early May, 2006
- Favre says he'll stick to his guns
By BOB MCGINN
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel May 12 2006)
Both Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley did their own inimitable versions of ``My Way'' late in their recording careers. Get ready, Wisconsin. Brett Favre has no intention, either, of going out in a shy way if the 2006 season does indeed turn out to be the 16th and final rendition of his one-of-a-kind quarterbacking career.
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- Kid Rock Packs Sports Arena; Could New Arena Attract Other Big-Name Acts?
(wtol.com May 12 2006)
Toledo has attracted some big name performers over the years, like Elvis Presley, Cher, and even Frank Sinatra. Just Wednesday night, rapper Kid Rock performed to a sold-out crowd at the Sports Arena in east Toledo, adding fuel to the debate over whether a new sports arena could attract big-name acts to Toledo. ...
- Shreveport pursues plans to demolish Hanna Ford property
By Joel Anderson
(Shreveport Times May 12 2006)
Though it may be hard to imagine now, that desolate, decaying building near the intersection of Texas and Elvis Presley avenues was a blank slate for big dreamers more than a decade ago. Hoping to recapture those robust days of the celebrated Louisiana Hayride, Maggie and Alton Warwick, of Shreveport, bought the blighted piece of property in 1994 for $250,000. Their ambitious plan was to create a 1950s-style diner, with a dance club and TV studio as part of an entertainment district that would provide another diversion for riverboat tourists. But much like their building, those plans slowly deteriorated over the years. Now the city of Shreveport has its own, scaled-down proposal for the old Bill Hanna Ford site: a parking lot for Municipal Auditorium. ...
- Nancy Sinatra Gets Hollywood Star
(The Kindred Times / Associated Press May 11 2006)
Nancy Sinatra pulled on a pair of boots one more time Thursday for a strut on the Walk of Fame. "My advice to young women starting out is hang tough, don't quit - even if it takes 40 years," Sinatra said. She wore jeans instead of her trademark miniskirt for the Walk of Fame ceremony. In 1967, Nancy Sinatra recorded "Something Stupid," a duet with her father that became a No. 1 hit. She also costarred with Elvis Presley in the 1968 film "Speedway."
- "All shook up" Hickory man starts Elvis fan club
By JOSH YODER
(Hickory Daily Record May 10 2006)
Eric Phillips doesn't idolize Elvis Presley. True, he occasionally dons a rhinestone-studded white jumpsuit, slicks back his hair and tears into a throaty version of "Hound Dog." But he's just a fan, not a fanatic. "I don't have a shrine or anything," Phillips said. Phillips, 39, is an Elvis tribute artist - not an impersonator, as some folks might say. And he's looking for people who share his love of the King's music. On Thursday, Phillips will hold the first meeting of Hickory's Elvis fan club. The group will be officially registered through Elvis Presley Enterprises, Phillips said. "I just want to get together with other fans," he said. "It's more or less a fellowship thing."
Phillips fell in love with Elvis' music as a child. Growing up in a poor family, he would turn on the record player when he was feeling down. ... Phillips said Elvis' broad appeal and unique singing style set him apart from other iconic musicians. "The Beatles and Bob Dylan, people like that, they all had stage presence, but not on the same level that Elvis did," he said. "It was his unique style and how he sang."
- Elvis Presley's unassuming bungalow is shakin' up eBay
By Amy Brown-Bowers
(National Post / CanWest News Service May 10 2006)
Elvis Presley's famous Memphis mansion is a booming tourist attraction but, as Elvis fans know, before Graceland there was Audubon Drive, the King's unassuming bungalow, which is currently for sale on eBay.
Elvis, then 21-years-old, bought the four-storey, 2 1/2-bathroom house in 1956 for US$29,500 using royalties from his hit song Heartbreak Hotel. The property, located at 1034 Audubon Dr. in Memphis, Tenn., is about 11 kilometres from his Graceland estate.
