Early January 2004
- 'Elvis Priestley' rockin' his flock
By Janet Kornblum
(USA Today, January 8 2004)
Nowhere in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer does it say "Thou shalt wear blue suede shoes," but that hasn't stopped the Rev. Dorian Baxter, aka "Elvis Priestley." This Sunday, on the heels of Elvis Presley's birthday Thursday, Baxter celebrates the first anniversary of his self-proclaimed "Christ the King, Graceland Independent Anglican Church of Canada" in Newmarket, Ontario, north of Toronto. Last year, Baxter, an ordained Anglican priest, formed his own church after the Anglican Church of Canada told him to stop imitating Elvis in his services and denied him a license to perform weddings. Baxter, 53, who croons Elvis-style hymns for services but saves the Elvis jumpsuits for receptions, has not been defrocked, something the church does only for "an extremely serious offense," says Susan DeGruchy, assistant to the bishop of Algoma, where Baxter once worked. But he's no longer part of the diocese and his church has no relationship with the Canadian Anglican Church. Since a story about him appeared in USA TODAY last year, he says he has gained legal non-profit status for his church, and currently 80 to 110 people regularly attend Sunday services. Don't let his blue suede shoes fool you. His attire may be all Elvis, but his message is conservative. Baxter disapproves of the U.S. Episcopal Church's first gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson in New Hampshire. "I uphold the traditional teaching of Christianity, which does not approve of same-sex marriage and does not approve of homosexual practice," he says.
- Cary filmmaker's fan project leads to Elvis 'Tribute'
(Gainsvillesun / Associated Press / News & Observer, January 7 2004)
As Elvis Presley fans head to Graceland to honor the 69th anniversary of The King's birth, Ken Vrana will mark the occasion by working on his own "Tribute." The filmmaker has traveled 250,000 miles over the past 3 1/2 years to collect 570 interviews for a documentary about the late rock 'n' roll legend.
As fans mark Presley's birthday Thursday, Vrana will be editing his footage. "Officially, we've completed the interviews," Vrana says. "Unofficially, I still have a wish list of about a dozen 'big' people like Paul McCartney I'll continue to chase, to insert later if I can get them." Vrana plans to release "Tribute" as an 11-hour DVD box set, with a companion coffee-table book. It's not a profit-making venture: Vrana has spent $280,000 on the project so far and says any proceeds will go to charity. He's bankrolled by his wife, Lisa, who works at IBM as a marketing specialist and is also Vrana's film editor. ...
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