Go Memphis Stories: Elvis Coverage

Concert Review: 'Elvis 1969' seamless tribute to 'The King'

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:59:00 -0000

It may not have been Vegas, the International Hotel or 1969, but the evening undoubtedly belonged to Elvis. Friday night's "Elvis 1969: A Celebration Concert" Downtown at The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts took a near-capacity audience back 40 years to witness the rebirth of Presley, the live performer. The multimedia extravaganza -- which combined video of Elvis, live musicians and guest singers -- was keyed to the watershed year of 1969.

Elvis has left the building, but his image continues on screen

beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:52:00 -0000

"Elvis Week" comes and goes, but Elvis himself seems to be always with us, on the radio, TV and the movie screen. Elvis references could be found recently in boys-will-be-bad-boys comedy "The Hangover" and the date-night flick "He's Just Not That Into You." From Elvis Week 2008 to Elvis Week 2009 (which ended Sunday), I made note of every reference to Elvis I found during public movie screenings. The result of this labor of hunka-hunka burning love is this story: The Commercial Appeal's 13th annual survey of "Elvis Allusions in the Movies."

Party Line: Images of fun as Elvises vie for the King's crown

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:20:00 -0000

Jesse Aron did it his way and took home the first-place title and $2,000 in the Images of the King Elvis tribute artist competition Saturday night at the Holiday Inn Select at Airways and Democrat. Chris Connor from Manchester, England, came in second and Cody Slaughter from Harrison, Ark., and Joseph Hall from Omaha tied for third place. Bobby Simkins from Independence, Mo., was the People's Choice winner.

Eye on Elvis Week: Insight and trivia focus of "Mafia" reunion

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:50:00 -0000

George Klein’s annual Elvis Mafia reunion at Alfred’s on Beale brought together fans with a panel of people who knew Elvis and had some stories to tell. The Q-and-A Sunday evening is always a well-attended event with Klein emceeing and fielding the questions. He ends up answering many of them, too, thanks to his encyclopedic knowledge of the King or Rock and Roll.

78th brass note honors deejay Dewey Phillips

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:16:00 -0000

Dewey Phillips' signature line -- "Tell 'em Phillips sent ya!" -- seemed to apply Thursday morning as a crowd gathered along Beale Street to honor the legendary Memphis music figure. The man known as "Daddy-O Dewey," Elvis' first great radio champion and the wild, white deejay who served as a musical and cultural touchstone for a generation of Memphians -- black and white -- was rewarded with a brass note on Beale.

Chips Moman gives a little more conversation on Elvis' 1969 creative rebirth

mehr@commercialappeal.com (Bob Mehr) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:05:00 -0000

By any standard, Chips Moman has an impressive résumé. As a songwriter, Moman is responsible for several true classics, from "Dark End of the Street" to "Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)." As a producer, he helped define Stax Records during its early years before going on to sire a succession of hits at his American Sound Studio.

Elvis Week calendar of events

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:05:00 -0000

Today: Shake, Rattle & Bowl Party: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Strike Zone Bowling Alley, 3330 Pine Tar Alley, Southaven, Miss. Activities include bowling, billiards, an Elvis trivia contest, Elvis karaoke and lots of fun surprises. Elvis clips and music playing throughout the entire facility. Special guests The TCB Band, Sweet Inspirations, Elvis' Imperials, Millie Kirkham and Joe Guercio will stop by for autograph session. Tickets $49. (800) 238-2000 or 332-3322.

Illinois Elvis turns in Ultimate performance

lollar@commercialappeal.com (Michael Lollar) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:00:00 -0000

Bill Cherry of Collinsville, Ill., won the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Thursday after a two-day showdown with 19 of the best Elvis acts in North America. Last year's runnerup, Donny Edwards of Las Vegas, again came in second, with Myrtle Beach, S.C., tribute artist Kevin Mills third in the event at The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown. The winners were announced shortly before 10 p.m. after judges narrowed 10 finalists to five.

Eye on Elvis Week: Musicians get ready for 'Elvis 1969' concert

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:04:00 -0000

They called it a rehearsal but it was more of a reunion of musicians who had performed with Elvis. Many of the musicians on stage at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Thursday morning were singing and playing songs they'd done with Elvis back in 1969 during his popular appearances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.

