GROUNDBREAKING ON EXPANSION AT ELVIS' BIRTHPLACE BEGINS

TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- A Tupelo tourism attraction which attracts over 75,000 visitors each year is about to receive a large face-lift.

City leaders held a ground breaking at the place where Elvis Presley was born as it will soon expand 10,000 plus square-feet.

Project plans estimate to cost about $6.6 million including a theater, reception hall, walking trail, and other displays.

Two and a half million dollars for this upgrade comes from the Mississippi Legislature, a wise investment according to some of our tourism experts.

"For every dollar we spend in advertising and marketing in the state of Mississippi we get about seven dollars returned on that one dollar," says Neal McCoy, Director of the Tupelo Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "So this is a good sound investment we think will attract visitors."

"We're the number one tourist attraction for the State of Mississippi. The state tourism people realize that and they're not afraid to put money into a project like this," believes Executive Director of the Elvis Presley Memorial, Dick Guyton.

Records show in 2010, the birthplace brought visitors in from all 50 states as well as 50 foreign countries.

     Above is an artist rendering of the new museum expansion to the current one.

RARE ELVIS MOMENTS!

Below is a clip of rare footage of Elvis recieving an award plaque for his current album at the time, 'Moody Blue' by an RCA represenative at the Indianapolis airport on June 26, 1977, seven weeks before his death. The presentation was for the two-billionth record pressed at RCA's Indianapolis plant.  Elvis doesn't appear to be overweight from the looks of his jogging suit opposed to that of the stage suits he wore for that last tour.

NEW SPANKOX REMIX: POCKETFUL OF RAINBOWS

This is a nicely done new remix by Spankox kept within the original version.

AWESOME FOOTAGE OF ELVIS ROCKIN' LIVE IN VEGAS-1970

This is some of the most electrifying live footage of the King live on stage jamming on some of his 60's hits like Little Sister in a medly mix with The Beatles, Get Back. Very rare from the Turner archives!

ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT ELVIS: KING OF HAWAII

While I'm not a fan of books on Elvis' life, this one looks promising. Here is the cover of the new book by Erik Lorentzen, "Elvis King Of Hawaii". If all goes well, the book should be ready by mid-May, More information on the number of pages and pictures, and retail prices will follow later

Elvis Car Museum Makes List of Unique Venues for Corporate Events

How about hosting a company meeting your employees will enjoy attending? The Elvis Presley Car Museum at Graceland has just been named one of the top unique venues for corporate events by Exhibit City News, a tradeshow industry newspaper out of Las Vegas.

The Car Museum features over 33 vehicles owned by Elvis, including his famous pink Cadillac, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and a 1975 Dino Ferrari, as well as a drive-in theater. Exhibit City News says that makes it an ideal location for a company looking to hold a live event and let loose a bit.

The Elvis Presley Car Museum holds 150 seated guests and 250 standing.

MUST SEE LIVE ELVIS FROM 1974 IN HD!!

This is some of the very best live footage in 8mm by a fan at Elvis' concert in Kansas City, MO in July 1974.

UNDERRATED GEM: MY BOY

If you ask the average Elvis fan what they think of the song, ‘My Boy’ you will get mixed reactions. Some love it while others think it’s one of his weaker songs from the 70’s. But truth but told, it was actually a smash hit in 1974.

It was first featured on the album, Good Times that same year and peaked at #20 on Billboard’s Top 40 charts. It did much better on the Easy Listening charts reaching all the way to #1. My Boy was a major hit in the UK peaking at #5. Elvis first performed the song live on stage in Las Vegas in August 1973, 4 months before he would record it in the studio. He then installed it into his 1975 spring tour as a regular.

My Boy is a song about a man who is watching his child sleeping and tells him that the love between his mom and his dad has ended and that he’ll always be his dad’s little boy. It’s a sad, touching song and coincidentally was performed and recorded following his divorce to Priscilla. One would have to assume that Elvis did it with Lisa Marie in mind.

Recorded Date: December 1973

(Stax Studio Memphis, TN)

Release Date: November 1974

Format: Single

Weeks On Charts: 11 weeks

Highest peak: #20 US, #5 UK

GOLD certified

ARTWORK UNVEILED FOR 35TH ANNIVERSARY MARKETING

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. has unveiled the artwork that will be used throughout 2012 on merchandise and advertising, and in conjunction with events that will commemorate the 35th annual celebration of the legacy of Elvis Presley.