The current seller, Mike Freeman, has lived in the 3,000-square-foot house with his wife since July, 1999, when they bought it for $180,000. Freeman, the co-author of The Best of Elvis and Memphis Elvis-Style, and a history teacher at both the University of Memphis and a community college in in the same city, has been studying Elvis's life "since the beginning of rock and roll," he said. The property has been appraised by the county at US$260,000 but the couple were hoping to sell it for a minimum of US$450,000. As of 5 p.m. Monday, the price had reached US$450,100. "If we just sold it conventionally, [realtors] would list it in the Memphis area and they would sell it to people living in the city or moving to Memphis, but we knew that that wasn't the right market. We wanted to sell it to fans all over the world. So far, it's succeeded. We've got bidders ... at least one from England and several from California and from the East Coast," Freeman said, knowing the house could easily sell for double the current price because of its history.
"What we're being told is that the real bidders are waiting for the last part of the last day to bid.... So it's just a waiting game," he said.
It was while he was living on Audubon Drive that Elvis's career really took off. According to www.elvistyle.com, a source for all things Elvis, Heartbreak Hotel sold one million copies and turned gold in April, 1956. Elvis's self-titled first album hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard's album chart in May, and in June, Elvis appeared on the Milton Berle Show, where his controversial gyrating dance moves were broadcast across America. A month later, Elvis installed a pool at the back of the house that is still there today. The home also has the original music note-themed wallpaper in the hall --the current owners uncovered the wallpaper during renovations -- and the semi-hidden barbed-wire fencing that was installed by Elvis's father, Vernon, to keep intruders away. "That's another thing that makes it unique.... You can kind of stand there and visualize it yourself. You're standing in front of the same countertops and the same table," Freeman said.
Elvis's bedroom was near the front of the ranch-style house, that is until his young female fans began throwing pennies at the front windows to catch his attention. Elvis reportedly moved to a more private room near the back of the house until his family bought Graceland and moved there in March, 1957.
Mr. Freeman and his wife have made their peace with curious Elvis fans by offering occasional tours of their home. Steven Shutts, a friend of Mr. Freeman's, is managing the online bidding. He is a music memorabilia collector and co-owner of a touring country music and early rock 'n' roll museum. The house, which went up for sale on eBay on April 14, has had 48 bids from 12 different bidders. "Unless it's an Elvis fan, you know, a real avid Elvis fan, they're not going to understand the reason why this house would be bid on," Freeman said.
- 'American Idol' Online as a Sociological Study
By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
(New York Times May 10 2006)
Welcome to AmericanIdol.com, where the star of the show is not Chris, Taylor, Katharine, Elliott, Simon, Paula, Ryan or Tommy Mottola . It's not even Randy Jackson. The star of "American Idol's" parallel online universe - a hyperactive value-add for fans of the juggernaut franchise - is yet another member of television's huge class of subcelebrities: Ty Treadway. ... Is it Gap or Target or Ford, companies that suggest a thrifty and sensible American viewership? Not at all. Instead, it's Kraft's Easy Mac Cup, a microwavable plastic container of a sticky, lumpy orange paste for people who find the boiling of regular macaroni too time-consuming. Easy Mac consumers, as depicted in the advertisements, are a slobby set of layabouts who will eat anything, including spoiled milk and coffee grounds, and thus will also gobble down Easy Mac. So now you know the company you're in as an "American Idol" viewer. Sure, one of the quizzes, tied to last night's Elvis Presley theme - "Which of these is your favorite Elvis movie?" - is aimed at boomers. ...
- EYE ON IDOL
By AARON BARNHART
(Kansas City Star May 10 2006)
On Elvis Presley night, three contestants came out Tuesday trying not to lose the right to be crowned "American Idol." But only one - Elliott Yamin, thought to be at the back of the pack - came out playing to win. Daring to start at the low end of his range and stairstep precariously to the top, Yamin put on the most challenging and unexpectedly thrilling show of the night with "If I Can Dream" (from the Kingıs famous 1968 comeback special on NBC). Following it with a showoffy cover of "Trouble," he may well have vaulted past Katharine McPhee, whose failure to comprehend judge Simon Cowell's failure to worship her didn't win her any fans at home, either. Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry turned in solid numbers to all but ensure safe passage to next week's semifinals.
