Presley Land

2011-11-11T11:33:00.001-08:00

Happy Veterans Day Elvis

2011-11-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

2011-08-16T01:50:00.001-07:00

A Message from Lisa Marie Presley at Candlelight Vigil

August 15, 2011
The following message below from Lisa Marie Presley was read tonight to fans who gathered at the gates of Graceland for the annual Candlelight Vigil during Elvis Week 2011:

Dear Friends:

Thank you so much for being here and continuing to honor the legacy of my father. Your ongoing love and support mean very much to me and my family. My father always said he had the best fans in the world, and he was right. The fact that you are here to celebrate his life 34 years after his passing is a testament to that.

I hope you've enjoyed our new exhibits at Graceland and I look forward to being involved personally with a very special exhibit called "Elvis Through His Daughter's Eyes" opening in the Spring of next year.

Before we know it, it will be Elvis Week 2012, which as you all know as the 35th anniversary will be special time. I look forward to being there with you, my mother and entire family.

Thank you all and I'll see you next August.

LMP

RIP ELVIS

2011-08-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

Sonny West In Hospital - Update

2011-06-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

Sonny West In Hospital - Update

http://www.elvisnews.com/news.aspx/sonny-west-in-hospital--update/13351

Sonny West, co-author of the August 1977 gossip book "Elvis What Happened?!" and persona non grata at most Elvis events, took a fall off his daughter's porch. The circumstances are not clear, but apparently the man broke 3 ribs and also has some cuts, abrasions and bruises. He is in the hospital. He'll survive.
Update from Sandy Pichon (June 26):
When we arrived we were distressed to see him. His color was gray, he had many cuts and abrasions and bruises and his hands, feet and legs were very swollen. His spleen was lacerated and his heart was not functioning normally. He is on oxygen and was in a lot of pain. The dr ordered a CT scan and afterward came in to speak with us. Sonny had blood clots in his lungs (pulmonary emboli) and in his legs. It was urgent that a Vena Cava Filter be put in place to prevent more clots from entering his lungs or his heart. We prayed with him, consent forms were signed and he was taken down. The procedure was performed immediately and his color began to improve. We were able to talk with him more until he asked for more pain meds. He is not out of the woods yet. The dr is unable to put him on blood thinner due to the spleen as a spleen bleed could be fatal, as could the clots. There is a possibility the spleen will have to be removed if it doesn't heal properly. The dr said that the fall actually saved his life as they believe the clots were there before the fall and had he not been brought to the hospital he would have died. Sonny asked me to thank you for your prayers and that you continue to lift him up until he is completely healed. He is anxious to get back to work on his movie Fame and Fortune. He is too sick to receive visitors or take phone calls (please) at this time, but if you would like to send a card to Sonny, you can send it to me at P O Box 161052, Memphis TN 38186. I plan to go back to Nashville soon as I promised Judy I would certainly be there for them when they need me. This is a very difficult time and I ask that you all please continue your prayers. I will update you as his condition progresses.

June 26, 1977

2011-06-26T08:58:00.001-07:00

to June 26, 1977...The last concert and song Elvis will ever perform. His God given talent never faltered and those incredible recordings are the greatest gift he gave us! He died 6 weeks later 8/16/77

2011-06-07T07:56:00.000-07:00

Graceland officially opened to the public 29 years ago today on June 7, 1982! Here's a photo from the ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Elvis' Aunt Delta:

2011-05-24T06:45:00.001-07:00

2011-05-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Riley Keough 2

2011-05-13T22:41:00.001-07:00

Riley Keough Lisa Marie's Daughter

2011-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Presley Family

2011-05-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

Elvis at the grave site of his mother somewhere in 1960. Gladys Love Presley died on August 14th 1958 at "Methodist Hospital" in Memphis just before "The King" went to Germany in the service.

Unseen pictures of Elvis Presley hugging a schoolgirl in his army days are revealed to BBC's Antiques

2011-04-03T05:50:00.000-07:00

These amazing pictures of Elvis Presley hugging a smitten schoolgirl are seen in public for the first time today after lying hidden for 52 years.

The photos show The King, then 24, relaxing on military service.

He is shown cuddling 15-year-old Sigrid Schulz and letting her wear his cap before signing records for fans.

Sigrid handed the photos to a friend to prove she had met the singer at a German army base in 1959. But for many years they lay gathering dust in a drawer.

Tonight the photos, worth up to £7,000, will be shown on BBC1’s Antiques Roadshow. Presenter Fiona Bruce said: “These must be some of the most stunning pictures of a young Elvis I’ve ever seen. To think they’ve never been seen in public before.”

It was pure luck that young Sigrid met Elvis when her father took her to Bad Nauheim, where he was staying.

She found her hero in a relaxed mood while off duty. Elvis – Private Presley 53 310 761 – was stationed at nearby Friedberg having been drafted into the US Army in March 1958 and flown to Germany that October.

The woman, who owns the pictures and now lives in London but wishes to stay anonymous, was a childhood pal of Sigrid.

She recalled: “Sigrid, who was a year or two older than me, told me excitedly, ‘I’ve seen Elvis and I’ve touched him and he kissed me’.

“To prove it, she gave me copies of the photographs that her parents had taken. When word got out, there was a meteoric rise in her popularity.

“She had obviously been able to spend some time with Elvis and, being a very pretty girl, seems to have impressed him. She was kissed by him and wouldn’t wash her cheek for a week.

“He gave her a rose, which we pressed and she shared the petals with me. I kept the dried petals in foil under my bed. I still have them. Sigrid and I lost touch long ago but I kept the photographs safely in a drawer and brought them out when the Antiques Roadshow came to London.”

Roadshow memorabilia expert Hilary Kay said: “I’ve never seen Elvis Presley look more gorgeous. It is a wonderful collection and the thing is nobody knew these photographs existed.

“Cumulatively these are really valuable – worth between £5,000 and £7,000. The fan base for Elvis is still really strong.”

The photos were taken shortly before Elvis met wife-to-be Priscilla Beaulieu, who was just 14.

This period was also thought to be when he was first introduced to drugs that blighted his later career.

He was discharged from the Army in 1960.

He and Priscilla wed in 1967 but divorced six years later. He died aged 42 in 1977.

Antiques Roadshow, BBC1 tonight at 8pm

http://www.people.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2011/04/03/unseen-pictures-of-elvis-presley-hugging-a-schoolgirl-in-his-army-days-are-revealed-to-bbc-s-antiques-roadshow-102039-23032996/

Lisa & Family

2011-04-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

The girls are getting so big!! Lovely Family Lisa and Mike!!!

Graceland Redevelopment Plans Scaled Back

2011-03-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

The owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises said Wednesday it is scaling back plans to redevelop the Graceland attraction due to a difficult economic climate. CKx Inc. said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that expanding the visitors center and adding new attractions, shops, and a new hotel adjacent to Elvis' former home would take several years and substantial financial investment.

The filing also said expenses for operating the Memphis tourist attraction rose last year due to higher professional and legal fees that were primarily related to a 2010 master plan that has been postponed.

The company is exploring opportunities to build a new Heartbreak Hotel with a business partner, CKx CEO Michael G. Ferrel told The Associated Press. But the other previously studied parts of the redevelopment would happen only in "incremental steps," depending on the economy, he said.

"We ran straight into a headwind for what this project was supposed to be," Ferrel said. "It's going to be done on a different timetable than we first anticipated for reasons beyond our control."

CKx has been studying ways to redevelop Graceland and the surrounding area for years, with the possibility of breaking ground in 2011 or 2012. Ferrel told AP in August that tough economic conditions over the past two years, including a dearth of financing for construction and a drop in consumer spending, had delayed the study looking at improvements.

Elvis lived at Graceland for 20 years before he died in August 1977. The home has been open for public tours since 1982. Jack Soden, president CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, said the visitors complex development is on a slower track, but the company is still committed to investing in the long-term growth of Graceland.

"It's designing and developing with a sharper pencil, and that's the new economy," Soden said. Last year, 518,940 people visited Graceland, a 4.4 percent drop from 542,728 in 2009.

Today in Elvis History

2011-02-23T06:55:00.000-08:00

February 23, 1955

Elvis performed at the High School Auditorium, Pine Bluff, Arkansas at 7.30 and 9.30 p.m.

February 23, 1956

Elvis performed at the New Baseball Park Jacksonville, Florida. Here Elvis collapses in the parking lot after the first show and was taken to a hospital, where the doctor diagnosed exhaustion and told him to slow down.

February 23, 1957

Steve Sholes arranged a session at Radio Recorders for Elvis to cut Loving You again, this time as an RCA single, but Elvis turned his attention to other material instead. During a session from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. I Beg Of You and One Night came out , with each a potential candidate for single release.

February 23, 1967

Elvis returned to the studio, wearing a complete cowboy outfit with chaps. He overdubbed vocals on the prerecorded instrumental tracks. Some were completed on this date, but several had to wait until his return to Hollywood.

February 23, 1969

Elvis returned to Los Angeles.

February 23, 1970

Elvis closed his engagement with a midnight show that ran until 3.00 a.m. giving what many considered to be one of his finest performances. He played the piano on Lawdy, Miss Clawdy and Blueberry Hill and toward the end of the evening he introduced the Colonel to the audience saying: "He's not only my manager, but I love him very much."

February 23, 1971

Elvis concluded his Las Vegas engagement with a show that ranged from an uninhibited Mystery Train/Tiger Man Medley to a sadly bittersweet Help Me Make It Through The Night. As on almost every other final night, there was also a water fight.

February 23, 1972

Priscilla flew in for the end of Elvis' engagement and informed his that she was involved with karate champion Mike Stone.

Elvis was awarded a 5 degree black belt from Ed Parker's International Kenpo Karate Association.

February 23, 1973

Ann-Margret was in the audience on Elvis' closing night. To Lamar, who was in charge of the lights, Elvis said: "Leave the light on her, man, I just want to look at her."

Interview with Priscilla Presley in AARP Magazine

2011-02-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.elvis.com/!userfiles/editor/docs/AARP_atricle.pdf

Myrna Smith Passed Away

2010-12-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

REST IN PEACE MYRNA

Lisa Presley @ Harry Potter Premeire

2010-11-14T08:11:00.001-08:00

Ulysses Jones Jr. dies in Memphis

2010-11-10T15:50:00.001-08:00

State Rep. Ulysses Jones Jr. dies in Memphis

By Lucas L. Johnson II

Associated Press

NASHVILLE — State. Rep. Ulysses Jones Jr., described by colleagues as a passionate lawmaker and one of the first emergency medics to reach Elvis Presley when the entertainer died, died early Tuesday in his hometown of Memphis. Jones was 59.

Jones' fiancee, Sandra Richards, told The Associated Press that Jones had pneumonia and died from complications at a local hospital.

"They said his lungs weren't strong enough to fight off the infection," said Richards, who had planned to marry Jones in March.

Jones, who was first elected to the Legislature in 1986, represented District 98 in Shelby County and was a battalion chief of the Memphis Fire Department.

Rep. John Deberry, a Memphis Democrat and chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus, said one of the reasons Jones was so passionate about people was because he had witnessed so many deaths in his profession as an emergency responder.

Deberry said Jones was among the emergency medical officials who worked feverishly to revive Presley on Aug. 16, 1977.

"I believe they all were disheartened because they couldn't save Elvis," he said

Deberry said Jones identified with Presley who, like himself, had spent time in public housing projects and made something of himself.

Deberry, who sat beside Jones in the state House, said his colleague was passionate about issues that affected "those people who didn't have a voice, those people who were still ... struggling."

"If you wanted to see Ulysses stand up on the floor, you come with some issue that you felt would affect those individuals who were still struggling just to put food on the table, just to keep the lights on, keep a roof above their head and take care of their children, and he would be standing up and he would fight with every fiber of his being for those individuals," Deberry said.

