Mid March 2004
- 'Passion' may inspire Christian music upswing
By JEANNE ANNE NAUJECK
(Tennessean, March 21, 2004)
If a rising tide lifts all boats, The Passion of the Christ could well inspire a flood of interest in Christian music. That's good news for Nashville, which has built a healthy industry around Christian music and Christian-related products. Some local Christian record labels are capitalizing on the fervor for the Passion with releases of albums linked to the Passion's message. ... Nashville's Universal South Records also has an April 6 release of songs tied to the film called The Passion of the Christ: Songs Inspired By. The Gospel-tinged tunes come from such contemporary artists as Holly Williams, daughter of Hank Williams Jr.; Ricky Skaggs, a devout Christian; Jessi Colter and Shooter Jennings, the widow and son of Waylon Jennings; Bob Dylan; Elvis Presley; and The Blind Boys Of Alabama.
- Whitehaven Gateway project scaled down to fit lower budget
By Michael Sheffield
(Memphis Business Journal, March 12, 2004)
The Memphis Whitehaven Gateway project at the corner of Brooks and Elvis Presley Boulevard has had its first facelift, and it hasn't even been built yet. The project, which consists of a 2,600-square-foot building, was originally designed to include a billboard featuring B.B. King, Elvis Presley and Isaac Hayes, but has changed due to budget and time constraints. The billboard is gone, but the concept is still there. The project is being funded by the Memphis Convention and Visitors' Bureau and was originally budgeted at $900,000, but funding has been reduced to $500,000. Barry Yoakum, a principal with Archimania, the architecture firm that has partnered with Self Tucker Architects to design the building, says the project is still on target to be built before Elvis Week, which begins Aug. 8.
"This is about the tightest budget a project like this can have, and to keep it in budget and keep the appeal up, we had to balance some things," Yoakum says. Yoakum and his partner, Todd Walker, along with staff architect Scott Guidry, eliminated the billboard and streamlined the building's design to cut costs. Some flashier aspects of the original will be scaled down. The original "wall of fame" concept will still be there with prominent Memphis music names engraved in the walls. While the building won't have 24-hour access to souvenirs, as originally planned, it will still be a welcome sight to visitors coming to Graceland. "We still have the basic components we had in the beginning, but in a smaller space," Walker says. "The new design speaks more to Elvis Presley, and it actually seems a little larger than the first scheme." ...
- On show: Snapshots of a turbulent century
By Nick Ahad
(Leeds Today, March 20, 2004)
SILK stockings, a piece of the Hindenburg and an assassin's signature. The strangest collection of items ever? Perhaps. But all three of these things represent 100 years of humankind. The three items make up part of a new exhibition celebrating Twentieth Century Icons at Nunnington Hall.
The Yorkshire manor house is home to an exhibition which charts some of the major events and personalities of the last century through personal belongings, ephemera and memorabilia.
Which is how an exhibition has come to display one of Marilyn Monroe's silk stockings, a cheque signed by Jack Ruby, the killer of John F Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, and a fragment from the doomed Hindenburg airship. ... "We have tried to put on a show that catalogues some of the greatest achievements, events and people of the last century. Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe became household names. It was the century when man conquered Everest and events like Woodstock and Live Aid captured the hearts of millions of people. ...
- Greenway might force landmarks out
By Emily Nantz
(Charlotte, March 20, 2004)
If the decision is made to tear down the Grady Cole Center and Memorial Stadium, it probably will not happen for another 15 to 30 years. As Mecklenburg County makes plans for an extensive greenway trail system, the decision on which buildings to keep and which to tear down is still being talked about. Two facilities that might possibly be torn down are the Grady Cole Center and Memorial Stadium on Kings Drive. ... Both facilities have a long history, and both have seen their fair share of famous guests. "I think Elvis Presley played down here, and Little Richard's played down here," said Greg Clemmer, the facilities' manager. "So there's a lot of history in that building." ...
