Go Memphis

Long-sought by fans, "Elvis", the first movie about the king of rock, made its overdue DVD debut Tuesday, on the Shout! Factory label. The sympathetic ABC made-for-TV movie became one of the highest-rated films ever when it aired on Feb. 11, 1979, less than 18 months after the singer's shocking death at the age of 42. The disc (list-priced at $19.98) offers the full 148-minute "theatrical" version, and includes a commentary track. Full story »

Like a lot of folks on their way to Memphis this week, Mark Alan Stamaty has never been to the Bluff City before, and he's never experienced the particular madness that grips the city each January and August when fans from around the world arrive to celebrate the birth and mark the death of Elvis Presley. Stamaty is just one of a small army of authors -- from locals like deejay George Klein to Elvis expert Frank Hyland -- who will be promoting their work amid a festival of culture and commerce that's become a twice yearly tradition. Full story »

Today: Elvis Presley Day Ceremony: 9:30 a.m. at Graceland Plaza near the main ticketing area. Enjoy a ceremony with special guests Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley along with Graceland/EPE officials, a birthday cake cutting and a proclamation of Elvis Presley Day by Memphis and Shelby County officials. Free admission. Full story »

Almost everybody who ever had an Elvis book in them has written it already. Until now there had been one longtime holdout, a man who has witnessed and been part of not only the Elvis phenomenon but the tectonic cultural change wrought by the birth of rock and roll. George Klein met the future legend when both were in the eighth grade at Humes High School, where nobody paid much attention to Elvis, although Klein was impressed by one thing: "I'd never seen a guy bring a guitar to school." Full story »

As the world gears up to mark yet another milestone in the post-Elvis Presley era this Friday — Jan. 8 marks the 75th anniversary of his modest birth in Tupelo, Miss. — a new wave of Presley projects is about to roll out, perpetuating the myth and the legend among music lovers again. But perhaps the most high-profile Presley projects are very different looks at the king, one a photo exhibit and the other a vibrant and splashy show that represents the return Elvis to Las Vegas. Full story »

Elvis would have been 75 on Jan. 8. Here is a list of public events for the 2010 Elvis Presley birthday celebration. For more information and a full list, go to elvis.com. Thursday, Jan. 7: Book signing: Author Alanna Nash will read and sign copies of her book "Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him" at 6 p.m. at Davis-Kidd Booksellers, 387 Perkins Extended. For details, call 683-9801. Full story »

Alanna Nash thought she was done with Elvis Presley. But a few years back, the Louisville-based music journalist and author who has written three previous books on the singer and his inner circle -- including a groundbreaking biography of Presley's manager Col. Tom Parker and an oral history with members of the Memphis Mafia -- began to wonder whether there was one crucial perspective that had yet to be explored about Presley's life; his complex relationship with women. Full story »

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. Full story »

"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." Full story »

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. Full story »

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. Full story »

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. Full story »

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. Full story »

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. Full story »

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. Full story »