Category Archives: Elvis

Memphis in May 2013

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Memphis in May is an annual month-long celebration. The first weekend of May is the Beale Street Musical Festival, which is three days of music on four stages at Tom Lee Park along the Mississippi River. The second weekend of May celebrates a different country each year – this year it’s Sweeden. The third weekend in May is the World Championship Barbecue Contest. The fourth weekend in May is the Sunset Symphony with music and fireworks along the Mississippi. But I only go to the Beale Street Music Festival. I have attended it every year since 2002, with the exception of last year. In fact, this was the first time I have been back to Memphis since I moved in October 2011 – and I had the best time! I think I really enjoyed my time in Memphis more than usual, although I always enjoy it, because I didn’t just go to MusicFest. I spent a lot of time hanging out on Beale Street, visiting Graceland and Sun Studio, eating at my favorite restaurants and going to the Grizzlies game 6 playoff game!

2ab welcome to memphis 5.3.13

Friday May 3rd, I woke up at 4:30am eastern time and was on a plane to Atlanta (because there are no direct flights from Baltimore to Memphis) by 5:30am. I quickly learned that AirTran’s planes are older than Southwest’s, which is usually what I fly. But I was front row in the business class, which was very comfortable. I had just enough time to make my connection in Atlanta and landed in Memphis by 9:30am central time. It was cold and raining in Memphis, which is how it would be all weekend. It always rains for MusicFest, but it is usually in the 80s. I have never known it to be in the 50s during Memphis in May. I got my rental car, checked into the Days Inn Graceland (where I stay every year when I didn’t live in Memphis), unpacked, and was at Graceland before 11am.

7 graceland in the rain 5.3.13

I took the VIP tour of Graceland since I hadn’t been in a while and never know when I am going to get back. The VIP tour includes an additional exhibit of Lisa Marie Presley, which I hadn’t seen yet, and a tour of the grounds. Also, you can visit the mansion as many times as you want, so I went through Graceland twice at my own pace. I like to just stand in the foyer, my favorite spot in Graceland, looking into the living room and up the stairs. Don’t think I’m crazy, but you can literally feel Elvis there.

8 graceland living room - my favorite 5.3.13

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I was back in my room by 1:30, wet and tired. I was drenched from walking to Graceland and then touring Graceland. I took a little nap, watched an Elvis movie (they are on 24 hours in your room at the Days Inn Graceland), showered and was on Beale Street by 4:30 for Happy Hour before the Grizzlies game. It had finally stopped raining. I parked where I used to park for Grizzlies games – and the same guy was still working there. I went to Jerry Lee Lewis’ new place that just opened the week prior. It was ok. There were no Happy Hour prices and it wasn’t crowded yet – but nothing special. But a liquor rep walked in and bought be a fireball shot, which actually went well with my Blue Moon. Around 5:15 I walked over to Rum Boogie, my favorite spot on Beale. The same bartenders were working there. I had a couple of Guinness and my favorite sausage and cheese plate. I noticed that Brandon Santini was playing next door at Mr. Handy Blues Hall, so I went over to see a little of his performance. Such a great blues guy and great harmonica player. I met some guys who were visiting from Boston who bought me a beer and then my friend Tim showed up.

65 Beale Street Friday Happy Hour before the Grizzlies game 5.3.13

Around 7:30 we went over to FedEx Forum for the Grizzlies-Clippers game 6 playoff game. I had a great seat in the club level, almost center court. It was such a great game, very physical and intense! My favorite Zach Randolph got ejected at the end but got the crowd even more excited while walking out throwing his hands up and tossing his headband into the seats. The Grizzlies won 118-105 and advanced to round two of the playoffs. After the game around 11:30, I walked over to Beale but it was too crowded, so I walked back to my car but couldn’t get out of the parking lot because traffic was just stuck – with the game and MusicFest letting out at the same time.

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I walked back to Beale and went to Dyers for a midnight snack – a triple triple with fries. A triple triple is 3 meats and 3 cheeses. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. They have the best cheeseburgers ever! So greasy it runs down your arm when you pick it up. They haven’t changed their grease since 1912 when they opened. By the time I had finished, my greasy late night snack, the traffic had dispersed and I was back at my hotel by 1:15am. I didn’t get to sleep for another couple of hours, so I had been up for 24 hours.

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After only about four hours sleep, I got up Saturday ready for my second day in Memphis. I tweeted Al Kapone, a great Memphis rapper, asking him for a Meet and Greet before his performance on Sunday. He graciously agreed. I met Tasha at the Graceland shops and we went to Flashback, a retro store in Midtown, while her sister and brother in law were touring Graceland. We visited the Nathan Beford Forrest statue and gravesite then onto Sun Studio. Sorry Cleveland, but Memphis is the birthplace of Rock n Roll, and it started at Sun Studio. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and many others got their start at Sun Studio in Memphis. It is the same studio, with the same tiles, where they all recorded back in the 1950s. U2 also recorded three songs at Sun for Rattle and Hum while they traveled through Memphis on The Joshua Tree Tour in 1987. Needless to say Sun Studio is my second favorite place to visit, after Graceland.

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We then went to our favorite place for lunch, The Cupboard. They have the best country cooking. I had my usual four vegetable plate: macaroni and cheese, eggplant casserole, corn pudding and fried green tomatoes. I love anywhere that considers macaroni and cheese a vegetable! Plus the Cupboard has great sweet tea! I finally made it to MusicFest around 2:30, just in time for Sonny Burgess – a rockbilly artist from Sun. He played a great set as usual covering Elvis’ Don’t Be Cruel and Billy Lee Riley’s Red Hot. I was on the front rail and was going to stay there for Jerry Lee Lewis’ set when all of a sudden the sky grew dark, the winds picked up, and it began to rain. Then something big and metallic fell from the stage and landed next to me, so I bolted. I went to the Blues Tent for a bit to wait out the storm, but it didn’t let up. I decided to call it a day, and I was back in my hotel room by 5:00. I ordered from Marlowe’, a favorite restaurant of mine. I ordered two meals, so I would have something to eat Sunday night after MusicFest. I had what they called Marlowe’s BBQ Chips. It was sort of like BBQ nachos, but with homemade potato chips instead of tortilla chips. It was piled high with Pork BBQ, sour cream and cheese. It was so yummy!

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After a good night’s sleep, I had a relaxing Sunday morning in bed watching Elvis movies before heading over to FedEx Forum for the Grizzlies Watch Party. It was game one of the second round of the playoffs against Oklahoma City. It was free to get into the Forum and we watched the game on the big scoreboard. I only watched the first half though because I was supposed to meet Al Kapone at the far stage in the festival – and it took a good half hour to walk down there through the mud to get to that stage. But I arrived exactly at 1:30 and secured my spot on the front rail, just left of center. Unfortunately Al Kapone was running late, so we decided to meet up after his set.

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Al Kapone’s performance was so great! He had a band and dancers and Mucky Sticky and Alexis Grace joined him on stage for a few songs. I love Al Kapone’s passion for his music and his city – MEMPHIS! He sang my favorites We On Deck, Memphis Pride, Get Crunk Get Buck, and Whoop That Trick, which has become something of a Grizzlies chant during the games. After his great performance, Al Kapone tweeted me saying they asked him to do a 30-minute set on the next stage and we could meet up after. He said he wouldn’t leave until we took a picture together. So I walked back through the mud to the next stage and caught the end of Vintage Trouble’s performance – think modern day Otis Redding.

