early August, 2005
- Andre 2005
By MARK SHANAHAN
(boston.com, August 12 2005)
It's an unfortunate phenomenon: Singer-songwriter sells millions of records and suddenly decides he/she wants to act, to be the brooding hero or sexy starlet in a Hollywood movie. Some succeed -- Elvis Presley and Will Smith come to mind -- and some, like Madonna, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie, never do. (The jury's still out on Courtney Love, Faith Hill, and a few others.) ...
- Euro Elvis Festival Kicks off in Hesse
(Deutsche Welle, August 11 2005)
The small German spa town of Bad Nauheim is preparing to welcome Elvis fans from around Europe for the fourth European Elvis Festival which begins on Thursday. The festival, four days of music and festivities celebrating the King, is expected to draw some 6,000 enthusiasts. From October 1958 until April 1960, Elvis Presley the soldier was stationed at the American military base in nearby Friedberg and lived in Bad Nauheim. Festival goers can take a look at room number 10 in the Hotel Grunewald, where the young Sergeant was quartered. Presley's bedroom, which has been kept in its original condition, has become something of a pilgrimage site for Elvis aficionados. On the night before the anniversary of his death on August 16, a candlelight ceremony will be held at the town's own Elvis memorial.
- Hound-dog rescue leaves passengers 'All Shook Up'
By Andy Netzel
(Burlington Free Press, August 11 2005)
A bartender, tour-boat engineer and an Elvis impersonator helped rescue a dog named Tucker, who was paddling alone in the middle of Lake Champlain near Juniper Island on Tuesday evening. The recovery started when Spirit of Ethan Allen III crew members and a video-taping passenger spotted the dog paddling in the distance with no owner in sight.
The novice videographer announced the news: "There's a dog in the lake!" passenger Erik Filkorn recalled. Passengers swarmed to the starboard side of the boat to catch a glimpse. With all the commotion, engineer Dave Cassell raced to the top of the tiered boat to see the captain, who had already made the call: They were going to halt the cruise and save the pooch. There was no shortage of would-be rescuers. Some guys had already pulled their shirts off. Cassell was trying to calm everyone down. He needed to get to work saving the dog, but he had to make sure the passengers didn't make a rogue rescue attempt.
Here enters Elvis Presley. The Tuesday-night Elvis impersonator finished his rendition of "Whole Lotta Shaking Going On" and headed toward the excited passengers. In a thick Tennessee accent, he told the crowd to back off and let the crew handle the situation.
"Here we have Elvis ordering us around," Filkorn said. "He's doing crowd control in his white jumpsuit and sideburns from here to Rutland." Cassell, the engineer, and boat bartender Michael Shea Jr. opened the door on the side of the vessel. With Shea holding onto him, Cassell plucked the dog from the lake. ...
- Elvis Worship is sacred business
By John Martin
(Canberra Times, August 11 2005, p. 12)
Elvis Presley grew up on gospel music and he recorded almost 50 gospel songs. So when the Wesley Uniting Church in Forrest was asked to be the host of The Sacred Songs of Elvis next Tuesday, it didn't seem like such a leap of faith. ... There are a host of Elvis events around Canberra next week, but Tuesday, August 16, is an especially poignant day for Elvis fans. It was on this date that he died, in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1977. ...
- ONLINE ELVIS RADIO: Free online Elvis show getting a cult following around the world
(ClickPress, August 10 2005)
The Elvis Express radio show has been getting a cult following as Elvis fans around the world as word spreads about this original radio show. Presented by Lee Dawson who also presents an Elvis hour on hospital radio and is a guest speaker for BBC Southern Counties Radio, the Elvis Express Radio show is heared by fans from the UK, USA, Australia, France, Yugoslavia and even Ghana. The show is presented just like a real radio show. One regular listener states; "I am 27 years old and love Elvis Presley. Elvis Express Radio is the first web show that we can call our own, its modern in its approach and the host doesn't sound all stuffy, you feel you can approach Lee with anything. The show is the best, the host is the best and the music is the best. I LOVE IT!" A new show is available to download online every Friday from 7pm UK time and plays fans request, comments and Elvis news from the week.
- Back in Graceland for some hunka, hunka burnin' fun
By Susan Smiley-Height
(Florida Today, August 10 2005)
I bet it's going to be another scorcher today -- not in Florida, in Tennessee! Let's see, it's Wednesday, that means we'll be having lunch at The Beauty Shop, a restaurant Mama read about in Southern Living. Then, we'll probably take an afternoon dip in the heart-shaped swimming pool at the Heartbreak Hotel. During Happy Hour at the hotel, we'll groove to Chris MacDonald, an Elvis impersonator from Fort Lauderdale. It's Elvis Week. I'm in Memphis with Mama and my niece, Sarah. It's our annual girls' pilgrimage and I wish you were here. ...
