Early September 2002
- Mark Dawson and his dog, Elvis ...
(Greenwich Time, September 10, 2002)
Mark Dawson and his dog, Elvis, walk into the woods off Cognewaugh Road this summer to practice search and rescue operations. The pair worked at ground zero last year to look for survivors.
- Did you hear the one about Elvis, JFK and the mummy?
By Bruce Campbell
(Daily Herald / Associated Press, September 10, 2002)
Elvis and JFK are alive and well and battling a resurrected Egyptian mummy in an old folks' home in east Texas. One of the oddest flicks at the Toronto International Film Festival is "Bubba Ho-Tep," a campy, clever alternate take on the fates of Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy. The horror comedy played as part of the festival's "Midnight Madness" program of B-movies. Cult-action star Bruce Campbell, who played the hero in Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" trilogy, stars as the geriatric Elvis, who turned his fortune over to an impersonator decades earlier and now lives in obscurity at a retirement home where scarab beetles and a soul-sucking mummy prey on residents.
- For governor: Elvis as a progressive?
By Christopher Clough
(Green Bay News Chronicle, September 9, 2002)
Bill Lorge hopes to get the Republican nomination for governor of Wisconsin over incumbent Gov. Scott McCallum. He believes he can and will defeat McCallum on Tuesday, although almost no one else does. ... While Lorge may have been known as a maverick Republican in the Legislature - he voted against the Crandon Mine project and three tax increases proposed by Thompson, among other things - he's probably best known as an Elvis Presley impersonator. In fact, he has made appearances at several campaign stops decked out as "The King." Lorge acknowledges that some may see his name on the primary ballot and think, "Oh jeez, it's that flaky Elvis guy." But he thinks the label will end up helping him Tuesday. "Probably every opponent I had (while in the Legislature) criticized me for the Elvis thing," he said. "On the local level, it's probably a negative, but at the state level, a huge positive. The battle is name recognition. I've had people pointing and yelling, 'Hey, I'm voting for Elvis.'"
- Can newly sober musicians make good music? Snoop Dogg kicks the chronic, gin and juice
By Tom Sinclair
(CNN, September 9, 2002)
A writer friend of mine likes to tell an anecdote about a jazz musician he once interviewed. They were discussing the relationship between making music and using drugs and alcohol. ''I guess there are musicians out there who've never smoked no reefer, never took no pills, never drank no whiskey,'' the jazzman mused, before fixing my friend with a sardonic stare and asking, ''But what kind of musician is THA?'' I was reminded of that story a couple of weeks ago during a surprising interview of my own with rapper Snoop Dogg in which he informed me that he is now clean and sober. This is impressive. As Snoop told me, prior to his decision to clean up his act he had been going through between three and four ounces of pot a day, spiking his high with liberal doses of alcohol. So much of Snoop's mythology has been based on his being perpetually loaded (he was awarded the Stoner of the Year Award by High Times magazine some months back) that the notion of his opting to live the straight life takes some getting used to. Personally, I wish him all the luck in the world. Getting clean and sober is a brave step for anyone to take, whether they are famous or not. It's certainly no secret that drugs and alcohol have robbed us of scores of greats -- from Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Elvis Presley to, most recently, Alice in Chains' Layne Staley and Dee Dee Ramone, to name but a few.
- Packer Fans Marry in Parking Lot
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press, September 9, 2002)
The wedding wasn't exactly traditional. There were a few cheese-headed guests, an Elvis impersonator and the legendary Packalope - half-deer, half-Packers fan.
But Sunday's nuptials for Rita Diebert and Richard Mossing were certainly memorable.
The two tied the knot in the parking lot of Lambeau Field, just a few minutes before the Green Bay Packers took to the field in their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
- Elvis is alive and well in London
(British Journal of Photography Online, September 9, 2002)
An exhibition of restored, never-before-seen photographs of Elvis Presley has inaugurated a new gallery area at Angelprints, in London's Islington district. The pictures were taken by amateur photographer Arthur Armstrong in January 1960 while he was serving in the Royal Army Pay Corps in Munchengladbach, Germany. The processed films were stored for more than 40 years before being discovered by Armstrong when moving house. He took the films, by now in a poor condition, to digital specialist lab Angelprints in the hope that something could be rescued from them. Such was the success of the restoration that the pictures now serve as the first exhibition at the Angelprints gallery.