Gov. Phil Bredesen said he will remember Jones most for his public service.

"He's somebody who had a job serving people, and he'll be missed," Bredesen said. "I thought Ulysses Jones was a good state legislator and represented his district really well."

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said Jones was good at "conveying and sharing our local positions and outlooks with his colleagues in Nashville."

"He was a fighter and a negotiator, willing to wear whatever hat was needed to get the job done," Wharton said.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Nashville said issues Jones was most passionate about included "improving schools, expanding college scholarships to more students, and equal pay for all."

House Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry of Memphis said Jones, who chaired the House State and Local Government committee through 2008, also had an uncanny ability to add a bit of humor when he debated lawmakers on the House floor, which often lightened the mood.

"He was a comedian in his own right," DeBerry said.

Jones in recent years delighted in needling Republicans on the House floor about their support for local tax issues that he said was at odds with their overall anti-tax platform.

"I think it's very hypocritical for a group to say we don't support taxes, and they voted in favor of just about every tax bill that's come before us from local government," he said earlier this year.

Jones and House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada clashed publicly about his repeatedly challenging GOP lawmakers about the tax legislation, leading Speaker Kent Williams to threaten in April to have both men removed from the chamber if they didn't stop.

Casada said Tuesday that he will miss Jones.

"Ulysses has my utmost respect," the Franklin lawmaker said. "He told you exactly what he believed, and he fought for that belief. Tennessee has lost a warrior."

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said he and Jones were adversaries, but "in the purest sense of the word."

"We often disagreed on issues of public policy — particularly in education — but we never disagreed that we were unified in working to do what we thought was best for the people of Tennessee," Norris said.

Jones, however, was not immune to controversy. He acknowledged in 2005 that he was among the targets of a two-year FBI investigation called Tennessee Waltz that led to the convictions of five former state lawmakers. Jones took $1,000 in campaign contributions from an undercover agent, but later reported the contribution according to state law and said he refused greater sums of money. Jones was never charged with any wrongdoing.

After the sting, Jones told the AP about paying a courtesy call to a man trying to learn the "lobbying game," who later turned out to be working on the FBI's payroll.

"He was steady talking, and, I'm serious, he started laying money out. I said to myself, 'No, he's not doing what I think he's about to do,'" said Jones. "He laid out $5,000 and he looked at it and pushed it over to me. I looked at it and pushed it back to him."

The FBI came calling several months later asking about E-Cycle Management, the fake firm the man was purportedly lobbying for.

"I told them something just wasn't right about that company," Jones said. "Little did I know I was talking about their company."

In a subsequent special legislative session to overhaul the state's ethics rules for public officials, Jones took a lead in favoring "total disclosure" rather than a more strict crackdown on lobbyists and perks for lawmakers.

Jones said his amendments chipping away at the ethics bill were designed to address what he called "minefields and pitfalls" contained within the measure.

Nevertheless, Jones' colleagues say his reputation won't be tarnished.

"We're certainly going to miss him," said Rep. Larry Miller, a Memphis Democrat and close friend of Jones.

Funeral services were pending Tuesday.

___

Associated Press writer Erik Schelzig contributed to this report

Priscilla To Be Honored

2010-09-23T14:25:00.001-07:00

The Las Vegas Review Journal broke the news that Priscilla Presley, who married Elvis Presley at the old Aladdin hotel in 1967 in Vegas, will be honored as the 2011 Woman of the Year at Nevada Ballet Theatre's Black & White Ball on Jan. 29 at Aria.

September 23

2010-09-23T14:21:00.001-07:00

September 23, 1955Elvis attended a show by the Blackwood Brothers at Ellis Auditorium in Memphis. When James Blackwood discovered that Elvis bought his own ticket to get in , he set his apologies along with a refund.

September 23, 1956Elvis flew to Memphis, together with Nick Adams and Gene Smith. On this trip he used the name Clint Reno, just like the character from his last movie, Love Me Tender.

In the evening Elvis was seen at the Memphis Fairgrounds with Nick Adams.

September 23, 1963Back home in Memphis Elvis went to the Memphian almost every night to watch some films.

September 23, 1964Elvis had a chest X ray and some blood tests and again didn't attend the movies. His schedule for Los Angeles was delayed.

September 23, 1970Elvis returned to Memphis, where he watched a movie at the Crosstown, before leaving for Los Angeles the next day.

September 23, 1973In the mobile recording truck RCA had sent to Elvis home in Palm Springs the recording continued from 7.00 p.m. till 3.15 a.m. with Elvis completing Are You Sincere and I Miss You. RCA just got enough for one album now.

Dr. Nick

2010-09-04T01:43:00.001-07:00

Dr. Nick is in Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. He fell, broke his shoulder and is in serious condition. These are all of the details I know at this time. Whether you like or dislike him, Elvis loved and respected him. I sincerely ask that you remember him in your prayers. Thanks and God Bless Him

Elvis Presley-My way

2010-08-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley - Welcome to my world

2010-08-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley - You Gave Me A Mountain(Live Hawaii 1973

2010-08-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley - It's Over.

2010-08-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley Week August 9-17: a Tribute to the King of Rock N' Roll

2010-08-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

The World was Stunned when Elvis Presley Died on August 16, 1977

I was born the year Elvis Presley was just becoming famous: 1956. It wasn't much later that millions of people around the world became obsessed fans of the gorgeous hunk of burning love, Elvis Presley. My first

realization that Elvis was more than just the ordinary teen idol was when my sister, 12 years my senior, had Elvis posters hanging all over her room, played Elvis 45s on the record player 24/7, and watched every Elvis Presley movie on television about five times each. By age 15, I was collecting Elvis Presley recordings and movie sound tracks. By age 18, I was a bonafide huge Elvis Presley fan.

I am sad that I never got to see Elvis Presley perform live. Elvis Presley performed live in concert at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 26, 1977. This would be the last public performance of Elvis Presley's life. After this concert, Elvis returned to Graceland to rest for an upcoming tour in August. Elvis was to leave for Portland, Maine on August 16, 1977 to perform in concert on August 17 and continue his next tour schedule. On August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley went to the dentist around 1 a.m. and returned to Graceland to handle some last minute tour plans and relax with family and friends. Around 7 a.m., Elvis went to his room to rest before taking the Portland flight that evening. Elvis died during the late morning hours that day.

I visited Elvis's beloved Graceland and I was saddened by the condition of the surrounding area after Elvis died. The brick wall surrounding Graceland was in shambles from people stealing bricks. Graffiti covered the walls. The streets were filled with all kinds of street vendors selling Elvis memorabilia, probably most of it was not licensed at the time, since Priscilla had not yet turned the Elvis persona into a real business. However, I applaud the decision out of respect and privacy that Priscilla, Lisa Marie and the entire Graceland tour staff chose to keep the upstairs mansion closed to visitors. No photos or visitors are allowed in Elvis and Priscilla's bedroom, bath, or master dressing area, or in Lisa Marie's nursery.

Elvis Presley Graceland Expansion Proposed

2010-08-16T11:25:00.000-07:00

Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee, is making plans for expansion and renovation. If the expansion plans move forward, Graceland's surroundings would look totally different from the way they

looked when the King of Rock and Roll lived there over thirty plus years ago.

The homestead of the King of Rock and Roll is a huge draw for tourists into the area. Elvis fans pilgrimage into Memphis to visit Graceland, particularly on the anniversary of this death.

Elvis Week is commemorating the life of Elvis Presley on the date of his death. The week long commemoration runs August 11 through August 19. As the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis, the 2007 even is expected to be the biggest and most exciting Elvis Week ever.

The $250 million improvement to the mansion is being led by chief executive Robert F.. Sillerman. Sillerman took Graceland over and purchased the rights to Elvis' name and image from Presley's sole heir, daughter Lia Marie Presley.

The plans for expansion call for a transformation of the Graceland Kingdom. Plans include a new boutique convention hotel, a potential second hotel, a new visitors center the size of a football field, new attractions and new shops. The expansion would take place withing five years, provided that local and state government commit to funding.

The Graceland empire brings people and revenue into Memphis, which is the reason that Sillerman is looking for a partnership with the government jurisdictions. Redevelopment of the area would include the Memphis International Airport and Brooks Road. The ambitious redevelopment would include investment in the entire community.

Sillerman has talked of doubling the total annual number of visitors to Graceland, in Memphis, TN, which is currently estimated at 600,000.

The Heartbreak Hotel is a boutique hotel with 128 rooms and a heart shaped swimming pool. The Heartbreak Hotel is across the street from the Graceland mansion. The Heartland Hotel, which is currently on the wrong side of the four lane highway, would be replaced by a 500 room convention center on the better side of the street.

Fans Gather at Graceland to Mark 33rd Anniversary of Elvis Presley's Death at Memphis

2010-08-16T11:23:00.001-07:00

Fans Gather at Graceland to Mark 33rd Anniversary of Elvis Presley's Death at Memphis

Memphis Has Changed, but the World Still Flocks to Graceland to Pay Tribute to the King

Elvis fans from around the globe gathered at Graceland on Sunday evening to mark the 33rd anniversary of the King's death. Today is the actual 33rd anniversary of his death in 1977. Since 1978, people have been

gathering at the late singer's mansion in Memphis marking his death each and every year.

What does this mean? Well, if you are in Memphis and you don't want to visit Graceland Manor, do not go anywhere near the areas of Elvis Presley Blvd and Winchester, Elvis Presley Blvd and Rains, or Elvis Presley Blvd and Shelby Drive. These areas are extremely congested.

Fans gathered despite the horrific heat and humidity in the region. Trust me when I say that only the most dedicated of Elvis fans would have been able to put up with the heat we have been feeling in recent days.

The ceremony today will mark the end of what is known in the area as "Elvis Week." The week is full of festivities, Elvis impersonations, special shows, candlelight vigils, and more. Even though the "King of Rock's" death happened decades ago, he's still just as popular as we was so many years back.

It's hard to believe that the Graceland Manor, which was purchased in 1957 by Elvis for around $90,000, is second to only the White House in terms of tourism. About 600,000 people come to the Bluff City each year to see where Elvis called home.

US President George W Bush and then Japanese premier Junichiro Koizumi had what became the first meeting of a US President and foreign official on what is not a US Government owned building.

Those in Memphis know that Elvis Presley loved the city. There are many memories that the older generations have of the city when the King was in his reign. There will be a new book on the market this week called "Elvis Presley's Memphis" which discusses the city from the time he moved here when he was 13.

The Commercial Appeal notes that the Memphis Elvis lived in was "a place where blues, gospel and country music flowed together on a current as strong as the Mississippi River. A place that was intact, compact, its own world."

Elvis Quotes

2010-08-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

I like entertaining people. I really miss it. - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley History

2010-08-16T11:20:00.001-07:00

Elvis Presley History

for August 16

1958 - Gladys Presley's funeral was held in Memphis. 500 policemen were used to keep the giant crowd at bay.

1960 - Principle photography (production) began on the Elvis Presley film "Flaming Star."

1977 - At Graceland, Elvis was discovered dead by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. His death was contributed to congestive heart failure.

1984 - RCA Victor Records released the Elvis Presley single "Baby, Let's Play House."

1987 - Cinemax-TV premiered "Elvis '56."

1994 - Light Year Entertainment released a three-video boxed set entitled "Elvis - The Concert Collection."

1997 - Elvis Presley, via video, starred in "Elvis in Concert '97." Over thirty of his former bandmantes made appearances.

