Source: http://essentialelvis.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-two-bw11-events-in-memphis.html
ALL THAT I AM ALLA EN EL RANCHO GRANDE ALMOST ALMOST ALWAYS TRUE
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Photos of Elvis Playing Musical Instruments — No Apps Required
It’s been a while, so I thought I’d check out elvis.com/news to see if anything going on would make a good ElvisBlog article. Most of the ‘news’ stories were uninspiring, but one did catch my eye.
So, now you can watch photos of Elvis playing various musical instruments on your smartphone using Elvis Mobile Apps. Being an old dinosaur who somehow manages to get by without a smartphone, I could not check out what instruments EPE has selected for this feature. I wonder if they include any of these.
The picture on the webpage shows Elvis in Loving You costume playing a guitar. It’s a fairly common photo. But, have you ever see the one above of him playing an electric bass guitar. This looks to be young Elvis, so the picture could be from the 1957 recording session for “(You’re so Square) Baby, I Don’t Care.” Remember how Bill Black was having trouble getting the bass intro straight, and Elvis had to step in and play the licks.
I think this shot of Elvis with a double neck guitar came from the publicity photos for one of his movies, but I can’t remember which one.
Here is another instrument that Elvis could actually play – the piano. This shot was snapped during the recording session for “Love Me Tender.”
Elvis played the piano before rehearsals for the Steve Allen Show. (Thanks Al. www.alfredwertheimer.com)
The website where I found this one said it was taken aboard the USS Randall, which was the troop ship that took Elvis to Germany. That looks like his medals for sharp-shooting hanging from his chest. I didn’t realize he got them during basic training, not active duty. I also didn’t know that troop ships had pianos. That white streak pointing to the guy’s chin is a drumstick.
Speaking of drumsticks, look what Elvis is doing here. I’ve never read that he had any particular skill as a drummer, but he must have found it fun to play around with them.
It certainly looks like he was enjoying it here.
That’s Boots Randolph in this shot with Elvis. Boots was a music legend on the sax, so maybe Elvis did have enough skill on the drums to accompany him.
I guess if you can play guitar, then a ukulele would be no big challenge. This photo was taken in 1961.
The most famous examples of Elvis playing the ukulele are shots from Blue Hawaii.
The fact that there are at least two photos on the internet of Elvis playing the accordion indicates that maybe he actually knew how to.
Here’s another shot of him in his Army uniform playing an instrument. Do you think he was actually playing the accordion or just goofing around?
We know Elvis was goofing around with this trumpet.
He may actually have been trying to play the trumpet here under the tutelage of professional trumpeter Chet Baker.
This shot on the set of Loving You shows Elvis playing(?) the clarinet.
I found this picture on the internet twice. One site called it a clarinet, and the other called it a flute. I think it’s a flute.
And this is a pan-flute. Well, if Cartman and the guys on South Park can play the pan-flute, why not Elvis.
And finally, we have Elvis playing the tambourine. You probably recognize this shot from the ’68 Comeback Special.
If any readers have the Elvis Mobile Apps and access their photos of Elvis playing musical instruments, could you please advise on ‘Comments’ what they actually show. I’d like to see how the it compares.
© 2013 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/2013/03/22/photos-of-elvis-playing-musical-instruments-no-apps-required/
DO THE CLAM DO THE VEGA DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM DOIN THE BEST I CAN
Can a Book Be Considered a Killer?
Did Elvis die because of a book? According to this interesting story, a book may very well have helped to kill Elvis Presley. You all know the book I am talking about. Elvis: What Happened was published just 2 weeks before Elvis died in 1977 and was an expose by Red and Sonny West as well as David Hebler, former bodyguards to the King who had been fired by Vernon Presley, Elvis’ father. The book was written in collaboration with Steve Dunleavy, a hard-drinking, controversial Australian reporter greatly favored by none other then Rupert Murdoch.
The West brothers tried to appease loyal Elvis friends and fans by saying their intention was to help Elvis by publicizing his drug dependency. But we all know that was a load of horse poop and the real reason they wrote the book was vengeance, plain and simple. It certainly wasn’t for money as this story makes it very clear that all the proceeds from this awful but bestselling book went back to the Murdoch’s news corporation, not the author(s).
