elvis

Beatles Bomb In Memphis

Rob Grayson — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:37:01 +0000

Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, went into the mid 1960’s with a strategy. He repositioned Elvis from a singer who made movies to a movie star who made records. This simple distinction successfully locked in millions of dollars in upfront movie money, and successfully detached Presley from depending on the fickle whims of the demographics which drove disc sales.

Elvis Presley's Death

Steve Pike and Justin Willingham — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:05:16 +0000

For many Memphians of a certain age, August 16, 1977 was really “The Day the Music Died.” Elvis Aaron Presley died at his mansion, Graceland.

A native of Tupelo, Elvis moved to Memphis as a teenager. After high school, he walked into Sun Studios to make a record for his mother, Gladys.

Sam Phillips heard him and realized that he had found a white singer with a black feel. Hits like “That's All Right Mama” and “Hound Dog” left the music world all shook up. And it's still shaking.

The Million Dollar Quartet

Steve Pike and Justin Willingham — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 22:44:30 +0000

On December 4, 1956, Elvis dropped by Sun Studios to visit Sam Phillips. Although Elvis was now a recording star with RCA, he was still close to Phillips, his old friend and mentor.

Elvis' "First Home" in Memphis

Steve Pike and Justin Willingham — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 23:10:07 +0000

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He grew-up there in a shotgun shack that his father, Vernon, built.

Lady Luck Has The Final Say

Rob Grayson — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:35:30 +0000

One of the few false starts in the meteoric rise of Elvis Presley’s early entertainment career was an ill-fated run in Las Vegas in 1956. Elvis, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana spent two weeks trying to light a fire under a stodgy bunch of middle-aged gamesters. Even this fortnight drubbing displayed a silver lining, as an enthusiastic throng mobbed a special Saturday teenage matinee performance.