mid August 2007
- 30th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's Death
(wtvr.com / AP, August 18, 2007)
Even from beyond the grave, Elvis Presley still generates big bucks. That's even more true this week.
Fans from Europe, Asia, Australia, South America - and even from exotic locales like Kansas - are spending their hard-earned money for T-shirts, coffee mugs, salt and pepper shakers, refrigerator magnets and other trinkets during the events commemorating his death 30 years ago.
Many are making the 110-mile trek from Memphis, Tenn., where the King of Rock 'n' Roll enjoyed his fame and gaudy fortune in Graceland, to Tupelo, the northeast Mississippi city where Elvis came into the world on Jan. 8, 1935, in a tiny shotgun shack built by his father. They're also filling hotel rooms as far away as northwest Mississippi's casino row in Tunica and are spending money on meals, rental cars and gasoline, giving a significant, although difficult to quantify, boost to the area's economy.
Dick Guyton, executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation in Tupelo, estimated that fans will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars there and at area hotels and stores this week, which - even at the birthplace - is the busiest of the year for Elvis tourism.
The more lucrative earnings are in Memphis. Last year, Graceland took in $27 million in revenue, and the overall Elvis business brings in more than $40 million a year for CKX Inc., the New York-based company that controls most Elvis enterprises. That made the King the second-highest grossing dead celebrity in 2006, behind only Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, according to Forbes magazine.
About 3,000 people went to Tupelo this past Saturday for an annual Fan Appreciation Day, and Guyton predicted the visitor totals could reach 5,000 by Friday.
Lillian Dunk, a 65-year-old homemaker from Birmingham, England, said she and her financial-broker husband have traveled to Tupelo every year since 1997 to feed her Elvis addiction. "I'm just absolutely mad about Mr. Presley," said Dunk, who uses her favorite Elvis tune, the inspirational "If I Can Dream," as her cell phone ring tone. Dunk said she and her husband are traveling with her sister and sister's husband for the 10-day trip. They're staying at a casino hotel in Tunica, about 20 miles south of Memphis. And, she wasn't shy in saying she and her husband were planning to spend about 4,000 British pounds - roughly $8,000 - not including air fare. "I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't come every year," she said in a telephone interview from the birthplace. "I just absolutely love the place. I adore it. I just feel so relaxed here."
In Memphis on Wednesday, thousands of Presley fans braved 105-degree heat as they wound down Graceland's driveway in a graveside procession in advance of the 30th anniversary of the singer's death, on Thursday.
The heat led to the death of a fan from New Jersey, a 67-year-old woman. The Memphis Fire Department said it also treated at least six people overcome by heat, including an 8-year-old boy who was hospitalized.
Steve Martin, spokesman for the tourism division of the Mississippi Development Authority, said the agency doesn't specifically track spending for Elvis tourism. But he said for all tourists, the state figures two people traveling for three days will spend roughly $750. In Tennessee, no one keeps exact figures, but the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated up to 75,000 people would be drawn to town for the anniversary week.
Even hotels, museums and restaurants not specifically targeted for Elvis-related events may have reason to hope, authorities said. "We would have a crossover with the Elvis fans in terms of blues music," Martin said. "If they're that close to the birthplace of the blues, they might go other places, too."
- Elvis' flame keeps on burning
By Dorreen Yellow Bird
(Grand Forks Herald, August 18, 2007)
Thursday was the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, and for young people who wonder what the current Elvis brouhaha is about, I'll tell you. It's about "The King of Rock and Roll," one of the best-selling and most influential artists in the history of popular music. "The King" in those early years was remarkable. In addition to bringing forward a new era of music, he was a bookmark for changing our lives.
If he had lived, Presley would have been 72 years old. I wonder if he would have aged gracefully? Probably not; he didn't exactly live gracefully.
"Don't be Cruel," if I remember right, was the first Elvis song I heard. "I just loved the sound of his music," I remember telling my sister, "but he'll never make it as a famous singer because of his name." At the time, names like Elvis usually got changed to something such as "Rock," "The Big Bopper," "Bo Diddley," "Fats" and so on.
I soon would learn that others "just loved" his music, too. My girlfriends and I would collect those 45 rpm vinyl records (they looked like a larger version of a floppy disc) and play them over and over again. They had only two songs on them one on the back and one on the front.
Listening to his music was a little more acceptable to parents than watching Elvis live on television at that time. My mother didn't comment nor did she say we couldn't watch him, but she did raise her eyebrows and occasionally draw in a deep breath when he was on.
He brought young people out of the closet, so to speak, by exposing us to the sensuality in his music and performances. In spite of the objections by big-name stars such as Steve Allen, Ed Sullivan and Frank Sinatra and newspapers such as the New York Daily News, his performances spoke to young people about sensuality and said it was OK. It wasn't just for the bedroom and whispering in the backroom.
