An alphabetical tribute to the man they called 'E'
August 16, 2007
By Dave Larsen
Staff Writer
A "Aloha From Hawaii": Elvis Presley performed a 1973 live concert at the Honolulu International Convention Center that was transmitted by satellite to TV stations around the world. The soundtrack album was the last Elvis record to hit No. 1 during his lifetime. A life-size state of Elvis was unveiled in July at the site of the legendary concert.
B "Blue Moon Boys:" Guitarist Scotty Moore and bass player Bill Black backed Elvis on his first recording and accompanied him during his early live performances. They called themselves the Blue Moon Boys, after the B-side of their first single, "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
C Col. Tom Parker: Col. Tom Parker took charge of Elvis' career in 1955, negotiating deals that made him the highest-paid movie star, concert performer and Las Vegas entertainer of the era. Parker took a higher-than-usual 25 percent commission on all of Elvis' earnings, and his contracts led to Elvis appearing in second-rate movies and performing the same musical material over and over.
D Draft notice: Elvis received his official draft notice in December 1957. He was told to report for duty on Jan. 20, 1958, but he was able to delay his induction until March 24 of that year to complete the filming of "King Creole." Elvis served with a tank battalion in Germany. He was honorably discharged in March 1960 with the rank of sergeant.
E "Ed Sullivan Show": Ed Sullivan reportedly wouldn't book Elvis for his top-rated TV variety show — that is, until Elvis' 1956 appearance on Steve Allen's rival show beat Sullivan in the ratings. Sullivan booked Elvis for three appearances. His first, on Sept. 9, 1956, was seen by more than 50 million viewers.
F Federal Narcotics Officer's Badge: Elvis, who collected police badges, requested one from the Federal Narcotics Bureau. It was denied because he was a civilian. In December 1970, Elvis met with President Richard M. Nixon, who formally presented him with the cherished badge at the White House.
G Graceland: In 1957, Elvis purchased Graceland mansion for $100,000. Built in the late 1930s, the mansion was situated on 13.5 acres on the southern outskirts of Memphis. Elvis added a kidney-shaped swimming pool, white pillars and a wrought-iron double gate ornamented with guitars and musical notes. Now a museum, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Graceland annually.
H "Heartbreak Hotel": Elvis' first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel," was released in January 1956. By April, it was No. 1 on the pop, country and R&B charts. The song sold one million copies and made Elvis a national idol.
I Impersonators: Elvis impersonators became popular after the singer's untimely death in 1977. Most concentrate on visually or vocally recreating the singer on stage. Notable Elvis impersonators include the late comedian Andy Kaufman; El Vez the Mexican Elvis; and the Flying ELVI, a team of "parachuting Presleys" featured in the 1992 film, "Honeymoon in Vegas."
J Jumpsuits: Elaborate jumpsuits created by Hollywood costume designer Bill Belew became one of Elvis' performance trademarks. Many of the sequined, rhinestone and gem-encrusted jumpsuits were given names such as Burning Flame, Inca Gold Leaf, Mad Tiger, King of Spades and Blue Rainbow.
K Karate: Elvis took up the sport of karate while in the army. He continued to practice his technique for more than 20 years and achieved the rank of eighth-degree black belt. Elvis did his own karate stunt scene in the film "G.I. Blues," during which he broke a bone in his hand.
L Lisa Marie Presley: The only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley was born on Feb. 1, 1968. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' estate at age 30. Married four times, her ex-husbands include Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage. She has released two studio albums as a musical performer. Elvis named his one of his private aircraft, a Convair 880, the "Lisa Marie."
M Memphis Mafia: Elvis' entourage of friends and associates wore black mohair suits and dark sunglasses, leading the media to dub them the "Memphis Mafia." The group included his boyhood friends Red West, Sonny West and Lamar Fike, and Army pals Charlie Hodge and Joe Esposito.
N No. 1 singles: Elvis reached the top of the pop chart 18 times. His No. 1 hits were "Heartbreak Hotel," "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You," "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," "Too Much," "All Shook Up," "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear," "Jailhouse Rock," "Don't," "Hard Headed Woman," "A Big Hunk o' Love," "Stuck on You," "It's Now or Never," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" "Surrender," "Good Luck Charm" and "Suspicious Minds."
O "Old Shep": A 1941 country ballad about a dead dog that was one of Elvis' favorite songs. He sang it at age 10 in a talent contest and won second prize. He also performed it at his high school senior talent show. In 1956, "Old Shep" was included as a track on Presley's second album, "Elvis."
P Priscilla Presley: Priscilla Ann Beaulieu was the 14-year-old stepdaughter of an Air Force captain who was stationed in Germany. There, she met Elvis in 1959. Priscilla moved into Graceland in 1963 and finished high school in Memphis a year later. She and Elvis married on May 1, 1967. Their only child, Lisa Marie, was born nine months later. Priscilla and Elvis divorced in 1973. She has since worked as an actress in television and films.
