late March, 2005
Currently in the news: Songy/BMG UK's release of Elvis Presley singles
- Selena records still selling 10 years after her death
By DULCINEA CUELLAR
(Valley Morning Star Online Edition / The Monitor, March 31, 2005)
Even 10 years after her death, Selena records continue to sell in South Texas. Like Elvis Presley and John Lennon were to the generations before her, Selena was a star, the hope of Tejano music fans and performers hoping to break out. Her death not only solidified her place in music history, but also turned her into an icon for generations of Tejano fans. ...
- THEATER: ALL SHOOK UP
By CHRISTPOHER BYRNE
(Gay City News, March 31, 2005)
Well, I'll be darned if they didn't pull it off and create a fresh, lively and thoroughly entertaining musical out of "All Shook Up." I chose not to say "damned," since from sexuality to pelvis rotation, this Elvis-inspired show is softened to a decided family-friendly level. Nonetheless, I had a blast. And you will, too, if you ask nothing more of this show than a rollicking good time. There's nothing wrong with that. Even Shakespeare knew the value of escapist comedy, and the show's book writer Joe DiPietro has cleverly borrowed from the quintessential plot borrower to create another take on the familiar story of a stranger who comes to town and helps people discover the joys of living. There are mistaken identities, cross-dressing, and misdirected love - in short all the tools that from ancient Thebes to contemporary New York have kept people rolling in the aisles. Predictable or not, these devices have been around so long because the work - and they still do, if you're willing just to go with it.
Set in the 1950s in the Midwest, the show draws on the Elvis songbook for its score. Unlike others of these so-called "jukebox musicals" that are all the rage right now, the songs fit the show dramatically without seeming forced. The only exception is "Jailhouse Rock," which comes out of nowhere, but the creators get a pass because it/s a great homage to the movie, and what Elvis show could not include that song? As orchestrated for Broadway by Michael Gibson and Stephen Oremus, the songs fit the musical genre very well, which is a nice surprise. An Elvis purist might cavil, but then he or she can also stay home. Remember, folks, this is supposed to be fun. The wonderfully talented cast fills the Palace Theatre with their exuberance and charm. More than talent, though, there is a technical proficiency in the singing and movement that's exemplary even for Broadway. This may be a foot-tapping good time for the audience, but there's a lot of hard work going on onstage. ...
- The quintessential jeans
By Tim Gane
(Detroit News, March 31, 2005)
James Dean, Elvis, Madonna, Steve Jobs and you. They're talented icons of the twentieth century, and loaded to boot, so what could you possibly have in common with them? The answer is simple. Blue jeans. But not just any blue jeans, wešre talking about the quintessential blue jeans, the blue jeans that beat out the little black dress and the mini skirt to be named Time Magazinešs best fashion of the 20th Century. Levi Strauss & Co. blue jeans. ...
- Who owns The King's estate? Elvis' Palm Springs house at center of legal battle between business partners
By Brian Joseph
(Desert Sun, March 31, 2005)
Reno Fontana reflects on possibly having to move out of the "Elvis" home. Fontana, who lives in the house, claims he and a friend had an unwritten agreement that his friend would get a loan and put his name on the home's title, but the estate actually would be owned by both of them.
ELVIS' HOUSE
Address: 845 West Chino Canyon, in the Little Tuscany neighborhood of Palm Springs
Acreage: Nearly 2
Square feet: 5,100
Valued: About $2.2 million
Elvis Presley's former estate in the Little Tuscany neighborhood resonates with stories of The King. Here is where he lived with Priscilla and where he spent his last birthday - Jan. 8, 1977. He recorded parts of the album "Raised On Rock," including the single "Are You Sincere?" in the shadow of Mount San Jacinto. Today, Elvis fans from around the world tour the Spanish-style ranch for $20 a pop and marvel at the gold record copies and faded memorabilia lining the walls. The attraction is popular, but behind the scenes it's at the center of an eviction and suits between business partners and former friends. A year ago, Reno Fontana moved into the 5,100-square-foot estate with plans to transform it into a sort of Graceland West. "Elvis loved Palm Springs, that's what Priscilla said," Fontana said. "He loved the sun, the summer night."
Fontana says he has grand plans for the estate, including building a museum and recording studio on the home's nearly two-acre lot, but he didn't have even enough money to buy the place in 2003. A self-described real estate investor, Fontana has already gone bankrupt once and tried to do so for a second time earlier this year but was denied by a judge. A lack of money didn't stop him from opening escrow on the estate, however. Fontana says he put down $10,000 in September 2003 to open escrow and invested another $10,000 45 days later without knowing how he would pay for the house. ...
- TV Producer Jumps to Death From Vegas Hotel
(WarnerBrosStudios.com, March 31, 2005)
In Las Vegas, Elvis Presley defies mortality. From impersonators to wedding chapel officiators to films like "Honeymoon in Vegas," America's favorite Sin City has always kept Elvis' spirit soaring. Tragically, the same can't be said for one of Elvis' greatest admirers. Last Friday television producer Melanie Bell leaped 109 floors to her death from the top of another Vegas icon, the Stratosphere Hotel.
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