I was again on the front rail for Al Kapone’s second performance of the day. I think this one was even more energetic than his first. I was excited to see him perform twice. After his set, I waited about 45 minutes but I didn’t hear anything so I left around 6:30 to meet some friends on Beale Street. We hung out at Silky Sullivan’s, then back to Dyers for another Triple Triple (I hadn’t eaten since breakfast). Al Kapone tweeted me about 9:00 apologizing for not being able to meet with me – he had to do a television show across town.

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After eating, we went over to the Blues Hall. While watching the band, Brandon Santini came through the door from Rum Boogie. I was surprised and flattered that he remembered my name and where I had moved. It had been about 3 years since we last spoke. We talked for a few minutes, and I congratulated him on his music success. He told us he was playing at Rum Boogie, so we went next door to watch his set. I stayed out way too late and didn’t get any sleep before I left at 4:30am Monday morning for the airport.

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To see all 120 photos from my weekend in Memphis, please click here.

Elvis Presley – my Music A to Z

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ELVIS

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Elvis Presley is my favorite. I have loved him all of my life. I grew up watching Elvis movies with my mom on Sundays. I became a fan of his movies before I became a fan of his music. But it wasn’t until the mid 1990s that I became a true fan. Ok let’s be honest, I am obsessed with Elvis Presley. It is basically the reason I moved to Memphis and lived there for three years. I visited Graceland and Sun Studio regularly. I have everything Elvis, including every book written about him, all his movies and videos, and obviously all of his songs. But more than that, I have lots of Elvis memorabilia – I could open an Elvis gift shop.

I love Elvis because he is beautiful inside and out. He was so generous, charismatic, talented, passionate and gorgeous! My favorite Elvis Presley songs are Heartbreak Hotel, Loving Arms, Just Pretend, Love Me and American Trilogy. My favorite Elvis Presley movies are Girl Happy, Wild in the Country, Jailhouse Rock, Loving You and Viva Las Vegas. Even though Girl Happy is a cheesy 1960s beach movie, I love it because it was my favorite growing up because one of main characters is named Deena. I got such a kick out of Elvis saying my name, and to be honest I still do. I have been lucky enough to meet a lot of Elvis’ friends, band members, co-stars, and most importantly his daughter Lisa Marie – more on her later.

This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge about ‘My Music’ – music I love from A to Z. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2 about ‘My U2′ – what I love about U2 from A to Z.

26 of My Favorites A to Z

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I had a lot of fun in April blogging about 26 of my favorite things in the A to Z challenge. So much fun in fact that I wanted to list all of my favorites in this one blog post, each highlighted with links back to the original posts. I have also included some honorable mentions to truly include all of my favorites. So here are 26 of my favorites from A to Z!

A is for (brady) Anderson with Autobiographies as honorable mention.

B is for (denver)  Broncos with Biographies as honorable mention.

C is for (johnny) Cash with Casinos as honorable mention.

D is for Dogs.

E is for Elvis Presley.

F is for Facebook and social media.

G is for Grease.

H is for Happy Days with History as honorable mention.

I is for iPhone with Ice Cream as honorable mention.

J is for James Dean.

K is for (the) Kennedys.

L is for Larry Mullen with Lisa Marie Presley as honorable mention.

M is for Memphis with Music as honorable mention.

N is for (olivia) Newton-John.

O is for (baltimore) Orioles with Orange as honorable mention.

P is for Pizza.

Q is for Queso (aka Cheese).

R is for Robert Cassotto (aka Bobby Darin).

S is for Soap Operas with Sit Coms as honorable mention.

T is for (lana) Turner.

U is for U2.

V is for (las) Vegas.

W is for Writing.

X is for Xanadu.

Y is for Yoo-Hoo.

Z is for Zoo.

I will definitely participate the A to Z Challenge again next year. I met lots of new friends, read a lot of interesting new blogs, and I loved writing my about all of my favorite things.

E is for Elvis Presley – my favorite performer

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A favorite of mine that begins with E is Elvis Presley. I have loved Elvis all of my life. I grew up watching Elvis movies with my mom on Sundays. I became a fan of his movies before I became a fan of his music. But it wasn’t until the mid 1990s that I became a true fan. Ok let’s be honest, I am obsessed with Elvis Presley. It is basically the reason I moved to Memphis and lived there for three years. I visited Graceland and Sun Studio regularly. I have everything Elvis, including every book written about him, all his movies and videos, and obviously all of his songs. But more than that, I have lots of Elvis memorabilia – I could open an Elvis gift shop. I have two shelves dedicated to Elvis, and much more boxed up.

I love Elvis because he is beautiful inside and out. He was so generous, charismatic, talented and gorgeous! My favorite Elvis Presley songs are Heartbreak Hotel, Loving Arms, Just Pretend, Love Me and American Trilogy. My favorite Elvis Presley movies are Girl Happy, Wild in the Country, Jailhouse Rock, Loving You and Viva Las Vegas. Even though Girl Happy is a cheesy 1960s beach movie, I love it because it was my favorite growing up because one of main characters is named Deena. I got such a kick out of Elvis saying my name, and to be honest I still do. I have been lucky enough to meet a lot of Elvis’ friends, band members and co stars.

My favorite person I met from Elvis’ life is his daughter Lisa Marie Presley (I wanted to include her as one of my 26 favorites but it didn’t work out, so I’m including her here with her dad). I became interested in Lisa Marie because of Elvis, but soon grew to love her because of her. I love her music. She is a great lyricist. I’ve seen her in concert several times and have met her twice. The first time I saw her in concert I was SO excited, screaming as if Elvis was performing – she curled her lip and swiveled her hips just like her dad. I met her after that show in Baltimore, and she recognized me from the front row singing along. I met Lisa Marie again a few years later after a show in Virginia on my birthday – got my picture taken with her and got her autograph. She’s so down to earth and nice – just like her dad.

Who is your favorite performer?

This blog post is part of my A to Z April Challenge – 26 of my favorites. Thanks for stopping by. I am also blogging the A to Z Challenge on my other blog On the Road with U2.

Elvis is 77!

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Today, January 8, 2012, Elvis Presley would have been 77 years old. He has been dead for over 34 years yet fans still celebrate his birthday by going to Memphis to sing Happy Birthday on the lawn of his house Graceland. Cable television still plays his movies, radio stations still play his songs, and musicians today still honor him with tributes. John Lennon said it best when he said, “Before Elvis there was nothing.” A truer statement was never said.

Unfortunately I wasn’t in Memphis this year to celebrate Elvis’ birthday, but I celebrated here in Maryland by listening to his songs and watching his movies. Some of my favorite Elvis songs are Heartbreak Hotel, Loving Arms, Just Pretend, American Trilogy and Love Me. My favorite Elvis movies are Girl Happy, Wild in the Country, Jailhouse Rock, Loving You, and King Creole. Girl Happy is my favorite because one of the female leads is named Deena, and hearing Elvis say my name over and over again makes me very happy. The other four movies are truly great movies with real plots and good acting – can’t say as much for the other 27 movies.

The Elvis movies are the reason I became an Elvis fan. As a young girl, I would watch Sunday afternoon movies on television with my mom and a lot of those movies were Elvis movies. I remember Girl Happy being one of my favorites.  Years later I grew up and moved to Memphis for a few years and spent a lot of time at Elvis’ home Graceland. Happy Birthday Elvis!