2002 - In Memphis, TN, Lisa Marie Presley introduced a recording of a song she recorded for her father at "Elivs In Concert." The event was the last day of a 25th anniversary concert

Michael & Girls

2010-07-30T15:32:00.001-07:00

So-Called Elvis Fans

2010-07-30T15:31:00.001-07:00

So-Called Elvis Fans

By Steve Harper, Jul 29, 2010

There is a crazy phenomenon in the world of being an Elvis Presley fan that can be a little on the scary side. It is the desire by some to judge their love for Elvis against that of another Elvis fan. A desire, by some, to be the greatest Elvis Presley fan, that can lead to nasty verbal exchanges and even abusive threats. Nowhere is this more evident than on the website www.elvisnews.com.

People, who have been fans since the 1950’s and helped make him what he is today, have their love of Elvis questioned because they don’t like a particular movie, song or album. Some fans are told they are not “true” Elvis fans because they also like other singers or groups or because they choose not to have massive collections of CD’s and Elvis memorabilia.

It is a sad statement against the fans of this man. A man who showed his fans so much love and yet we don’t show the same love for each other. Yes, I admit, I get my feathers ruffled a little when someone on the site doesn’t find the same enjoyment out of a song or film as I do (especially if they have to result in calling it “junk”, garbage”, etc). But to question someone’s passion for Elvis because they don’t like the song “What Now My Love” or the movie “Girl Happy” as much as I do, is at the least, silly.

Recently I questioned what the big deal was concerning the deletion of “Johnny B Goode” over the credits of the new DVD / Blue Ray, “Elvis On Tour”. I took exception to the movie being called a classic (which to world outside of Elvis, it is definitely not) and I was threatened and cursed at through an email! Keep in mind, I said that most of Elvis’ performances in the movie were great, but as an overall documentary, the film was good, but not great. For that, I was called “a sad and pathetic loser” and told “I wud smash your f…… head in you attempted to SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT TO MY FACE!!”. I was even told that I as well as others “cannot resist attacking EVERYTHING about our man elvis”. It is ironic, because others on the site have accused me of being an Elvis apologist.

Now thankfully, most fans are not this deranged in their thinking, but this desire to be the worlds #1 Elvis fan is very odd. Even Elvis thought some of his movie songs were bad and could admit that not everything he did was fantastic. He told a staff worker at the Expo Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN that his afternoon show there on October 5th, 1974, was “probably the worst concert I have held in my whole career”. Why as Elvis fans can’t we intelligently discuss the good, the bad and the ugly without resorting to name-calling and the questioning of each other’s standings as fans?

Here’s the thing. The size of your Elvis collection does not matter. The fact that you have every soundboard of every Elvis concert that is available is nice, but it doesn’t make you a bigger fan than the person only has “Aloha From Hawaii” and gets goose bumps every time they watch or listen to it. Being embarrassed for Elvis watching “Harum Scarum” doesn’t mean you are less of an Elvis fan. Saying an Elvis album was a disappointment when you bought it the year it came out, doesn’t make you less of an Elvis fan. Elvis gave us a lot of great music, a lot of terrific memories and even some very enjoyable movies, but not everything he did was a classic. Being able to distinguish the great moments from the not-so-great ones does not mean you like Elvis less than someone who praises everything he did. Elvis had tons of people like that in his personal life. People who placated him and told him what they thought he wanted to hear. That didn’t work out to well for Elvis the man and giving praise to every thing he did just because his name is on it, doesn’t do Elvis, the artist, any favors either.

So to all the people out there who are Elvis fans, keep giving your views on this site. It doesn’t matter if it is popular with the other members; just give your honest opinion and know there are members who value it, even if we don’t always agree.

Elvis Quote

2010-07-20T05:59:00.002-07:00

I sure lost my musical direction in Hollywood. My songs were the same conveyer belt mass production, just like most of my movies were. - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley History July 20th

2010-07-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

1954 - Elvis Presley made his first public appearance. He performed on a flatbed truck in Memphis, TN, with Scotty Moore and Bill Black under the name "Blue Moon Boys."

1974 - The Elvis Presley single "If You Talk In Your Sleep" hit #40 in the U.K.

RIch "ELVIS" Wilson

2010-07-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

My buddy Rich

ELVIS

2010-07-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

Bill Porter has passed away....

2010-07-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

Bill Porter (June 15, 1931 – July 7, 2010) has passed away. Bill was an American sound engineer who helped shape the Nashville sound and recorded such stars as Chet Atkins, Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison from the late 1950s through the 1970s. In one week of 1960, his recordings accounted for 15 of Billboard Magazine's "Top 100," a feat none have matched. Porter mixed concert sound for Presley from 1970 until the singer's death in 1977. For his achievements in improving recording studio practices, he was inducted into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame in 1992.

Elvis Presley History

2010-07-05T00:35:00.001-07:00

Elvis Presley History

for July 5

1954 - Elvis Presley recorded "I Love You Because," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," and "That's All Right".

1969 - Elvis Presley's "In The Guetto" hit #2 in the U.K.

1969 - Elvis Presley flew to Las Vegas to begin rehearsals for his comeback show.

2004 - Radion stations around the world simultaneously played "That's All Right" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the July 5, 1954 recording session that produced Elvis Presley's first single ("That's All Right"). Scotty Moore, Presley's first guitarist, hit the button that began the satellite broadcast to over 1,200 stations.

rare photos

2010-07-05T00:34:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley archivists have found three rare photos dating back more than 50 years that show the young singer greeting fans at the gates of Graceland.

Negatives of the photos were discovered as archivists pored through a vast collection of documents from the office of Vernon Presley, Elvis' father. The office is a stop on the daily tour of Graceland, Elvis' Memphis estate.

... See More

Angie Marchese, director of archives at Elvis Presley Enterprises, said the negatives were tucked in a small envelope with no writing on it. Archivists scanned the negatives, and research revealed the photos were taken in 1957

For those confused about Sillerman's resignation

2010-05-24T11:12:00.001-07:00

There seems to be alot of misconceptions, confusion, and assuming going on in the world of Elvis concerning the latest news on Robert FX Sillerman's resignation as CEO from CKX. Here's the reasons behind his decision. Back in 2005 when Sillerman took over as CEO of CKX he began to build on that small company by adding investments of interests such as EPE, Graceland operations, the Mohammed Ali estate, the hit tv show American idol, and then music division 19 Entertainment. He assumed that adding those entertainment investments would benefit the comapny's longevity and the value would bring outside interests in selling it to take it private. Unfortunately the stock never reached as high as they thought and even with Elvis, Ali and Idol it wasn't attractive enough as they had previously envisioned to sell it and because of that no interest came a calling. Then came the perfect economical storm, if you're a fortune 500 investor as Sillerman is. Once banks shut it's doors on those companies it forced a dominos effect that wiped out business after business on wall street and forced some into forclosure. The banks not loaning money is what killed the dream Elvis resort in Las Vegas. Delayed the grand plans for Graceland, and caused a royal style resort in the Carribeans to come to a hault during construstion in which Sillerman lost $180 million of his own money out of his own pocket and won't get it back. Now that resort, hotel and golf course lies unfinished and may never be.

One of Sillerman's biggest investments was 'American Idol'. But in the past 3 seasons it's ratings and populairty has slowly decreased despite topping all tv ratings for the nights it runs. But If 'Idol' doesn't start finding real talent soon like they have from Season 1 through 5 then they won't survive till their contract with Fox runs out in 2015. This past week saw idol's rating drop due to lack of interest in the final remaining contestants. The biggest week was Elvis Week with over 39 million votes registered. From what's been said, it appears that Robert Sillerman sees this and wants to part ways with 'Idol' and possibly '19 Entertainment' to save CKX from falling under the $4.00 a share mark that would cause default. His plan has been adn still is to take the company private. Quite possibly now as just an estate company only. He already has Elvis and Ali and has gone on record to say that he would like to add The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and a few other dead celebrities that have longevity and can be marketed. But the owner of Dean and Monroe and have said, not interested. The Beatles catalog is in the hands of the Jackson estate and McCartney is trying like crazy to get it back.

If Sillerman is able to buy and take over CKX it'll only benefit what he plans to do with Graceland. Him stepping down only makes that option more possible. He had to do that in order to make a bid for CKX. 'One Equity Partners', the company that's interested in buying CKX, is still in negotiations and a deal isn't far from being reached, according to insiders close to the situation. Apparently Sillerman sees that deal unbeneficial to the company and his own personal investments and is the sole reason for him resigning to make a bid of his own. That and the fact that the longer this sale drags out the more danger of CKX falling more in stock value and fear of the company going under, which means worst case scenario, banruptcy and loss of power over Graceland. That's the main purpose for him to take it private.

Some have labeled Robert FX Sillerman as a man out to make a buck and no real love for Elvis. Well, that's partly true and mostly false. Sillerman has been an avid Elvis fan for many years and unlike most of us witnessed Elvis on stage, at Madison Square Garden at that, which was one of the most historical moments in Elvis' career. He didn't go into this deal thinking of selling EPE within a 10 year's time. He signed a 99-year lease to have sole rights to the name, likenss and image of Elvis Presley. Besides the financial side, it was and still is his largest private investment that he's ever made with a company. He paid $115 million for EPE and no way will he let that go without a fight. He's not giving up and getting out while he can. He's a smart experienced businessman that knows exactly what he's doing. I'm willing to bet that he had this already mapped out long before he recently visited Memphis and told the city that Graceland will be "spectacular". Only a inexpereinced business person would do the opposite. Sillerman's been in the game long enough to know how to handle these situations.

Another thing to take note of is the fact that OEP wants to buy the company at a very cheap market price of $460 million while Sillerman can jack the value up by offering more, say $500-600 million which in return makes the company more valuable and stable in the long run. Especially once he sells off short term success like 'Idol'. It's been said that as of now, 'Idol' is worth more than a billion dollars alone! But that value could drop at any time and any day and he would lose more than he'd gain. If Robert Sillerman can take it private it'll mean quicker swift actions on the Graceland plans as they won't have to wait for a third party to get involved on the investment side. Right now, investors are fearful of either Graceland or Elvis not withstanding another decade of overwhelming popularity or the economy not being stable enough. I would assume that they're fear is the latter.

Lastly, this resignation wasn't a surprise to the staff at CKX. Sillerman's contract as CEO was to expire in February 2011 anyway. So it was just a matter of time before he either renewed or resigned, as is what he chose as a business move. Nothing more or less.

Newspaper Articles

2010-03-14T04:21:00.000-07:00

Newspaper Articles

CONCERT DATE: March 13 1974 (8:30 pm). Greensboro NC.

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There Had Been Rumors All Day About Elvis...

By Jerry Kenion

Greensboro Daily News

March 14, 1974

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Elvis arrived in Greensboro at 5 p.m. Wednesday, and only about 25 people were on hand to see him descend the ramp from his chartered plane.

There had been rumors all day. In beauty shops. In curb markets and grocery stores. Even at one of the local barbecue restaurants.

One story had it that Elvis arrived late Tuesday night and stayed at the Holiday Inn Four Seasons, being whisked away to the Hilton Wednesday morning. That one was false.

ANOTHER RUMOR was that he'd been in Greensboro most of the day Wednesday having arrived early in the day. Another wrong one.

Several avid Elvis fans got onto the right story and spent the major part of Wednesday afternoon waiting around Atlantic Aero at the Regional Airport. These female fans waited patiently, scanning the skies with their binoculars. They knew they were gambling, but all they had to lose was time.

Two enterprising Elvis - chasers were using the pay phone at Atlantic Aero to call friends who might know a bit more about the star's arrival. At the time this was going on, the plane that brought the band to town was sitting on the pavement, the band members long gone. Some of the fans took several pictures of this plane, just in case they missed Elvis' plane.

About 4 p.m. signs began to appear. Men with out-of-town accents were strolling purposefully around the terminal for small planes.

AND THEN, the tip-off. One of the out of towners made a long distance call at the pay phone. Eavesdroppers (three of us) heard him say, "I'm at the airport waiting for Elvis right now."

We'd all hit pay dirt. He wasn't there yet, and we wouldn't have to wait long.

