mid May, 2005
- Elvis celebration set June 11
(Sweetwater Reporter, May 21, 2005)
The Trail of Lights committee has scheduled its 2005 fundraiser. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's first concert in Sweetwater, the committee will hold a concert at the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium. Elvis performed at the auditorium on June 9, 1955. The anniversary celebration will be held throughout the day on Saturday, June 11. ... The highlight of the day will be a concert featuring Elvis impersonator Donnie Roberts. ...
- Elvis Presley 28th Anniversary, 16th August 2005
(Xtvworld.Com, dated May 8, found May 20, 2005)
MauriceinIreland writes "Due to the extraordinary amount of publicity being generated by "Elvis", the new miniseries to be broadcast by CBS TV this weekend, and the planned TV advertisements to encourage people to visit Graceland, the most famous mansion in Memphis, the 28TH Anniversary of Elvis Presley's death may well set a precedent.
Generally only those dates regarded as important anniversaries like the 10TH, 20TH, 25TH, and 30TH, would be regarded as notable, but in Elvis's case the accepted rules just do not apply. Therefore it is a safe bet that the world's media will be in Memphis this summer to report on the vast numbers of Elvis fans who will be gathered there to commemorate the Annual event which is fast becoming an unofficial "Elvis Presley Day" in it's own right. Something many Elvis fans have been working on for decades. Elvis was born on the 8th January 1935 in Tupelo Mississippi. He died in Memphis Tennessee 16th August 1977. Elvis Presley's life is a real, Tale of Two Cities.
- Head of Femur
(Filter Magazine, May 20, 2005)
"When Elvis Presley appeared on The Ed Sullivan show, the cameramen were instructed to film Elvis' pelvis no lower than the head of femur. Thus the head of femur is the point where rock and roll becomes sex, and we balance on top of it!" - Head of Femur. ...
- Cliff Richard, not Beatles, UK's most beloved
(music.monstersandcritics.com / United Press International, May 19, 2005)
Cliff Richard has overtaken the Beatles as Britain's most-loved recording artist, second only to Elvis Presley. The annual Guinness World Records Chart for British hit singles and albums rated Presley as No. 1, Richard No. 2 and the Beatles No. 3, Hellomagazine.com reported. Richard said, at his age and after making music for nearly 50 years, any kind of recognition is welcome. "I'm delighted to be runner-up to Elvis to be honest, because he is my hero and without him there certainly wouldn't have been a Cliff Richard," Richard said.
Guinness World Records Chart Managing Editor David Roberts said the loyalty factor is why Richard is at No. 2. "That's why the Beatles are not at the top. Although they were astonishingly successful, they were together for a comparatively short time," Roberts said.
- Guinness names Elvis top music act of all time
(webindia123.com, May 19, 2005)
King of Rock and roll Elvis Presley has been named the most successful music act of all time by Guinness World Records. Presley retained his position atop the annual Guinness top 100 list, followed by Cliff Richard and The Beatles, reports the BBC. Robbie Williams entered the top 50 for the first time, with two further hit singles and the release of his Greatest Hits album in 2004 helping him rise seven places to number 43. Other acts to rise in the top 100 include Simply Red (26), REM (32), Barbra Streisand (46), Lionel Richie (51) and Duran Duran (53). Top 10 most succcessful acts of all time according to Guinness World Records:
1. Elvis Presley
2. Cliff Richard
3. The Beatles
4. Queen
5. Madonna
6. Elton John
7. The Shadows
8. Michael Jackson
9. David Bowie
10. U2 (ANI)
- STARS BRONZED AT OWENS' COUNTRY MUSIC MECCA RESTAURANT
(contactmusic.com, May 19, 2005)
HANK WILLIAMS, ELVIS PRESLEY and WILLIE NELSON are among the country music greats who will be honoured with bronze statues at BUCK OWENS' Crystal Palace restaurant in Bakersfield, California. The country great-turned-restaurateur and retired singer GARTH BROOKS, who are also represented in bronze, will unveil the statues at a ceremony on 25 May (05). BOB WILLS, JOHNNY CASH, GEORGE JONES, MERLE HAGGARD, GEORGE STRAIT will also be immortalised in bronze at Owen's restaurant.
- 'There Is Hope': In a new book, publicist and former drug addict Gary Stromberg reveals how he - and some of his celeb clients - got clean
By Karen Springen
(msnbc.msn.com / Associated Press, May 19, 2005)
Alcohol and drugs killed icons like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. But some strong-willed addicts get help in time. In "The Harder They Fall: Celebrities Tell Their Real-Life Stories of Addiction and Recovery" (Hazelden), former rock 'n roll publicist Gary Stromberg and his partner, Jane Merrill, tell some of the famous folks' stories of redemption. ...
