late April 2007
- FREE CD ; THE LEGENDS COLLECTION IRISH SUNDAY Mirror Dean Martin
Source: Sunday Mirror; London
(Red Orbit, April 30, 2007)
TURN on to a great weekend with another fabulous free CD . Last Sunday we launched The Legends collection with Elvis Presley and it continues today with a voucher for a free Dean Martin CD. ...
- The pop music-TV connection
(Denver Post, April 30, 2007)
Here are just a few of the highlights in the long love affair between pop music and TV.
1957 Ricky Nelson debuts his cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin"' on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Within a few months his record label, Verve, can't keep up with orders for the single. Nelson goes on to rival Elvis Presley in Top 40 hits in late 1950s/early '60s.
1964 The Beatles, already popular for their records, first appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in February. An estimated 73 million people tune to watch them perform five songs, making them instant heartthrobs because of a telegenic performance.
1981 MTV is launched, providing a venue for the burgeoning music video industry. Acts as diverse as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Nirvana, Celine Dion and Snoop Dogg go on to benefit.
2002 "American Idol," a U.S. version of a popular British program, premiers on Fox. Shortly after winning Season One, Kelly Clarkson breaks a record set by the Beatles when her song "A Moment Like This" makes the biggest jump in Billboard Hot 100 history, from No. 52 to No. 1.
2003 "The O.C." premiers on Fox. Taking cues from WB shows like "Dawson's Creek" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," the show aggressively promotes the music used in its episodes, bolstering several indie bands' careers. They eventually release six soundtrack compilation CDs.
- Top of the pops for funerals
By Megan Reynolds
(wansteadandwoodfordguardian.co.uk, April 29, 2007)
ELTON John's music is the most popular choice for many Redbridge funerals, followed by Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. The selections were discovered in a survey by Redbridge Age Concern Funeral Plans which helps people plan for their funerals by offering a choice of traditional funeral arrangements through approved funeral directors. ...
- Dance fever breaks out at Murfreesboro's Discovery Center
By AL CLEVELAND
(Tennessean, April 29, 2007)
I guess we need to blame Elvis Presley for this one.
World Dance Day takes place at the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring this afternoon from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The center is located at 502 Southeast Broad Street in Murfreesboro. Come celebrate with a host of groups teaching Latin Ballroom dancing, Line dancing, Laotian Danicing and more. Admission is only $5 per adult for non-members of the center with children 2 and under admitted free.
For more information, call 890-2300.
- Chainsaw artists carving for charity
By Estuardo Garcia
(LJWorld.com, April 28, 2007)
When McLouth artist Russell Ehart looks at a tree stump, he doesn't see firewood. He sees a bird, a bear - or even Elvis Presley.
Ehart and about 25 of his fellow chainsaw carvers are descending this weekend on Pacific, Mo., for the first-ever Carving for a Miracle chainsaw carving competition and benefit auction. The event is a way for carvers from across the country to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network of Greater St. Louis.
Lisa Scheller/Tonganoxie Mirror Photo
Russell Ehart works on a chainsaw carving of Elvis Presley in Tonganoxie
- Rudd: Howard thinks Elvis is alive
(Daily Telegraph, April 27, 2007)
LABOR leader Kevin Rudd outlined his big vision for Australia today but in the eyes of many the best of the conference was happening on the sidelines with hug fests, war songs and mis-use of the C-word.
The Labor leader today declared "time's up" for the Howard Government in his first speech as leader to an ALP National Conference.
Mr Rudd told the conference at the Sydney Convention Centre voters were cynical towards Prime Minister John Howard and didn't believe him any more.
"And guess what? Time's up," he said to an ovation.
Mr Rudd's 45-minute address did not contain any new policy announcements and was primarily a rallying call based on Labor values and Government shortcomings.
He touched on industrial relations by vowing that in government he would dismantle
the Government's WorkChoices industrial relations laws "lock, stock and barrel", although he has already said he would keep some elements, including secret strike ballots.
He said the ALP stood for community, country and for the planet. "By contrast, the conservatives stand for their three great ennobling values of me, myself and I," he said. "The contrast is as far as it is deep. We stand for something bigger than ourselves and our self interest."
Mr Rudd took particular aim at the Prime Minister, accusing him of being unable to prepare for a future in which climate change and education would be central issues. "He is out of ideas," he said. "Mr Howard doesn't really believe in a single idea that didn't appear on black-and-white televison.
"The world has changed since Leave it to Beaver. The world has changed. "And to conceal his absence of ideas he's now increasingly driven by short-term politics in order to cling to long-term political office. "And all this is driven overwhelmingly by the fact that Mr Howard is the most clever politician this country has seen in a generation."
