley up for auction in L.A.
(National Post Online / Canadian Press, May 23, 2002)
Bidders can rock around the block at next week's Motors and Music auction featuring a 400-car collection that includes Frank Zappa's 1974 Rolls Royce and Elvis Presley's 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood. Other items up for bid will be a black satin Rolling Stones tour jacket owned by Keith Richards, Buddy Holly's shoes, Elvis Presley's birth records and a variety of vehicles, including the 1956 Rolls Royce limousine used in the Dudley Moore movie Arthur and Frank Sinatra's 1989 Jaguar XJS.
Go to Mid May 2002
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