- Gordon Lightfoot Recovering From Surgery
(Yahoo! News, September 9, 2002)
Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is in stable condition after undergoing emergency stomach surgery for an undisclosed ailment in Ontario on Sunday (September 8). ... Lightfoot, a five-time Grammy nominee, is one of Canada's most-honored performers. Over the years, his songs have been covered by Elvis Presley, Peter, Paul & Mary, Richie Havens, Glen Campbell, and Bob Dylan. Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 1986.
- Canadian musician Lightfoot ill in hospital
(Yahoo! News / Reuters, September 8, 2002)
Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot has been hospitalized with an undisclosed illness, CBC News reported Sunday. Lightfoot was flown to McMaster University Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, early Sunday morning from a hospital in his hometown of Orillia, Ontario, CBC said. Lightfoot, who is 63, was in Orillia for a concert to promote his new album, "A Painter Passing Through." The concert has been canceled, CBC said. Lightfoot emerged as a prominent folk artist in the late 1960s. His hits include "If You Could Read My Mind," "Sundown" and "The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald," which were released in the 1970s. His songs have been recorded by stars like Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Lightfoot has received five Grammy nominations and has been honored in Canada with 17 Juno Awards.
- 9/11 Is Double Anniversary in Hawaii
By B.J. REYES
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press, September 8, 2002)
Florence Nakayama speaks of Sept. 11 with reverence and sadness that dates back long before last year's terrorist attacks. Like the rest of the country, residents here will pause to remember the tragic events last year in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. But they also will remember Sept. 11, 1992, and Hurricane Iniki's devastating sweep across Kauai, a lush island of green cliffs and pristine beaches at the United States' westernmost tip. ... The island's tourism-based economy was left in wreckage. "I was just amazed at the broken-ness all around us," said Cecilia Dana. In 1992, Dana worked at the historic Coco Palms Hotel, the setting of the wedding scene in Elvis Presley's 1962 film "Blue Hawaii."
- New Millennium Media's Mobile LED Garnered National Media Exposure From Elvis Week Events
Source: New Millennium Media International, Inc.
(Yahoo! News / BUSINESS WIRE, September 6, 2002)
The "Official Super Screen of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley", NMMG's Mobile Giant Screen was Seen on National Morning News Shows, Newspapers and Magazines. New Millennium Media International Inc. provided the digital entertainment for the entire Elvis Week of events in Memphis, Tenn., as part of its 3 year contract with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Larry Rightmyer, New Millennium's Director of Operations announced. New Millennium's mobile LED (light emitting diode), jumbo screen broadcast top-quality, high-visibility Elvis Week event coverage and classic Elvis videos during the "An Elvis Happening on Beale Street - Memphis Welcomes Fans," an all evening parade on August 10th and throughout the week at "Elvis Videos on the Big Screen in Graceland Plaza," according to Rightmyer. "Our mobile full-color, giant video screen provided live camera shots and classic concert footage for the events that were featured on Good Morning America, in USA TODAY, the Washington Post, Memphis' The Commercial Appeal and Sign Builder Magazine," said Rightmyer. "Several of our clients called to tell me they saw New Millennium's jumbo screen on T.V. and in publications. The advertising value of that exposure is phenomenal."
According to the official website for the event, www.elvis.com, the Memphis Police estimated a crowd of between 18,000 and 20,000 lined the August 10th parade route that ended outside Elvis Presley's Memphis restaurant, where 'a giant video screen broadcast clips of live Elvis performances from the 50s, 60s and 70s, as well as the Nike World Cup commercial and the video for his new hit single, the remix of "A Little Less Conversation." '
- Kelly beats out Justin to win American Idol
BY JOHN SMYNTEK
(Yahoo! News / Detroit Free Press, September 5, 2002)
Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Kelly Clarkson? Wednesday night's finale of Fox's latest reality hit "American Idol" gave the Texas warbler with a voice to die for some small reason to be mentioned in the same sentence with the first two.
- Web Search Activity Indicates Pop Culture Has Not Changed Since September 11
(Yahoo! Finance, September 5, 2002)
Terra Lycos, the largest global Internet network, today announced the following information from The Lycos 50(TM) , a weekly list of the most popular people, places and things Web users are searching for online. ... "Based on Internet search traffic, it appears that American pop culture has returned to where it was prior to September 11," said Aaron Schatz, writer of The Lycos 50. "The search terms that were popular before September 11, such as Britney Spears and the Japanese cartoon Dragonball, are still popular. In addition, a number of 'trivial' celebrity topics continue to make our list, just as often as they did before September 11." Reality television shows like Big Brother 3, American Idol, and the Anna Nicole Smith Show, are still at the top of people's minds. The 25th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley generated an abundance of search activity over the past few weeks, while adult entertainer Ginger Lynn received many searches due to a recent E! True Hollywood Story episode.