- 'American Idol': Elvis was in the house Tuesday night
(Asheville Citizen-Times May 10 2006)
I was little worried when I heard it was an Elvis-themed night. Who can sing Elvis, but Elvis? These "American Idol" contestants can, that's who. With a visit to Graceland and the help of music mogul Tommy Mottola, each singer seemed to be channeling Mr. Presley himself Tuesday night. Here's what the judges and I thought:
Taylor Hicks, 29, Birmingham, AL:
First song: "Jailhouse Rock"
Randy: Wow, man, you are in your element - that was hawt.
Paula: You were as original as ever - it was phenomenal.
Simon: I the real world, that was a terrible impersonation of Elvis Presley. It was karaoke with a capital "k."
Me: I'm somewhere in between "phenomenal" and karaoke. It was a fun performance. Taylor has a style that just exudes music from his pores, but is it worthy of making him the "American Idol?" Iım not completely convinced.
Score: 8 1/2
Second song: "In the Ghetto"
Randy: This is real constructive criticism: It was the right key, on the right song that was hawt.
Paula: It showed a whole different side - it showed how well-rounded an artist you are.
Simon: That was a world apart from your first performance. I think you just sung your way into the semi-finals.
Me: That was my favorite Taylor performance so far. It was exactly the right song for him and he sung it beautifully and with such feeling.
Score: 9 1/2
Chris Daughtry, 26, McLeansville, NC:
First song: "Suspicious Minds"
Randy: That was a nice, tender moment. Not the best vocal, but nice.
Paula: You forget how great a song that is until you hear Chris Daughtry sing it. See ya in the finals.
Simon: That worked; I thought that was great.
Me: Chris' style is now - it's today. Each time he's on the stage he delivers a personal, unique rendition of whatever song he's chosen. Tonight was no exception. Still, Chris didn't shine quite as brightly as he usually does.
Score: 8 1/2
Second song: "A Little Less Conversatiom"
Randy: Once again, that was the right song, the right key and I loved the rocker edge at the end. That was hawt.
Paula: You picked a song that really showcased your personality.
Simon: Your first song was much stronger. Up until the end, it was a flat performance. It was OK.
Me: The performance was a little flat until the end - when Chris got into his style and made this song his. It was, unfortunately, too little too late.
Score: 8
Elliot Yamin, 27, Richmond, VA.:
First song: "If I Could Dream"
Randy: You laid it out that was hawt.
Paula: I think that was your best vocal the entire season.
Simon: You came into the show tonight an underdog, you chose a song that most people at home aren't going to recognize, but so far, that was the best performance of the night.
Me: Elliot has grown so very much through this competition. The voice that was so naturally good is now accompanied by the confidence it always deserved. It was the best of the night up until this point.
Score: 10
Second song: "Trouble"
Randy: That was your best performance ever.
Paula: I change my mind - that was your best performance.
Simon: I have to hand it to you tonight. You came out fighting, and showing personality. You deserve to go through to the next round.
Me: Truly the performance of the night. Elliot's vocal was strong and personal on a tough song. Outstanding.
Score: 10+
Katharine McPhee, 21, Los Angeles, CA:
First song: "Hound Dog/All Shook Up"
Randy: You had a good time.
Paula: That was really fun.
Simon: That was like a desperate, manic audition for some theater production.
Me: I liked it. I thought Katharine was really entertaining and as always, her voice is beautiful. Unfortunately, she forgot a few words and started running out of breath toward the end from all the dancing. Remember, this is a singing competition, and while Katharine can sing, this wasn't her best showing of that.
Score: 7 1/2Second song: "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Randy: That was better than the first - a little pitchy.
Paula: You have a lovely voice.
Simon: This hasn't been one of your best nights. The song started off beautifully, and then it was too much.
Me: Of all the songs Tuesday night, I was most looking forward to hearing Katharine sing this one. She had the "pimp spot," being the last one up for the night and had a chance to really shine to have her own moment, something she was truly capable of doing. But I think Katharine sadly felt the pressure of being the only female left in a competition with a theme night based on songs from one of biggest male legends of all time. She over sang a song that really only needed her heart and her perfect tone.