- There's Just Something About That Man: Bill Gaither insists it's not about him. And nobody seems to disagree
By Mark Allen Powell
(Christianity Today, March 19, 2004)
No one ever thought Bill Gaither would be hip. Not in 2004, at least. He wasn't all that hip a generation ago, when he was writing songs for Elvis Presley and racking up Grammy and Dove awards like some '70s version of Steven Curtis Chapman. By now, surely, his day should have passed. He can't rap (at least he doesn't) and he doesn't dance (at least he shouldn't). Yet here's Bill Gaither, on top again. Since 1998, his name has appeared frequently on Billboard's Top Ten Music Videos chart ... Bucking trends current in both the religious and secular markets, Gaither has sought to take the focus off of celebrity consciousness and to fix it on the music itself (and on the message the music conveys).
... In 1963 Gaither wrote "He Touched Me," a song that would be recorded by hundreds of gospel performers (including Elvis Presley) and would be featured in dozens of hymnals.
- Songwriter Says Jailhouse Rock is Misleading
By Paul Cashmere
(Undercover Media, March 19, 2004)
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the songwriters of Elvis Presley's classic 'Jailhouse Rock', are incensed that a UK production is using their songtitle for a show that doesn't include the song.
In a statement Mike Stoller says "We feel that using the title of our song for their show is intentionally misleading the public. This use of a title that we created is not only misleading, it is, in effect, preventing us from using our own title for a possible future, legitimate production".
Jailhouse Rock: The Musical will open in London's West End later this month. Leiber and Stoller can do nothing about the UK show but say they will take legal action if an attempt is made to bring the show to America. "We are not the owners of the copyright outside of the US" Stoller said. "We don't know what the legal options are in the UK, but we will fight any attempt to bring this production to the United States where we do own the copyright."
Leiber and Stoller wrote not only the song 'Jailhouse Rock' in one afternoon, but also many of the songs used in the Elvis movie including "You're So Square Baby I Don't Care," "Treat Me Nice," and "I Want To Be Free."
They also wrote the other Elvis hits 'Hound Dog', 'Loving You', 'Don't' and 'Love Me'. They also wrote 'Stand By Me', On Broadway', Kansas City' 'Poison Ivy' and 'Yakety Yak'.
- I'm not one to gossip, but ...
(Sunday Star-Times, March 19, 2004) (4th item)
ELVIS PRESLEY fans booking for the new London musical Jailhouse Rock, based on the King of Rock'n'Roll's famous music, are in for one minor disappointment - the show doesn't feature the song Jailhouse Rock! It seems that the musical's writers - the same team who had such success with the musical Buddy - were unable to secure the right to use the song from Elvis' daughter LISA MARIE PRESLEY.
They're even in trouble for using the title! But they have secured the right to use 24 other Elvis hits in the show. Jailhouse Rock, which is believed to be backed with several million dollars worth of New Zealand money, opens in London's West End on March 27.
- Concert will remember Kentucky's music pioneers
By JAIME NORTH
(Courier-Journal, March 19, 2004)
While many Kentuckians are familiar with the music of Rosemary Clooney, the Everly Brothers and the Judds, funeral director Larry Sanders of Harrodsburg wants to make sure they don't overlook the contributions of Bradley Kincaid, Larry Cordle, Kendall Hayes and a host of other famous and not-so-well-known Kentucky musical artists. With help from some friends, Sanders, who owns Alexander & Royalty Funeral Home and a florist's shop in Harrodsburg, has organized what he hopes could be the first of several live concert lessons in Kentucky music appreciation this Sunday afternoon. The concert is at 2 p.m. at the Ragged Edge Theatre, 111 S. Main St. in Harrodsburg.
... Nashville songwriter Cordle, formerly of Lexington, wrote Ricky Skaggs' hit "Highway 40 Blues" in a pull-off along Ky.40 northeast of Morehead, where he was in college. Jerry Chestnut of Harlan wrote "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" for Elvis Presley, which more recently was a hit for Travis Tritt. Kendall Hayes of Danville wrote Leroy Van Dyke's 1.5-million, 16-week top-seller, "Walk On By." ...