The man at the pay phone moved out onto the pavement with two or three others and they stood around close to where a black limousine was parked in the grass beside a runway. Terminal employes began to move a bit more quickly.

Elvis was in the air, that much we'd overheard. It couldn't be long now. About a dozen women moved outside in the wind to keep their vigil.

Then the sleek white plane touched down and taxied toward the front of Atlantic Aero. There was a rush for the doors as two dozen women braved the jet blast to move a bit closer to the plane. The black limousine was parked just steps from where the singing star would hit the bottom step of the plane's stairs.

AN ORDERLY GROUP, the Elvis fans stopped moving toward the plane when one lone terminal employe said, "That's far enough." They were content to stand 40 feet away and see their idol descend from the plane.

Several people left the plane and climbed into the limousine. Then, there he was. The King. He walked slowly down the stairs, the wind blowing his black caped coat, and flared black trousers. Elvis paused to greet someone in his exclusive circle, glanced up through tinted sunglasses at the few fans waving and taking pictures, and disappeared into the limousine.

A few of the quick-thinking fans were waiting in their cars, ready to take off after the limousine when it rounded the corner of the parking lot. There were, of course, rumors that Elvis was going to several hotels. These sleuths were really to follow that car to find out for themselves.

It was all over. The King had arrived with no fanfare, The Colonel's (Tom Parker, his manager) tight security triumphed again.

Elvis Presley fans could move on to testing the security at the Coliseum before, during and after the 8:30 p.m. concert. And then, there were the hotels - he was bound to be at one of them and somebody would find out which one.

They never give up, these followers of Elvis. But they hardly ever get much more than a glimpse of the entertainer.

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Courtesy of Archie Bald

Newspaper Articles

CONCERT DATE: March 13 1974 (8:30 pm). Greensboro NC.

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Elvis' Fans roar Approval

by Jerry Kenion

Greensboro Daily News

March 14, 1974

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"Of all the places we've been to, you're one of the most fantastic audiences we've had," Elvis Presley said Wednesday night to the 16,400 ardent fans at his sold out Coliseum concert.

Just before Elvis made that statement, he made a gesture that confirmed his rumored love of children. Having asked that the house lights be brought up so he could see the audience, Elvis looked over the crowd and had spotlights beamed onto the lucky young woman who recieved his first blue scarf of the evening. Then the singer spotted a little boy, dressed in white, sequin-studded jumpsuit, complete with cape - a miniature Elvis costume. The child was in the spotlight as he stood on his chair.

After singing what appeared to be his final song of the evening. "Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away?." Elvis asked that the little boy be brought up to the stage to be given one of the famous scarves.

As th elittle boy sat high on his father's shoulders, Elvis leaned over, draped the blue scarf around the child's neck, paused to look at the child's face and smooth his light brown hair.

"GET HIM OUT of here," thwe singer joked about the little boy, "he's dressed better than I am."

Now there's a child who'll have something to tell his grand children (not to mention every kid in the neighborhood, grandma and assorted other Elvis fans).

There were, of course, other members of the audience who will have stories to tell and keepsakes to preserve. Four front-row female fans carried off the ultimate souvenir - one of the blue scarves that had graced the sweaty neck of the King.

It appeared that almost every other Elvis fan at the Coliseum will have several pictures to preserve the performance permanently. At times, as Presley cameon, or when he turned to a segment of the house, flashbulbs were going off in such numbers and so rapidly that there appeared to be strobe lights in the Coliseum.

The star of the show arrivedin one of three limousines about 9:10, just 20 minutes before the elaborate fanfare that brought him onto the stage. A few of the faithful were waiting outside the elephant-sized door of the Coliseum waiting for Elvis's arrival. One of these, a young woman in along, red velvet coat, was so faithful that she has been following the singer from city to city, concert to concert. She led the pack in choruses of "Here he comes, the King!", as the third black limousine whisked the star through the door into the building.

At 9:30 p.m., the king stepped onto the stage. A deafening roar and blinding flashes went on for almost a minute. At last, what they had spent their money for, and waited an hour for - this black-haired man in a white jump suit, a blue scarf hanging losely around his neck, a brillant medalion hanging on his bared chest.

Elvis appeared to be relaxed and enjoying the concert as much as the audience. He tossed off banter with the crowd, saying "I love you,too," to one young woman. Hewaved, blew kisses, gave away scarves, grinned widely, broke up laughing several times, twitched, swayed, jiggled, danced, clowned around with a hat handed him from the audience, squeezed the hands of two groups of women.

Oh, yes. He sang. Boy, did he sing. Twenty years' worth of famous Elvis million-selling favorites. And, he sang them better than when they sold a million.

The Sweet Inspirations, the Stamps Quartet, other backup singers and musicians and an excellent orchestra provided a superb background for Elvis' performance, but much of it was lost to the audience. They squealed whenever Elvis looked their way, even if there was an exquisite flute solo being played at the moment.

From "Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis's 1956 hit, to his latest release, "Help me," his fans roared their approval.

Elvis is a great performer. He's spellbinding. He is the King and millions of fans love him. They shower him with standing ovations, cheers and declarations of love, not to mention money.

That's enough to make any man smile and show his dimples. Elvis obliges.

Lisa Marie Presley -- Nanny Suit is History ( from TMZ)

2010-01-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

Lisa Marie Presley's former nanny has dropped her lawsuit against Elvis' daughter, but Lisa Marie is still really pissed at her.

The nanny, Christine White, sued Presley back in August, claiming she was forced to work ridiculous hours without breaks.

Lisa Marie countersued White, claiming the nanny broke her contract by taking numerous pictures of the twin babies.

The case was dismissed today ... we do not know if it settled, because the nanny's lawyer is mum. Lisa Marie tells TMZ White's lawsuit was bogus and filed "out of utter greed and revenge because we terminated her ..."

Lisa Marie tells us she discovered White took over 165 unauthorized photos and videos of the babies and thereby violated the confidentiality agreement.

Elvis Presley's daughter says she made "a huge mistake ever hiring Christine and in exposing our babies to her."

Lesson learned.

http://www.tmz.com/

CELEBRATING ELVIS'S BDAY

2010-01-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

2010-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Elvis Aron Presley would have been 75 years old today, and his former wife has no doubt that if he were alive, he’d still be singing — and maybe doing a little preaching, too.

“I think Elvis would always be a part of music, no matter what,” Priscilla Presley told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Friday from the King’s Graceland home in Memphis. “It was in his blood. I don’t know if he’d be doing rock ’n’ roll right now; I think that maybe he’d be going into gospel. Maybe even preaching a little bit. He loved to teach and loved the Bible. He always would have been dedicated to his music, that’s for sure.

“He gave us so much, with his movies, with his concerts, with his touring,” Priscilla continued. “I can’t see him ever stopping that. That’s truly who he was. He was born to be the entertainer that he was. I can’t imagine life without him being larger than life. He lived a larger-than-life life.”

Elvis Presley TV Listings

2010-01-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley TV Listings

.Channel Date & Time Title

NBC Fri, Jan 8, 7:00 AM Today New

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 7:45 AM Kissin' Cousins

BIO Fri, Jan 8, 8:00 AM Biography

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 9:30 AM Spinout

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 11:15 AM Roustabout

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 1:00 PM Girl Happy

BIO Fri, Jan 8, 2:00 PM Biography

FMC Fri, Jan 8, 2:00 PM Wild in the Country

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 2:45 PM Speedway

FMC Fri, Jan 8, 4:00 PM Flaming Star

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 4:30 PM Blue Hawaii

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 6:15 PM Viva Las Vegas

TCM Fri, Jan 8, 8:00 PM Elvis on Tour

TCM Sat, Jan 9, 12:00 AM Jailhouse Rock

FMC Tue, Jan 12, 4:00 PM Flaming Star

FMC Wed, Jan 13, 4:00 PM Wild in the Country

TCM Tue, Jan 19, 2:45 PM Spinout

TCM Tue, Jan 19, 4:30 PM Girl Happy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS A PRESLEY

2010-01-08T06:30:00.001-08:00

Elvis Presley History

2010-01-08T06:28:00.001-08:00

Elvis Presley History

for January 8

1935 - Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. His twin brother Jessie Garon was stillborn.

1946 - Elvis Presley received his first guitar from his parents.

1955 - Elvis Presley's third single "Milkcow Blues Boogie" was released.

1956 - Elvis Presley performed at The Louisiana Hayride. He also performed the previous day.

1957 - The Memphis Draft Board announced that Elvis Presley had been classified as A1 and that he would probably be drafted within the next six to eight months.

1959 - Dick Clark, host of American Bandstand, called Elvis in Germany to tell him that he had been voted most popular singer of the year and that his record "King Creole" was the most popular record of the year.

1965 - Hal Wallis agreed to change Elvis Presley's 1958 contract into a five-picture deal. The movies Elvis made under the contract were "Blue Hawaii", "Girls! Girls! Girls!", "Fun In Acapulco", "Roustabout" and "Paradise Hawaiian Style".

1981 - "Elvis Presley Day" was declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North & South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

1993 - The U.S. Postal Service released a stamp of Elvis. The picture used was one of Elvis in the 1950's.

2004 - RCA Records and BMG Strategic Marketing Group with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that Elvis Presley had become the best selling solo artist in U.S. history.

2005 - In the U.K., a campaign began to release Elvis Presley's 18 #1 songs over 17 consecutive weeks. The campaing ended on April 25th.

2006 - The RIAA presented awards upgrading the sales certification status of "ELVIS 30 #1 HITS" and "It's Christmas Time" and for the first sales certifications for the DVD "Elvis by the Presleys". "ELVIS 30 #1 HITS" was upgraded from 3x Platinum to 4x Platinum. The album "It's Christmas Time" was upgraded from Platinum to 2x Platinum. The DVD "Elvis by the Presleys" was certified at 2x Platinum.

PhotoSynthesis: Elvis -- From 'Hillbilly Cat' to '68 Comeback

2010-01-08T06:27:00.001-08:00

PhotoSynthesis: Elvis -- From 'Hillbilly Cat' to '68 Comeback

Music photo archivist Michael Ochs developed an addiction to rock 'n' roll in the early '50s. To feed his habit, Ochs headed the publicity departments of Columbia, Shelter and ABC Records in the '60s and '70s. He has also been a disc jockey, taught a rock-history course for UCLA and written for such magazines as Rock, Melody Maker, Cashbox and Crawdaddy. Ochs established the Michael Ochs Archives in the mid-'70s. The archives currently house millions of photographs and more than 100,000 albums and singles.

Elvis Presley is arguably the most photographed star in the history of rock 'n' roll, and Ochs possesses one of the largest stores of Elvis pictures this side of Graceland. Guiding us through a selection of Elvis images both iconic and lesser-known, Ochs, in his own words, delivers his impressions of the Hillbilly Cat who would be King.

RCA Records Promotional Photo, 1956: I believe this was the first color handout from RCA [Elvis' label]. They gave it to newspapers as 35mm slides. The way they deified him, from the colors to the lighting to the pose, it's totally godlike. If you want an image that sums up the true beauty of rock 'n' roll, this is so beatific it's almost beyond description.

'Loving You,' February 1957: I was offered that outfit years ago. One of the set decorators had one of the three copies of that outfit, and he offered to sell it to me for $10,000 in the early '70s. And I went, "I can't afford that." It's probably worth a couple of hundred thousand now.

'Jailhouse Rock,' 1957: For some reason, people think this typifies the real Elvis. I don't think it does. I think the importance of this photo is that besides Elvis being the father of rock 'n' roll, it shows that he had some natural smarts. In 'Jailhouse Rock,' he personally choreographed all those dance numbers. Those were all his ideas. His gyrations put Michael Jackson to shame.