I don't remember what happened to my collection of those vinyl discs; I guess I got a little bored with the saturation coverage of Elvis during the years that followed. Today, I appreciate his music much more. My daughter copied many of his songs on an Ipod she gave me for Christmas. With all the new technology, he sounds great, and his music certainly takes me back to my early years.
Several years after Elvis died, I had the chance to visit Graceland as many people have done. I wasn't impressed with Elvis' mansion in Memphis, Tenn. It wasn't what I thought it would be. It seemed gaudy and overdone. The bottom floor or basement had a low ceiling and, if I remember correctly, tigerskin coverings on some of the furniture. When you exit the mansion, you come to the Meditation Gardens; Elvis is buried there. Why is he buried in his backyard? Because grave robbers tried to dig up his body and that of his mother. "If that doesn't beat all," I told my sisters when we heard.
More impressive at Graceland was Elvis' personal hall of fame building, where records of his awards and accomplishments hang. It includes many, many awards given to him, including his gold and platinum records. Elvis has a street names after him and recently, a U.S. postage stamp. His fame and influence were felt not just in this country but around the world.
Across the street from Graceland is Elvis' personal airplane. It's nice but not really extraordinary, or at least it wasn't years ago. From what I've read, many things in Graceland have been upgraded, so maybe the airplane might be spruced up, too. Next is a curio shop, where you can get anything from an Elvis cup or T-shirt to books about "The King." This I found to be rather a letdown from the hall of fame building.
What should be remembered about Elvis after 30 years is that he succeeded and that's an understatement in spite of the fact that he grew up in poverty. Elvis was bullied and made fun of in school because he was different. His father, Vernon, worked at a series of low-paying jobs such as sharecropping and driving a truck. Gladys Love Smith, his mother, ran a sewing machine. They didn't provide a stellar environment or role models for him. In fact, no one seems to be sure why Elvis' talent developed the way it did. Certainly, his mother influenced him, but he had to make choices for the path he traveled.
Elvis proved that in spite of it all, you can succeed in whatever environment you find yourself in. He left a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
- Elvis begins big, falls flat: video montages fail to woo crowd - concert review
By Bob Mehr
(Commercial Appeal, August17, 2007, p. B5)
The Bible warns agains the worship of false idols, but it doesn't say anything about a Jumbotron Elvis.
And so it was that a sold-out crowd of 18,000-plus came to the FedExForum Thursday night to bow at the altar of a digitally conjured King of Rock and Roll, as part of the "Elvis Presley -- In Concert" multimedia spectacular.
... As in years past, the most exciting and believable moment came with Elvis' entrance. In a stunning video recreation, it showed him traveling to FedExForum via helicopter, even remarking to road manager Joe Esposito about the size of the arena ("That's a big place, man"). As the strains of his signature "Also Sprach Zarathustra" intro segued into the opening lines of "C.C. Rider" it was hard for even the most churlish observoer not to be affected. The whole concept of "Elvis Presley -- In concert" is simultaneously ludicrous and brilliant - wonderfully absurd may be the best way to describe the overall conceit of this multi-media circus.
... After about a half a doxen songs from late-period Presley, the concert shifted back to the 1950s and the arrival of Young Elvis, represented by clips from several period television shows. But even with real-life performers -- like original drummer DJ Fontana keeping the beat and the Jordanaires offering backing vocals -- the segment fell utterly flat.
While a chronological jump cut into the '68 Comback Special was a bit livelier, that too was torpedoed by an overly long detour into a medley of Elvis movie musical moments. This was a particularly baffling choice. Does anyone, even the most dedicated Presley die-hard, really want to shell out hard-earned money to watch The Big E shimmy his shoulders to "Bossa Nova Baby"? By the time the TCB returned the early momentum had been lost.
It's clear the producers are simply trying to cover all the bases and offer fans the entire breadth of Presley's career. But the show's appeal is ultimately predicated on the illusion, however thin, that Elvis really is in the building. Once that notion is hattered, all you're left with is a dead guy on a big TV screen.
- Record crowd recalls Elvis 30 years gone
By WOODY BAIRD
(Biloxi
Sun Herald / AP, August 17, 2007)
Under a scorching sun at Graceland, his beloved home, fans streamed by
Elvis Presley's grave on Thursday, the 30th anniversary of the death of
the king of rock 'n' roll. It was, for most, a time to remember. "I
can't describe how I feel about him because I've loved him since I was a
teenager," said Katie Brown of Crittenden, Ky. "When I would
hear him sing, I'd go into like a trance and nothing else around me mattered."
Pat Hillebrand of DuBois, Penn., said her graveside visit with friend
Sandy Bartoletti of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., brought back memories of the
Elvis concert they attended together in 1957 as 15-year-old schoolmates.
"We rubbed our hands on the stage and I didn't wash my hands for a
week," Hillebrand said. "I had gum that I chewed in the air
where he breathed and I kept it for like 15 years."