Q "Queenie Wahine's Papaya": A novelty song performed by Elvis on the soundtrack for his 1966 film, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style." Elvis filmed three movies in Hawaii, also including "Blue Hawaii" (1961) and "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962). He visited the Hawaiian islands many times from the late 1950s to 1977.
R RCA Records: RCA Victor Records acquired Presley's Sun Records contract in 1955 for an unprecedented $35,000. Elvis also received a $5,000 signing bonus, which he reportedly used to buy a new pink Cadillac for his mother, Gladys, who didn't drive.
S Sun Records: The Sun Records label was an offshoot of Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Studio, where in 1953 Elvis cut his first record. A year later, Phillips asked Elvis to make a recording for Sun. The single, "That's All Right (Mama)," backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky," became Elvis' first hit, selling 20,000 copies.
T "TCB": "Taking Care of Business" was Elvis' motto. The singer presented the members of his Memphis Mafia with gold necklaces bearing the initials "TCB" and a lightning bolt.
U UD Arena: Elvis performed on three occasions at University of Dayton Arena. On April 7, 1972 he played to a capacity crowd of 13,788. Elvis did two shows there on Oct. 6, 1974, drawing a total of 27,000 fans. His final Dayton appearance on Oct. 26, 1976 packed the arena with 13,750 fans.
V "Viva Las Vegas": A 1964 movie starring Elvis and Ann-Margret, who were rumored to have enjoyed an off-screen romance at the time. Elvis made 31 feature films from 1956 to 1969. Most of the films were musical-comedies, although he also starred in dramatic films with musical interludes, as well as two nonmusical Westerns.
W Weight problem: Elvis gained considerable weight in his later years, in part because he was a junk-food addict. He reportedly was fond of cheeseburgers, french fries, ice cream and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Reese's recently released Limited Edition Elvis peanut butter and banana creme cups.
X X-rays: X-rays of Elvis' hands were available in an eBay auction that ended Monday. They were taken after Elvis injured his hand doing karate. The starting bid was $75,000.
Y YouTube: The popular video-sharing Web site YouTube.com features hundreds of Elvis clips, including classic music videos such as 1957's "Jailhouse Rock" and a variety of live concert performances.
Z Zeppelin: The members of Led Zeppelin visited Elvis at his hotel after attending one of his concerts. David Stanley, Elvis' stepbrother and bodyguard wrote: "On the way out, Robert Plant turned and in his best Elvis-impersonation voice, began singing 'Treat Me Like a Fool,' and Elvis finished the line singing, 'Treat me mean and cruel.' "
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By Dave Larsen
Staff Writer
A "Aloha From Hawaii": Elvis Presley performed a 1973 live concert at the Honolulu International Convention Center that was transmitted by satellite to TV stations around the world. The soundtrack album was the last Elvis record to hit No. 1 during his lifetime. A life-size state of Elvis was unveiled in July at the site of the legendary concert.
B "Blue Moon Boys:" Guitarist Scotty Moore and bass player Bill Black backed Elvis on his first recording and accompanied him during his early live performances. They called themselves the Blue Moon Boys, after the B-side of their first single, "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
C Col. Tom Parker: Col. Tom Parker took charge of Elvis' career in 1955, negotiating deals that made him the highest-paid movie star, concert performer and Las Vegas entertainer of the era. Parker took a higher-than-usual 25 percent commission on all of Elvis' earnings, and his contracts led to Elvis appearing in second-rate movies and performing the same musical material over and over.
D Draft notice: Elvis received his official draft notice in December 1957. He was told to report for duty on Jan. 20, 1958, but he was able to delay his induction until March 24 of that year to complete the filming of "King Creole." Elvis served with a tank battalion in Germany. He was honorably discharged in March 1960 with the rank of sergeant.
E "Ed Sullivan Show": Ed Sullivan reportedly wouldn't book Elvis for his top-rated TV variety show — that is, until Elvis' 1956 appearance on Steve Allen's rival show beat Sullivan in the ratings. Sullivan booked Elvis for three appearances. His first, on Sept. 9, 1956, was seen by more than 50 million viewers.
F Federal Narcotics Officer's Badge: Elvis, who collected police badges, requested one from the Federal Narcotics Bureau. It was denied because he was a civilian. In December 1970, Elvis met with President Richard M. Nixon, who formally presented him with the cherished badge at the White House.
G Graceland: In 1957, Elvis purchased Graceland mansion for $100,000. Built in the late 1930s, the mansion was situated on 13.5 acres on the southern outskirts of Memphis. Elvis added a kidney-shaped swimming pool, white pillars and a wrought-iron double gate ornamented with guitars and musical notes. Now a museum, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Graceland annually.
H "Heartbreak Hotel": Elvis' first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel," was released in January 1956. By April, it was No. 1 on the pop, country and R&B charts. The song sold one million copies and made Elvis a national idol.
I Impersonators: Elvis impersonators became popular after the singer's untimely death in 1977. Most concentrate on visually or vocally recreating the singer on stage. Notable Elvis impersonators include the late comedian Andy Kaufman; El Vez the Mexican Elvis; and the Flying ELVI, a team of "parachuting Presleys" featured in the 1992 film, "Honeymoon in Vegas."
