early April, 2005
Currently in the news: Songy/BMG UK's release of Elvis Presley singles
- Kevin Montgomery at Surf on April 15
By JUDY DELPERDANG
(The Globe Gazette, April 7, 2005)
Nashville singer-songwriter Kevin Montgomery comes by his talent naturally.
His mother, Carol, was a Nashville session vocalist, singing backup on pop classics like Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." ...
- Tank museum north of Burlington, draws enthusiasts
By JIM WICKER
(Herald-Sun, April 6, 2005)
During the five years since it moved from New York to the northern fringe of Danville, Va., the Tank Museum -- officially the American Armoured Foundation Inc. -- has steadily attracted attention and visitors, especially those who love history. "There are many, many things here that you can't see anywhere else in the country or the world," said retired businessman William Gasser, 54, who began collecting miniature soldiers as a boy growing up on Long Island, N.Y. He founded the museum in 1981 in Mattituck, N.Y. "We literally outgrew the building we used for exhibits on Long Island," Gasser said. He'd not thought about moving to southern Virginia before Sandvik Inc. "donated this building -- a vacant, boarded-up tool plant -- to the museum in 1999."
Visitors who see the museum's vast collection, which includes mammoth tanks, personnel carriers, army trucks, massive guns, missiles, rifles and machine guns, quickly understand how Gasser might have packed and overburdened the smaller, original exhibit hall. But not all of his artifacts are huge, bulky or heavy. There's an Elvis Presley exhibit that features unique items connected with the late "King of Rock 'n Roll" during his two years as an active duty GI during the late 1950s. There are also seldom-seen photos taken during Presley's Army days. ...
- Items related to pope create sales bonanza: Religion, commerce mix is not unusual
By SCOTT BLAKE
(FLORIDA TODAY, April 6, 2005)
From books to bobble-head dolls, sales of merchandise related to Pope John Paul II have taken off from Melbourne, Fla., to Melbourne, Australia. At St. Joseph Crafts, a religious-gifts shop on Babcock Street in Melbourne, owners Bernard and Barbara Loftus have had trouble keeping John Paul II products in stock since the 84-year-old pope died Saturday.
... Elsewhere, from local stores to the Internet, sales have been brisk for commemorative coins, mugs, figurines, T-shirts, crosses, rosaries, books and some of the pope's writings. The eBay Web site had more than 6,000 John Paul II items for sale by Tuesday -- including commemorative gold-plated coins, souvenirs from his visits to the United States, a John Paul II "beanie bear" and the Time magazine issue featuring the pope when he was elected in 1978. At the Barnes & Noble bookstore on U.S. 192 in West Melbourne, books about the pope have been "flying off the shelves," said Sean Bunker, the store's assistant manager. ... After selling dozens of books about the pope in the past few days, Barnes & Noble was down to a few copies displayed on a small table by the store's customer-service desk.
... The mixing of commerce and religion is nothing new. So-called Christian retailing, for example, is estimated to be a more than $4 billion-a-year industry, according to a study by the Christian Booksellers Association International. Local merchants said consumer interest in the pope started to peak last week, when he neared death at the Vatican. But it's not like selling Elvis T-shirts. With the head of the Catholic Church, there's a certain amount of reverence involved. ...
- Finnish boffin dedicates latin song to Pope
(Reuters UK, April 6, 2005)
A Finnish professor known for his recordings of Elvis Presley songs in Latin will release a single dedicated to Pope John Paul on the day of his funeral. Jukka Ammondt's previous records -- "Nunc hic aut Numquam" (It's Now or Never) and "Ne calces mi glaucos calceos" (Don't You Step on my Blue Suede Shoes) -- won him a cult following.
Pope John Paul gave him a medal in 1994 for his album "Tango Triste Finnicum" (The Sad Finnish Tango). A CD with his new song in the Pope's honour titled "Codex Fluitans", translated from the Finnish original "Ajopuu" (meaning "Driftwood") by his colleague Teivas Oksala, will be sent to the Vatican on Friday via the Finnish ambassador.
- Pope's influence will be felt long after his death
(Nashville City Paper, April 6, 2005)
Where were you when the pope died? The death of Pope John Paul II can easily be equated with the death of President John F. Kennedy and, yes, even Elvis Presley in the sense that everyone over a certain age will remember precisely where they were when they learned of the great pontiff's death.
Pope John Paul II was more than the Bishop of Rome, head of the Catholic Church. His influence literally spanned the world as John Paul reached out to everyone, rich and poor. He was the most traveled pope in history and many in the United States were blessed to be able to see and hear him. Catholics and non-Catholics alike would flock to his papal visits. ...