- Elvis is still king among stamp savers
(Daytona Beach News-Journal, September 6, 2002)
When it comes to collecting stamps Elvis is still king. ... [as below]
- Elvis Is Still King in Stamps
(Yahoo! News, September 5, 2002)
When it comes to collecting stamps Elvis is still king. Some 124 million stamps featuring the rock 'n' roll star have been purchased and never used to mail a letter, the Postal Service reports. That means the 29-cent Elvis stamp issued in 1993 made a tidy $36 million profit for the post office. The post office used surveys to track what it calls stamp retention; that is, stamps that are purchased but never used. Mostly it reflects the purchases of stamp collectors, but on special items like the Elvis or Marilyn Monroe stamps many people who are not normally collectors buy some of the stamps and save them too.
- Schilling resigns as head of music commission after months of tension
By Bill Ellis
(Commercial Appeal, September 5, 2002)
Jerry Schilling, president and CEO of the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission, resigned on Wednesday at the commission's monthly meeting. "I'm resigning from the commission but not Memphis music," said Schilling in a phone conversation with The Commercial Appeal. "I grew up on it and the commission gave me a great opportunity to represent the city's past and present." Schilling would not discuss reasons for his departure, though he said, "I think the timing is right for a change - but I'm definitely going to miss it." Tensions had run high in recent months between the commission and Schilling, who was nearly ousted in April; the split board retained him by a vote of 11-9. At that meeting, certain criticisms about Schilling's performance were addressed, including what commission chairman Onzie Horne called a "crisis of vision" and "crisis of leadership." Horne said, however, that the commission had not been planning to take another vote for dismissal and that Schilling's departure was his own decision. Schilling will get a severance package pursuant to his contract, though Horne would not reveal the terms of that agreement.
- Earth Summiteers Cast Doubt on Future World Meets
By Robin Pomeroy
(Yahoo! News, September 4, 2002)
As the remaining delegates left the Earth Summit on Thursday, many wondered if they had just experienced the last-ever global mega-conference. Politicians from many of the nearly 200 countries who met to discuss sustainable development said the summit fell far short of its aim of setting out a blueprint for reducing poverty and cleaning up the environment. ... "We should never have such shameful summits again," said Ricardo Navarro, chairman of Friends of the Earth ( news - web sites) International. ... The business community weighed in with its own gentle criticism. "The view of business could be summarized in the words of Elvis Presley: 'A little less conversation, a little more action."' said Business Action for Sustainable Development.
- Bryant festival set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
(Portland Commerical Review, September 3, 2002)
'A little bit of everything - from an Elvis-themed parade with an Elvis impersonator as grand marshal to tractor pulls, tournaments and a variety of other activities - will be featured this weekend at Bryant Loblolly Days. Events begin Friday morning and continue through Sunday afternoon. The annual Loblolly Days parade, which this year features an Elvis theme to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the singer's death, will be right in the middle of the festivities at noon on Saturday. Other highlights will be performances by Elvis impersonator Bob McVay, country band Southern Thunder and blues band Mike Milligan; 3-on-3 basketball and softball tournaments along with an old-timers basketball shooting competition; garden and antique tractor pulls; the crowning of the Loblolly Country Queen along with a young prince and princess; a talent show; and a community picnic.
- Police have busy night guarding 'Portugal's Elvis'
By Jo C. Goode
(Pawtucket Times, September 3, 2002)
Detective Kevin D'Ambra normally works in a suit and tie, taking care of criminal cases from a second-floor office at the police station. But Saturday night, he was back in uniform assigned to a rather unusual detail. Huddled with Chief Anthony Silva inside the Fatima School at the Our Lady of Fatima Feast, D'Ambra had to figure out how to get the Portuguese version of Elvis Presley safely out on stage before a crowd of about 12,000 fans. ... How to keep a famous Latin singer [Robert Leal] safe was just one of the issues facing the some 22 Cumberland police officers assigned Saturday night ... A performer who commands a price tag of $25,000 a show and is a pop star in his native Portugal and Brazil, a country he emigrated to years ago, has attracted crowds of upwards to 40,000 fans in the United States. ...
- Elvis set to 'tour' the UK
(Ananova, September 3, 2002)
Elvis Presley is to 'tour' the UK in May next year. Footage of The King performing will be projected on giant video screens at concert venues around the country The video performances will be accompanied by live music from Presley's old backing group, The TCB Band. Elvis - The Concert features 32 of his finest filmed performances from 1970, 1972 and 1973. The show is visiting six venues, starting with Wembley Arena on May 24. Tickets go on sale on Saturday.