J Jumpsuits: Elaborate jumpsuits created by Hollywood costume designer Bill Belew became one of Elvis' performance trademarks. Many of the sequined, rhinestone and gem-encrusted jumpsuits were given names such as Burning Flame, Inca Gold Leaf, Mad Tiger, King of Spades and Blue Rainbow.
K Karate: Elvis took up the sport of karate while in the army. He continued to practice his technique for more than 20 years and achieved the rank of eighth-degree black belt. Elvis did his own karate stunt scene in the film "G.I. Blues," during which he broke a bone in his hand.
L Lisa Marie Presley: The only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley was born on Feb. 1, 1968. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' estate at age 30. Married four times, her ex-husbands include Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage. She has released two studio albums as a musical performer. Elvis named his one of his private aircraft, a Convair 880, the "Lisa Marie."
M Memphis Mafia: Elvis' entourage of friends and associates wore black mohair suits and dark sunglasses, leading the media to dub them the "Memphis Mafia." The group included his boyhood friends Red West, Sonny West and Lamar Fike, and Army pals Charlie Hodge and Joe Esposito.
N No. 1 singles: Elvis reached the top of the pop chart 18 times. His No. 1 hits were "Heartbreak Hotel," "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You," "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," "Too Much," "All Shook Up," "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear," "Jailhouse Rock," "Don't," "Hard Headed Woman," "A Big Hunk o' Love," "Stuck on You," "It's Now or Never," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" "Surrender," "Good Luck Charm" and "Suspicious Minds."
O "Old Shep": A 1941 country ballad about a dead dog that was one of Elvis' favorite songs. He sang it at age 10 in a talent contest and won second prize. He also performed it at his high school senior talent show. In 1956, "Old Shep" was included as a track on Presley's second album, "Elvis."
P Priscilla Presley: Priscilla Ann Beaulieu was the 14-year-old stepdaughter of an Air Force captain who was stationed in Germany. There, she met Elvis in 1959. Priscilla moved into Graceland in 1963 and finished high school in Memphis a year later. She and Elvis married on May 1, 1967. Their only child, Lisa Marie, was born nine months later. Priscilla and Elvis divorced in 1973. She has since worked as an actress in television and films.
Q "Queenie Wahine's Papaya": A novelty song performed by Elvis on the soundtrack for his 1966 film, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style." Elvis filmed three movies in Hawaii, also including "Blue Hawaii" (1961) and "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962). He visited the Hawaiian islands many times from the late 1950s to 1977.
R RCA Records: RCA Victor Records acquired Presley's Sun Records contract in 1955 for an unprecedented $35,000. Elvis also received a $5,000 signing bonus, which he reportedly used to buy a new pink Cadillac for his mother, Gladys, who didn't drive.
S Sun Records: The Sun Records label was an offshoot of Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Studio, where in 1953 Elvis cut his first record. A year later, Phillips asked Elvis to make a recording for Sun. The single, "That's All Right (Mama)," backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky," became Elvis' first hit, selling 20,000 copies.
T "TCB": "Taking Care of Business" was Elvis' motto. The singer presented the members of his Memphis Mafia with gold necklaces bearing the initials "TCB" and a lightning bolt.
U UD Arena: Elvis performed on three occasions at University of Dayton Arena. On April 7, 1972 he played to a capacity crowd of 13,788. Elvis did two shows there on Oct. 6, 1974, drawing a total of 27,000 fans. His final Dayton appearance on Oct. 26, 1976 packed the arena with 13,750 fans.
V "Viva Las Vegas": A 1964 movie starring Elvis and Ann-Margret, who were rumored to have enjoyed an off-screen romance at the time. Elvis made 31 feature films from 1956 to 1969. Most of the films were musical-comedies, although he also starred in dramatic films with musical interludes, as well as two nonmusical Westerns.
W Weight problem: Elvis gained considerable weight in his later years, in part because he was a junk-food addict. He reportedly was fond of cheeseburgers, french fries, ice cream and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Reese's recently released Limited Edition Elvis peanut butter and banana creme cups.
X X-rays: X-rays of Elvis' hands were available in an eBay auction that ended Monday. They were taken after Elvis injured his hand doing karate. The starting bid was $75,000.
Y YouTube: The popular video-sharing Web site YouTube.com features hundreds of Elvis clips, including classic music videos such as 1957's "Jailhouse Rock" and a variety of live concert performances.
Z Zeppelin: The members of Led Zeppelin visited Elvis at his hotel after attending one of his concerts. David Stanley, Elvis' stepbrother and bodyguard wrote: "On the way out, Robert Plant turned and in his best Elvis-impersonation voice, began singing 'Treat Me Like a Fool,' and Elvis finished the line singing, 'Treat me mean and cruel.' "
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Labels: alphabetically, tribute to elvis
posted by Elvis Presley Fan Club @ 10:19 PM
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