'Blue Hawaii,' April 1961: This picture totally illustrates his unfortunate movie career. I especially love the fake rock that's holding the surfboard. The whole thing exemplifies his Hollywood years. This was a Paramount [Studios] giveaway -- they sent out 8x10 color positives to the newspapers, which is very unusual.

'Milton Berle Show' Rehearsal, June 1956: There was a photographer for the teen magazines named Earl Leaf, and Earl mostly shot movie stars. The only two '50s rock 'n' roll sessions he's done have been for Ricky Nelson, and he got to photograph Elvis at this 'Milton Berle Show' rehearsal. I think Earl Leaf's shots are just as good as Alfred Wertheimer's. You can see the complete intensity -- just riveting.

Backstage at the 'Milton Berle Show,' June 1956: Again, this [Earl Leaf photo] just reminds me of an Alfred Wertheimer shot. The great thing about Elvis was he was very natural. He was so into the moment and into being Elvis the simple country boy, versus the biggest-selling recording artist in the country. He was always true to himself. To capture that -- that's not posing, that just him.

Elvis on 'Milton Berle Show,' June 1956: This is also an Earl Leaf shot. It's the only time I have ever seen Elvis with his trio -- Scotty, Bill and D.J. -- and the Jordanaires all in the same shot. To me, that's just totally unique. And then you throw in the general feel of the extras -- the girls sitting there -- and the fake Colony Music Shop background. But the key thing is that I've never seen all of them together in one picture.

'Love Me Tender' Sessions, August 1956: This is Elvis the first time he ever recorded without his usual musicians. He's at the 20th Century Fox soundstage studio. There's the novelty of him playing piano, which one seldom sees. Here he is in a whole new milieu -- he's in L.A. There's an openness and yet a startledness and a freshness about this shot.

The 'Million Dollar Quartet,' December 1956: It was a Carl Perkins recording session at Sun Records. Elvis stopped by to see what's happening -- this was a year after he left Sun for RCA. Jerry Lee Lewis was always hanging around the studio -- he hadn't quite made it yet. So the three of them started goofing around, and [Sun Studio owner] Sam Phillips was smart enough to leave the tape running. After awhile, Sam realized the was an amazing occurrence, so he calls Johnny Cash and says, "Get over here quick!" So Cash comes over, and Sam calls the Memphis Press-Scimitar [newspaper] to send a reporter over right away, and they sent one with a photographer, fortunately.

Elvis' "'68 Comeback Special," June 1968: This is the most iconic image of that period -- the NBC comeback TV show. As good-looking as he was in the '50s, he was never better-looking than in this brief period. This is the epitome of Elvis' sexuality and sensuality -- to me, it just captures it all.

Lisa and Girls ( XMAS EVE 09)

2010-01-03T02:42:00.000-08:00

ELVIS BIRTHDAY ON TV

2010-01-03T02:41:00.001-08:00

Elvis Presley TV Listings
.Channel Date & Time Title Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 6:15 AM Harum Scarum Buy
E! Fri, Jan 8, 7:00 AM True Hollywood Story Buy
NBC Fri, Jan 8, 7:00 AM Today New Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 7:45 AM Kissin' Cousins Buy
BIO Fri, Jan 8, 8:00 AM Biography Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 9:30 AM Spinout Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 11:15 AM Roustabout Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 1:00 PM Girl Happy Buy
BIO Fri, Jan 8, 2:00 PM Biography Buy
FMC Fri, Jan 8, 2:00 PM Wild in the Country Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 2:45 PM Speedway Buy
FMC Fri, Jan 8, 4:00 PM Flaming Star Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 4:30 PM Blue Hawaii Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 6:15 PM Viva Las Vegas Buy
TCM Fri, Jan 8, 8:00 PM Elvis on Tour Buy
TCM Sat, Jan 9, 12:00 AM Jailhouse Rock Buy
FMC Tue, Jan 12, 4:00 PM Flaming Star Buy
FMC Wed, Jan 13, 4:00 PM Wild in the Country Buy

Elvis Presley Biography

Elvis Presley History

2009-12-15T21:50:00.001-08:00

Elvis Presley History
for December 16

1956 - Elvis Presley made his 50th and final appearance on "Louisianna Hayride."

1957 - The Memphis Draft Board announced that Elvis Presley would be receiving his draft notice soon.

1957 - Elivs Presley purchased a Santa sleigh and eight reindeer that became a regular holiday decoration at Graceland.

1961 - Elvis Presley's soundtrack to "Blue Hawaii" reached #1 on the album charts. It remained at #1 for 20 weeks.

1973 - Elvis Presley recorded the song "Promised Land."

1978 - The reissue of "Elvis' 40 Greatest Hits" hit #40 in the U.K.

2004 - It was reproted the Lisa Marie Presley would keep Graceland but sell the bulk of the Elvis estate. The deal, worth approximately $100 million, included the rights to the Elvis Presley name and image. The agreement stated that Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. woudl sell 85 percent of its assets to businessman Robert F.X. Sillerman. The new publicly traded name would be called CKX Inc.

Presley's At Elvis 75 Birthday Celebration

2009-12-10T14:24:00.001-08:00

Presley's At Elvis 75 Birthday Celebration
It has been confirmed that Lisa Marie Presley will attend the Birthday Celebration in Memphis for Elvis' 75th birthday along with her mom, Priscilla. Elvis Presley’s 75th Birthday Celebration, on January 7-10, promises to be the largest ever, with thousands of fans traveling to Memphis from around the world to join Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley in celebrating this landmark year.

On January 8, 2010 there will be a special ceremony on the North Lawn of Graceland, featuring Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley Enterprises officials, a birthday cake-cutting and a proclamation of Elvis Presley Day by Memphis and Shelby County officials. Free admission.

A variety of birthday week events will help kick-off the year-long 75th birthday celebration, with additional events occurring throughout 2010 that will celebrate the life and legacy of Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Below is a calendar of events scheduled for Graceland celebrating Elvis’ birthday on January 8th followed by highlights of key events scheduled for throughout 2010.

For full additional information on these and other events, visit the official Elvis Presley website.

The Lights Go On At Graceland

2009-11-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

GRACELAND SHINES FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE PRESLEY FAMILY’S TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Award-Winning Singer/Producer Richard Marx and Children from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Will ‘Flip the Switch’

WHAT/WHO:
Graceland will officially begin the holiday season on November 20 when the switch is flipped for the annual Elvis Presley lighting celebration at the 13.8-acre mansion property in Memphis. The festive display includes traditional decorations, hundreds of blue lights along the driveway, a life-size Nativity scene, Santa and his sleigh and other holiday items originally displayed at Graceland by Elvis and the Presley family.

This year, joining a group of children from St. Jude to "flip the switch" will be GRAMMY Award winner Richard Marx, an Elvis fan and supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Marx has made his mark on the music industry for more than 20 years. In addition to selling over 30 million records, and writing, as of 2009, thirteen #1 songs, he has remained a fixture on pop and adult contemporary radio, and has produced some of the biggest names in the music business. Richard is honored to be sharing the stage at Graceland with patients from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The interior of Graceland mansion will also be decked in Elvis’ Christmas décor for the holiday season. This includes his traditional red velvet drapes and Presley family Christmas artifacts displayed around several Christmas trees throughout the home, including the famous Jungle Room.

The public is welcome to attend the free lighting event. Santa will be available for pictures with children throughout the evening’s festivities.

Regular tours of Graceland will operate the day of the lighting ceremony from 10 AM to 6 PM. Others from around the world can enjoy the evening live via the “GracelandCam™” at www.elvis.com.

WHEN: November 20 at 6 p.m. Central Time

WHERE: Graceland Plaza, Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis

For more detailed information please visit www.elvis.com or call 901.332.3322.

Finley and Harper

2009-10-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Pics from Presleys Pride

Elvis Presley Hair Clump Sells For $15,000

2009-10-19T08:02:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO — A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for $15,000 at a Chicago auction house.

Also among the 200 Elvis-related items up for grabs at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago on Sunday was a shirt that once belonged to the King which sold for $52,000.

The buyer of the hair paid $15,000 plus an additional $3,300 in auction house fees.

Other items on offer included scarves, photos from the reception of Presley's 1967 wedding to Priscilla, Christmas cards he sent and lots of records. Elvis dolls and Elvis Pez dispensers numbered among the memorabilia.

All the items had belonged to the late Gary Pepper, who ran a fan club and was a friend. Pepper, who had cerebral palsy, died in 1980.

___

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/elvis-presley-hair-clump-_n_325581.html

Lisa Marie And Sillerman Sell CKXE Shares

2009-10-14T14:19:00.001-07:00

Lisa Marie And Sillerman Sell CKXE Shares
Chairman & CEO, 10% Owner of CKX Inc. (CKXE) Robert F X Sillerman sells 7,850,000 shares of CKXE on 10/09/2009 at an average price of $6.75 a share.

CKX Inc. is engaged in the ownership development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. CKX Inc. recently acquired 19 Entertainment Limited the United Kingdom-based company best known for creating the American Idol television program and a controlling interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises which owns and/or controls the commercial utilization of the name image and likeness of Elvis Presley. Ckx Inc. has a market cap of $561.89 million; its shares were traded at around $6.6 with a P/E ratio of 46.46 and P/S ratio of 1.95.

Recent Trades of CKX Inc. by Directors and Officers:

Sell: See Footnote 2 Lisa Marie Presley sold 7,443 shares of CKXE stock on 10/20/2009 at the average price of $4.77; the price of the stock has increased by 38.36% since.
Sell: See Footnote 2 Lisa Marie Presley sold 30,120 more shares of CKXE stock on 09/14/2009 at the average price of $6.06; the price of the stock has increased by 8.91% since.
Sell: See Footnote 2 Lisa Marie Presley sold 64,793 more shares of CKXE stock on 09/11/2009 at the average price of $6.07; the price of the stock has increased by 8.73% since.
Sell: See Footnote 2 Lisa Marie Presley sold 5,087 more shares of CKXE stock on 08/24/2009 at the average price of $7.06; the price of the stock has decreased by 6.52% since.
Sell: 10% Owner William R Huff sold 3,401 shares of CKXE stock on 08/13/2009 at the average price of $7.51; the price of the stock has decreased by 12.12% since

ELVIS

2009-10-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

Just Some Artsy stuff I did

2009-10-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley History

2009-10-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley History
for October 11

1958 - The Elvis Presley album "King Creole" hit #2 in the U.S.

1973 - Elvis and Priscilla Presley were divorced after six years of marriage.

1994 - The book "Good Rockin' Toight: Twenty years on the road and on the town with Elvis" by Joe Esposito was released.

October 04

2009-10-04T13:59:00.001-07:00

October 04, 1955Elvis performed at the Boys Club Gymnasium, Paris, Texas.
This was sponsored by the Optimist Club.
October 04, 1958Elvis joined Vernon, Minnie, Red West and Lamar Fike for dinner, after they checked in a hotel in Bad Homburg. A crowd gathered outside.
October 04, 1965With the Dodge Motor Home Elvis and the gang drove back from the shooting of Paradise Hawaiian Style to Memphis. They made their usual stop at the Holiday Inn on Route 66 in Albuquerque.
October 04, 1967Elvis flew to Los Angeles with Sonny West, Joe Esposito, Billy Smith, Gee Gee Gambill and Charlie Hodge.
October 04, 1968Elvis went to the Crosstown Theater to watch Gone With The Wind.
October 04, 1974Elvis performed at the Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan.
October 04, 1976Elvis was spotted riding on his motorcycle in Memphis. After that he left to join Linda Thompson at her new apartment not far from her old one in West L.A.

Nancy Walters Died

2009-10-04T13:57:00.001-07:00

Nancy Walters of Las Vegas, NV, who acted with Elvis Presley in the movie, "Blue Hawaii", and who was a Christian minister has died. After a long battle with pancreatic cancer, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 29. Walters, a former fashion model and "glamour girl" (1958 Deb Star), played the part of a school teacher in charge of students who were touring with Elvis as their guide in "Blue Hawaii".

