Late February 2003
- "Father Knows Best" creator dead at 79
(Yahoo! News / Variety, February 28, 2003)
Television and stage director Henry Peter Tewksbury, who created "My Three Sons," won an Emmy for directing "Father Knows Best" and produced more than 270 plays for a little theater in Porterville, Calif., died Feb. 20 in Brattleboro, Vt. He was 79. A Cleveland native, Dartmouth graduate and Army captain during World War II, Tewskbury got his start in Porterville, working for the local radio station and becoming the founder and director of the Porterville Barn Theater in 1947. His reputation spread to Hollywood, and when "Father Knows Best" moved from radio to TV in 1954, Tewksbury was hired to direct the sitcom starring Robert Young as family man James Anderson. He received an Emmy for his work about five years into the run of that long-lived show. He also produced and directed episodes of the Jackie Cooper series "The People's Choice." Then in 1960, he created, produced and directed "My Three Sons," which starred Fred MacMurray as a widower and father of three boys. Because the star would work only 13 weeks a year on the show, Tewksbury had to shoot all 39 episodes in that concentrated time, then cobble them together in the editing chamber (first for ABC, then CBS). He got to do his dream series, with James Leighton, on NBC in the early 1960s -- "It's a Man's World," a short-lived but ahead-of-its-time show about two orphaned brothers. Other shows included "Nanny and the Professor" and "The Fitzpatricks." Among his film credits were "Sunday in New York," "Emil and the Detectives" and Elvis Presley pictures "Stay Away, Joe" and "The Trouble With Girls."
- Composer, Arranger Walter Scharf Dead at 92
By Melissa Goldberg and Jon Burlingame
(Yahoo! News / Variety, February 28, 2003)
Walter Scharf, who orchestrated for Gershwin, arranged for Jolson and composed music for such television classics as "Hawaii Five-O" and "Mission: Impossible," died of heart failure Monday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 92. Nominated for 10 Oscars and a winner of two Emmys during a career spanning six decades, the composer, arranger and conductor for film and TV was perhaps predestined for success. A native New Yorker raised in a musical family, his mother, Bessie Zwerling, was a comic in the New York Yiddish Theater. And it was in theater that Scharf first made his mark, serving as one of the orchestrators on George Gershwin's 1930 Broadway musical "Girl Crazy."
He moved to Hollywood in 1934 and worked as an arranger for Al Jolson, Rudy Vallee and Alice Faye. Over the next 40 years he would work with Danny Kaye, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Jerry Lewis.
- Going for a song
(Evening Telegraph, February 28, 2003)
What's your favourite singalong song? And what tune makes you cringe when you hear it blaring from the karaoke singer in the pub?
We took to the streets of Kettering to find out what ET readers would choose to sing at a karaoke evening and what songs they find the biggest turn-off. This is what they told us: Jane Kenneford, 40, of Edmund Street, Kettering, said: "I wouldn't sing on my own but I would sing something like It's Raining Men with a group of other women. I have a friend who thinks he can sing but when he gets on the karaoke it's painful." Anthony Cotter, 23, of Stamford Road, Kettering, said: "I'd sing anything for a laugh but Unchained Melody is one of the favourites. It's so easy to change the words to it." Jane Ashman, 50, of St Matthew's Road, Kettering, doesn't sing on a karaoke machine herself but says she is embarrassed by her husband Colin's Elvis impersonations.
She said: "He always does Elvis songs and tries to sing like Elvis but it is cringe-making."
- Elvis sees court quests all shook up
By Sarah Elizabeth Brown
(whitehorsestar.com, February 28, 2003)
Calling him a serial litigant, a Supreme Court judge says Elvis Presley isn't allowed to file any more lawsuits, at least not before he pays all his outstanding court costs and gets special permission from the courts. In a written decision handed down Thursday, visiting Justice Ted Richard granted the Solicitor General of Canada its request limiting the Yukon resident from filing further lawsuits. The requirement to pay court costs and/or get leave only applies to proceedings against the Canadian government, its officers and servants in relation to the subject matter of the "serial litigation", said Richard. A judge will have to decide whether any new lawsuits are connected to the previous ones. Since 1995, the musician and artist has made many trips to the court registry, seven of which were to file lawsuits or statements of claim. It all started eight years ago, and revolves around an incident with a Carcross RCMP officer. When he wrote up his report from a criminal investigation involving Presley, Cpl. Doug Reti penned "certain statements" about the then-Tagish musician. Presley argued they were defamatory and started a series of lawsuits against Reti and others. ...