- Gallagher's delusions of grandeur
(Chicago Tribune, August 9 2005)
British rocker Liam Gallagher has plenty of folks all shook up with his claim that he's on par with "The King." "There's Elvis and me. I couldn't say which of the two is the best," he told Spain's El Mundo newspaper last week in comments that boomeranged around the globe. "Liam has left the building, er, planet" was the headline in Queensland, Australia's Courier Mail. After all, this is the same lad that claims his band, Oasis, is better than the Beatles. ...
- Singer Marc Cohn shot during carjacking attempt
(CBC Arts, August 9 2005)
Singer Marc Cohn, known for the 1991 single Walking in Memphis, was shot in the head during an attempted carjacking on the weekend.
A bullet struck the Grammy-winning performer in the temple when a man fired into Cohn's van in a Denver, Colo., parking garage on Sunday. A suspect was later arrested by police after a five-and-a-half-hour standoff.
The rousing Walking in Memphis mentions, among other things, the Jungle Room of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion. It is also remembered for a line in which Cohn is asked during an energetic performance if he is a Christian. "Ma'am I am tonight," he sings back. ...
- 'Stuck on You'
By M. SCOTT MORRIS
(North Mississippi Daily Journal, August 9 2005)
The Elvis Presley faithful had traveled from far-flung places like Chicago, London and Munich [to Tupelo]. During Fan Appreciation Day on Monday, hundreds of them gathered on the grounds of the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum to celebrate the humble beginnings of the man who shook them up with his music. ... With the 28th anniversary of his death only eight days away, Elvis' memory was in the air. And so was Janelle McComb's. The longtime executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation died two weeks ago, but she was still in people's thoughts. ...
- Memories of Elvis
(Houston Community Newspapers Online, August 9 2005)
Were you at the old Conroe High School football field when the legend, the "King" took the stage? Elvis Presley played only one concert in Conroe. It was on Aug. 24, 1955.
In recognition of the 50 years that have passed since the concert, The Courier will be doing a special story in the Aug. 21 edition of the Trends section. Do you have memories or photos of the concert or Elvis' stop in Conroe? If so, contact Sondra Bosse at The Courier at (936) 442-3431, e-mail sbosse@hcnonline.com or mail memories to 100 Ave. A, Conroe, TX, 77301 Attn: Sondra Bosse.
- CD Review: The Essential Dolly Parton
Posted by Johno
(blogcritics.org, August 8 2005)
The Essential Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Music from RCA
Release date: 28 June, 2005
What really needs to be said about Dolly Parton? She is one of the few country artists to have completely transcended country music to become a legitimate superstar, and unlike latter day superstar crossovers like Garth Brooks, Parton has become a touchstone, an institution, worthy of enshrinement on the Mount Rushmore of country-music transcenders right next to Elvis, Johnny and Willie. They'd have a hard time holding up the boobs though. Some sort of flying buttress system, I suppose. ...
- Forward thinking: An entirely subjective look at the week ahead - LOVE HIM TENDER [2nd item]
By COLETTE BANCROFT
(St Petersburg Times, August 8 2005)
It has been 28 years since he left the building for good, but Elvis Presley's fans are more devoted than ever. Tens of thousands of them are expected in Memphis starting today for Elvis Week, a huge fan convention and commemoration of his death on Aug. 16, 1977. Events include tours, concerts, karaoke and trivia contests, wine dinners, scavenger hunts, a merchandise and memorabilia mart and, of course, Elvis impersonators . . . um, excuse us, Elvis tribute artists. For a hunk of burning info, go to www.elvis.com and click on Elvis Week.
- Elvis lives at cerebral palsy run
By Robert Miller
(Dallas Morning News, August 8 2005)
If you find Elvis spotters amusing, you may want to withhold judgment until after the fifth annual Elvis Run 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk on Saturday. There will be one pro and a bunch of amateur impersonators at the event, which benefits United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Dallas. Who knows, one just might be the real thing. There will also be a Classic Car Show. The Elvis Run is always held near the anniversary of Elvis' death on Aug. 16, and participants are encouraged to dress in Elvis costumes or 1950s-style attire. ...
- Elvis? Not to suspicious minds: The tapes are from Memphis, and his family knew the King
By LINDA STEWART BALL
(Dallas Morning News, August 8 2005)
Steve Lawrence pulled the fragile reel-to-reel tapes out of a duffel bag and reverently laid them on the table. The Plano man has tied his family's financial future to a dusty box of old recordings. Dubbed The Lost Memphis Tapes, they were found in a shed behind his late uncle's house on the Tennessee/Mississippi border. ... Given the time, the place and a few eyewitness accounts, Mr. Lawrence, 52, believes the voice on at least six songs on those tapes is that of a shy but talented future king of rock 'n' roll.
But the experts beg to differ. It's not a young Elvis Presley they say. It's not Elvis singing at all. "He believes in it because he wants to sell it," said Kevin Kern, media coordinator for Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. in Memphis. "Everything Elvis is hot."