- Elvis' guitar has left the city - for the suburbs
(Yahoo! News / Reuters, May 19, 2005)
Maybe it's hard to hide a 10-foot-tall 3-meter guitar decorated with a painting of Elvis Presley. Whatever the reason, thieves who made off with the fiberglass outdoor sculpture three days ago returned it on Wednesday, not to sender, but to a day-care center in a Nashville suburb with a note saying the whole thing was a prank. ...
- Fans shook up over Presley book
(scotsman.com, May 18, 2005)
He may have been dead for almost 28 years but anything to do with "the King" Elvis Presley is still guaranteed to pull the crowds. A book signing at Waterstones in London's Oxford Street by his former wife, Priscilla Presley, proved no exception. Fans queued from 0630BST for a glimpse of the woman who shared their hero's life.
When Wednesday's one-hour signing began some six and a half hours later, more than 500 fans had turned up, making the store into something of an Elvis jamboree. From men and women in their 20s, to couples in their 80s - including a healthy smattering of Elvis impersonators - they stood in a long line, snaking in and out of the aisles of books, as Mrs Presley posed for press photographs. Many had taken days off from work or re-arranged family commitments to be at the signing, with one man flying in from the Republic of Ireland.
Clutching copies of her book, Elvis By The Presleys, they queued behind crowd-control barriers, happily passing the time sharing anecdotes about "The King" and comparing notes on trips to his hometown of Memphis. Excitement grew with each step nearer the front of the queue, where Mrs Presley, a tiny figure with long dark hair and a deep-purple jacket, greeted fans as she signed their copies.
At the back of the line, a floor up from where the signing was taking place, fans with little hope of reaching the front before the visit was over waited patiently as Elvis hits were relayed through the bookshop's speakers. ... Mark Green, 35, an Elvis impersonator sporting an impressive black quiff, ... said: "I'm a massive Elvis fan. I've been to Graceland and been on the tours. I've got the autographs of most of the Elvis entourage but until today I didn't have Priscilla's." After queuing up to meet Mrs Presley with several copies of the book, he said: "I couldn't believe how little she was and she seemed ever so nice. They told us she would only sign certain parts of the book, but she signed the pictures and everything. And she asked where I was from and so on." ...
Sue Carroll, 37, of Ealing, west London, ... said: "I came here today because to actually see a Presley in the flesh is really exciting. I think it's great that's she's keeping the memory alive. As far as I'm concerned, you cannot beat Elvis's music. All those bands today come and go and then they're finished but Elvis is always there."
Priscilla Presley signed hundreds of copies of her book
- Priscilla in London to Launch Elvis Book
By Paul Marinko
(scotsman.com, May 18, 2005)
Elvis fans will descend on Waterstones in Oxford Street today to catch a glimpse of the King's former wife.
Priscilla Presley will be at the London store at 1pm to sign copies of the latest book on the rock'n'roll legend Elvis By The Presleys. The book claims to reveal "the inside story of Elvis Presley's life as a husband, father and friend in the voices of Priscilla, daughter Lisa Marie and other family members."
To accompany the booksigning, ITV1 will screen a one-hour documentary on tonight and SonyBMG - which released a new Elvis CD at the start of the week - will launch a double DVD on Monday. Priscilla will also appear on BBC's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, as well as Richard and Judy on Channel 4 and This Morning on ITV1. The book and DVD include interviews with Priscilla and Lisa Marie and collections of personal photos, memorabilia, handwritten notes and "previously unseen" shots of Elvis' home Graceland. It looks at the different aspects of Elvis' life including his tours, his time in Hollywood and his home life. Priscilla married Elvis on May 1, 1967 and divorced him in October 1973. Lisa Marie was born in 1968.
- Elvis sculpture stolen
(news.com.au, May 18, 2005)
THE thief who stole a 3m Elvis Presley guitar sculpture from Nashville's Music Row ain't nuthin' but a hound dog as far as irate fans are concerned. A $US3000 ($3970) reward will be offered for the culprit's arrest unless he or she returns the sculpture by Friday, officials said. One of more than two dozen individual fibreglass Gibson guitars displayed throughout the city as part of a Guitartown art project, the over-sized guitar featured a painting of Presley on the front and the words Heartbreak Hotel arrayed down the neck.