- Some Like Elvis, Others Prefer Elvish
By CHRISTY KARRAS
(THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, February 28, 2003)
There was nothing obviously unusual about this group of teenagers: they wore the latest styles, slouched and looked a bit nervous, like most teenagers do. But the unusual became apparent as soon as they opened their mouths, greeting each other with a cheerful "Ma' Govanna." That means "Well met," the standard greeting in Elvish, in case you weren't paying attention to the elves during the "Lord of the Rings" movies.
- A lot of conversation with JXL
(Stuff, February 27, 2003)
Last year Dutch musician/producer Tom Holkenborg - aka JXL - shot from obscurity to worldwide sensation in just a few weeks on the back of his remix of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation. He plans to stay in the headlines this year, he tells Mike Houlahan. It's just as well Dutch producer JXL - aka Tom Holkenborg - took the words "A little less conversation, a little more action baby" literally. The line comes from the obscure Elvis Presley track A Little Less Conversation, which he remixed as a dance track for a Nike advertising campaign during last year's soccer World Cup. Holkenborg - soon to visit New Zealand - confesses to going ahead and remixing the track and then asking the Presley estate whether he was actually allowed to or not. Fortunately for all, they agreed - A Little Less Conversation topped the charts in 20 countries, including New Zealand.
- Elvis imitator, cast want pay
By KENT KIMES
(The State / The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News, February 27, 2003)
Elvis left the building without a full wallet. It's been two months since the Elvis Presley tribute show "With Love, E" closed at the Fantasy Theater at Fantasy Harbour. But many crew members and performers -- including Elvis impersonator Paul Casey -- are still waiting to be paid. Fantasy Productions LLC failed to pay more than $24,000 in wages to 33 show employees, according to documents from the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The department has fined Fantasy Productions $5,100 because of the unpaid wages.
- Music Group BMG Flattens Sale Rumors
By Merissa Marr
(Yahoo! News / Reuters, February 27, 2003)
The head of Bertelsmann Music Group poured cold water on recent speculation that the music company could be taken over or sold, saying on Thursday that parent Bertelsmann saw music as core to its media empire. BMG chief Rolf Schmidt-Holtz also said in a letter to staff that he was staying put in his role at the helm of the music firm that is home to pop stars Alicia Keys and Dido, after recent speculation that he would move to German media giant Bertelsmann's broadcasting arm, RTL Group. ... BMG, whose back catalog includes Elvis Presley, was on track to make a profit of around $125 million last year. But Schmidt-Holtz has said he expects global music sales to fall seven percent this year.
- Man 'sacked over Elvis song' loses tribunal claim
(iccoventry.co.uk, February 27, 2003)
A depressed production line worker who said he was sacked for singing Elvis songs has lost his claim for unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal. David Jewers, 37, was singing A Little Less Conversation for fellow workers when he claimed he was subjected to a tirade of obscene abuse by supervisor Andy Whitmore. Mr Jewers, from Gateshead, had told Newcastle Employment Tribunal how he "stewed" with anger for 15 minutes at the abuse before reacting angrily. The married father-of-two was dismissed from his £26,000-a-year job at the Nissan plant in Washington after telling the foreman he would "punch his head in" if he spoke to him like that again. The tribunal ruled against the claim of unfair dismissal, heard earlier this month, stating that Nissan had followed a reasonable procedure in dismissing Mr Jewers, who claimed he sang at work to help him cope with his depression.
- Elvis' comedy hair on the block
(Five News, February 27, 2003)
Elvis fans can have a brush with their idol by bidding for some of his hair ... [as below].
- Elvis' hair - for a snip
By Cassandra Braun
(Contra Costa Times, February 27, 2003)
Elvis fans can have a brush with their idol and get their hands on a Good Lock Charm - by bidding for his hair. The rock`n`roll legend - who died a quarter of a century ago - is the mane attraction in a Comic Relief auction of celebrity hair. Also for sale in the online auction are hair snippings from Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe and the famously spiky hair of Gareth Gates. Wool from the late Dolly the Sheep and locks donated by Graham Norton, Carol Smillie and Caprice will be sold in the auction, organised by hair firm Wella.