Million Dollar Quartet – Dec 4, 1956

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55 years ago today four of the greatest musicians of all time had an impromptu jam session in a little studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins played together in Sun Studio on December 4, 1956, and Sam Phillips was smart enough to record it. Carl Perkins was recording at Sun Studio that Tuesday night in December. Jerry Lee Lewis, who was not yet famous, was a session pianist playing for Carl. Elvis Presley, who had left Sun for RCA, just happen to stop by to visit Sam Phillips. Then Sam called Johnny Cash to come over. And The Million Dollar Quartet was born. The best things in life are unplanned. Please watch this video of The Million Dollar Quartet.

Jerry Lee, Carl, Elvis, Johnny - The Million Dollar Quartet

 

Last summer while I was in Chicago for Lollapalooza, I decided to see the play Million Dollar Quartet at the Apollo Theatre. The Apollo Theatre is very intimate. The stage is level with the front row, which is where I sat. Million Dollar Quartet was a fantastic play! It brought a tear to my eye. The guy who played Sam Phillips, Tim Decker, was amazing. He was completely transformed as Sam. And Elvis was played by David Lago, who I remember from Young and the Restless and 7th Heaven. I was completely in my element. This is my music, rockabilly. I was definitely born too late.  I am just so proud that this play is popular, so America can learn that Rock n Roll started in Memphis, not Cleveland where the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is located. Please watch my video of my night at Million Dollar Quartet in Chicago.

Apollo Theatre Chicago

Million Dollar Quartet Chicago

Carl, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny

‘Sun Studio’

my million dollar quartet stuff

Fans remember the 34th Anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley with the annual Candlelight Vigil at Graceland

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34 years ago today, August 16, 1977, I was watching tv and they told me Elvis Presley died. I ran to tell my mom who initially did not believe me. I was 4. It is hard to believe that after all these years people know exactly what they were doing when they heard Elvis had died, and it is even harder to believe that tens of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Memphis every August to honor Elvis Presley with a candlelight vigil at Graceland.

Elvis Presley Candlelight Vigil at Graceland 8.15.11

I arrived at Graceland just after 6pm because that’s when you can park for free and just before they shut down the road. I took my chair and cooler and secured a nice spot in the median on Elvis Presley Boulevard in front of the gates of Graceland. It was a beautiful night – cool for Memphis in August. It was great to be sitting in front of Graceland listening to Elvis music with people who love Elvis as much as I do. I saw my friends Caroline, Kimberly, Rhonda, Lisa and Marr,  folks from the Elvis world Jack Soden and Ernst Jorgensen and popular Memphians Jack Oblivian and Kerry Crawford.

line for the vigil at 6:30pm

Jack Soden mingling with the fans

sunset over Elvis Presley Boulevard

At 8:30, the opening ceremony began with a note from Lisa Marie Presley saying that she and Priscilla and the rest of the family would be in Memphis next year to celebrate the 35th anniversary. Then everyone lit their candles and sang along with Elvis’ If I Can Dream- “there must be lights burning brighter somewhere…out there in the dark there’s a beckoning candle.”

and the candlelight vigil begins

'there's a beckoning candle'

After the opening ceremony, I watched the first people in line pass through the gates and make their way up the driveway to the meditation garden to Elvis’ grave. I walked around a bit admiring everyone’s Elvis sidewalk art and sat back in my chair for a few hours enjoying the night.

elvis vigil sidewalk art

even dogs love elvis

At 11pm, I got in line to make my way up the driveway. I passed through the gates of Graceland at 11:15 and was at the Meditation Garden by 1am.

lining up for the vigil at 11pm

34th anniversary candle

passing through the gates of Graceland at 11:15pm

lighting my candle

meditation garden at 1am

we miss you Elvis

Graceland 8.16.11

Please watch my video of the Elvis Presley Candlelight Vigil on 8.15.11

ELVIS WEEK 2011 – Sam Phillips documentary and Elvis Live concert

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Tuesday August 16th will be the 34th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death and the fans still remember. In fact, each year more and more fans flock to Memphis to pay their respects and remember the King of Rock n Roll. This is my 6th Elvis Week. I went to the 25th anniversary, then the 30th and then every one since.

Yesterday was a great day. In the morning I went to the screening of the documentary Sam Phillips: The Man Who Started Rock n Roll hosted by Knox Phillips and Peter Guralnick at the University of Memphis. Knox is Sam’s son and Peter is the great music biographer. And for those of you who live under a rock, Sam Phillips opened Sun Studio in Memphis in the 1950s. It was here that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Howlin Wolf, BB King and Rufus Thomas and many others got their start. Because of Sam Phillips, we have Rock n Roll.

Sam Phillips documentary 8.13.11

It was a great documentary. I actually learned a few things I didn’t know, because quite honestly I could give the tour at Sun Studio I know the history so well. I love the quote that ‘Sam Phillips was his own best friend, and he loved his own company’ – sounds very familiar. After the documentary, Sam’s son Knox and author Peter Guralnick told stories about Sam and Elvis. It was a great couple of hours.

Knox Phillips and Peter Guralnick

Later that night I went downtown to the Orpheum Theatre for the Elvis Presley Live: the King in Concert. I was excited because I haven’t seen one of the Elvis Presley concerts since the 30th anniversary Elvis Week. But I was also a bit skeptical because it was not Elvis’ band playing this time.

Elvis Presley Live: the King in concert 8.13.11

It was a fantastic show! Elvis’ conductor Joe Guercio introduced the show. When the curtain opened and the music started, the audience went wild. Elvis on stage, at least he looked as if he was on stage, with the band behind him. They used footage from Elvis ’69 performances in Las Vegas on a big screen that covered the entire stage top to bottom, but you could still see the live band behind it. I was so into the show that I forgot Elvis has been dead for 34 years and wasn’t really singing in front of me. From the screaming and cheering I heard, everyone in the audience agreed with me. In fact,  every time Elvis shook his hips the girls, I mean the women, squealed. At intermission The Imperials, the gospel quartet who toured with Elvis, performed a few songs. It was a great night, and the most fun event of Elvis Week for me.

ELVIS!

Please watch my video of the screening of the Sam Phillips documentary and the Elvis concert.

 

Tomorrow night is the annual candlelight vigil at Graceland, the pinnacle of Elvis Week.

After 3 months, I’m finally home

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My U2 360 tour ended 2 weeks ago, but I just got home yesterday. I was hiding out at my parents’ house in Maryland avoiding reality. I drove exactly 18,073 miles through 31 states since I left Memphis May 14th. I saw 16 wonderful U2 shows, saw lots of great American sights and met lots of great people.

To help me get over my post-tour blues, I bought tickets for some Fall events: the play Memphis and the Denver Broncos – Tennessee Titans football game in Nashville – yay a road trip! Also something to look forward to is Rock for Love 5, the Memphis Music and Heritage Festival and the Cooper Young Festival. But more than anything, I am looking forward to Elvis Week this week, which I will report on all the events here.

After Elvis Week, I will begin writing my book about my magnificent musical journey this summer on the U2 360 Tour. You can check my other blog OntheRoadwithU2.com for updates.

No Power and No U2

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Yesterday I had my first non U2 day all year. Since the beginning of this year, all of my updates have been about U2 and all of my blog posts have been about U2 at On the Road with U2. But not yesterday. Yesterday I listened to Elvis all day and didn’t post one thing on Twitter or Facebook about U2. Yesterday I didn’t have power. A bad thunderstorm (and luckily not a tornado) knocked out the power at my house just before 11pm Tuesday night and didn’t come back on until about 5pm Wednesday.