Especially as Elvis Week looms; Aug. 16 marks the 28th anniversary of his passing in 1977 at 42. ... A lot of money is at stake. "There are deep-pocketed Elvis collectors that would just go berserk with the right kind of authenticity," said John Petty, director of media relations for Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers of Dallas.
... Ernst Jorgensen, the premier archivist of Elvis' recorded works, said the singer on the excerpts he received wasn't Elvis. He hears claims of lost Elvis tapes or just-discovered early recordings 20 to 30 times a year. "I follow up on everything I can," Mr. Jorgensen wrote in an e-mail from Denmark. "It's quite seldom that we find something new." A voice analysis comparing known early Elvis recordings to Mr. Lawrence's tape failed to match the vocal characteristics. But Mr. Lawrence won't be deterred. He's neither a con artist nor a fool, those who know him say.
- Elvis Presley's Band Members, DJ Fontana and The Jordanaires, Join Joey Figgiani for His Upcoming Album, "Under The Memphis Sun"
(PRWEB, August 8 2005)
Joey Figgiani, a fresh new face on the Tennessee music scene, is set to release "Under The Memphis Sun" on Three Minute Records, August 15, 2005. The album includes updated versions of classic and rare Elvis songs recorded with engineer/guitarist James Lott at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis and with Elvis' band members DJ Fontana and The Jordanaires at 16th Ave Sound in Nashville. Figgiani is dedicated to maintaining and furthering the power, importance, and integrity of Elvis' music. "My intention with this album is to keep the Elvis flame burning for all fans of his music, but also reintroduce new generations to his incredible work."
Under the Memphis Sun is comprised of inspired versions of eleven classic and rare Elvis songs. From the rocking "That's All Right" recorded at Sun Studio to Joey's touching version of "Peace in the Valley" backed by the Jordanaires, Under the Memphis Sun preserves the dignity and legacy of the original songs while tastefully updating them for today's audience. DJ Fontana played drums on "You're So Square," "Mean Woman Blues," and "Don't Ask Me Why." The Jordanaires backed Joey on "Peace In The Valley," "Don't Ask Me Why" and "Fire," a Bruce Springsteen song originally written for Elvis." The album also includes "Mystery Train," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," (with Sun Studio Chief Engineer James Lott on lead guitar) along with tender takes on "My Happiness," "Blue Moon," and "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" (with Joe Fick of The Dempsey's on upright slap bass). The rare cut, "How the Web Was Woven" is an homage to Elvis' great range and sure to surprise those who only know Elvis as a guy in a white jumpsuit.
An avid admirer of Elvis' early work, Joey holds over 50 Presley songs in his repertoire. With acoustic guitar in tow, a bus trip to Tennessee one summer led to his recording in Sun Studio in Memphis, where Presley got his start. "To stand there and sing into a microphone, knowing this was where Elvis made history was just incredible." In one take, Joey recorded a moving version of his original song, "Three Year Century," wowing studio engineer, James Lott. ... Figgiani will be in Memphis during "Elvis Week" to celebrate the August 15 album release of "Under The Memphis Sun." Figgiani is currently planning a national tour to promote "Under The Memphis Sun." See joefigg.com for tour and CD details.
- The Kings of bling
By PRIYANKA DELADIA and RUBINA A KHAN
(Times of India, August 7 2005)
If diamonds are a girl's best friend, 'bling bling' is most definitely for the boys! And while this may be one example of hip hop slang, the 'bling effect' goes beyond the domain of rappers Usher and 50 Cent. Why so? Our desi boys aren't lagging behind in the chunky jewellry league right now. ... t is, however, important to note that the idea of men sporting jewellry has been around for a long time, longer than it's current hip hop avatar. As the original trendsetter of Bollywood Bappi Da puts it, "I started the trend almost 30 years ago when I got into the industry. My inspiration, however, was Elvis Presley who sported a huge cross chain. Today, the trend is back, and now, a lot of people are following American hiphop culture and artists like Jay Z, The Game, Puff Daddy and other rappers."
- Nancy Sinatra Walking Back To Fame
By Elizabeth Kaledin
(CBS News, August 7 2005)
Nancy Sinatra, who has appeared in box office smashes with Peter Fonda and Elvis Presley and who is famous for recording the hit "These Boots Are Made For Walking," is trying hard to break backinto show business. And at age 64, she tells Correspondent Elizabeth Kaledin in an interview for CBS News Sunday Morning, that it's harder to make a comeback than it is to break into the business.
Of course, she had a little help the first time around. The oldest daughter of singing legend Frank Sinatra and his first-wife (also named Nancy), Nancy Sandra Sinatra grew up amid the bright lights of stardom. She made her first TV appearance when she was still in her teens -- with her father and no less a star than Elvis Presley. She began her acting career in 1964 and appeared opposite Peter Fonda in 1968's "Wild Angels" and opposite Elvis in "Speedway," released the same year. She has seven films to her credit, has provided music for another half dozen movies, including a James Bond feature, and has appeared in dozens of TV shows and specials. ...
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