Musical birthday bash fit for The King : GoMemphis.com

Elvis Presley would have been 74 on Thursday (Jan. 8, 2009) and we can only imagine what it would be like had a septuagenarian King of Rock and Roll lived to celebrate the occasion. He might very well have had fun doing a gig with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and it could even have been like the one planned for Saturday night at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts.

The annual Elvis Birthday Pops concert comes mighty close to reincarnating Elvis with performances by Terry Mike Jeffrey along with the group The Imperials joining the MSO led by guest conductor Steven Reineke, recently appointed music director of the New York Pops. And Elvis himself will get to sing on video.

Jeffrey is a singer, Emmy-nominated songwriter, actor, musical director, arranger and multi-instrumentalist who replicates Elvis tunes as closely as possible to the original. He is not, however, an impersonator: "I don't look anything like Elvis," he says. "I'm not nearly as tall."

But his faithful renditions of Elvis songs have made him popular with fans around the world.

"With the orchestra, we are as true as we can be to the live versions of the '70s songs," Jeffrey says. "When we're with the symphony, we do those songs verbatim."

He's performed with the MSO before and says they like to change things a bit, adding something new to the mix. "Elvis had a song in 1971 called "I'm Leavin'," Jeffrey says. "It was a top-40 song, but not a top-10. But it's a really beautiful song and he did it live." Graceland had the musical charts and provided them, along with another that Jeffrey says is the beautifully arranged "Mary in the Morning."

Jeffrey says he got into Elvis at age 3 and that's been his main musical influence ever since. He doesn't do Elvis exclusively; he performs tunes ranging from the Beatles and Motown to John Mayer and U2. But the Elvis connection is the strongest, especially since it was nurtured by Charlie Hodge who worked and sang with Elvis. "Charlie and I were close," Jeffrey says, "and he worked with my band and I worked with him. He recommended to me after Elvis died and all these guys came out of the woodwork, that I just be myself and don't try to impersonate him."

Even so, Jeffrey did star as the '50s-era EP in the 1980s Broadway production of "Elvis An American Musical." He was the musical director, but was talked into taking the role. "I balked, but they said it would double my salary," he says. "I had a wife a two kids and figured we could use the extra money, so I did that for two years."

The Gospel group The Imperials backed Elvis in Las Vegas and on road tours from 1969 to 1974. They also recorded such hits as "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto" with Elvis, earning a place in rock history.

They were dormant for several years, but longtime member Terry Blackwood says they got back together for the 20th anniversary Elvis concert at the Coliseum and have continued making appearances.

Blackwood says, "I was with them during the years we were with Elvis during which we won Grammy and some Dove awards. It's been pretty amazing and now that we're back together again, it's going very well."

Blackwood remembers Elvis as being "unbelievably unorthodox" in the recording studio. "He didn't just stand there in front of the mike. He'd grab it like he was on stage and would just be jumping around the room," Blackwood says. "I've never seen anything like that. Sometimes we'd forget to sing."

Elvis Birthday Pops concert

Memphis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Steven Reineke performs with Terry Mike Jeffrey, The Imperials, and Elvis on video. 8 p.m. Saturday at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. For more information: memphissymphony.org, 537-2525; terrymike.com, theimperials.us.

ELVIS BIRTHDAY EVENTS

Elvis Presley would have been 74 this year. The actual birthday is Thursday, and Priscilla Presley will be in town to help kick it off. Here’s a listing of events during the week:

Thursday

12:01 a.m. at the gates of Graceland, D&N’s Elvis Presley Fan Club and the Elvis Meetup Fan Club continue a tradition of singing “Happy Birthday” to Elvis along with gospel songs.

9:30 a.m., Elvis Presley Day Ceremony on the front steps of Graceland, Priscilla Presley hosts as Graceland cuts an Elvis birthday cake and Memphis and Shelby County officials take part in an Elvis Presley Day proclamation. Admission free. Complimentary cake and coffee will be served afterward at the Chrome Grille restaurant in Graceland Plaza.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Elvis tribute artist Terry Mike Jeffrey performs live at the Graceland ticket pavilion in Graceland Plaza. Admission free.

4:30-6:30 p.m, “Bears on Tour Scavenger Hunt,” beginning at Graceland ticket pavilion. Tour of Graceland and the car museum combined with a trivia scavenger hunt. All participants receive a limited-edition Elvis birthday bear. Admission $29 adults, $12 children 7-12. Call (800) 238-2000 or 332-3322 for reservations or information.

8 p.m.-midnight – Club Elvis at Graceland in the Elvis Presley Car Museum, party and dance as a disk jockey plays Elvis records, cash bar, admission $20.

Friday

5-8 p.m., official Elvis Insiders Reception and Graceland Tour. Progressive tour of Graceland Plaza attractions, including the Elvis planes, and of Graceland with guests including Elvis Army buddy Rex Mansfield and his wife, Elisabeth, a former girlfriend and secretary to Elvis during his Army tour. Guests also include The Memphis Boys, the rhythm section during Elvis’ recording sessions at American Sound Studios. Admission: adults $44, children 7-12 $22, under 7 free. For reservations or information call (800) 238-2000 or 332-3322.

Saturday

10 a.m.-noon. Fan club president’s event, Fogelman Executive Conference Center, University of Memphis. Admission $8 to learn what fan clubs do and to meet guests Rex Mansfield, an Elvis Army buddy, and Elisabeth Mansfield, a former girlfriend and secretary to Elvis when he was stationed in Germany.

8 p.m. Elvis Presley Birthday Pops, Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Memphis Symphony Orchestra with The Imperials, tribute artist Terry Mike Jeffrey and Elvis on video. Tickets available through symphony box office by calling 537-2525 or online at memphissympony.org.

Sunday

8:30-10 a.m., Elvis birthday breakfast, Elvis car museum with Elvis music and videos. Admission $27. For information or to order tickets, call 332-3322.