- Elvis-Hank guitar sculpture missing
By ALAN BOSTICK
(tennessean.com, May 17, 2005)
It's ''heartbreak hotel'' for artist Alan Rhody and Sony/ATV Music Publishing after their 10-foot-tall guitar sculpture depicting Elvis Presley was stolen over the weekend from its Music Row location. A featured part of GuitarTown - the outdoor arts project currently showing more than two dozen giant fiberglass Gibson guitars - the sculpture with its full-length singing Elvis had been displayed at 8 Music Square West since last month's launch. All that remained yesterday morning when employees got to work was the sculpture's stand. ...
- Elvis Presley Festival Tupelo Mississippi 2005
Released by: ElvisArt
(free-press-release.com, dated May 17, found May 20, 2005)
Clear Channel Communications are to publicise the Annual Elvis Presley Festival in Tupelo Mississippi, 3-5 June 2005. Local business man Henry Dodge will also play a large part to ensure the Festival will be a great success. The legendary Chuck Berry will headline the event.
Thanks to Larry K Otis, Mayor of Tupelo the birthplace of the late Elvis Presley has been tastefully restored. A beautiful life sized bronze statue of, "Elvis at 13", crafted by the gifted sculptor Michiel Van der Sommen stands close to the modest Presley home. An Elvis related, Story Wall, and Fountain etc., were added in 2003.
Due to massive interest in Elvis's marvellous music recently, the Elvis Presley Festival June 2005 is sure to be an extraordinary milestone in the history of Tupelo tourism.
- SONY BMG Strategic Marketing Group Releases 'ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS' on DVD Today!
(Yahoo! Finance / PRNewswire, May 17, 2005)
New Elvis CD Celebrates the Music and Legacy of Elvis Presley
Today, SONY BMG Strategic Marketing Group, in conjunction with Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., announced the release of "ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS" on DVD with over four hours of content and bonus features, much of it previously unreleased. This two-DVD set expands on the 2005 CBS network television special which aired on May 13th and won household viewership, achieving an 8.1 rating and 15.0 share. Now everyone will be able to enjoy this timeless look into the private life of Elvis Presley and his family.
"ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS" is the most revealing and poignant video portrait ever seen of the artist as husband, father and friend. For the first time, Priscilla, Lisa Marie and other family members freely share their own stories, emotions and intimate memories on camera, and reveal home-movie footage of Elvis never before shared with his fans. The two-DVD set also includes live performance footage from every stage of Elvis's career, plus clips from newsreels, interviews, film and TV appearances.
SONY BMG Strategic Marketing Group recently released a two-CD set as a companion to the remarkable television special, "ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS," which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Soundtrack chart and #15 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. The two-CD set "ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS" contains 32 tracks including number one hits "In The Ghetto," "Suspicious Minds," and "Heartbreak Hotel," legendary gems like "Trouble" and "Always On My Mind," and the new classic "A Little Less Conversation" which put Elvis back on the charts more than 25 years after his death. The rarities disc includes previously unreleased private recordings and Elvis at work in the studio recording "Jailhouse Rock" and "Too Much Monkey Business". Priced to own at own at $24.98 (DVD) and $19.98 (CD), both make great gifts for any Elvis fan or DVD collector.
- Elvis Presley Lived His Last Years Like A Vampire
By Scott Colothan
(gigwise.com, dated May 11, found May 17, 2005)
Elvis Presley lived the last five years of his life terrified to go out in daylight hours because of the unwanted attention he was receiving. Presleyıs ex-wife [sic] and former beauty queen Linda Thompson admitted the King and herself lived the lives of vampires to escape fans and the paparazzi, reports Breaking news. She said: "We literally were awake all night and slept all day. The world was turned around for him because he wasn't free to go out among society." She also talked of scary incidents involving photographers: 'They jumped on the car they were throwing themselves on the windshield. It really wasn't safe for him to go out. In the five years I was with him we went to dinner one time and we sat there with guards around us and people ogling and watching every bite."
- GREEN'S URINAL MEETING WITH PRESLEY: Soul great AL GREEN had a bizarre one-off meeting with ELVIS PRESLEY - at a urinal
(contactmusic.com, May 16, 2005)
The TIRED OF BEING ALONE legend was stunned on a night out clubbing in Memphis, Tennessee, when he dashed to the toilet to relieve himself - only to find the JAILHOUSE ROCK legend standing next to him. And despite his eagerness to shake hands with Presley, Green deemed it an inopportune moment to make physical contact with him. He recalls, "I was standing there at the urinal and I thought this fella looked like Elvis, so I asked him. He said, 'I am Elvis Presley and you sure look like Al Green.' I'd liked to have shaken his hand but it didn't seem like the right time to be getting so close and intimate.