Can a book be blamed for killing the King of Rock & Roll? No of course not. Elvis was on his way to his death bed long before these ingrates decided to write this horrible book. (I have never been able to bring myself to read this book, my opinion that it is horrible is based on what others have written about it.) In fact, it is my belief that it wasn’t a book that left Elvis feeling so empty and unfulfilled that he subconsciously felt had nothing left to live for but in fact, it was the loss of his mother Gladys that started him down that fateful road.
Elvis Presley and Rupert Murdoch: The King and Papa Paparazzi
Music journalist Chet Flippo, editorial director for the Country Music Television cable channel and its website, CMT.com, tells a fascinating story in his latest Nashville Skyline column about embattled publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch’s role in the waning days of Elvis Presley’s life.
Now that Murdoch and his News Corp. are embroiled in the cellphone hacking scandal that’s rocking the United Kingdom, Flippo revisits the period in the 1970s when the Australian media giant was lobbying to bring his gossip-mongering ways to the U.S. by acquiring two Texas newspapers — the San Antonio News and the San Antonio Express.
“He later combined both newspapers as the San Antonio Express-News, but early on, he instructed the News staff to turn the paper into a ‘screamer.’ And the paper soon did so. With a vengeance,” Flippo writes. “The staff began introducing Murdoch’s patented tabloid formula of sensationalism, sex, celebrities, crime and corruption. The facts be damned.”
Buy the Book At Amazon – Out of print but used copies are available.
Can a Book Be Considered a Killer? is a post from: The Elvis Presley Blog
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myElvisPresleyBlog/~3/G-Ko_3QGyo8/can-a-book-be-considered-a-killer
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Remembering Gordon Stoker
I’m usually thankful when something shows up in the news that inspires an ElvisBlog article. The exception is when the news is about the death of another Elvis buddy or bandmate or anyone else from Elvis’ world. In the past few years, this blog has remembered John Wilkinson, Jerry Leiber, Lamar Fike, Boots Randolph, and Charlie Hodge. There were other losses as well, like Myrna Smith of the Sweet Inspirations
But none of these deaths saddened me the way it did this week when I learned Gordon Stoker had passed away at age 88. I had personal contact with this wonderful stalwart of the Jordanaires, and he gave me some memories I will never forget. So, my salute to Gordon Stoker will be to tell some of them here.
Elvis performing on the Milton Berle Show on June 3, 1956. Gordon Stoker is the second closest Jordanaire to Elvis.
Another shot from that show, and Elvis is doing his moves. Gordon Stoker is second from the left. Did you recognize Elvis’ outfit in both pictures as the one he wore in the film clip of him doing “Hound Dog” on Milton Berle… the performance that created so much commotion.
Gordon Stoker between Ed Sullivan and Elvis
Okay, the stories. I spent a lot of time around Gordon Stoker during Elvis Week 2004, at the 50th Anniversary Legends Concert. EPE had deemed it the 50th anniversary of rock & roll, dating back to July 5, 1954, when Elvis recorded his first song.
At that time, I was a contributing editor for Elvis International magazine, published by Darwin Lamm. Darwin has promoted some great Elvis Week concerts, and he did it again for the 50th anniversary show. This Legends Concert featured Scotty Moore, DJ Fontana, the Jordanaires, Boots Randolph, Ronnie McDowell, and lots more. They were followed by the TCB Band Concert. Great double-bill.
I had backstage-access passes for both concerts. I functioned mostly as a go-fer, but if somebody wanted a cold bottle of water, I was happy to get it for them. Plus I was scoring autographs like crazy from everybody backstage.
I was around Gordon at the afternoon practice session, and all the hanging-out beforehand. My contact with him was minimal, but I became a familiar face. It was the same thing with the concert, but when it ended, I got a new job. All the performers signed autographs after the show. I was part of a four man group that escorted the performers to the autograph tables out in the lobby. Then we positioned ourselves strategically behind the signers to make sure nobody got pushy in the lines or tried to come behind the tables. At that point, I had gone from go-fer to bodyguard.
I was stationed near Gordon Stoker. After a half-hour or so, I was told Gordon needed to leave. After an active day, this eighty-year-old diabetic was having a little trouble. All the Jordanaires decided to leave together, so we escorted them out of the lobby and to the service elevator. I ended up with Gordon, and some stupid fool came up and wanted Gordon to stop and pose for a photo with him. I had to tell the guy, “Hey, get back and let us pass. Gordon needs to get some food.”