I couldn’t stand being home all day without power. It was too quiet and it was damp and rainy outside, so I couldn’t really go outside to enjoy the day. So I decided to get my oil changed, since my car needs a check up before the big U2 road trip this summer. I called to make an appointment, but they were busy until 2pm and told me to just come in then. It was 10:30am, so I had four hours to kill. I took  a shower by candlelight and then headed off to Graceland, since I have an annual pass that expires in July.

Graceland was fantastic! I hadn’t been since January for Elvis’ birthday celebration. It wasn’t crowded, and I got to spent a lot of time in my favorite part of the mansion – the foyer/living room area. I also got to see the new exhibit that opened up in March in Sincerely Elvis. It was the Newseum that was in DC for the past year or so. It was the best exhibit they have ever had in Sincerely Elvis. I had lunch at the Silver Chrome Diner – mashed potatoes, green beans, corn bread, and sweet tea.

It was just about 1:30, so I headed over to the Saturn dealership – or what I thought was the Saturn dealership. As I was driving down Covington Pike, I saw the building that I used to take my Saturn too was now a Saab dealership. I knew Saturn had went out of business, but I had been there since then. Anyway, the Chevy dealership is now handling the Saturns. So I got there just before 2 and there were no other cars there. I had my coupon for free maintenance for a year, but I hadn’t printed it out. I thought showing them on my phone would suffice – I was wrong. And I couldn’t print it out on their computer. So I left and will make an appointment next week.

I arrived home around 3 and there was still no power. I was so frustrated and tired and didn’t really feel like going out but didn’t want to stay home either. So I decided to go to the movies. I had no idea what was playing, but The Conspirator at Studio on the Square looked very interesting. It was lovely because there were only about 4 other people there, including Congressman Steve Cohen – I’m pretty sure that was him sitting in front of me. I was so engrossed in the movie that I let out a little yell at a dramatic scene at the end. It was a fantastic historical drama about the people that ‘conspired’ to assassinate President Lincoln. It was directed by Robert Redford and starring Robin Wright, James McAvoy, Evan Rachel Wood, and Kevin Kline.

When I got home from the movie, my power was on and I was the happiest girl in the world! I ran around turning on all my lights. It was so fabulous! I immediately fixed dinner and charged my phone because it was storming again. But so far so good, I’ve had power for 24 hours straight. Let’s see what happens next week during the storms of the Beale Street Music Festival.

It’s All About U2011

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I haven’t written much in my DeenasDays blog this year because this is the year of U2011, so I have been writing in my On the Road with U2 blog. I will probably blog about the Memphis Grizzlies playoff games and definitely about the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival in 2 weeks, but that is probably it until August.

The U2 360 Us tour starts in just over a month, and I leave one month from today for my summer-long road trip across America to attend all 16 shows. I have been blogging and posting constantly about U2 the past 4 months because I am trying to reach as many U2 fans as possible, so they will follow my blog and my articles on U2TourFans during the tour and hopefully buy my book after the tour. I have been writing a book about my travels on U2 tours I have been on from ZooTv to 360 and will continue with this summer’s road trip across America on U2 360. I will also be filming my entire trip with hopes of making a documentary.

When I return to Memphis in August, I will get back to blogging here on DeenasDays about Lollapalooza, Elvis Week, and all things Memphis. So please excuse me for a few months while I’m On the Road with U2.

Elvis Presley’s 76th Birthday Celebration

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Elvis Presley would have been 76 years old this year. And 34 years after his death, his fans are still celebrating his birthday.

Happy 76th Elvis!

I began the celebration this year on Friday January 7th with a visit to the house where Vernon Presley, Elvis’ dad, used to live. It backs up to Graceland and has become a meeting place for fans to gather and share their love for Elvis. This was my first visit. I finally got to meet Mike Freeman, whose book Memphis Elvis-style I read years before I moved to Memphis – and used as THE Elvis sites in Memphis reference book once I moved here.

Vernon Presley's house

view of Graceland from Vernon's house

After hanging with everyone at Vernon’s, I went to Graceland for the Elvis Insiders Reception and Tour. It wasn’t nearly as crowded as last year’s celebration. I took the second shuttle over to tour the mansion, which was still decorated for Christmas. The trophy room has been changed to a 1956 theme. I was lucky enough to have the meditation garden all to myself for several minutes. It was great to tour Graceland after dark.

Graceland 1.7.11

Graceland stairs

Graceland Meditation Garden

Saturday morning January 8th, what would have been Elvis’ 76th birthday, I went back to Graceland for the cake cutting ceremony and birthday proclamation. At 35 degrees, it was 30 degrees warmer than it had been last year for the birthday celebration. But that didn’t prevent hundreds of Elvis fans from gathering on the front lawn of Graceland for Elvis’ birthday. Memphis Mayor AC Wharton was his usual eloquent self in his dedication to Elvis, but the real highlight of the ceremony was Chilean Miner Edison Pena’s rendition of Elvis’ Wonder of You.

Elvis fans celebrate the King's birthday

Elvis' 76th birthday cake

Edison Pena celebrating Elvis' birthday

Please watch my video of Elvis Presley’s 76th birthday celebration

2010 My Year in Review

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I had a fantastic 2010 and am looking forward to 2011. I visited many places I had been wanting to visit. I did not make it through my entire list, but I made quite a dent.

January I attended Elvis’ Birthday weekend celebration. It would have been his 75th, so there was a lot of hoopla, including a visit by Priscilla and Lisa Marie.

I got Grizzlies season tickets in 2010 and enjoyed my view from up top.  Also in January, I saw Amy Lavere at Young Avenue Deli and went to the cd release party for Nancy Apple’s Shine, which she recorded at Sun Studio. Nancy is my favorite Memphis artist who I now consider a friend.

In February, I visited some local treasures. I toured the Rock n Soul Museum, played the slots at Harrah’s Tunica and ate at Paula Deen’s, and toured the Pink Palace. I also saw the movie Crazy Heart, which really inspired me to take a roadtrip out west. I saw the great play The Jersey Boys at the Orpheum Theatre.

I saw Brandon Santini and Delta Highway at the Blues Hall on Beale Street and they blew me away. Fantastic blues group! I really need to get back to see them. I went to the Big One flea martket and saw Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to seeing Johnny Cash.

I ended February at the Memphis Zoo on International Polar Bear Day. Polar Bears are my favorite, after dogs of course, and they are in danger of becoming extinct.

In March, Elvis, Cilla and I took a trip through Mississippi. We saw Medgar Evers house in Jackson, the casinos in Biloxi and Elvis’ summer home at the Golf Resort, Robert Johnson’s birthplace in Hazelhurst, where coca-cola was first bottled in Vicksburg, Robert Johnson’s grave in Greenwood, Dockery Plantation in Cleveland, and the Cathead store in Clarksdale.

I visited the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, played and ate at Harrah’s, and walked the dogs along the Mississippi River at Tom Lee Park. I finally went to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Jackson, TN, which was small but packed with lots of memorabilia!  

I went to Little Rock, Arkansas for the day to visit the Clinton Presidential Library, which was great and situated along the River. My first time at a presidential library and in Little Rock.

I ended March with a visit to Jerry Lee Lewis’ ranch in Nesbit, Mississippi. I couldn’t tour it because Jerry lives there and no longer gives tours, but I drove by it about 8 times back and forth taking pictures and video. Love his piano gates as an answer to Elvis’ music notes gates.

On April 3 I wrote, “Today I was inspired by a documentary I watched called 10MPH where these guys quit their corporate jobs to follow their bliss. They made a documentary about their cross country journey on segweys. It made me feel a little less crazy knowing that I’m not the only one out there who quit their job to follow their bliss. I am very much enjoying seeing everything I’ve been wanting to see and videorecording it along the way. So I bought a domain and made this blog public.” 