- Devil In Disguise
(Anorak, May 16, 2005)
ELVIS Presley's pelvic gyrations were considered so shocking in uptight 1950s America that TV cameramen were famously instructed to show him only from the waist up. But in the 21st century even that wouldn't have been enough to save his reputation, as pictures in today's Sun make clear. Only his shoulders, arms and head are visible, yet that's enough to convict him of crimes against modern political correctness.
The pictures are from a home movie taken in the 1960s - a time when many young Americans were experimenting with drugs and putting flowers in their hair and down the barrels of national guardsmen's rifles. The King meanwhile was going down a slightly different road - putting a German SS cap on his head and giving the Nazi salute. The film was discovered by Mark Vernon, who was given it years ago, but had never watched it and had no idea what it contained. "I was shocked," he says. The paper then reminds us of another incident in which a famous person was pictured in a similar get-up. For the benefit of those readers with short memories, the Sun's pictures of Prince Harry in Nazi regalia shocked many people last year. "I was shocked," remembers retired postman Victor Perkins. "I hadn't noticed until then that Harry looked so unlike Prince Charles."
(See Elvis News under "Badmouthing Elvis" for an accurate account of the footage of this boat trip Elvis made with June Junico in 1956, when he and some others put on hats bought by the captain as trophies. Elvis is waving, not giving the Nazi salute.)
- PRESLEY SHOCKS WITH NAZI SALUTE
(contactmusic.com, May 16, 2005)
Shocking images of ELVIS PRESLEY in a Nazi uniform and performing a harrowing "Heil HITLER" salute are poised to stun The King's loyal fans. The grainy pictures - captured by a cine camera - feature the JAILHOUSE ROCK legend in a Nazi cap during a 1960s boat trip with friends. Tape owner MARK VERNON tells British newspaper THE SUN, "I was given it ages ago, I think when I used to own a bar. But I had never watched it. It wasn't until I found it in the loft that I decided to. When I did I was shocked." British royal PRINCE HARRY caused outrage earlier this year (05) when he turned up to a fancy dress party in a Nazi uniform.
- BURNING LOVE OF THE KING
(Daily Record, May 16, 2005)
THE King of rock 'n' roll puffs a cigar in one of his own home movies. Elvis Presley looks happy and carefree in the footage as he splashes about on the beach and messes about in boats with his family. The late legend is also seen making snowmen with daughter Lisa Marie. The touching film was revealed to millions of American TV viewers in a two hour special by ex-wife Priscilla Presley, who edited six hours of footage.
- ELVIS' PALOMINO DREAM
(contactmusic.com, May 16, 2005)
ELVIS PRESLEY was so desperate to own a Golden Palomino horse he'd arrange secret dawn trips to farms all over Tennessee and Kentucky on the hunt for his dream stallion. The rock legend developed a love for horses after buying his then-wife PRISCILLA a black mare called DOMINO. The generous singer then bought horses for all his friends and family, but dreamed of riding a Golden Palmonino himself. In new documentary ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS, Priscilla recalls, "We would get up at three o'clock in the morning, go to certain farms and ranches, we'd knock on their doors and say, 'Do you have a Golden Palomino for sale?' "They'd look and they'd see it was Elvis and they couldn't believe it."
- Kenyan wins annual race that draws nudists, Elvis impersonators
(signonsandiego.com / ASSOCIATED PRESS, May 15, 2005)
Gilbert Okari knew he was in a different sort of race when a half dozen Elvis Presley impersonators jumped off the sidewalk into the street Sunday, four blocks from the start of the 7.46-mile course of the 94th annual Bay to Breakers race here. "They told me this race was somewhat crazy and to expect anything," Okari said after overcoming six Kenyan countrymen to win in 34:49, seven seconds better than second-place Reuben Cheruiyot. ... Race promoters said 40,000 registered for the event and that 65,000 took part, including at least a dozen naked people. ...