- Elvis Song Played as Tribute to Pope Paul 11
By ElvisArt
(Express Press Release, April 5, 2005)
The song, "Crying in the Chapel", by Elvis Presley, a million selling hit single in 1965 was re-released on a single CD, 4th April 2005. It was played on LM FM Radio Ireland as a lovely tribute to Pope Paul 11, on 5th April. Many people will be surprised to hear an Elvis Gospel recording hit the number one spot at the height of The Beatles success. Elvis fans are now requesting the beautiful song should be played on radio stations world-wide as a special tribute to the late, Pope Paul 11. The song will no doubt follow the string of recent Elvis hits on the official British music chart announced on BBC Radio 1.
- Researchers seeking info on Elvis from 1954-55
(The De Queen Bee Citizen and De Queen Bee Daily, April 4, 2005)
Where's Elvis? Twenty-seven years after his death, a pair of independent researchers are looking for information on the King of Rock and Roll with particular scrutiny on a two-year period in 1954-55 that included an Elvis Presley performance at the De Queen fairgrounds. Many residents of De Queen still recall the day Elvis came to town and his performance on a flatbed trailer at the fairgrounds. After the show, the 20-year-old performer and his band mates, Scottie Moore and Bill Black, ate dinner at Hill's Cafe, located where the new Cultural Awareness Center now stands.
A group of local teenagers joined Elvis for dinner and the conversation reportedly centered around automobiles, Elvis' other passion besides singing. He had recently blown a motor in his pink Cadillac, and he was traveling in his parents' Ford during his visit to De Queen.
Over the next couple of years, Elvis would explode on the world scene, in large part because of an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, ending his days of touring small towns in the south. His future would be in Hollywood, with a career interrupted by a stint in the United States Army, followed by marriage, superstardom and an untimely death.
On January 8, 2005 Elvis Presley would have turned 70 years. In Memphis thousands of Elvis fans gathered to celebrate the day. Media from all over the world covered the event as the ever-loyal devotees paid homage to the 'King of Rock 'n' Roll'.
Christmas 2004 saw Elvis holiday albums charting in many countries. Elvis' perennial Christmas favourite 'Blue Christmas' continues to receive heavy radio airplay during the holidays. 'Blue Christmas' has sold more than 20 million copies in the United States alone since its release on 'Elvis' Christmas Album' in 1957.
Almost three decades after his death, Elvis Presley continues to be a top-selling artist as indicated by the staggering 10 million plus copies sold of the 2002 RCA release, "Elvis - 30 Number 1 Hits". The 2003 sequel "Second To None" has sold more than four million copies to date.
Since his first record 'That's All Right' hit the charts in 1954, Elvis Presley album sales are exceeded by only one band, The Beatles. In fact, Elvis has sold more singles than any other recording artist. A proclamation regarding this accomplishment was issued on his birthday (Jan. 8) by the Recording Industry of Association of America.
Despite his unparalleled popularity, Elvis' earliest career has not been fully documented. Independent researcher Danny Kane and Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, producer and researcher for Elvis' record label SONY/BMG Entertainment, are conducting a search for untold stories and photos from the first 18 months of Elvis career.''This is the period from July 1954 through December 1955 while Elvis was with SUN Records and traveling the South with his band, Scottie Moore and Bill Black.
The researchers urgently request that people with stories of Elvis during this time contact them by email at dannykane@cox.net or by telephone at (718)247-4448 with their stories.
- Unrecorded Elvis 'Roses' Song Surfaces; Search Is on for New 'King' to Record It - Elvis-A-Rama Museum Acquires 50% Rights to Song, Announces International Contest for World's Best Impersonator
Source: Elvis-A-Rama Museum
(Yahoo! Finance / PRNewswire, April 4, 2005)
When a song written by Elvis Presley, which was never released by the King, surfaced last month at auction on eBay, Chris Davidson -- an owner and founder of the world's largest Elvis museum experience outside of Graceland, with $6 million worth of memorabilia -- knew he had to have it. Davidson, 40, who opened the Elvis-A-Rama Experience in Las Vegas more than five years ago, has announced a world wide search for someone to fill Elvis's blue suede shoes. "We're looking for the world's best Elvis impersonator to record the song," said Davidson. "We hope to consummate an agreement with a production company for a multi-episode reality TV show."
"If I'd Only Bought Her Roses" is the only song co-written by Elvis and Paul Terry King, an association that dates back to the late 60s, at American Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis recorded his last number one hit, "Suspicious Minds," there in 1969.
"Roses," registered in 1973 with BMI, appears to have been inspired by the lost love that both artists were experiencing in their personal lives at the time. Elvis was freshly wounded from his divorce from child-bride Priscilla Beaulieu, an event made official in October 1973. The song was never recorded. According to sources, Elvis considered it "too personal and painful," at the time. The song is a bittersweet ballad of lost love and regret.