"Mr Howard is a climate change denier. This is the modern equivalent of arguing that the earth is flat and that NASA faked the moon landing and that Elvis is out there somewhere still flipping burgers in Florida. ...
- Elvis Presley, Celine Dion 'duet'
By CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI
(canoe, April 26, 2007)
A technological feat that allowed Quebec diva Celine Dion to sing alongside the late Elvis Presley had music and tech fans abuzz with wonder and speculation Thursday. Reaction was mixed as couch critics weighed in on the unusual televised duet, which saw an understated Dion and a realistic-looking Presley join voices on the "American Idol" stage to sing his 1968 hit "If I Can Dream" on Wednesday.
"That Elvis/Celine thing was too . . . creepy," blogger Lady Starblade, wrote at http://ladystarblade.livejournal.com. "I had to leave the room, it freaked me out that bad."
The running commentary at Narcissistic Ramblings (http://claena1.livejournal.com/) didn't know what to make of the performance - author "Cleana" had to invent a new word to describe Presley's image: "creeptastic". Others, meanwhile, were mesmerized. "My body became one entire chill bump," 32-year-old Maddie from Alabama wrote on her blog, www.ridicluelessness.blogspot.com "It was the most magnificent thing I've ever seen in my life."
The bizarre pairing for the live charity event, "Idol Gives Back," may have been a remarkable experience for TV viewers but it was a spectacle likely unseen by the "Idol" studio audience in Los Angeles. "(Presley's) been edited on there and I'll very, very much guess that the crowd couldn't see him," hologram expert Steve Wilson said from London, pointing out that Presley appears more "real" in some camera angles than others.
After reviewing the performance on YouTube.com, Wilson said Presley's image was most likely lifted from a previous taping, digitally remastered and inserted next to Dion. Camera angles that offer inconsistent views of the King suggest this was not a hologram, an image that is projected in three dimensions, added Wilson, whose London firm Dimensional Studios created a hologram performance by Madonna and defunct cartoon band The Gorillaz for the 2006 Grammys. "When they filmed him from the back, it's a bit chunky, a bit like (a computer-generated image), something off a game."
Presley's image was mostly likely taken from a 1968 comeback special on NBC, in which he offers an impassioned version of "If I Can Dream" in the same white suit, but against a simple dark backdrop bearing his name in lights. It would have been a fairly straightforward job to cut out his silhouette and use a "green screen" to place him on the "Idol" set, said Wilson. However it was done, it would have been a costly endeavour, he added. ...
- DION STUNS AMERICA WITH ELVIS DUET
(contactmusic.com, April 26, 2007)
CELINE DION made TV history in America last night (25A pr 07) when she performed live with ELVIS PRESLEY. Technology enabled the Canadian to appear to sing alongside Presley onstage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood during the American Idol 'Idol Gives Back' charity special. The late rocker appeared in hologram form for the breathtaking duet of If I Can Dream with Dion, leaving many audience members stunned and convinced they were seeing a ghost.
- Japanese leader to meet Bush in summit
By JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press
(Yahoo! News, April 25, 2007)
Less than a year ago, Japan's then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi swept into a summit in the United States at the height of his popularity, even making a side trip to Graceland where he won over his hosts with an Elvis Presley impersonation. ...
- Murfreesboro man chases title of world's best 'Elvis': 56-year-old's first challenge will be preliminary round at Williamson County Fair in August
By MITCHELL KLINE
(The Tennessean, April 24, 2007)
His hips don't wiggle like they used to. He's got four jumpsuits but can squeeze into only three. But Les Williams still has the two most essential features to impersonate the King - the voice and the hair.
Williams, a Murfreesboro resident, has been an Elvis impersonator for nearly 10 years. At 56, he's ready to put his uncanny ability to look and sound like a rock 'n' roll legend to the test. Williams plans to compete in the first Elvis tribute contest sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises. He's hoping to make it onto a stage in August at the Williamson County Fair, one of 21 sites across the world holding preliminary rounds for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and the only site in Tennessee.
Those who win will perform in Memphis during Elvis Week, Aug. 11-19. The tribute artist crowned King gets a bundle of prizes, including $5,000, a recording session, a specially designed belt, and a contract to perform on the Elvis Cruise.
... Interested contestants can get more information by e-mailing info@williamsoncountyfair.org.
- Yahoo! Music and Gracenote Present Song Lyrics from U2, Prince, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Kanye West, Radiohead and More Song lyrics on Yahoo!
By BusinessWire
(broadcastnewsroom.com, April 23, 2007)
Yahoo! Music and Gracenote(R) today announced a new licensing deal allowing Yahoo! Music to offer the largest catalog of legal, licensed song lyrics from Gracenote to Yahoo! Music's consumers. Beginning today, song lyrics for hundreds of thousands of songs from all five major publishers will be incorporated into Yahoo! Music through Gracenote's growing database. The agreement with Gracenote makes Yahoo! Music the first mass-market Web service to make licensed song lyrics available to consumers.