- Retro Show offers 1950s influence Blast from the past
By JAIME NORTH
(publicopiniononline.com, March 19, 2004)
Although conservative values defined the 1950s, it was also a time when the decade's youth found new excesses in which to indulge, according to Kelly Chamberlin. The concept was one of the key ideologies of the 1950s, the Shippensburg high school sophomore discovered during her research for the 2004 Retro Show, an alternative event held Thursday for teenagers at Dickinson College. The show, organized by the Cumberland-Perry Drug & Alcohol Commission, featured displays, performances, music, food and dance highlighting a decade from the 20th century. Participating students, dressed in fashion that defined their decade, researched the trends, significant advancements, cultural developments and politics of that era.
... One of the lessons students were to educate visitors on was the impact drugs and alcohol played on their particular decade. The Shippensburg students focused on the idols of the 1950s -- Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. "They each had their experiences with drugs," Taylor said. "Monroe and Presley's deaths were associated with drug abuse."
- Falling star: Whitney Houston had it all -- the voice, the looks, the fans. What happened?
By CARRIE STETLER
(Star-Ledger, March 18, 2004)
From world-class diva to scandal-ridden drug user, Whitney Houston's life has been filled with more highs and lows than one of her famous power-ballads. Just when it seemed the notes couldn't get much lower, Houston entered a drug rehabilitation center on Monday. ... But years of marital strife, legal entanglements, career setbacks, and bad publicity have apparently taken their toll on the 40-year-old star, whose husband, R&B singer Bobby Brown, was sentenced last month to 60 days in a Georgia jail for parole violations. ... Houston was born in Newark and reared in East Orange, the daughter of acclaimed gospel/soul singer Cissy Houston, who sang back-up for everyone from Aretha Franklin to Elvis Presley. Her dad, the late John Houston, was a truck driver who later managed both Cissy's and Whitney's careers.
- Elvis treasures stolen
(Sydney Morning Herald, March 18, 2004)
In less than five minutes, thieves swiped more than $400,000 worth of Elvis Presley's jewellery and kitsch - but they didn't touch his blue suede shoes. The Sunday night heist was at the Elvis-A-Rama museum, where owner Chris Davidson said up to 80 per cent of the jewellery on display was pinched. Police said the suspects stole a tow truck and drove it into the museum's rear door, then used lead pipes to break open three Plexiglas cases. The bandits were in the museum less than five minutes, police estimated. Among the stolen inventory: a gold-plated handgun, a custom scarf, a bracelet and watch, Presley's Humes High School ring from 1953 and a Louisiana Hayride E Presley Day ring from 1956.
Davidson's personal favourite was an EP diamond pendant and chain, and a $100,000 ruby and diamond star-shaped ring Presley bought in Las Vegas. "Those two pieces, I'm crushed over," Davidson said. "It's devastating." Davidson, who opened the museum in November 1999, purchased the items from auctions and Presley's former bodyguards, friends and acquaintances. Presley was known to freely give jewellery and other possessions away.
- Elvis thieves miss blue suede shoes
(Ananova, March 17, 2004)
Thieves have stolen Elvis Presley jewellery and memorabilia worth £180,000 in a raid in Las Vegas. But the raiders at the Elvis-A-Rama museum left behind a million-dollar gem: the King's blue suede shoes. Museum owner Chris Davidson said the thieves stole up to 80% of the jewellery on display. Police said the suspects stole a truck and drove it into the museum's rear door, then used lead pipes to break open three Plexiglas cases. The bandits were in the museum less than five minutes, police estimated.