When the Jordanaires got to the elevator, they took off for the nearest restaurant. So, after saying hardly anything to Gordon all day, I was now a favorably familiar face.
All this occurred on August 13, so there was lots more of Elvis Week to go. Gordon and the Jordanaires were there for a few more days, and so was I. The next night I walked past the open restaurant area out in the hotel lobby and saw Gordon Stoker eating at a table alone. I entered the restaurant, went up to him, and asked how he was doing. He was fine, and we had a nice little conversation. To my surprise, he asked me to join him. You bet I did.
When the waitress came by, Gordon ordered for me. He was eating meatloaf and raving about it, so he wanted me to have it, too. He was right. It was great meatloaf. We chatted through the whole meal, and he was charming. He gave me his business card, and wrote my e-mail and phone number on the back of another. Said he would put it in his book. I didn’t think we’d actually do any messaging, but he sure made me feel good.
Then, Gordon picked up the whole tab. I had gone from go-fer to bodyguard to friend. It was just a perfect night.
Sadly, we now say goodbye to Gordon Stoker. Another member of Elvis’ world has left us. We’ll miss you, Gordon. Say hi to Elvis for us.
And, thanks for the meatloaf.
Cool shot of Gordon Stoker and Elvis
© 2013 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/2013/03/31/remembering-gordon-stoker/
CATCHIN ON FAST CATTLE CALL CCRIDER see SEE SEE RIDER CHANGE OF HABIT
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
50th Anniversary Movie Pictorial — It Happened at the World’s Fair, 1963
It Happened at the World’s Fair, Elvis’ twelfth film, opened nationally on April 10, 1963. By this time, Col. Parker and the producers had given up any pretense of putting Elvis into quality movies, and this one was a real stinkeroo, in my opinion. The plot was very thin, there was way too much of five-year-old Sue-Lin, and the songs were weak (especially the four Elvis sang to Sue-Lin). However, this is supposed to be a pictorial, not a review, so let’s look at some pictures.
Movie Posters:
Shots from the Movie:
The movie could have been a virtual advertisement for the Seattle World’s Fair, because it featured glamorous shots of nine different venues, including the Water Works Fountain in the Central Courtyard shown here. However, the film premiered several months after the fair closed.
Here we have Elvis and co-star Joan O’Brien in the famous Space Needle with its 360 degree rotation that provided stunning views. Actual filming was done on a set in Hollywood, and the floor didn’t rotate, just the section of windows behind them. Next time you watch the movie, note how the view never changes.
Elvis spent more time with Sue-Lin than he did with Joan O’Brien, and he sang more songs to the precocious child. However, the two songs he sang to O’Brien made her melt yieldingly into his arms.
Lobby Cards:
The One Scene I Can Watch Over and Over:
Early in the movie, there is a short scene that has nothing to do with the plot. Elvis shows up at the house where Yvonne Craig lives, and in no time they are doing this. Then, she decides things are getting too hot and pulls away. Elvis chases her all over the living room like a hound dog on the scent.
- Elvis the Hairdresser
Finally
Believe it or not, Elvis had time to sing a song during all that. It is said that Elvis dated Yvonne Craig during the filming of the movie. And, he must have liked her acting skills so much that he elevated her to co-star status a year later in Kissin’ Cousins.
Promotional Photos:
Elvis and two young girls who had about five seconds of film time in the scene depicted in the first lobby card – but they sure are pretty.
Elvis in his pilot outfit
In the movies, Elvis has sung on trains, trucks, cars, helicopters, and boats. Why not a rickshaw?
Foreign Posters:
French Poster
Italian Poster
Note what they feature on the Italian poster — Elvis in three fight scenes and putting the make on the girl who is not his co-star.
Behind the Scenes Shots:
Elvis the Hairdresser
Poker game. Gary Lockwood, Joan O’Brien, and cousin Billy Smith join in.
Kissing the Co-Star:
Kiss in Space Needle
This is about mid-way through the movie before Elvis messes up and she gets all mad at him.
Kissing at end of movie – after he wins her back.
.
.
© 2013 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/2013/04/22/50th-anniversary-movie-it-happened-at-the-worlds-fair-1963/
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