In recent years, the 20th, 25th and 30th year anniversaries saw a dramatic increase in awareness and participation by the media, licensees and fans from all over the world. In 2012, there will be even more ways than ever for fans, many of whom were not yet born when Elvis passed away, to celebrate their love for the king.

The artwork, which was developed by Memphis firm Red Deluxe, features a variety of Elvis silhouettes in bight, contemporary colors along with the type, “ELVIS PR35LEY.”

The 35th Anniversary Year of Elvis will kick off in Memphis, Tennessee during Elvis' birthday celebration held Thursday, January 5 - Sunday, January 8, 2012. That will be followed by the Elvis Cruise from Jacksonville, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas on January 6 – 12, 2012.

In August 2012, hundreds of thousands of fans will gather in Memphis for a week of parties, concerts, panel discussions and more during Elvis Week 2012. One of the largest events during the week, and one that has become a rock ‘n’ roll pilgrimage for many, is the annual Candlelight Vigil on August 15.

Licensed merchandise featuring the 2012 artwork will begin to appear at retail stores around Thanksgiving 2011 with a limited number of items available during Elvis Week 2011 at Graceland.

ALBUM OF THE MONTH: ELVIS 56

When it comes to the history of Rock & Roll, there's not a more important single year than 1956 as it was Elvis' big breakout year as the groundbreaking artist and the legend known as "The King of Rock & Roll" was born. Prior to 1956, music was one dimensional. It had no heart, no rhythm, and no soul. That all changed when Elvis took black blues and mixed it with country western and gospel soul to create a sound that had previously never been heard of. The album, Elvis 56 is a soundtrack to the year and represents the finest pure rocker that was ELVIS! Songs like Shake, Rattle and Roll with its raw racy lyrics of "The way you wear those dresses the sun comes shining through, I can't believe my eyes all that mess belongs to you". Maybe the sexiest line ever in a Presley song.

1956 produced #1 hit classics like Heartbreak Hotel, Don't Be Cruel, Hound Dog, Too Much and I Want You, I Need You, I Love You. By the end of the year, Elvis had 8 top 10 hits on the charts breaking records by a landslide. Other classics from 1956 were Blue Suede Shoes, Love Me, I Was The One, and My Baby Left Me. Elvis was always listening to his favorite R&B singers who played a part in his inspiration. One of his favorite artists was Little Richard who Elvis covered. Songs like Tutti Frutti, Rip It Up and Ready Teady. He also covered Ray Charles' I Got A Woman, which became a staple to his live concerts later on during the 70's.

Elvis' style in 1956 would never be the same again. That's what makes that particular year so unique and special to both fans and historians. It was those recordings that shaped the future of pop, rock, country and soul. Elvis single handedly changed music in that one year alone! It was those early recordings that inspired four lads from Liverpool named, The Beatles.

Final words: If there is ever a must-have Elvis Presley cd, it's Elvis '56.

Original Release Date: 1996
Record Label: RCA/BMG
Reissued by Sony Music in 2003
Source: Mono

Tracklisting:
  1. Heartbreak Hotel
  2. My Baby Left Me
  3. Blue Suede
  4. So Glad You're Mine
  5. Tutti Frutti
  6. One-Sided Love Affair
  7. Love Me
  8. Anyplace Is Paradise
  9. Paralyzed
10. Ready Teddy
11. Too Much
12. Hound Dog
13. Anyway You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)
14. Don't Be Cruel
15. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
16. Shake, Rattle & Roll
17. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
18. Rip It Up
19. Heartbreak Hotel (Alternate Take 5 - previously unreleased)
20. I Got A Woman
21. I Was The One
22. Money Honey

Below: Elvis performing his #1 hit, 'Too Much' from his last appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957.

FAST FACT: THE BOSS ONCE TRIED TO MEET ELVIS

On April 29, 1976, security guards removed Bruce Springsteen from the grounds of Graceland. Springsteen was in Memphis on tour at the time and wanted to meet Elvis. So, the young rocker jumped the famous wall at Graceland in an attempt to meet his idol. But his plan was derailed when he was escorted off the premises. Springsteen did get the chance to see Elvis perform live on 2 occasions. One being at Madison Square Garden in 1972 and the other in Binghamton, NY in 1977.