I spent a lot of time in April planning my U2 tour roadtrip that never was, went to the Memphis Roller Derby and finally got to the Memphis Pizza Cafe.

 

I went to the Found Footage Festival at Studio on the Square. Basically, these guys go around collecting and buying old VHS tapes and editing them to make these great montages of nostalia and then show them to folks like me in various cities. A simple and great idea.

I again attended the Memphis Redbirds opening day, which is really a night game – which still bugs me. They lost, but it was fun and a great view from my front row seat.

I went to the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. I listened to great blues by Stacy Mitchart and Valerie June, watched blues documentaries at the old theatre and took a tour of Clarksdale including Tennesse Williams’ house and those of his neighbors Blanche and Brick.

I visited Graceland because I hadn’t been since the birthday celebration in January.

In May for the first time in years, we did not attend the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival because of the tornado. Tasha and I had fun though, except when we were hiding in the closet with the dogs from the tornado. Before the tornado, we went to played slots at Harrah’s, went to Sun Studio, went to Trolley Night where I bought some Memphis art, hung out on Beale Street, ate at Paula Deens, Marlowe’s, Blue Plate, the Cupboard, and Alfred’s. After the tornado, we drove around looking at the damage and then watched hockey at Young Avenue Deli.

The best part about May 2010 was my trip to Las Vegas! I met Cindy there for 4 days, and we had a blast. Plus I got to see New Kids on the Block the first two nights of their tour and the new Elvis Cirque de Soleil show. Cindy and I stayed at Ballys but of course played the slots up and down the Strip, like Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock and the Flamingo.

The worst part about May 2010 was learning that U2′s North American tour had been postponed until next year because Bono had emergency back surgery, but luckily he was alright – thank goodness! So I scrambled to make plans because I was itching to take a roadtrip, since I had planned to be on the road for 2 months seeing every US U2 show and much of the country. I decided on driving out Route 66, with Elvis and Cilla, from Oklahoma to New Mexico and then back through Texas and Louisiana.

I saw many of the classic Route 66 sites from Tulsa to Albuquerque, but my favorite part of Route 66 was Amarillo – the Big Texan Ranch and Cadillac Ranch.

I really loved Texas, well north Texas anyway. I enjoyed Lubbock, Austin and Dallas. Being a Buddy Holly fan, I visited Lubbock and Buddy’s school, studio, grave, as well as the Buddy Holly museum.

On the way to Dallas, I stopped in Killeen to visit Elvis’ home while he was at Ft Hood.

In Dallas, I stayed at the Southfork Hotel and visited the Southfork Ranch. I am a fan of the tv show Dallas and touring the ranch was great fun.

There was one last stop on our roadtrip before heading back to Memphis. And that was in Shreveport Louisiana at the Auditorium where the Louisiana Hayride took place. This is where Elvis, and many others, got there start.

In June, I went home to Maryland for about 2 weeks and had a blast! I attended my 20th high school reunion, spent a few days at Dover Downs casino, went to an Orioles game, went to the Mason Dixon Master Chef tournament at the Belvedere, and hung out with my parents and my friends.

In July, I tried going vegan for about a month, but couldn’t find a great cheese substitute that I could live with, so I’m back to being just vegetarian. I found out that the U2 North American tour had been rescheduled for Summer 2011. On my July visit to Graceland, I bought an annual pass which will pay for itself after 2 visits.

I spent the rest of July attending events in Memphis. I went to the Who Shot Rock n Roll photography exhibit at the Brooks Museum of Art, the opening reception for the Elvis: from Memphis to Manhattan exhibit at Stax Museum, the HiTone (finally!) to see Bulletproof Vests, Daylight Fades encore presentation at Studio on the Square, the Arts Memphis Bravo season kickoff party featuring the Bluff City Backsliders, WEVL’s annual Blues on the Bluff featuring the BoKeys, Marshall Grant’s (Johnny Cash’s bassist) final performance and book signing at the Brooks, and Joan Jett at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica.

August found me on the road again, but this time without Elvis and Cilla. I met Tasha in Chicago for Lollapalooza, but also went to see the play Million Dollar Quartet and a cubs game at Wrigley Field. My main reason for going to Lollapalooza was to see Soundgarden, but I really enjoyed the entire festival. It was clean, organized, and lots of great music. I enjoyed seeing These United States, the Ettes, Mavis Staples, Amerian Bang, Ed Kowalczyk from Live,  Devo, the Black Keys, Lady Gaga,  Switchfoot, the Cribs, XJapan, Wolfmother, and of course SOUNDGARDEN!

Back in Memphis in August for Elvis Week. I attended the benefit for Myrna Smith (sadly she just passed away Christmas Eve) featuring a performance by Cowboy Jack Clement, Elvis Insiders Shake Rattle and Bowl where I met Chris, Noel, Joe Guercio, Cynthia Peppers, Conversations on Elvis at the Orpheum with Joe Guercio, the Stamps, Joe Esposito, the sreening of Elvis on Tour at the Orpheum with a performance by the Stamps, the Candlelight Vigil with a heat index of 115 degrees and an appearancy by Elvis’ nurse Marion Cocke on George Klein’s radio show.

The end of August brought me to the realization that I love writing, this may have been inspired by seeing and reading Eat Pray Love. But writing is what I want to do – find a way to get paid for writing. I would love to get paid for reviewing events I attend, so I have this blog and I write for examiner.com. I have also I started my memoirs – 3 different versions. I also ate at restaurants I had been wanting to try like Majestic Grill and Fuel Cafe and saw Billy Idol at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica.

September started off great with the annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival downtown, which is free. It was a day of great Memphis music with Roy Harper, Nancy Apple, Barbara Blue, Sweet Angel, the Kattawar Brothers, Elmo and the Shades, Bluff City Backsliders, and Jack Oblivian and the Tennessee Tearjerkers.

I went back to Harrah’s to play the slots and eat at Paula Deen’s. I went to traffic court in Illinois to fight a speeding ticket I got on the way to Chicago – and I won! I spent the day in Tupelo visiting Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo Hardware, Elvis’ school, the CVB and eating at Johnnie’s Drive-In.

September 17, 2010 was the last episode of As the World Turns. It has been on the air for 54 years, and on the radio before that. My grandmother used to listen to it on the radio, then watched it on tv. It was the first soap opera that was a half hour – the rest were 15 minutes. I have watched As the World Turns since the late -1980s.

I attended the Cooper Young Festival for the first time. Actually I worked it. I helped out in the Indie Memphis Film Festival booth.

In October, I was on the road again to Nashville for my birthday weekend. I left Elvis and Cilla at the vet’s and away I went. I toured the Ryman, visited record shops and bars on Broadway, saw my Denver Broncos defeat the Titans (the whole reason I went to Nashville), toured RCA Studio B where Elvis recorded and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

I attended the 17th annual Memphis Blues Ball, which was honoring the 75th birthdays of both Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis – neither were in attendance. But Jerry Schilling, George Klein, Mark James, Knox Phillips, Jerry D Williams, Ronny McDowell and Jack Soden were there.

Using my annual pass, I spent the day at Graceland, the happiest place on earth.

I went to the annual Wine Fest in Millington, featuring Nancy Apple.

October ended with the Memphis Grizzlies 10th season opener featuring a performance by Al Kapone.