Score: 7
High point of the night: Elliot's "Trouble."
Low point of the night: Really there wasn't one. These final four contestants deserve to be the final four and any one of them could win this thing and have successful careers. I will be sorry to see any of them go home tonight.
Going home: I'd really like to pick no one, but since that's not an option, sadly, it'll be Katharine.
- Lone female is odd man out in Elvis' world: The ghost of Elvis may help an American Idol underdog live another week
(Miami Herald May 10 2006)
So it was Elvis Presley night on American Idol. Before the show, we wondered: Would it be the lean, swivel-hipped sexy Elvis of the early years or would it be the bloated Vegas caricature he became? And how would Katharine McPhee, the sole remaining woman in the final four, fare singing Elvis? To answer the first part, shockingly the Idols traveled a middle of the road path in tackling Elvis. It was neither '50s cool or Vegas cheese.
Chris Daughtry, the rocker, who has a tendency to overdo it at times, was surprisingly restrained on Suspicious Minds and A Little Less Conversation and made the songs his own. While the laid-back approach robbed Suspicious Minds of its urgency and hook, the smoldering style worked wonders on Conversation until he deployed one of his customary screams at the end. It was still sexy, memorable, a Conversation to savor again.
Taylor Hicks, however, is about as sexy as a door hinge -- in no way did he evoke early Elvis. His DOA version of In the Ghetto -- wildly overpraised by the three judges -- revealed how truly weak his voice is. ''Soul Patrol'' is the name of Taylor's vast fan base: They'll have to search for months to find any scrap of soul in that dreary, colorless performance.
Elliott Yamin made it more difficult for crystal ball gazers. By far the odds-on favorite to take a hike tonight, Elliott stymied the bean counters by playing to win, shrewdly attempting two lesser-known Elvis tracks -- the soulful If I Can Dream and the bluesy Trouble. The latter competes with Chris' Conversation for Best of Show. Trouble was terrific, earning ''your best performance ever'' kudos from judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul; Simon Cowell told him that ``you deserve to go through to the next round.''
Trouble wasn't really Elliott's best ever. That honor would go to his tongue twisting take on James Moody's jazz number Moody's Mood for Love a couple months ago -- but it was good enough to spell trouble for Katharine, who came into this night at a ''disadvantage'' according to host Ryan Seacrest and who didn't rise to the challenge. The claim that she was hindered by having to play in the boy's club that is Elvis' music is a bit bogus. Hound Dog was originated not by Elvis Presley but rather by a woman, blues belter Big Mama Thornton, who took the song to No. 1 R&B in 1953, three years before The King shocked America on Sullivan with it. Katharine offered Hound Dog as a medley with the similarly structured All Shook Up and came closest to Elvis' Vegas period.
Not a good thing, according to Simon, who likened it to a ''manic, shrieky theatrical audition.'' The one positive note is that the performance showed how much Katharine has grown on Idol. When the season began in January she stood on the stage as if impaled on a pole. With Hound Dog, she moved naturally and was fun to watch. Not so with her second song, an overwrought, pitchy Can't Help Falling in Love. If Elliott does defy the odds, this leaves Taylor and Katharine to consider. Taylor is truly terrible but his sizable fan base wants to see him in the finals. Katharine, rather charmless Tuesday, looks to be the shocker when she's voted off.
- Dennis Hopper schedules memoirs: Hopper's book will cover everything from his childhood in Kansas to his impressions of Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley
(USA TODAY / AP May 9 2006)
The autobiography of Dennis Hopper, the Easy Rider star and Hollywood rebel whose friends and acquaintances have included James Dean, Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson, is scheduled to come out in 2008. "This is going to be the most exciting and unrestrained memoir to come out in years," Michael Pietsch, senior vice president and publisher of Little, Brown and Company, said Monday in a statement. Hopper's book is called Out Takes and, according to Little, Brown, will cover everything from his childhood in Kansas to his work in Easy Rider,Rebel Without a Cause,True Romance and other films to his impressions of Brando, Dean, Elvis Presley and many others. ...
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