A few years ago, Nancy was reunited with co-star Darlene Tompkins. Through Darlene, a local Elvis fan couple befriended Nancy and visited her often. Recently, they managed a greeting card mailing campaign that delighted Nancy for many weeks. A world traveler, she especially enjoyed the cards from places she had visited. Nancy remarked once, "Elvis has left me so many friends."

Presley Resemblence

2009-10-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

I hope you all like it? I was trying to find all 3 around the same age. I know Lisa was in her 20's here but it was the only one ican see her face..

Lisa Marie Presley is firing back at her former nanny

2009-10-01T01:55:00.001-07:00

Lisa Marie Presley is firing back at her former nanny -- the one who just sued her -- claiming the woman broke her contract by posting photos of Presley's twin babies on Facebook.

Presley countersued Christine White -- the nanny who claims she was forced to work ridiculous hours without getting OT.

Presley claims White snapped 164 photographs and shot video of her twins and her private residence ...then posted some of them on Facebook.

Presley alleges White flagrantly violated the confidentiality agreement she signed.

Forget White's OT ... Presley wants White to ante up for the damage she caused.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/09/30/lisa-marie-presley-nanny-lawsuit-countersuit-christine-white-maid/3#comments#ixzz0SflYb0LV

A COUPLE OF NICE ARTICLES...

2009-09-27T18:24:00.001-07:00

A COUPLE OF NICE ARTICLES...

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/leiber_and_stoller_elvis_presley.shtml#

HOW ELVIS WAS INFLUENCED BY "THE BLUES" by Nigel Patterson
How Elvis was influenced by "The Blues"

On a regular basis EIN examines a new release or issue in the Elvis world. In this edition we shine our spotlight on how The Blues influenced Elvis!

In previous articles I examined the influence on Elvis of gospel, ballad (crooners) and doo wop artists. In this part, the seminal impact of the blues is discussed.

Unlike other musical genres that influenced Elvis, there do not appear to be any blues artists who stand out in their impact on Elvis.

Instead Elvis was influenced by the blues as a music genre. Big Mama Thornton, Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup, The Prisonaires, Lowell Fulson, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Fats Domino and many others were all admired by Elvis who recorded many of their songs while traces of their music, delivery and style are evident in many of his other recordings.

Blues music largely evolved after the Civil War - a combination of the music of slaves, railroad songs and gospel, backed by a dance beat. That beat became more noticeable with the advent of rhythm and blues.

There were two primary forms (or regions) of blues in America - the electrified (guitar) Chicago blues and the Delta blues of the Mississippi region characterised by the use of harmonicas and acoustic guitars. Growing up in Tupelo, and more importantly Memphis, it is not surprising that the young Elvis Presley quickly appreciated the raw, heartfelt emotion and personal expression emanating from Delta blues music.

The southern states of the US had long been a hotbed of complementary and dissimilar musical genres: country, hillbilly, gospel and blues. Moreover, the 1950s was a time of racial change. Increasingly black and whites played alongside each other in clubs and slowly ‘race’ stations which were playing the devil’s music (black rhythm and blues) became accessible to white youth. The stories of Elvis going to Beale Street (‘home of the blues’) to listen to artists such as B. B. King, Little Junior Parker and Rufus Thomas are well known.

Blues legend B. B. King in his autobiography mentions meeting the young Elvis on several occasions and comments on Elvis's obvious fascination with blues music. Beale Street was where the father of the blues, W. C. Handy (famous for his St Louis Blues) began to publish blues songs around 1912. Consisting of a series of nightclubs and other venues, passers-by could be entertained all night long in the clubs by legendary entertainers and out on the street by itinerant black blues artists.

Cindy Hazen and Mike Freeman note in their excellent book 'Memphis Elvis Style' that Beale Street was an area where black people could go and socialise without experiencing any intimidation from whites and Elvis because of his love of blues music is generally regarded as being one of the few whites who visited Beale Street.

As Karal Marling perceptively observes in her book ‘Graceland Going Home With Elvis’, because of its role of ‘freeing’ blacks from the constraints of mixing with whites, Beale Street not only offered an escape from prejudice, but also "an arena in which a person, an artist, could be judged on talent alone."

Taking Professor Karal’s point further (and just as importantly) it allowed a freer expression of that talent, an open expression not lost on the young Elvis with his great thirst for freedom giving, expressive music. It was on Beale Street that Elvis also listened to lesser known artists such as Calvin Newborn. Newborn in fact claims to have taught Elvis a few things on guitar while another promoter remembers taking Elvis into the Men’s Improvement Club to watch the blues musicians.

In Memphis Elvis listened to Dewey Phillip’s ‘Red, White and Blue’ show on WHBQ. Phillips (like his Sun Studios counterpart with the same name) offered a show which pushed at the boundaries and allowed teenagers (both black and white) to ‘get down and dirty’. For white youth this was the avenue they needed to escape the mainstream conservatism of the music revered by their parents.
As is part of Elvis history it was on ‘Red, Hot and Blue’ that Dewey Phillips would play That’s All Right, Mama and its flip side the hillbilly/country inspired Blue Moon of Kentucky around 14 times on July 7, 1954 in response to an overwhelming listener response. Elvis’s Sun singles consisted of a blues side and a country side. That’s All Right, Mama, Mystery Train and Good Rockin’ Tonight all being examples of the blues influence. This was of course consistent with the frequently reported comment by Sam Phillips that he was looking for a white boy with "the Negro sound and the Negro feel".

Even when Elvis signed with RCA and his recordings were softened to appeal to a broader audience he would still break out with full spirited blues numbers - Smiley Lewis’s 'One Night (Of Sin)' (complete with unbowdlerized lyrics unlike the watered down lyrics featured in the single release of the song), Reconsider Baby, Merry Christmas Baby - all are excellent blues songs. Others include So Glad You’re Mine and Too Much while Elvis’s blues version of Hound Dog caused considerable controversy particularly when he performed it on The Milton Berle Show in April 1956.

In the early 60’s with Elvis’s Hollywood phase in full flight blues recordings took a back seat although fans were treated to I Feel So Bad (a single release in 1961) and When It Rains, It Really Pours (on the Elvis For Everyone album).
When interviewed in 1966 Howlin’ Wolf commented on the white blues singers and that Hound Dog number by Elvis. When someone suggested to Howlin’ Wolf that Elvis couldn’t be considered strictly a blues singer he replied but "he started from the blues...He made his pull from the blues."

One of the finest white blues singers the world has ever known, Joe Cocker, went on record as saying that Elvis was the greatest white blues singer in the world.

By the late 60’s Elvis’s "candy floss" formula movie songs were taking their toll on Elvis. Peter Guralnick observed in Elvis Sings The Blues:
"Not surprisingly the signal for his regeneration was a series of blues singles (Big Boss Man, Guitar Man, Hi Heel Sneakers, U.S. Male) that went largely unnoticed at the time, and the ‘68 TV Special, whose centerpiece was a nakedly intimate, almost embarrassingly spontaneous live concert he did with his original Sun session mates, which focused not surprisingly on the blues."
In fact the Guitar Man/Hi Heel Sneakers single has the distinction of being Elvis’s only double sided blues release of the 1960s. Also in the late 60s fans were treated to the occasional release of superb blues recordings, some of which had been buried in the RCA vaults for years. They appeared as a filler for an Elvis film soundtrack - Down In The Alley (Spinout album) while in 1985 Tomorrow Night (a long lost Sun recording originally released on the 1965 album Elvis For Everyone) re-surfaced on the Reconsider Baby LP.

The Reconsider Baby album effectively became only the second Elvis concept album (after Elvis Country). It is a fitting tribute and symbol of Elvis’s love of the blues. Its effect, particularly late at night with all the lights turned off, is quite chilling. Elvis’s regeneration via a series of ‘blues’ singles was followed by the superb blues number Stranger In My Own Home Town from the From Elvis In Memphis sessions. Then as part of his live concerts in the 70s Elvis included slow, ballsy, blues versions of songs including Merry Christmas Baby, Hound Dog and Reconsider Baby.

That Elvis was heavily influenced by the blues is dramatically apparent by the ongoing accusation that he was ‘the white boy who stole the blues’. Arguably this is a simplistic statement that ignores both the innovation Elvis brought to his music and more importantly, as noted by Gilbert Rodman in his superb book ‘Elvis After Elvis: The Posthumous Career of A Living Legend’, how his music served as a catalyst for transforming "a mainstream popular music scene dominated by the white-bread sounds of Perry Como and Frank Sinatra into a more integrated and diverse beast than it had ever been before."

Elvis’s blues legacy has never been fully examined and is generally little appreciated. Given Joe Cocker’s statement that Elvis was the greatest white blues singer in the world this is a travesty, and another example of how the music establishment generally refuses to take Elvis’s musical career, post 1958, seriously.

Sources/Recommended Listening
Blues All Around Me, B. B. King and David Ritz (1995)

Down At The End Of Lonely Street The Life And Death Of Elvis Presley, Peter Brown and Pat Broeske (1997)

Elvis After Elvis, Gilbert B. Rodman (1996)

Elvis Sings The Blues, Peter Guralnick (1985 - liner notes for Reconsider Baby (RCA/BMG LP/CD release)

Graceland Going Home With Elvis, Karal Ann Marling (1996)

Memphis Elvis Style, Cindy Hazen and Mike Freeman (1997)

Reconsider Baby (BMG LP/CD release 1985)

This article was prepared by Nigel Patterson and first appeared in ‘Elvis Monthly’ as part of the author’s fourteen part series, Influences On A Legend. ©1999, 2002

Couple Pics i found and colored

2009-09-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

I hope ya like em let me know what you think..

No Street For Colonel Parker In Holland

2009-08-29T13:50:00.001-07:00

Although it has been 100 years since Colonel Parker was born in Holland, the city of Breda - birthplace of the Colonel, aka Andreas van Kuijk - sees no reason to honor him with "the Tom Parker Street". The official request was discussed this week, and rejected. One of the arguments against a "Tom Parker Street" is that the Colonel denied or at least tried to hide his Dutch roots for many years, he even changed his original Dutch name. Also, Colonel may have played an important role in the life of Elvis but he never prided himself with being a citizen of Breda and, consequently, he therefore never contributed to the history of the city.

Federal Grant Will Spruce Up Graceland Area

2009-08-29T13:48:00.001-07:00

Federal Grant Will Spruce Up Graceland Area
The City of Memphis got a federal grant Tuesday that will help improve the area around Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Whitehaven, one of the city's top tourist destinations.

More than a million dollars will be used to beautify the Elvis Presley Boulevard Corridor from Shelby Drive to Interstate 55. The funds come from a $975,312 federal grant with a local match of $243,828.

"These enhancements will be seen by millions of tourists who come to our city each year to visit Graceland," said Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery.
The money will be used to improve the street and walkways, and for utility relocation and upgrades.

This is the first phase of the city's efforts to enhance the Elvis Presley Boulevard Corridor.
Future phases of the project will extend north of Winchester Road to I-55 and south of Craft Road to Shelby Drive.

City leaders and economic development officials have targeted the area for clean-up because of the numbers of tourists who visit to tour Graceland.

Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. has been in discussion with city and economic development officials for more than a year about its plans for a $250 million overhaul of Graceland mansion and the surrounding area.

The Graceland plans include razing the cramped visitor center -- located in a former strip mall across the street from the white-columned mansion -- and replacing it with a facility seven times the size of the mansion.

Graceland spokesman Kevin Kern said Tuesday he didn't have specifics about the grant the city received and was unable to comment.

Kitty White Died

2009-08-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Kitty White Died

Kitty White, who sang "Crawfish" as a duet with Elvis Presley in the 1958 film “King Creole” died. Professionally known as Kitty White, the performer died of complications from a stroke on Aug. 11 at Palm Springs Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. She was 86 years old.