 

November started with more U2 shows being added and me planning for next summer’s tour/roadtrip. My parents’ friend was in Memphis, so we had breakfast at the Arcade, toured Graceland and Sun Studio, watched football at Alfred’s and saw Chips Moman and Marty Lacker get their music notes on Beale Street.

I went to Payton the polar bear’s birthday party at the Memphis Zoo – he was 7.

I went to Tunica, but this time played the slots at Horseshoe and Gold Strike before going back to Harrah’s and eating at Paula Deen’s. I saw Vince Vaughn and Kevin James at the Cannon Center. They were absolutely hysterical!

For the Portland-Grizzlies game, my seat was upgraded to about 10 rows off the court – a $227 ticket for free! It’s a whole different game from that angle.

 

November ended with the Memphis Grizzlies defeating Lebron James and the Miami Heat. It was a fantastic game, even if I was back up in my nosebleed seat.

In December, Elvis, Cilla and I went home to Maryland for over 2 weeks for Christmas and had a fantastic time! I went to Dover Downs casino for a couple of nights, went to a Ravens game, ate lots of Ledo’s pizza, attended our annual Trivia Christmas party, celebrated Cindy’s birthday, and spent time with my parents and my friends.

What a truly wonderful year I have had! I am so lucky!

I started a new blog at
http://ontheroadwithu2.com
 to document my U2 tour travels next summer as well as my adventures from past U2 tours I’ve been on. I will still post on this blog for non-U2 related events, but 2011 is really going to be the year of U2011!

My first week in November – a new job, graceland, sun, beale and a polar bear birthday

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I have had a great first week (well actually 9 days) in November. I have been busy, which is why I haven’t blogged daily about my activities. Ironic isn’t it? When you are not busy, you have all the time in the world to blog and not much to write about. But when you are busy, you have lots to write about but not enough time to blog. Such is life!

It was announced on November 1st that U2 will play in Baltimore and St Louis next summer. On November 3rd, I bought tickets for both those shows. On the 4th, I did about half of my Christmas shopping in Southaven. I go to Southaven, Mississippi to shop because the sales tax is less than it is in Memphis and it is only a 15 minute drive. November 4th was the 22nd anniversary of the release of U2′s Rattle and Hum.

 

Friday November 5th will hopefully be the start of a new chapter in my life – a working chapter. I had an interview at the Westin Hotel on Beale Street for Concierge. I will get paid to talk with people about Memphis! I met with both the Human Resources Manager and the Guest Services Manager. A few hours later they called me back to ask me to come in Monday to meet with the general manager. I also got a new phone on Friday – the iphone 4 with 32 gigs.

Saturday morning November 6th I wrote a review of Jerry Lee Lewis’ new cd Mean Old Man, which is supposed to be published in the December issue of the online magazine Twisted South. www.twistedsouth.com

Sunday November 7th I spent the day showing my parents’ friend Bud around Memphis. He was in town for business, but came in a day early to see Memphis. The top three places I tell everyone to visit while in Memphis are Graceland, Sun Studio and Beale Street, so that’s what we did.

We started with breakfast at the Arcade then onto Graceland. It was fun going with someone new and telling him what I know about Elvis and Graceland. In fact half way through the tour, Bud took off his headset to listen to my stories.

Deena & Bud at Graceland 11.7.10

After Graceland, we went to Sun Studio. Jason Freeman, from Bluff City Backsliders, was our tour guide and he was fantastic! I love Sun almost as much as I love Graceland! It’s not only Elvis there, but it’s Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and U2.

Million Dollar Quartet

After touring Sun, we went to Beale Street. I took Bud to Alfred’s because that is my favorite place to eat on Beale. We spent a few hours there at the bar talking with everyone and watching football. Then we went to watch Chips Moman and Marty Lacker get their brass notes on the Beale Street Walk of Fame in front of Superior Bar. I wanted to see this because I have never seen this ceremony before and because Chips and Marty were both very important to Elvis. Chips was instrumental in Elvis’ American Studio sessions in 1969, which produced “Suspicious Minds” and “In the Ghetto.” Marty was a close friend of Elvis’. For more about this event, please read my article at 
http://www.examiner.com/cultural-events-in-memphis/chips-moman-and-marty-lacker-recognized-with-music-notes-on-beale-street
 Please watch my video

Marty Lacker & Chips Moman on Beale Street

Monday morning November 8th I found myself back at the Westin meeting with the general manager. Assuming my backround check and references go well, it looks like I will be a Concierge at the Westin hotel on Beale Street. I can’t believe I’ll be getting paid to talk with people about Memphis and Graceland and Sun Studio!

In the afternoon, I went to the Zoo for Payton the polar bear’s 7th birthday party (it was also my goddaughter Keira’s 4th birthday). I love polar bears. They like to live alone and love to eat. My kind of animal! It wasn’t really a party per se, but there was a polar bear talk and we got to watch Payton eat fish and a pumpkin and play with a big fake iceberg. It was great except for the 30 running, screaming, pushing, knee high kids that barged in. ugh! Please watch my video of Payton celebrating his birthday

Happy Birthday Payton

Last night I went to the Grizzlies – Suns game, which they won! And I got to see Grant Hill play, which was fun. This morning I had my orientation at the Westin. I am not sure when I will start, but it should be some time this week. So since tomorrow may be my last free day, I’m going to Harrah’s!

My favorite places at Graceland 10.14.10

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I visited the Happiest Place on Earth yesterday, no not Disneyland, GRACELAND!!! I didn’t stay as long as I usually do, but I just wanted to take advantage of my annual pass and the nice Fall weather. I didn’t tour the automobile museum or the airplanes, just the mansion this visit. I spent extra time at each of my favorite spots at Graceland. I did not wear the audio tour headset, but instead chose to wear listen to my Elvis 70s mix on my ipod.

The Happiest Place on Earth

My favorite spot inside Graceland is the living room, and I spent a lot of time there yesterday. Because it was the end of the day, there were no tours directly behind me so I had as much time as I wanted just to soak it all in. There is something about standing in that foyer looking into the living room where Elvis entertained and then looking just past into the music where Elvis was laid out for visitation when he passed. I also spent time at the bottom of the staircase imagining Elvis walking down the stairs to greet everone. I really love the foyer/living room/staircase area of Graceland. I would be happy with just touring that part of the mansion, almost.

Graceland living room, my favorite place

elvis' stairs

I made my way through Graceland to Vernon’s office. This seems like an odd spot for a favorite, but it is one of mine. It shows Elvis’ press conference when he got out of the army,which took place in Vernon’s office. The same chair he sat in is still there. I loved the way Elvis looked when he returned from the army, it’s my favorite look for him. Also, he says my favorite quote, “Someone asked me what I missed about Memphis, and I said everything.”

Vernon's office, press conference on right, chair on left

I made my way through the backyard, the trophy room and into the racquetball court – another favorite spot for two reasons. First is Elvis’ piano. This is the piano on which he last played the night before he died – Unchained Melody. Second is a spot in the back corner of the racquetball court. It is a little tv showing footage from Elvis in Concert, which aired on CBS. It was from a June 1977 performance. I have been searching for this concert, but cannot find it anywhere. Maybe one day EPE will release it.

Elvis' piano

Elvis in Concert June 1977

Then I made my way to the Meditation Garden, my favorite place outside Gracleand. I love the serenity of the fountain. I just like to sit a little out of the way and relax and take it all in. Of course it’s sad to be at Elvis’ grave, especially when I read what Vernon wrote. But after I step away and look at the fountain and meditate I guess.