Among the stolen inventory: a gold-plated handgun, a custom scarf, a bracelet and watch, Presley's Humes High School ring from 1953 and a Louisiana Hayride "E. Presley Day" ring from 1956. Davidson's personal favourite was an EP diamond pendant and chain, and a ruby and diamond star-shaped ring Presley bought in Las Vegas for £40,000. "Those two pieces, I'm crushed over," Davidson said. "It's devastating." Davidson, who opened the museum in November 1999, purchased the items from auctions and Presley's former bodyguards, friends and acquaintances. Presley was known to freely give jewellery and other possessions away.
- Thieves Raid Elvis Museum Jewelry Stash
(Yahoo! News / AP Music, March 17, 2004)
In less than five minutes, thieves swiped $325,000 worth of Elvis Presley's jewelry and kitsch. But the Sunday night heist at the Elvis-A-Rama museum left behind a million-dollar gem: the King's blue suede shoes. Museum owner Chris Davidson said the thieves stole up to 80 percent of the jewelry on display. ... Police said the suspects stole a tow truck and drove it into the museum's rear door, then used lead pipes to break open three Plexiglas cases. The bandits were in the museum less than five minutes, police estimated. Among the stolen inventory: a gold-plated handgun, a custom scarf, a bracelet and watch, Presley's Humes High School ring from 1953 and a Louisiana Hayride "E. Presley Day" ring from 1956. Davidson's personal favorite was an "E.P" diamond pendant and chain, and a ruby and diamond star-shaped ring Presley bought in Las Vegas for $75,000. ... Davidson, who opened the museum in November 1999, purchased the items from auctions and Presley's former bodyguards, friends and acquaintances. Presley was known to freely give jewelry and other possessions away.
- Denton interview fires up Jackson case
By Selina Day
([Melbourne] Age, March 17, 2004)
ABC TV's Andrew Denton has become a minor celebrity in the US after an interview he conducted with Lisa Marie Presley, which appears to have caught the attention of the Michael Jackson child-sex investigators.
Denton today gave two interviews to leading American television networks NBC and FOX News after an interview he conducted with Presley, Jackson's first wife, for his Enough Rope program on ABC TV on Monday night.
In the Enough Rope interview, parts of which also have been aired by NBC, Presley appeared to allude to activities within Jackson's Neverland ranch near Santa Barbara. Jackson has been charged with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. He has called the allegations a "big lie".
Presley, who divorced Jackson in 1996 after a union lasting 19 months, told Denton she had felt powerless in her marriage, and that was why she left. "I mean, powerless in a lot of ways, in terms of ... realising that I was part of a machine, and seeing things going on that I couldn't do anything about," she said. "And don't ask me what sort of things, because I'm not going to answer. But just stuff."
US legal experts suggested today that investigators of the Michael Jackson case would want to subpoena Presley to testify in the case, on the back of her comments to Denton.
Presley is touring Australia to promote her debut album To Whom it May Concern.
- Area artist is Hawaiian eye behind textile museum exhibit
By M.E. Jones
(Public Spirit, March 17, 2004)
"Let's Go Hawaiian" is the title of the current exhibit at the American Textile History Museum and as tantalizingly tropical as the figurative invitation sounds, the real deal doesn't disappoint. Bold, bright and intriguing, this festival of wearable art features an artfully arranged collection of Hawaiian flora, fauna and folklore on fabric. In a word: shirts. The label doesn't do justice to the genre. The exhibit does. ... Other novel notions include era-correct, theme-related memorabilia. Elvis in "Blue Hawaii," for example. ... The American Textile History Museum is located at 491 Dutton Street, Lowell ...
- Salumi Salami takes a stylish turn
By DAVE HOEKSTRA
(Chicago Sun-Times, March 17, 2004)
When history recalls regal dining moments, salami always gets short shrift. Salami. All I think of is disappointment; a growing fifth-grader opening his bag lunch and finding a salami sandwich with warm lettuce on white bread. Salami. That's the culinary equivalent of Sacramento.
Elvis Presley once sang a song called "Hot Dog" that was in the movie "Loving You." No one has ever sung about salami. Not even John Mayer. But all this is starting to change. Salami is becoming cool. Salami is so happening that hipsters are calling it salumi. That sounds more soothing than salami. Those in the know will tell you salumi is the meat's proper given name from Italy. The Americans screwed it up by calling it salami. ...