The news was released by The Desert Sun, Palm Springs California. During White's career she recorded songs for Capitol, Emarcy and Mercury records. She performed and recorded with jazz artists Laurindo Almeida, Red Callendar, Buddy Collette and Ben Webster. And her music was featured on the soundtracks of 1950s films including “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Night of the Hunter,” in addition to the Presley film.

“Mother said he (Presley) was a really nice young man,” said Bonnie White-Mitchell, White's eldest child. “She had a true love of music and a genuine love of people,” Stagg said. But White's biggest love was right in her home. She was there when her children came home from school and cooked dinner for them, Stagg said.

“My mom always loved to perform but it was a means to an end,” she said. “She wasn't interested in becoming famous. She loved to perform but she loved her family more.” Services for White took place Aug. 18 at the Palm Springs Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband Edward White and second husband, Richard Henry Lee. She is survived by five children, all of whom live in Southern California: Bonnie White- Mitchell, Edward White Jr., Lisa White, Loret Stagg and Richard Lee; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Sun passes 8/14

2009-08-18T03:27:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Is sad to share news of the loss of a very well loved member of the Graceland family.

After a full life of roaming the pastures of Graceland for 21 years, Sun’s Reflection, a Palomino American Quarter Horse, died of respiratory distress on August 14th, 2009.

Every effort to save the life of Sun’s Reflection was made by an expert team of veterinarians from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, but Sun was unable to overcome his respiratory problems associated with age.

Sun came to Graceland in June of 1988 following the loss of Elvis’ horse, Rising Sun. Sun’s Reflection and Rising Sun came from the same blood line and both were purchased from the same farm.

Sun’s presence at Graceland represented Elvis’ love for the Palomino Quarter Horse and he will be missed by the staff of Graceland Stable in addition to the many fans that have come to know him through their visits to Graceland.

Elvis Presley History for August 17

2009-08-17T02:43:00.001-07:00

Elvis Presley History
for August 17

1969 - Elvis Presley's TV special was re-broadcasted on NBC-TV. The song "Blue Christmas" was edited out and replaced with "Tiger Man."

1977 - Elvis was scheduled to perform a concert, however, he had died the day before.

1977 - U.S. President Carter issued the statement, "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable."

1991 - The Elvis Presley single "Are You Lonesome Tonight (Live)" hit #68 in the U.K.

2006 - The Jerry Schilling book "Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley" was released.

Elvis Quote of the day

2009-08-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

I like to sing ballads the way Eddie Fisher does and the way Perry Como does. But the way I'm singing now is what makes the money - Elvis Presley

Remembering Elvis

2009-08-16T01:29:00.001-07:00

Elvis Quote of the day

2009-08-11T08:07:00.001-07:00

I happened to come along in the music business when there was no trend. - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley History

2009-08-11T08:06:00.001-07:00

Elvis Presley History
for August 11

1962 - Elvis Presley's album "Pot Luck" hit #4 in the U.S.

1972 - Elvis and Pricilla Presley filed for divorce. They had married in May of 1967.

Lisa Marie Turns to The Duchess For Support

2009-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Lisa Marie PresleyTHE Duchess of York has become close friends with Michael Jackson's ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.
Fergie, 49, is helping Elvis's daughter get over Jacko's death by inviting her on holiday to her £25million rented villa near Marbella, Spain.

On Saturday Lisa Marie, 41, joined Fergie and Prince Andrew at Princess Beatrice's 21st birthday party.

A source said: "They met in America and have become very close.

"It may seem an odd combination but they get on very well and have lots in common. Sarah invited her to Bea's birthday. She came with her children and partner."

Weather Causes Damage At Graceland!

2009-08-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

Tree down at GracelandLast night just after 7, the sky over Graceland got very dark, the winds begun to whip, and the rain fell.

Guests visiting Elvis' grave were asked to evacuate the property but refused. EPE employees exclusively told Elvis Unlimited that it took 15 minutes to get guests to leave the property ( for their own safety) due to the weather conditions. Staff also said, " The fans are passionate. They really love Elvis! And despite the weather, they wanted to stay."

And hats off to the Graceland staff for wanting the fans to come down from the hill until the storm ended. The Graceland staff put safety first. And from the picture shown, you can see why they were so concerned for tourists. A tree on the front lawn fell down during the storm. It fell and broke the original white wooden fence which has been at Graceland while Elvis lived there. I am sure Graceland will have this tree cleaned up and the lawn looking as beautiful as ever ASAP! Luckily no one was hurt not even a squirrel!

RILEY KEOUGH

2009-08-06T03:48:00.000-07:00

Rare Interview

2009-07-30T13:48:00.001-07:00

Dr. 'Nick' Nichopoulos Interview: Elvis - Dr. Murray - Drugs - Jul 29, 2009

2009-07-30T13:40:00.001-07:00

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SAM PHILLIPS

2009-07-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – July 30,2003), better known as Sam Phillips, was an American record producer who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s. He is most notably attributed with the discovery of Elvis Presley, and is associated with several other noteworthy rhythm and blues and rock and roll stars of the period.
Phillips was a native of Florence, Alabama and a graduate of Coffee High School.

In the 1940s, Phillips worked as a DJ for Muscle Shoals, Alabama radio station WLAY (AM). According to Phillips, this radio station's "open format" (of broadcasting music from both white and black musicians) would later inspire his work in Memphis.

Sam Phillips with recording equipment as shown on a display wall inside Sun Studio

On January 3, 1950, Phillips opened the "Memphis Recording Service" at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, which also served as the studios for Phillips' own label, Sun Records, through the 1950s. In addition to musical performances, he recorded events such as weddings and funerals, selling the recordings.

Phillips recorded what some—notably music historian Peter Guralnick—consider the first rock and roll record: "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, a band led by 19-year-old Ike Turner, who also wrote the song. The recording was released on the Chess/Checker record label in Chicago, in 1951. From 1950 to 1954 Phillips recorded the music of black rhythm and blues artists such as James Cotton, Rufus Thomas, Rosco Gordon, Little Milton, Bobby Blue Bland, and others. Blues legends such as B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf made their first recordings at his studio. In fact, Phillips deemed Howlin' Wolf his greatest discovery and he deemed Elvis Presley his second greatest discovery.

Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison

Although much has been written about Phillips' goals, he can be seen stating the following: "Everyone knew that I was just a struggling cat down here trying to develop new and different artists, and get some freedom in music, and tap some resources and people that weren't being tapped."

Elvis Presley, who recorded his version of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right (Mama)" at Phillips' studio, met that goal, and became highly successful, first in Memphis, then throughout the southern United States. For the first six months, the flip side, "Blue Moon of Kentucky", his upbeat version of a Bill Monroe bluegrass song, was slightly more popular than "That's All Right (Mama)." While still not known outside the South, Presley's singles and regional success became a drawing card for Sun Records, as singing hopefuls soon arrived from all over the region. Singers such as Sonny Burgess ("My Bucket's Got A Hole In It"), Charlie Rich, Junior Parker, and Billy Lee Riley recorded for Sun with some success, while others such as Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins would become superstars.

Despite this popular regional acclaim, by mid 1955 Sam Phillips' studio experienced financial difficulties, and he sold Presley's contract in November of that year; RCA Records' offer of $35,000 beat out Atlantic Records' offer of $25,000. Through the sale of Presley's contract, he was able to boost the distribution of Perkins' song "Blue Suede Shoes", and it became Sun Records' first national hit.

Phillips is credited with teaching production to Presley who used this knowledge into his career with RCA Victor. Although Steve Sholes was credited as the official producer of Elvis after his move to RCA, it was Elvis who in reality, produced most of the music, using what he had learned from Sam Phillips.

Phillips had an open style and insightful guidance that seemed to allow musicians, especially Presley, to search and feel their way to a point to where they would perform beyond Phillips' and their own expectations. He also seemed to have a sense for when the artist was about to reach the point of their best performance. Phillips recorded looking for a feel, not technical perfection. Phillips told Elvis that the worst thing he could go for was perfection. Phillips was always seeking what he called the perfect/imperfect cut. This meant that it was not technically perfect, but perfectly conveyed the feeling and emotion of the song to the listener and gave the song a living personality, partially due to it being technically imperfect.

Phillips innovated while recording Elvis. Most recordings at the time gave substantially more volume to the vocals. Phillips pulled back the Elvis vocals, blending it more with the instrumental performances. Phillips also used tape delay to get an echo into the Elvis recordings by running the tape through a second recorder head. RCA, not knowing the method that Phillips had used, was unable to recreate the Elvis echo when recording "Heartbreak Hotel". In an attempt to duplicate the Sun Records sound, RCA used a large empty hallway at the studio to create an echo, but it sounded nothing like the echo that Phillips had created at Sun Records.

Elvis did not have a band when he arrived at Sun Records. It was Sam Phillips who decided that little was needed to augment Elvis' vocals and rhythm guitar. Phillips chose two musicians, lead guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black to perform with Elvis. This choice of musicians proved to be inspired as this group along with drummer D.J. Fontana produced some of the biggest hits in rock 'n' roll history, even after Phillips had sold the Presley contract to RCA Victor. These included "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog", and "Don't Be Cruel".

Phillips' pivotal role in the early days of rock and roll was exemplified by a celebrated jam session on December 4, 1956 which came to be known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Jerry Lee Lewis was playing piano for a Carl Perkins recording session at Phillips' studio. When Elvis Presley walked in unexpectedly, Johnny Cash was called into the studio by Phillips, leading to an impromptu session featuring the four musicians.

Phillips challenged the four to achieve gold record sales, offering a free Cadillac to the first. The contest is commemorated in a song by the Drive-by Truckers.

Phillips launched radio station WHER on October 29, 1955. Each of the young women who auditioned for the station assumed there would only be one female announcer position like other stations at that time. Only a few days before the first broadcast did they learn of the "All Girl Radio" format. Almost every position at the station was held by a woman.

Through savvy investments, Phillips soon amassed a fortune. He was one of the first investors with Roy Scott in Holiday Inn, a new motel chain that was about to go national; he became involved with the chain shortly after selling the rights to Elvis Presley to RCA for $35,000 which he multiplied many times over the years with Holiday Inn. He would also create two different subsidiary recording labels—Phillips International and Holiday Inn Records. Neither would match the success or influence of Sun, which Phillips ultimately sold to Shelby Singleton in the 1960s.

He also owned the Sun Studio Café in Memphis. One location was in the Mall of Memphis.

Phillips and his family founded Big River Broadcasting Corporation which owns and operates several radio stations in the Florence, Alabama, area, including WQLT-FM, WSBM, and WXFL.

In 1986 Sam Phillips was part of the first group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He received a Grammy Trustees Award for his lifetime achievements in 1991. In 1998, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in October 2001 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Phillips died of respiratory failure at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on July 30, 2003, only one day before the original Sun Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark. He is interred in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis.

ELVIS FACT FOR THE DAY

2009-07-30T06:58:00.002-07:00

July 2, 1956
Ed Sullivan, who once said "I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time" called the Colonel to discuss terms. A three appearance deal for $50,000 is later agreed upon

A TRIBUTE TO ELVIS

2009-07-30T06:58:00.001-07:00

"That Elvis, man, he is all there is. There ain't no more. Everything starts and ends with him. He wrote the book."

Bruce Springsteen

Elvis' Personal Doctor Talks Drugs and the King of Rock 'n' Roll

2009-07-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.theinsider.com/news/2615633_Elvis_Personal_Doctor_Talks_Drugs_and_the_King_of_Rock_n_Roll

Tonight "The Insider" shows incredible footage of Elvis Presley just six weeks before his death -- drenched in sweat, slurring his words onstage during a performance; backstage he seemed out of it, bloated and exhausted. Now, we're with the King of Rock 'n' Roll's personal physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos, who reveals the story behind that footage for the first time ever.