Meditation Garden fountain

After touring Graceland, I just sat in the plaza and watched all the Elvis fans walk around and enjoyed the wonderful Fall weather. Andy Childs was setting up for some sort of show in front of Sincerely Elvis, but I didn’t stick around for it – probably wasn’t invited anyway. I love living only 10 minutes away from where Elvis lived. I can go to Graceland as much as I want, and with the annual pass it’s very economical to do so. I’ll be back in November for the Christmas lighting.

I have a short video that I took, but it’s not too exciting because it’s only footage from across the street because I can’t take video inside Graceland.

Memphis Blues Ball October 9, 2010

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I attended the 17th annual Memphis Blues Ball last night, and it was fantastic. It was to honor both Elvis Presley, who would have been 75 this year, and Jerry Lee Lewis, who turned 75 this year. How could I miss this event? It’s for charity and Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling are on the board. I received my invitation a while ago, but was undecided until just the day before the Blues Ball but luckily I had been emailing back and forth with them, so they reserved a spot for me.

the invitation

Not sure what ‘black tie rock and roll chic’ was, but I put on a simple knee length black dress and was on my way. Luckily I was ok. Some were in ball gowns, some were in pants, most were like me. I arrived just before 7pm and valeted my car (complimentary). The first hour of the Blues Ball was outside the Gibson Guitar Factory. There was a fantastic ice sculpture bar serving white wine and champagne. After 2 glasses of wine, I thought I should slow down.

the 2010 Blues Ball begins

ice sculpture bar

First to arrive of note was Mark James, who wrote ‘Suspicious Minds.’ Then in walks Knox Phillips, Sam Phillips’ son. Then Elvis’ best friend George Klein comes in. Then Elvis’ other best friend and my favorite Jerry Schilling arrives! Then I really got excited and pretty much followed him around. I waited for Priscilla and Jerry Lee, but never did see them, which was fine because I had Jerry Schilling.

Mark James

George Klein

Jerry Schilling

A little after 8pm, people started moving inside the Gibson. There was a room for the silent auction, a lot of painted guitars as well as hotel stays and Grizzlies tickets. I didn’t bid on anything. There was also a bar and some food. I didn’t drink anything here, but did try the spicy macaroni and cheese from Sole. Yum!

the Gibson Guitar Factory

blues ball auction

Then a little while later, we moved up onto the roof where dinner was to be served and where the entertainment was. It was a great view of Fed Ex Forum, the Westin Hotel and Beale Street. My table was off to the side, but that was fine for dinner. After the National Anthem and Amazing Grace were played, dinner was served. I had some lively dinner companions. There was wine on the table, so I thought it was safe to have a glass with dinner – plus there was a bottle of water. Dinner was pork bbq, fried catfish, broccoli casserole and corn stuffing. The broccoli casserole and corn stuffing was really good.

Blues Ball on the roof of the Gibson

After dinner was served the entertainment began with Jason D Williams, basically Jerry Lee Lewis Jr. I decided to get up and walk around to get closer to the stage. And good thing I did because the awards ceremony started after Jason D Williams was finished. George Klein was the MC of the awards ceremony. Mark James, Knox Phillips and George Klein all received awards. Jerry Schilling introduced George Klein and gave him the lifetime achievement award, so I got a chance to take many pictures.

Mark James and George Klein

Knox Phillips

Jerry Schilling

George and Jerry

After the awards ceremony, there were fireworks and Ronny McDowell played, then I decided to leave. I waited at the valet with Jack Soden. I left around 10:30pm, and it was only 78 degrees. I love Fall in Memphis!

Please watch the video of my night at the 2010 Memphis Blues Ball

Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B – 10.4.10

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I had a wonderful birthday! I spent the first half of it still in Nashville touring the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and RCA Studio B. I had been to the Country Music Hall of Fame about 8 years ago, but never to Studio B. RCA Studio B is where Elvis recorded about half of his songs.

I arrived at the Country Music Hall of Fame just before 9:30am. I toured it rather quickly, since I had been through before. I spent most of my time at the Elvis exhibits and the actual Hall of Fame – where the inductees plaques are located. Elvis himself donated his gold cadillac by parking it in front of the old site of the Country Music Hall of Fame and handing the keys to the receptionist.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

the logo

Elvis' gold cadillac

the Hall of Fame

Elvis in the Country Music Hall of Fame

After touring the museum, I bought a few items at the gift shop and then at 10:30am got on the shuttle to RCA Studio B. We went down Music Row on 17th Avenue past all the recording studios. Studio B is the only one you can tour. It was a small studio, but a little bigger than Sun. Unfortunately, we could not go into Studio B because there was a class. We got to look into Studio B through the glass, and I saw Elvis’ piano. We got to go into Studio D and the reception area. RCA Studio B closed on August 17, 1977 – the day after Elvis died. Our tour guide was fantastic! She pointed out the hotel where Elvis stayed while recording in Nashville.

my Country Music Hall of Fame stuff

RCA Studio B

inside Studio B

Elvis' hits from Studio B

After RCA Studio B we went back to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and I had lunch at the 222 Grill. It was very nice, situated in the lobby with a guitarist playing. With my RCA Studio B ticket, I received 10% off my meal. I had a delicious fried green tomato and mozzarella cheese BLT (without the b) and sweet potato fried and of course sweet tea – about 4 glasses! It was so yummy and relaxing sitting there listening to the music and watching the people go by.  

I had to make one more stop before leaving Nashville – the Walk of Fame in the park across the street from the museum.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Walkway of Stars

Elvis' star in Nashville

I had a wonderful birthday and birthday weekend in Nashville! I did everything I planned to do, which is very important when you’re a bit OCD, and it was as fun as I thought it would be. The highlight of my birthday weekend was watching my Denver Broncos defeat the Tennesee Titans! 

I have been blessed to always have great birthdays. Last year I was in Raleigh visiting one of my closest friends and went to the U2 show the day before my birthday. And a few years ago I won $850. on the slots at Charlestown and then that night attended the Lisa Marie Presley concert and met her back stage after the show. I got her autograph and my picture with her. Life is good!

Please watch the video of my birthday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B

Tupelo, MS: Elvis’ birthplace, Johnnie’s Drive-In, Tupelo Hardware, CVB

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I had a great time in Tupelo, Mississippi yesterday. I had been to Tupelo twice before, but only to visit Elvis Presley’s birthplace. This is a great reason to visit Tupelo, but the city has a lot more to offer. I really fell in love with this small town that produced a King.

I left Memphis just before 10am and started my 100 mile southeast to Tupelo along route 78. It is quite a pleasant drive, except for the annoying traffic between route 55 and route 78, but it is cool to see the FedEx planes taking off right above you.

I arrived at Elvis Presley’s birthplace just after 11:30, paid my $12 and began exploring. There is the museum, the gift shop, the chapel, Elvis’ old church (the actual church) and the house where Elvis was born (the actual house!). It is all set up in a really nice, serene park-like setting.  

Elvis at 13

I started with the museum. It is pretty cool because they have Elvis’ birth certificate as well as a lot family photos and things you have never seen at Graceland. There are also 2 movies you can watch about Elvis and Tupelo.

elvis' birth certificate

the Presleys

I was told there were 2 programs in the church at noon and at 1, so I thought I would catch the noon show. I went to the church, but the door was locked. I knocked, but no one was there. Oh well, I had seen the program before. They recreate what a church service would have been like for Elvis. It is the actual Assembly of God church that Elvis attended as a young boy. They moved it from its original location.