DISNEY STAR, DEBBY RYAN INSPIRED BY ELVIS

A lot of people have pets named after the King of Rock 'n' Roll, and that includes Disney Channel TV star Debby Ryan. Debby, who's best known for her work on the series "The Suite Life on Deck," says she named her new puppy 'Presley' because she's inspired by Elvis and his music. Debby received the dog as a gift for her 17th birthday from fellow Disney stars Boo Boo Stewart and Fivel Stewart.

I have also learned that her father is also named Elvis.

CONFIRMED: ELVIS BIOPIC MOVIE SET FOR PRODUCTION

It has been confirmed in today's Financial Times that Simon Fuller of XIX Entertainment is financing a movie based on Elvis' rise to fame to be made by Sony Pictures Entertainment. I suspect this will be based on Peter Guralnick's 'Last Train To Memphis'. Will be interesting to see how this one pans out. The main problem is getting someone to portray Elvis. Further, will it be a TV only production or one for the regular film circuit?
-Brian Quinn (Elvis insider)

I would like to add that with Sony Entertainment making this movie that it will most likely be a theatrical motion picture and not a made-for-TV movie. Therefor being the first of it's kind regarding Elvis's life story. There have been many biopics over the years on other great music legends. Richie Valens, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, The Chess Brothers, and now Elvis Presley!

BILLBOARD NEWS: AN AFTERNOON IN THE GARDEN RE-ENTERS THE ALBUM CHARTS AT #123!

The live concert album, An Afternoon In The Garden has re-entered Billboard's 200 Album chart at #123. It is the famous concert at NY's Madison Square Garden released in 1995.

A LOOK BACK 39 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

Elvis performing live in Hampton Roads, Virginia, April 9, 1972. This concert was filmed for the Golden Globe Award winning Documentary of The Year, Elvis On Tour.

Elvis performing the follwoing night in Richmond, Virginia April 10, 1972. A SRO crowd of 11,500 attended this show which was also filmed.

Live in Greensboro, NC April 14, 1972. This concert was filmed by MGM as well for the documentary.

Elvis live on stage in Jacksonville, FL April 16, 1972 in front of 10,000 screaming fans.

San Antonio, TX  April, 18, 1972.

ELVIS' FORMER GUITARIST TOURS GRACELAND

John Wilkinson, rhythm guitarist for Elvis Presley and original TCB Band member, visited Graceland on Thursday, April 14. Wearing the TCB gold necklace given to him by Elvis, John shared wonderful memories of his friendship with the King of Rock 'n' Roll. John first met Elvis when he was only ten years old and snuck backstage at a concert Elvis was featured in. Years later, the two re-united when Elvis handpicked John to be a part of his TCB Band.

John will be a special guest at the 2011 Elvis Week celebration in Memphis during the Conversations on Elvis event on Sunday, August 14.

RARE: ELVIS LIVE IN '75!

Check out this incredibly rare fan shot footage of the King live on stage in July 1975 in Long Island, NY, wearing what is known as the Gypsy jumpsuit. The King had style!

JUSTIN BIEBER IS AN ELVIS FAN!

A great look for pop superstar Justin Bieber! At a party thrown for him by designers Dolce & Gabbana, Justin arrived wearing an Elvis T-shirt from the D&G Dolce and Gabbana 2011 Spring and Summer Collection. Four different Elvis designs are featured in the new collection. You can find the shirts online at DolceGabbanna.com!

Below is a  shot from a photoshoot of Justin Bieber listening to a large collection of Elvis albums while his adoring fans look on in awe.

ELVIS IN 2011

It's my first post on my first blog so let's get this thing going. Elvis Presley may be long gone physically, but his legacy and name reins supreme today as it did 34 years ago when he passed away. His importance and impact on today's music is found in all artists from Justin Bieber to Carrie Underwood and beyond. From the backwoods of Tennessee to the inner city streets of America. From Country music to hip-hop and Gospel. Elvis is felt everywhere in everyone. This blog is devoted to proving that. As my blog grows, I will be posting cool and rarely seen videos and photos as well as keeping up with the everyday newsworthy coverage of the King. So stay tuned and keep this blog bookmarked and thanks for visiting.