Through the agreement, consumers can search for song lyrics from the Yahoo! Music Search bar, simply by entering even a partial lyric from the song. Consumers will have viewing access to lyrics from nearly 100 music publishers, including the top five: BMG Music Publishing, EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, and dozens of prominent independent publishers. The addition of a comprehensive lyrics library complements existing Yahoo! Music products and services such as radio, music videos and on-demand music offerings, while reaffirming Yahoo! Music's reputation for providing its consumers with the most innovative, robust and complete music experience on the Web. ...
- County fair to host Elvis tribute contest
By MITCHELL KLINE
(The Tennessean, April 23, 2007)
The Williamson County Fair has been chosen as one of 21 sites across the globe to hold a preliminary round of competition for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest.
This is the first time Elvis Presley Enterprises has organized such an event. Winners of the preliminary rounds will have a chance to compete in Memphis during Elvis Week (Aug. 11-19). The tribute artist crowned "The King" will get $5,000 in cash, a $5,000 shopping spree at Graceland, a $3,000 gift card for a custom jumpsuit, a one-of-a-kind belt, a recording session and a contract to perform on the initial Elvis Cruise.
The Williamson County Fair will be the last preliminary round before the finals. The fair, which is held in Franklin, will hold the contest on Aug. 4. The event has been dubbed "Viva Las Franklin." According to Diane Giddens, the county mayorıs chief of staff, 12 contestants will be chosen by a panel to perform. The panel will look at video clips, photos and a 100-word essay while choosing performers. The cost to enter the contest is $100.
For more information go to www.elvis.com/ultimatecontest/.
Read more about this event in tomorrow's Tennessean.
- CELINE DION TO DUET WITH ELVIS
(contactmusic.com, April 23, 2007)
CELINE DION will raise the dead on Wednesday (25 Ap r07) when she performs a duet with ELVIS PRESLEY on American Idol. The odd couple will perform Presley's hit If I Can Dream during the upcoming Idol Gives Back charity benefit. Dion has been rehearsing for her odd live collaboration with a Presley impersonator, according to TMZ.com. The Canadian singer will perform with a virtual Presley on the show. The Idol Gives Back special will help raise money to fight extreme poverty in the US and Africa.
- Ray Charles borrowed 1955 hit song from gospel
By John Gerome / Associated Press
(Detroit News, April 23, 2007)
You say you've never heard the Southern Tones' gospel song "It Must Be Jesus"? Think again. Ray Charles rewrote the lyrics to the tune and put his own twist to it, and it became his 1955 classic, "I Got a Woman."
In doing so, the late singer laid the underpinnings of rock 'n' roll, author Peter Guralnick said Thursday. "Before 'I Got a Woman' there had never been so direct and blatant a transcription of an actual gospel song," said Guralnick, who's written biographies on Elvis Presley and Sam Cooke and several books on American roots music.
Charles' R&B smash was seen as a sacrilege by some, with preachers denouncing it from the pulpit. But Guralnick said it opened the doors for gospel-based soul singers like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett and the Motown sound. Guralnick, a visiting professor at Vanderbilt University, discussed the song during a lecture at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which is presenting the exhibit "I Can't Stop Loving You: Ray Charles and Country Music."
While Charles is widely regarded an R&B legend, his lengthy legacy also extends into jazz, pop and country. Guralnick said the gospel song that inspired "I Got a Woman" has for years been the subject of speculation. The author's research led him -- often in serpentine fashion -- to "It Must Be Jesus." The similarities between the two, he said, are unmistakable, with the biggest difference being the new, secular lyrics.
As for Charles borrowing so generously from the song, Guralnick shrugged."I wouldn't accuse Ray Charles of theft. You have to see that this stuff is out there, and it's the way in which it's used that gives it its originality," he said.
- Midland concert helped Orbison "Cash" in on music career
(mywesttexas.com / Midland Reporter-Telegram, April 22, 2007)
When historians and musicologists discuss the history of rock 'n' roll, it is impossible to ignore the impact of Roy Orbison. Orbison is remembered for haunting classics like "Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," "Blue Bayou," and "Crying." Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty are among the icons who credit Orbison as a vital talisman for their musical journey. The throbbing undertones of U2, the falsetto of Led Zepplin's Robert Plant and the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and the melodrama of Queen were all inspired by Orbison's musical stylings.