"The problem at that time was that he had been given some medication to help him sleep, and one of the side effects is that it will drop your blood pressure down," says Dr. Nick, who gave Elvis the pills that made him slur his words.

The author of The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me, in stores February 2010, says, "Unfortunately, there's not a drug that treats everything; each medical problem needs its own medication."

The incredible footage comes from the new DVD "This is Elvis," in stores now. Many people have compared Elvis' death to Michael Jackson's, and Dr. Nick says of Jackson's own personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, now the focus of a police investigation, "I'm sure he's running scared."

Watch "The Insider" for more!

WHAT IS "DIXIELAND DELIGHT" ALL ABOUT?

2009-07-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Last weekend the new Praytome Publishing book "My Years With Elvis & The Colonel" by author Charles Stone
was presented to the Elvisworld. In the back of the book you find information and the very first illustration of
the upcoming Multimedia Box Set "Dixieland Delight" by Bud Glass.

This set will soon become a true collector's item and will be manufactured in the well-known quality that
Praytome Publishing is famous for. We spared no efforts to make this the definitive package to document the
5 sold out shows in Huntsville, AL in 1975. About 4 years ago, when author Bud Glass came up with the idea
for a book / dvd combo about these shows, nobody knew at that time that so much information and pictures
would show up. So there was only one way to do it right - to expand the book into a great Multimedia Box Set.
It's been a lot of work since then and the closer we get to the day of its release, the more excited the team
members of Bud Glass Productions and Praytome Publishing get. As announced previously, the box set consists
of 4 different releases and will be released in 4 different steps.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE FOR DETAILS AND MORE NEWS AS IT COMES AVAILABLE:

WWW.BEHIND-THE-IMAGE.COM

NOTE: The DIXIELAND DELIGHT box set is not released yet, the FTD 2-CD SET is now available.
The first phase of the DIXIELAND DELIGHT box set by Bud Glass Productions and Praytome Publishing will be
coming sometime in the near future. Watch the official web site for details.

Lisa Marie Presley Battles to Save Chimp

2009-07-28T20:50:00.001-07:00

Lisa Marie Presley Battles to Save Chimp
Sunday (26th) 10:05

Lisa Marie Presley is fighting to free a baby chimpanzee named after her.

Elvis' daughter is urging bosses of party organisers Ed and Annette's Monkeys and More, of Chicago, Illinois to place the ape in a sanctuary.

Lisa Marie the chimp is used as a crowd-pleasing exhibit at events staged by the company, but is reportedly kept in a small cage when not "working" - prompting staff at animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to call for action.

And Presley has joined the campaign to save her namesake, firing off a letter to Monkeys and More asking them to re-house the chimp.

She writes, "While it is flattering that you named her after me, it is concerning that there are reportedly some inhumane and unsafe practices that impact her well-being. Peta has asked me to become involved in asking you most humbly to please relinquish Lisa Marie to a sanctuary where she can live in comfort, peace, and the company of other chimpanzees.

I urge you to seriously consider releasing Lisa Marie to a sanctuaryLisa Marie Presley
"Years ago, my father also had a pet chimpanzee, and less was known then about their complex needs. Experts now tell us that the intricate bonds of a chimpanzee society are of the utmost importance to these animals. The lack of physical contact with other chimpanzees could do Lisa Marie irreparable harm.

Comment on this Article
"I urge you to seriously consider releasing Lisa Marie to a sanctuary. I would be thrilled to hear that you've allowed her to pursue a more freelife as a true chimpanzee in a habitat that she could better thrive in".

RILEY KEOUGH

2009-07-28T04:46:00.000-07:00

RILEY ON SET OF RUNAWAY AND A NEW MODEL PIC

2009-07-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here's the times for this Sunday where it

2009-07-19T07:33:00.001-07:00

Here's the times for this Sunday where it
says "TV Guide Special" on the TV Guide site: 1PM, 5PM, 8PM, 10PM & 1AM. There'll
probably be more replays if you look on here:

http://www.tvguide. com/Listings/ default.aspx

The name of the special's called "Michael and Elvis: A Tale of Two Kings" & here's info
about it:

http://www.upi. com/Entertainmen t_News/2009/ 07/16/Jackson- Presley-TV- special-to- air/UPI-98541247 783023/

"Jackson-Presley TV special to air

Michael Jackson (R), the "King of Pop", seen in an April 1995 file photo with Lisa Marie Presley in Los Angeles, died from a heart attack in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. He was 50 years old. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen/File)

Published: July 16, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Order reprints

LOS ANGELES, July 16 (UPI) -- TV Guide Network says it plans to air a U.S.. TV special on what it calls "eerie similarities" in the lives and deaths of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.

The one-hour program "Michael and Elvis: A Tale of Two Kings" is slated to premiere Sunday.

"TV Guide Network examines the eerie similarities surrounding the lives and untimely deaths of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. From the mega-stars' pop culture monikers -- 'The King of Pop' and 'The King of Rock 'n' Roll' -- to their fabled homesteads -- Neverland and Graceland -- and the unusual circumstances surrounding their deaths ... ," the network said in a news release.

Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest after a suspected prescription drug overdose at the age of 50, was briefly married to Presley's only daughter, Lisa Marie. The marriage ended in divorce.

Elvis Presley died in 1977 of a heart attack at the age of 42 after years of abusing prescription drugs."

Presley denies turning her back on Jackson

2009-07-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

Last Update: 3:31 pm

Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, CA on September 8, 1994. (Frank Micelotta, Getty Images) Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie has dismissed reports she ignored a voicemail from her ex-husband Michael Jackson in which he made a desperate plea for help.

The Thriller superstar, who divorced Lisa Marie Presley in 1996 after two years of marriage, died after suffering a cardiac arrest on June 25th. His cause of death has yet to be determined, but rumors have swirled about his alleged addiction to prescription painkillers possibly contributing to his untimely demise.

Us Weekly magazine claims Jackson reached out to his first wife Presley one year ago, after fearing he was losing control of his life.

The rock offspring reportedly turned her back on Jackson and refused to return the distraught call - and now the tabloid claims she's wracked with guilt over her decision.

A source tells the tabloid, "He said he needed her help because his life was spinning out of control and begged her to call him. But she never did."

"She kept saying, 'I should've done something', and blames herself, which is completely unreasonable of course."

However, a representative for Presley has poured doubt on the report, saying: "I don't believe this is true."

Presley took to her online blog after Jackson's death and revealed he had had a premonition he would die young, just like her father did.

She wrote, "He knew: Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general. I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my father's death..."

"At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did.' ..."

Copyright WENN.com

Riley Keough

2009-06-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

Live In Las Vegas, Feb. 7, 1974

2009-06-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

Live In Las Vegas, Feb. 7, 1974
The new CD from the Showroom Label is out in few days and it will contain an audience recording from February 7, 1974 M.S..

Tracklisting
01 | 00:00 | See See Rider | 3:17
02 | 03:17 | I Got A Woman / Amen | 3:30
03 | 06:47 | Love Me | 1:45
04 | 08:32 | Trying To Get To You | 2:02
05 | 10:34 | Sweet Caroline | 2:21
06 | 12:55 | Love Me Tender | 1:39
07 | 14:34 | Johnny B. Goode | 1:39
08 | 16:13 | Hound Dog | 1:37
09 | 17:50 | Fever | 2:49
10 | 20:39 | Polk Salad Annie | 3:48
11 | 24:27 | Killing Me Softly (sung by Voice) | 2:44
12 | 27:11 | Spanish Eyes | 3:13
13 | 30:24 | Suspicious Minds (incomplete) | 3:16
14 | 33:40 | Band Introductions | 2:03
15 | 35:43 | Blueberry Hill | 0:41
16 | 36:24 | I Can't Stop Loving You | 2:18
17 | 38:42 | Help Me | 2:37
18 | 41:19 | An American Trilogy | 4:01
19 | 45:20 | Let Me Be There (with reprise) | 3:39
20 | 48:59 | Can't Help Falling In Love | 1:51
total playing time = 50:50 min.

June 27 in Elvis History

2009-06-27T14:17:00.001-07:00

June 27, 1955
Elvis performed at the Airman's Club, Keesler Air Force Base, outside Biloxi. A local girl, June Juanico attended the show. Elvis picked June out of the crowd and spent the rest of the evening with her.
June 27, 1956
Elvis performed at the Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia.
June 27, 1959
In order to be able to stay in Paris as long as possible, Elvis hired a limousine to get him back to the barracks.
June 27, 1966
Elvis reported to MGM for a music meeting and wardrobe fittings for Double Trouble, which was for the time being called You're Killing Me.
June 27, 1968
At 9.00 a.m. Elvis rehearsed the gospel medley. At 6.00 p.m. the first show began in front of a live audience.
June 27, 1970
Under the alias of John Carpenter Elvis flew home to Memphis from Dallas.
June 27, 1973
Elvis performed at the Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio.
June 27, 1974
Elvis performed at the Indiana University Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana.
June 27, 1976
Elvis performed at the Capital Center Arena, Landover, Maryland at 2.30 and 8.30 p.m. where he was visited backstage by Elton John.

Priscilla's Statment

2009-06-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

Priscilla Presley, the former mother-in-law of Michael Jackson, has released a statement regarding the singer's untimely death.

Presley states, "I'm in shock, as I know everyone must be. What a tragic loss. My heartfelt thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."

He Knew

2009-06-26T15:24:00.001-07:00

Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general.

I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Fathers Death.

At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, "I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did."

I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.

14 years later I am sitting here watching on the news an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the Cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears.

A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened.

The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy.

All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted.

I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once.

Our relationship was not "a sham" as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a "Normal life" found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much.

I wanted to "save him" I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened.

His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn't know how and this was 14 years ago. We all worried that this would be the outcome then.

At that time, In trying to save him, I almost lost myself.

He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated.

When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad.

Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson's being or actions.

I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him.

I was in over my head while trying.

I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision.

The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.

After the Divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret.

Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation.

At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now.

As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play The exact Scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted.

Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him.

He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together.

I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now.

He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be.

I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is.

The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right.

I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening.

~LMP

Lisa Marie: Michael Would Talk About His Death

2009-06-26T12:51:00.001-07:00

Lisa Marie: Michael Would Talk About His Death

By Brian Orloff

Originally posted Friday June 26, 2009 01:00 PM EDT
Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson

Photo by: Alpha / Globe
Michael Jackson would think about – and discuss – his death sometimes, his ex Lisa Marie Presley writes in a candid new entry on her MySpace blog.

"Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general," Presley, 41, writes. "He stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like [Elvis Presley], the way he did.' I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that."

Presley, who vehemently denies claims that their marriage was "a sham," describes their marriage as "unusual." "I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much," she writes of their 20 month union. (The two wed in the Dominican Republic in May 1994 and divorced in Jan. 1996.)

But Presley now writes that the relationship was too emotionally taxing. "I became very ill and emotionally/spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him," she writes. "I was in over my head while trying."

Nevertheless, Presley remembers her ex fondly. "He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together," she posts. "I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now. He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be."

Elvis Presley History

2009-06-26T04:49:00.001-07:00

Elvis Presley History
for June 26

1909 - Colonel Tom Parker was born.

1957 - Elvis Presley spent his first night at Graceland.

1968 - A birthday party was thrown for Col. Tom Parker on the set of the 1968 TV Special "Elvis."

1977 - Elvis Presley's final concert took place at Market Square Arena, Indianapolis.

1979 - Elvis Presley's father, Vernon Elvis Presley, died.

2007 - The 21-song Elvis Presley collection "That's Alright" was released

Lisa Marie Presley Statement Regarding Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T19:31:00.001-07:00

Lisa Marie Presley Statement Regarding Michael Jackson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."

--Lisa Marie Presley