- Collectors Mean Big Business to USPS
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press, May 15, 2005)
Like any good businessman, David Failor works hard to understand his customers and make sure he has a product they will want to buy - and maybe save. That's when his employer, the U.S. Postal Service, reaps a big profit. Stamps that are bought but not used mean $150 million to $200 million annually for the Postal Service. It's Failor's job, as director of stamp services, to make sure there is a ready supply of eye-appealing stamps on the market. "People really look at the stamps they put on a letter. They want attractive stamps," Failor said in an interview. Of course, any stamp would get the material delivered. Attractive ones draw more customers and people who save some of those stamps. Although fewer people are joining stamp clubs than in the past, large numbers of people still collect or at least accumulate stamps.
A stamp really is nothing more than a receipt for prepayment of postage. So collectors pay for the service of having their letter delivered, take the receipt that proves they paid, but never demand the service. Many people collect used stamps. But their postmarks make them less attractive to others who want items in mint condition, which are a better investment over the long term. For example, a 15-cent Henry Clay stamp issued in 1903 is now worth $5 used, but $170 in mint condition. The number of stamps that are purchased but never used is in the millions every year.
Sales last year of philatelic products, including framed stamps, an annual stamp yearbook and other items, came to nearly $50 million, compared with $40 million a year earlier. That total is in addition to the $150 million to $200 million the agency takes in from stamps that are purchased but not used.
Elvis is still king of that group. The 29-cent Elvis Presley stamp issued in 1993 accounts for 124 million stamps bought but never used, the post office reports. That translates into almost $36 million in income for the agency. ...
- Las Vegas marks 100 years -- it's "Helldorado" for partygoers
(Yahoo! News / AFP, May 15, 2005)
Thousands walked by as Las Vegas started its 100th birthday celebrations with a "Helldorado" party but it did not deter Jeremy Coronado from his mission to save "Sin City." Rock music blared out, Elvis Presley impersonators crooned, show girls danced, fruit machine levers cranked all night, police did their best to keep prostitutes under control. ...
- RETURN OF THE KING... IN HOME MOVIES
By Laura Watt
(Sunday Mail, May 15, 2005)
HERE is the King as you have never seen him before - in his own home movies. Elvis is shown having fun at the beach, messing about in boats and making a snowman with daughter Lisa Marie in a new documentary. His ex-wife Priscilla edited down six hours of footage for the two-hour show, screened in the US last night.
The films show their engagement and early married life and the birth of Lisa Marie. Priscilla also interviews her parents Paul and Ann about their feelings when their 14-year-old daughter first started dating Elvis. Priscilla met the star, who died in 1977, while he was in the army in Germany. She recalled: 'Elvis was breathtaking, much more handsome than on the screen, if you can believe that.'
She also revealed details of her life at the Graceland mansion which included having to put up with Presley's entourage of hangers-on, known as the Memphis Mafia. She said manager Colonel Tom Parker sapped Presley's spirit by refusing to let him grow artistically. And she also talked about the pain of their divorce. But Priscilla signed off by saying: 'I'll die defending his legacy, because he deserved it.'
#Elvis By The Presleys is on ITV at 9pm on Wednesday
- No Really - It's Elvis! Elvis Makes Appearance in Deadwood
(BlackHillsPortal.com, May 14, 2005)
Eight hundred fans filled the Deadwood Armory on Saturday for and opportunity to scream for their old time idols. As grandma's danced, Elvis, Tom Jones, Neil Diamond and Tina Turner sang the oldies. In the past years, Deadwood has had Elvis impersonation contests that always drew big crowds but this year the chamber departed from contests to bring a live Vegas show to Deadwood.
The Show started with America's number one impersonator of Neil Diamond as Rob Garrett, took the stage. Garrett who has lived in Las Vegas for 30 years, is origianally from New York. But you could not hear it when he sang. Tina Turner, aka Cookie Watkins, not only looked and dressed like the queen but belted out "Rollin on the River" in that Tina Turner style that made you look twice. And just like Tina, she drew her audience in with a little audience participation as a few Deadwood ladies became her stage dancers. Tom Jones, with his tight fittin tux pants, smooged and kissed the ladies who ran to the stage when he appeared and enjoyed himself almost as much as the Deadwood ladies who knew all the words to the old songs. What was more amazing were the number of younger (less than 40) year olds who knew all of the words too.
The show was complete when Elvis appeared! Donny Edwards is almost too good. Edwards, at 25, has the King down recreating the look, the voice, the stage presence, even the lips! His appearance and voice are amazingly convincing with an inbelievable resemblence to the King. Elvis has been reserected in Donnie Edwards. Donny's persona is as mild mannered as the original and completely humble as he crooned the Deadwood crowd. If you missed the show in Deadwood, you can see Donny on this coming Tuesday on the "Young and the Restless". ...
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