However, had it not been for a 1955 concert at Midland High School, it is entirely possible Orbison's superstar career might never have happened. The Oct. 12 package show starred Elvis Presley and featured Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, Floyd Cramer, Porter Wagoner, Bobby Lord, Jimmy C. Newman and Jimmy Day. Several in attendance also remember Billy Walker performing, but his name isn't found on any surviving newspaper ads, contracts or promotional materials.
Jane Carrens, a student at Midland High at the time, who later became principal there, said it is amazing to look back and think how accommodating the school administration was for such events. In fact, classes were often called when a big name act was scheduled to appear in the evening, so that students could attend a free preview in the school auditorium. "It was crazy to see how the girls reacted to Elvis," Carrens said. "These were friends of mine and they just went crazy when he came on stage."
... Sharon Floyd, a senior in the class of '55 said, "I can still remember that my little sister and her friends got as close to the stage as they could and just screamed when Elvis would swivel his hips. Those girls would just faint dead away." At the time, Presley had hits with "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "I Forgot to Remember to Forget," and "Mystery Train." Cash had charted with "Hey Porter" and "Cry Cry Cry," and just released "Folsom Prison Blues." Stanley Oberst, author of "Elvis in Texas," said, "Elvis had been on tour with some stars from the Louisiana Hayride and then broke off to join the group that went to Midland."
Oberst has collected thousands of photographs, documents, interviews and ledgers regarding Presley's concerts across the Lone Star State. He said, "For a concert like this one, the lesser acts were only doing about three numbers. Cash would have been next to last and then Elvis. You didn't want to go on after Elvis because everybody would just get up and leave to try and get a look at him when he left the auditorium."
One of those who wanted to meet Presley was Orbison. He had attended earlier Elvis shows in Midland and Odessa, as well as concerts in Lubbock and Dallas. His goal was to talk to Presley and find out how he had gone from local singer to "The Hillbilly Cat" in less than a year.
The afternoon of the Midland High concert, following the free preview, Orbison got his opportunity, in the form of Johnny Cash.
- Elvis Tribute Artist preliminary contest scheduled in Longview
(MarshallNewsMessenger.com, April 22, 2007)
Longview is one of 23 locations hosting preliminary contests for the official "Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest," Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. announced. The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest is a search for the Elvis Tribute Artist that is the "best representation of the legacy of Elvis Presley." Judges will look for talent, appearance, performance, stage presence and each contestant's overall tribute to Elvis. The best overall performer will be named "The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2007."
Each location hosting the preliminary contests will send their winner to the qualifying rounds and finals which will be in Memphis during the 30th anniversary of Elvis Week, which is Aug. 11 to Aug. 19. The preliminary contest in Longview will be June 23, at T.G. Field Auditorium, 400 N. Second St. The semi-finals will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The finals will start at 7 p.m. The intermission show will star Wayne King as Jerry Lewis and Roy Orbison.
Advance tickets are on sale for $20 at Cavenders Boot City in Longview and Bandstand Music in Marshall. Tickets may also be purchased online for $23 with Pay Pal at www.lovemetenderintexas.com. They are $25 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Neal McCoys East Texas Angel Network. For more information about the preliminary contest in Longview or to help sponsor it, call Carol Shahin at 903-586-8518.
- Elvis Presley Rock 'n' Roll For Life Motorcycle Ride
By: Nicole Johnson
(myeyewitnessnews.com, April 22, 2007)
Elvis Presley Enterprises hosted the Elvis Rock 'n' Roll for Life motorcycle ride on Sunday, April 22, 2007. A limited edition Elvis Presley Signature Harley davidson was also unveiled during the festivities. Organizers say the event for motorcycle enthusiasts was a fitting way to honor Presley's passion for motorcycles and his lifetime of generosity to people and charitable causes. All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Diabetes Association.
- The Elvis Presley fan who always had England on his mind
By Bruce Talbot
(The Independent, April 21, 2007)
Peter Moores transformed perennial underachievers Sussex into the county game's strongest force - he can do the same at the top level. It takes something to knock Mushtaq Ahmed off the top of the bill at Hove these days. But it wasn't another wicket for the mercurial leg-spinner yesterday which drew the biggest cheer at the County Ground; rather the announcement that Peter Moores had just got the most important job in English cricket. Moores has never forgotten his roots and the greybeards in the Hove deckchairs will never forget the part he played in transforming perennial underachievers into the strongest force in the county game, a legacy which has been carried on by Mark Robinson.
Moores became interested in coaching long before even his own modest playing career took shape, first with Worcestershire and then Sussex. ... Moores will be like a breath of fresh air after Duncan Fletcher in terms of his relationship with the counties and his dealings with the media. A family man with two children, he enjoys good food and wine and will happily croon his way through the Elvis Presley songbook, especially after a few glasses of red. Some people may regard him as a safe selection, but Moores is someone who should be good for English cricket, not just Team England.
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