"We would like to have the song recorded at one of Elvis's old haunts, either historic Sun Records Studios or the old RCA Radio Recorder's Studio. We intend to put much effort behind the song to make it a national hit and the project has already elicited national media interest," said Davidson. The song is unique in that Elvis is credited for very few songs as a composer/songwriter. It is our intention for the song to be released on the 50th Anniversary of Elvis's first Gold Record, Heartbreak Hotel, which was released in January 1956.
The Elvis-A-Rama Museum is in the process of creating an international contest for the impersonators with tryouts likely to be held in Sydney, Frankfurt, Tokyo, London, New York, Los Angeles and Memphis as prime locations. Final selection will take place in Las Vegas, where the winner will appear in an engagement at the Elvis-A-Rama Experience. Impersonators will be judged in three categories: vocal talent, appearance, and stage presence.
"Roses" is currently jointly owned by Elvis-A-Rama and Elvis Presley Enterprises. A majority interest (85%) in EPE was recently purchased by Robert Sillerman of (CKX), Inc.
- it's good to be the king: Elvis lives at Lexington contest
By Jamie Gumbrecht
(LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, April 2, 2005)
All seems normal in the Continental Inn parking lot for a Friday evening, except for the "Elvis for President" bumper sticker. And the white jumpsuit hanging in the window. And the crush of women at the door. Uh-huh. This is the place. Inside, 23 men are primping, shining and donning white jump suits and neon pink coats meant to resemble Elvis Presley's wardrobe. For the seventh Elvis-Fest of the Bluegrass, they came from neighboring states, New York City and Las Vegas. Tonight, they will be kings. Or, if they perform the best, The King. ...
- Darren Day booed during cafe performance
By Daniel Kilkelly
(digital spy, April 2, 2005)
Darren Day was booed during a performance at a London cafe, according to The Mirror today. The I'm A Celebrity star split from former Hear'say singer Suzanne Shaw last month, originally claiming that Shaw had forced him to leave their family home. Shaw eventually admitted that Darren had ended the relationship, walking out on her, and his three-month-old son, Corey. Day was booed by the crowd before he had finished his first song, the newspaper claims. "He was belting out Elvis Presley's track Trouble, a strange choice giving the state of his personal life," an onlooker told the newspaper. "But within seconds of opening his mouth, he faced a chorus of boos." Darren recently pulled out of West End show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat due to "ongoing vocal problems".
- Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson gets her due: At the age of 67, she now records with the likes of Elvis Costello and the Cramps
By Melody Baetens
(Detroit News, April 1, 2005)
She should commonly be considered one of the greatest rock 'n' roll voices of the 20th century. At 67, Wanda Jackson is now getting the recognition she deserves, and most of it is coming from generations younger than hers. Jackson began recording and performing in the mid-1950s with the encouragement of her musician father. She was a country girl all the way, but hit big in 1960 with the rock 'n' roll song "Let's Have a Party," previously recorded by Elvis Presley, whom she had toured with and dated. Soon, Jackson began incorporating more self-penned rock 'n' roll jams and rockabilly styling into her country routine. "They weren't writing songs like that for girls," says Jackson who has two children and four grandchildren with her husband of 42 years. "So I started writing my own songs. I had already changed my way of dressing. I was the first one to get out of the cowboy boots, hats and full skirts and put some more glamour and sex appeal to the music." She was also one of the first female performers to go on stage pregnant. No other woman singer in country music had such spunk and sparkle. By crossing genres, Jackson has acquired fans from around the globe, and the admiration of contemporary musicians. ...
- Roberts: Same old mantra for Phils: Now is the time
By KEVIN ROBERTS
(Courier Post Online, April 1, 2005)
While the Phillies were meandering through their final batting practice under the sunny skies of the happiest place on earth, Elvis' voice wafted down from the PA system and told them how it was. "A little less conversation, a little more action, please," the King sang, loud and clear. "All this aggravation ain't satisfactionin' me." You can quibble with the grammar, but as usual Elvis has a pretty good read on this thing. The Phillies have talked a good game for the past three seasons and done nothing with it. They have been maddeningly inconsistent, they've folded up at crunch time, they've bickered and quibbled like a bunch of old hens and always, always, disappointed their fans and themselves in the end.. ...
- Here an Elvis, there an Elvis, everywhere an Elvis
(Lexington Herald-Leader, April 1, 2005)
Elvis-Fest of the Bluegrass 2005, where as many as 20 of the country's top Elvis Presley tribute artists will compete, is today and Saturday at the Continental Inn Grand Ballroom. Sharing his Memphis Mafia insider stories will be Sonny West, onetime head of security for Presley. A display of Elvis collectibles and impersonator jam sessions are also planned. Showtimes are 7 p.m. to midnight Friday and 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Reserved seats for the two-day event are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, with a limited number of $42 V.I.P. seats. Tickets for today only are $18 in advance, $20 at the door; for Saturday, they're $20 in advance, $22 at the door. Call (859) 312-0780.
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