Casino Scene: Ronnie McDowell dwells in Elvis' shadow

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:59:00 -0000

It simply wouldn't be Elvis Week without an appearance by Ronnie McDowell. The Elvis-inspired singer returns to Horseshoe Casino's Bluesville tonight at 9 for his annual "Tribute to the King" concert featuring Presley's famed backing vocal group the Jordanaires.

Crowd all shook up as Elvis acts vie tonight for 'Ultimate' crown

lollar@commercialappeal.com (Michael Lollar) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:00:00 -0000

The stage of The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Memphis converted from classical music to classic rock Wednesday as 20 Elvis Presley acts competed for the title of 2009's Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist.

Eye on Elvis Week: Fans meet and mingle at Marlowe's

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:41:00 -0000

The annual Elvis Meet Up at Marlowe’s this afternoon packed the already popular restaurant on Elvis Presley Blvd. Fans were there to mingle and find some Elvis celebrities to pose with, but the main thing was the auction benefiting the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County. Door prizes were given out, including photos of the induction of Elvis sideman, the late Bill Black, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Eye on Elvis Week: Comfort food for The King

biggs@commercialappeal.com (Jennifer Biggs) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:47:00 -0000

Well, you know that it's Elvis week. I can't find my copy of the cookbook written by Elvis's cook (I can't even remember her name), but I came across "The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley" by David Adler. In it, Adler says that Marion Cocke, a nurse at Baptist Hospital Elvis befriended during one of his stays, was called to Graceland just a few days before he died and fed him her banana pudding at 3 a.m. Who knows? It could've been 32 years ago today that he ate this very thing.

Eye on Elvis Week: Fans give hearts and funds to trauma center

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:46:00 -0000

Since it was dedicated in 1983, the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center has benefited from contributions by Elvis fans. As a thank you to those faithful, the Regional Medical Center at Memphis offers tours of the facility throughout Elvis Week. For two hours Tuesday morning, Pamela Castleman, The Med’s nursing director of trauma service, and three other staffers were guides for dozens of Elvis fans who came to see the facility bearing Elvis’ name.

Cirque du Soleil bringing Elvis back to Vegas

lollar@commercialappeal.com (Michael Lollar) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:37:00 -0000

While most Elvis fans are focused on Memphis this week for the 32nd annual Elvis Tribute Week, Graceland's parent company, CKX Inc., is looking ahead to a December or January debut of the first Elvis production by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. CKX signed a long-term joint venture in 2006 with the Montreal-based troupe which combines circus and theater for a series of extravagant productions including a Beatles-themed production called "Love."

Eye on Elvis Week: Sun Studio shines with Elvis fans

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:10:00 -0000

Most people know Amy LaVere as a world-traveling, bass-thumping chanteuse of memorable songs and glorious voice. But today she is a Sun Studio tour guide (or as she says, a "history of rock and roll ambassador"). Although Elvis Week is well underway, Monday is a quiet one for visiting fans, a sort of pause in the action before it picks up steam on Tuesday.

Elvis, old and new, on the big screen

beifuss@commercialappeal.com (John Beifuss) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:38:00 -0000

In addition to luring thousands of fans to Memphis, Elvis Week attracts filmmakers and inspires film exhibitors. Old Elvis musicals are revived, and new Elvis movies are debuted: * "Lonely Street," a comic murder mystery in which a "two-bit gumshoe" named Bubba (Jay Mohr) is hired by a septuagenarian Elvis (beautifully played by Robert Patrick) continues throught August 16 at the Hollywood 20 Cinema, 6711 Stage.

'Viva' Elvis: 20 of the best vie to become 'Ultimate' tribute artist

lollar@commercialappeal.com (Michael Lollar) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0000

The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, one of the biggest attractions of Elvis tribute week, is Wednesday and Thursday at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.

Group of emerging talents meditate, present take on Elvis

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:01:00 -0000

River City Artists, a local collective of emerging talent under the direction of noted watercolorist Fred Rawlinson, has weighed in on the topic of Elvis art with "Our Town II: Eyes on Graceland," a group show at Memphis Botanic Garden in the Visitors Center Gallery. Running through Aug. 31, the exhibit consists of 70 works by 15 artists who were given rare access to the grounds of Graceland in arriving at their depictions. Such access is given infrequently, says Kevin Kern, director of public relations for Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Elvis Week 2009 Schedule of Events

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:59:00 -0000

Fans of The King will have a variety of events to fill their schedules during Elvis Week 2009.