Dozens of large floral displays sent by fans from around the world
surrounded a walkway leading to the garden. Teddy bears, single red
roses and other small offerings covered the grave. Presley, who died at
Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977, is buried in a small garden beside the
famous white-columned house.
Graceland was also swarmed Wednesday by fans who turned out for the annual
overnight "candlelight vigil" to the garden. Waiting for it to
start, many sat or stood for hours in temperatures that hit 106 degrees.
By the time it began at 9:30 p.m. EST, a tightly packed crowd stretched
almost a quarter mile, filling all five lanes of Elvis Presley Boulevard
in front of Graceland. By the time it finished, the overnight event drew
what was estimated to be record numbers.
"According to our guys who do special events, and they're experts
at counting heads, their estimate is somewhere around 40,000," said
police spokesman Vince Higgins. Jack Soden, chief executive of Elvis
Presley Enterprises, the company that runs Graceland, said he was given
a police estimate of 50,000 participants and considered that on the low
side. "It was just amazing," Soden said. "Everything
about this week has been bigger and stronger, with more people and more
attendance everywhere."
The graveside procession went on through the night and was still under
way when regular Graceland tours were ready to begin at 8 a.m. Thursday,
Soden said. "A lot of fans all over the world had anticipated this
would be a big year," he said, "and that had a tendency to
become a self-fulfilling prophecy."
The city's Convention and Visitors Bureau predicted up to 75,000 visitors
would be in Memphis for the anniversary this year. Almost 600,000
tourists visit Graceland each year, with a capacity attendance of more
than 40,000 touring the residence during the anniversary week.
Fans visit the flower-covered grave of Elvis Presley, second gravemarker on
the left, on the grounds of Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., on the 30th
anniversary of his death Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Presley is buried with his
grandmother Minnie Mae, his father Vernon; and his mother Gladys.
- Elvis still among us: fans
By Karin Zeitvogel
(Canberra Times, August 17, 2007)
Elvis Presley never left the building or checked out of Heartbreak Hotel. He's simply lying low and ordering room service, diehard fans insist 30 years after his death.
Sighting of Elvis started being reported almost immediately after he died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42.
According to the Elvis Sighting Bulletin Board website, where internet users can post when and where they saw Elvis, the King has been spotted everwhere from Oman to Norway, London to Kalamazoo, since his death. He's also been seen in local supermarkets, swimming pools, and, often, in fast food restaurants, according to the website.
The latest sighting posted on the bulletin board reads, "I was in line at Costco waiting to purchase a Nathan's hot dog when I heard the customer behind me softly singing "Love Me Tember. I turned around to compliment him on his singing voice and that's when I realised it was the King." ...
- Libre: Elvis Presley's legacy
By Mel Libre
(sunstar.com, August 17, 2007)
AUGUST is the occasion for fans of Elvis Presley to remember the "King of Rock n' Roll." I must confess I am not much of an Elvis fan but I've done Elvis impersonations in the past. Elvis died of heart failure caused by a long period of misuse of drugs on Aug. 16, 1977 at the age of 42. At the time of his sudden death, he was only a shadow of the star that he was in his early years.
Listening to the early works of Elvis is fascinating with the range of his voice displayed in the rock 'n roll anthems that made him famous. But hearing his recordings in the late '60s and in the '70s, one gets the impression he was no longer the pioneering idol that he was. He had become as standard as Frank Sinatra.
If there was something original with Elvis, it was his body movements while he performed. As far as music is concerned, he merely imitated genuine rock n' roll pioneers like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. Even his image was borrowed from James Dean, who died young and made a cult following with the movie, "A Rebel Without a Cause."
Lacking the ability to create his own songs, Elvis was at the mercy of composers and his manager. He lost whatever respectability that was left in him as an artist when he became an entertainer in Las Vegas.
His legacy? Nobody really remembers anything much about his back-up band because its members played note for note without room for improvisation.
While The Beatles and Bob Dylan acknowledge Elvis for opening their eyes to the new sound that he popularized, it is a fact that the Fab Four and Dylan created music that had more impact on later generations.
Lisa Marie, Elvis' only daughter, attempted to pursue a music career, but the attempt is best forgotten. Perhaps, what can be counted as her biggest achievement was her having married the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, then followed that up by snagging Elvis fanatic and actor Nicolas Cage as her husband after divorcing Jackson. She has since also divorced Cage.
What is astounding is that Elvis' business empire thrives until today with earnings of $50 million annually. How this happened is not rocket science but simply marketing acumen. The business handlers of Elvis' estate knew the value of the Elvis brand. They turned his home, Graceland, into a shrine and marked his death anniversary like it was Christmas with as many Elvis souvenir items available for sale. If I read it right, even Elvis impersonators now pay a fee to the estate.
The truth about Elvis is that he was packaged well at the start of his career. But unlike Michael Jackson and Madonna who have mastered the art of reinventing themselves, Elvis and his management chose to take the more profitable option sans artistry.
While Elvis is a basic material in pop music history, he may also be good subject in the study of business as well as estate management.
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