- Fall music: From Santana to Christina
(CNN, September 2, 2002)
This fall looks to have plenty of blockbuster releases from some of music's biggest acts -- on paper, that is. ... Will Elvis be king? This year, among the albums eagerly anticipated by retailers are a greatest-hitsdisc from the Rolling Stones, containing four new tracks; Santana's follow-up to his Grammy-winning "Supernatural"; Faith Hill's follow-up to her multi-platinum 1999 "Breathe"; and a collection of Elvis Presley hits that some believe could be as successful as the multi-platinum "1" from the Beatles two years ago. "These are records that will bring people to the record store who maybe haven't been to the record store in a long time," said Bill Wilson, vice president and general manager of AOL Music.
- This Elvis Impersonator is Corny
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press, September 2, 2002)
Here's one more Elvis impersonator making a corny impression. Elvis Presley's image appears in a new cornfield maze across the state line from Memphis, Tenn. It was designed by friends Justin Taylor and Chris Taylor, who last year attracted 8,000 visitors to a seven-foot tall, two-mile corn maze designed to resemble the Memphis skyline. The design invites customers to "Get Lost Memphis Style" in a three-mile maze patterned after Presley. Two other new mazes, one near Munford, Tenn., and the other in Jackson, Tenn., depict the Statue of Liberty.
- Di's mom: I'm hurt: Commercialization of image pains her
By ELLEN TUMPOSKY
(Daily News, September 2, 2002)
As mourners quietly marked the fifth anniversary of Princess Diana's death yesterday, Diana's mother condemned the commercialization of her daughter's memory. ... Notes tied to the gates of Kensington Palace defied the notion that people are forgetting the popular princess, who died in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. "Royals take note - We will never forget Diana," one sign read. "Diana: princess, mother, humanitarian, icon: We miss everything about you," another read. "It's my fifth year of coming here," said John Loughrey, 47, a London chef who was among several hundred visitors at the palace yesterday. "She's another Elvis and Marilyn Monroe. She'll never be forgotten." "We never stopped loving her," said Michelle Bailey, 60, of Tunbridge Wells, who left teddy bears.
- Like Elvis, Dale Earnhardt's legend lives on
By FRANK FITZPATRICK
(Bradenton Herald / Philadelphia Inquirer, September 1, 2002)
Like a cross reverently fixed to a country church's steeple, a large No. 3 - six feet of hand-carved wood painted to a sparkling black sheen - is nailed to the side of a clapboard home along Route 52, several miles south of here. Eighteen months after Dale Earnhardt's death, the number - as well as the image, the memory and the legend - of the wildly popular driver lives on in this NASCAR-crazed corner of America as intensely as Elvis Presley's legacy hovers over Memphis.
- Shakespeare and da Vinci named as composers in child survey
By Angelique Chrisafis
(Daily News, September 1, 2002)
When a recent sample of British six- to 14-year-olds was asked to name a classical composer they chewed their pencils and suggested: Leonardo da Vinci, William Shakespeare, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.
- The original man in black: Guitarist Link Wray
(CNN, September 1, 2002)
The power chord. Distortion. The raw and the rumble. The man in black at midnight. A wall of noises, never-ending riffs, the echo of the whammy bar. This is Link Wray. Frederick Lincoln Wray Jr., the 73-year-old Shawnee Indian, a pioneer of punk and heavy metal, or just that dirty guitar sound. ... Stooped at about 5 feet 7 inches, his cataract-dimmed eyes hidden behind shades, he was a haunt from the honky-tonk joints of the 1950s, the ghosts of Elvis Presley and James Dean clinging to him. ..."I'm half Shawnee Indian, born to a Shawnee mother. I had a Shawnee dad, and he was in the First World War and he lost his hair and he lost his teeth, and he was shell-shocked, and I had to go to work when I was 10 years old to help feed the family. This was Dunn, North Carolina, in a different era, you know, during the Ku Klux Klan days, you know -- really bad in the South," Wray said. ... "Elvis, he grew up" -- he paused -- "I don't want to sound racist when I say this: He grew up white-man poor. I was growing up Shawnee poor." ... Back in 1957, when Presley was upending a music world dominated by jazz and country, the 28-year-old Wray was caught up in the rock craze. And he started going places no one else was -- into a thrashing, weird, rumbling sound.
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