- Stranger than fiction 2/26
By Heidi Hall
(Nevada Daily Mail, February 26, 2003)
Every American should make one pilgrimage to Graceland, Elvis Presley's famous home. First, it's only right to educate oneself about the man who forever changed American music. Second, a road trip to Memphis, Tenn., is a lot of fun. And third, you are going to want to witness and at least mentally mock - if not make disparaging remarks to your friends - the lunatic Elvis worshippers frantically trying to soak up every remaining molecule of the King's essence. My favorite on Monday was the skinny, pale guy who got in the gift shop cashier's face. "Do you have Elvis movies?" he asked frantically, as though the only thing that could save him was a "King Creole" screening. The cashier was sick to death of these people. "No,' she sighed. "Are you sure?" he said incredulously. "Yes," she said. "DOES ANYBODY HAVE THEM?" he shrieked. I've been to Graceland three times: once on my own and twice with people who visited me and wanted to see the place. Monday marked my latest visit. The Other Half and I met some friends from Pensacola, Fla., who were making their first pilgrimage to Graceland. The Graceland audio tour contains a lot of information - some much different than what we actually know about Elvis today. For instance, the tour includes daughter Lisa Marie fondly recalling the hustle and bustle of Graceland at all hours - nothing about the drugs and other women. It talks about Elvis and Priscilla's amicable divorce - nothing about her tell-all "Elvis and Me." It describes Elvis treating his fans to his piano concert and then dying quietly of a heart attack ... 'nuff said. But who wouldn't want the negatives of their lives conveniently left out of their home tour?
- Justin inspired by Elvis, says his dad
(Yahoo! News / ANI, February 26, 2003)
Justin Timberlake's sizzling performance last week at the Brit's award along with Kylie Minogue has once again won him the title of one of pop's biggest talents. He has been dubbed the new Michael Jackson, thanks to his sensational dance moves and high-pitched vocal style.
But the N'Sync star was actually inspired by Elvis Presley, reveals his dad in an exclusive interview with The Sun. From the age of three, Justin sang along to the King's songs as he strummed his toy guitar. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee - home to Elvis's Graceland mansion - and Justin's family were always playing Presley records. Now 22, he has enjoyed massive success with the boyband N'Sync, and his album, Justified, topped the British charts for a second time last Sunday. Justin's musician father, Randy, split from the star's mother Lynn when Justin was two. But he has followed his boy's career closely. Speaking from his home in Memphis, Randy told The Sun: "Justin was surrounded by music from the day he was born. We never had to teach him how to sing. Even as a toddler, he would sing and dance for us. "When he was just two or three he would jump on stage when my band were playing and pretend to play his toy guitar", he added. "Justin was raised very close to where Elvis lived and that was a big influence. Elvis was always around you in Memphis and Justin was a big fan. He was always listening to his records and singing along."
- Why the record giants are putting our unis in a spin
By Sue Cant
(Sydney Morning Herald, February 25, 2003)
It once took "David" (not his real name) six weeks to download a movie over his 56 kilobit-per-second modem. He has 7000 songs illegally burned onto CDs and his standard PC sits buzzing for 10 hours a day taking an open feed of music and video from the internet.
Given the size of David's illegal music collection, six Elvis songs seem like slim pickings for the American music industry. But those Elvis numbers, among others, and websites allegedly linked to illegal MP3 sites are at the centre of a slanging match between the United States recording giants and three of Australia's universities. The recording industry launched legal action against the universities of Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania two weeks ago over possible breaches of copyright by students illegally downloading music.
- Memphis makes history again with inimitable soul museum
By Pamela Perkins
(gomemphis.com, February 25, 2003)
It has Isaac Hayes's funky old Cadillac Eldorado, a dress from Tina Turner, ties to Elvis Presley and Martin Luther King Jr. legacies, a karaoke booth and videotaped testimonials from artists such as Bono and Elvis Costello. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music also boasts advanced technologies in sound and motion detection to steer the visitors through exhibits and interactive displays - coaxing them to do a little jig on the spot. Soulsville is making final preparations on the museum for visitors from around the world during its April 29 through May 1 grand opening festivities.
Go to earlier articles
|