- Bar Humbug!
By David Cronin
(Expatica, March, 2004)
St Patrick's day is here again, promising a night of raucous revelry in Brussels' multitude of Irish bars. It's just a shame these popular watering holes bear no resemblance whatsoever to proper Irish pubs.
When I first arrived in Brussels, there were a grand total of two Irish bars in this city. But in the intervening nine years, their number has swollen more than Elvis' waistline during his Las Vegas era. Believe it or not, the Presley analogy is apt. Just as - physically - the King went on to bear little more than a passing resemblance to the handsome brute of his younger years, most Irish bars in Brussels are about as similar to hallowed drinking emporia in Ireland as Homer Simpson is to Julius Caesar. Yet even in his most bloated form, the Pelvis could make grown men weep with Suspicious Minds or In the Ghetto. With few exceptions, Irish bars here are as devoid of soul as a Sting album. ...
- Good Life: In Fashion & Shopping
(Poughkeepsie Journal, March 16, 2004) (2nd item)
Old styles still popular
The passion for old-clothing styles that has driven so much of fashion the past decade shows no sign of abating. It was reinforced yet again earlier this month in Milan when Danielle Riley Presley Keough, the 14-year-old granddaughter of Elvis Presley, stepped onto the fashion catwalks of Dolce & Gabbana's trendy D&G line in a T-shirt reading ''J'adore le vintage.'' ...
- Locations of America's Most ``Hidden'' Pop Culture Landmarks Revealed in New Web Site
(BUSINESS WIRE, March 16, 2004)
From Bruce Wayne's secret hideout to the first place Buffalo Wings were served to the small stages that launched rock-`n`-roll legends, most of the places that have shaped America's identity are hidden within big cities and small towns, more unknown than larger monuments of the world. With the launch of Hampton's "Hidden Landmarks" Web site at www.hamptonlandmarks.com, the exact locations of both obscure and infamous American moments are finally unveiled.
Launching today, March 16, the site is an online directory and guide to hundreds of locations for travelers looking for places and tours that harbor some of the country's unknown, unconventional and most unbelievable secrets and legends. Even the most well traveled vacationer will find something new to discover and explore, such as:
- The Louisiana location where outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed
- Fort Sumner Monument, the site where Billy the Kid was hiding out the night of his capture
- Louis' Lunch where the first hamburger was served in 1900, and today is still serving burgers broiled vertically in the original cast iron grill
- The fairground where Elvis Presley made his first public performance on October 3, 1945
- The location of Babe Ruth's first "unofficial" home run during spring training in North Carolina
...
- Mettle tribute: Billings sculptor's work to grace Minneapolis greenspace named for champion of parks
By JACI WEBB
(Billings Gazette, March 16, 2004)
For nearly three decades, sculptor Bill Rains has carved the faces of country music legends in his Heights studio. This winter, he added another entry to his sculpture portfolio - the faces of his grandchildren in statues for a special memorial. ... On June 19, the Theodore Wirth Sculpture Garden, graced with bronze statues of Wirth and a group of children frolicking at his side, will be dedicated.
Ted Wirth modeled for the statue of his grandfather so that Rains could use the lines and veins in Ted's hands to make the likeness of his grandfather more authentic.
... Since 1965, Rains, 67, has followed his dream of creating larger-than-life bronze sculptures that have become sentimental memorials to the musicians he grew up listening to. He's sculpted Hank Williams, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Buck Owens to name a few and has orders for several more. Rains sculpts his bronze statues 15 percent larger than life because that's how their fans see them, he said Monday at his studio. ... The exhibit will include bronze statues of Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Bob Wills, George Jones, George Strait and Garth Brooks. Rains and his sons, Dustin and Mark, are working nights and weekends to complete the project. His son Randy creates custom-made hats for the sculptures. ...
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