Elvis' church

I then made my way into the Elvis memorial chapel, which was built in 1979. Elvis gospel music is playing, there are plaques and flowers and church pues with dedication plaques from friends and fans. There was one from Charlie Hodge, who I was fortunate enough to meet before he died – such a funny guy! There was also one from Colonel Parker, but someone has scratched his name out.

from charlie

elvis memorial chapel

somebody doens't like the colonel

I walked to the Fountain of Life, which I do not remember seeing before. I really liked it – I think I just like things with water. It is a fountain with plaques notating important years in Elvis’ life in Tupelo starting with his birth in 1935 and ending his move to Memphis in 1948. Then on the side, there is the 1977 Death plaque.

fountain of life

Then I went to the house where Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935. It is the actual house. The furniture isn’t orginal, but Vernon told them were to place everything so it is just like it was when Elvis lived there. Elvis bought the house and gave it to the city. It is just an amazing feeling to stand in the same room where Elvis was born. It is a small 2 room house. They call it a  shotgun house because you can fire a shot from the front door to the backdoor. There is just the bedroom and the kitchen. There was an outhouse up over the hill next to the barn. Vernon built the house.

the house where Elvis was born

the Presley's bedroom

the Presley's kitchen

The last stop was the Presley’s Plymouth. It is the car they moved to Memphis in 1948 when Elvis was 13 because Vernon could no longer find work in Tupelo.

Presley's plymouth

After leaving Elvis Presley’s birthplace, I wanted to visit the sites of downtown Tupelo and the Tupelo CVB twitter suggested Johnnie’s Drive-In, Tupelo Hardware and of course the CVB – all on Main Street. So I did that and more.

Johnnie’s Drive-In was great! An old-time drive-in restaurant. In fact, I pulled in and parked under the carport and had a knock on my window that startled me. It was the waitress, but I decided to eat inside instead. Johnnie’s had been there since 1945 and Elvis used to hang out there. The food was really good and really cheap. I had a pimento cheese sandwich, french fries and sweet tea for $5.50. I will definitely eat at Johnnie’s when I’m back in Tupelo.

Johnnie's Drive-In

inside Johnnie's

My next stop was Tupelo Hardware where Elvis bought his first guitar. The store is pretty much as it was back in the 1940s.

Tupelo Hardware

inside Tupelo Hardware

I drove up and down Main Street and noticed these great guitar sculptures painted with Elvis themes. The nice lady at the Tupelo CVB told me that they were painted by school children.

tupelo guitars on main st

The Tupelo CVB is on the site of the orgingal Shake Rag.

Tupelo CVB

Also next to the Tupelo CVB is the BankcorpSouth Arena. I didn’t realize they had big name concerts in Tupelo, but now that’s another option to see bands. Across the street is the Tupelo Car Museum, which I did not visit on this trip but I will next time.

I went down Main Street to the site of the old Fairgrounds where Elvis placed in the talent contest singing ‘Old Shep’ and returned in the 1950s for his Welcome Home concert. The site is now a park in front of City Hall, but the entrance to the fairgrounds is still there.

old Tupelo fairgrounds

My last stop in Tupelo was Elvis’ school. It must have been quite a walk from his house – at least a few miles.

elvis' school

I really enjoyed Tupelo. The downtown Main Street area is great with shops and restaurants. And of course I loved visiting Elvis’ birthplace. The whole day cost me less than $40 and that included gas, lunch, souvenir, touring Elvis’ birthplace and Tupelo. I will definitely be back to visit Tupelo – it’s more than just the city where Elvis was born.

my stuff from Tupelo

For all 86  pictures of my day in Tupelo, please visit my facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=226075&id=734599167&ref=mf

Please watch my video of Elvis Presley’s birthplace (coming soon)

Please watch the video of my day in Tupelo

Elvis Week 8.15.10-8.16.10 Candlelight Vigil

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Every year in Memphis on the night of August 15th, there is a phenomenon that is known as the Candlelight Vigil. Thousands of people from all over the world gather at Graceland paying their respects to the memory of Elvis Presley. They close Elvis Presley Boulevard and everyone congregates in the street and then with candles lit make their way up to the meditation garden to Elvis’ final resting place. Last night was the 33rd anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, and the candlelight vigil was breathtaking, emotional and hot.

I arrived at Graceland just after 6pm and the heat index was 115 degrees. There were already a few people in line, but I took a seat inside the air conditioned ticket pavilion by the doors, so I could still see outside but stay cool as long as possible. I wanted to be with al the Elvis fans at Graceland, but not get up to the gravesite until after midnight  August 16th, the actual date of Elvis’ death. While sitting there I met some great people and hopefully some new friends in Rhonda, Lisa and Kim.  

even New Yorkers love Elvis

candlelight vigil line at 6pm

I went over to the gates of Graceland at 8pm and got a front row spot for the opening ceremony to the Candlelight Vigil. We lit our candles at 8:30, they played ‘If I Can Dream’ and then I cried.

waiting for the opening ceremony

the candlelight vigil begins

Emotional and dripping, I went to cool off and have some dinner at the Chrome Grille. Nothing like veggies and sweet tea to make you feel refreshed. I watched George Klein’s interview with Marion Cocke, Elvis’ nurse, and Cythina Pepper, co-star from Kissin Cousins, and then walked Elvis Presley Boulevard admiring the candlelight vigil art.

Marion shows Cynthia and George her engraved TLC necklace from Elvis

candlelight vigil art

I sat with Ronda and Lisa for a bit before getting in line at 11:20pm. I only had about a half hour wait before I passed through the gates of Graceland, lit my candle from the eternal flame, and made my way up the driveway.

33 years later ...

the King's flame

Graceland by candlelight from the bottom of the driveway

About an hour and half later, I made it up the driveway to the Meditation Garden and paid my respects to the greatest entertainer and most beautiful person that ever lived, Elvis Presley.

Meditation Garden 8.16.10

Elvis' grave 8.16.10

we miss you Elvis

my favorite spot in the meditation garden

graceland driveway 8.16.10

For complete pictures from the Candlelight Vigil and all of Elvis Week 2010, please visit my facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=198081&id=734599167

There is no other place I’d rather be this past week then Memphis for Elvis Week. It is the one week out of the year that I don’t feel like a complete freak. Elvis Week 2010 was great, especially the screening of Elvis on Tour at the Orpheum and the Candlelight Vigil. What a sense of community and love for a man who left us way too early 33 years ago.

Please watch my videos of the Candlelight Vigil

 and

 or
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=734599167&v=app_2392950137#!/video/video.php?v=430007809167

I am going to spend today August 16, 2010, the 33rd anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, watching his movies and concerts.  We miss you Elvis!

Elvis Week 8.14.10 – a day at The Orpheum Theatre

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Today was the best day yet of Elvis Week. I spent the day at the Orpheum Theatre on Beale and Main for Conversations on Elvis parts 1 & 2 and the screening of Elvis on Tour.

the Orpheum Theatre

Elvis Week at the Orpheum

Welcome to the Orpheum

Conversations on Elvis part 1 was about Elvis on Tour and ran from 10am to 11:30am. Tom Brown from TCM hosted both sessions. Ernst Jorgensen introduced awards for Elvis’ records.

Ernst Jorgensen

Elvis' awards

elvis looking at his awards

Joe Guercio, Elvis’ musical director, spoke next and gave some great stories about his time with Elvis on Tour. In this picture where Elvis is choking Joe, Joe had just told him that Jerry Vale said he could sleep at night knowing Elvis covered his song.  

Elvis n Joe

Joe Guercio

We were told that a cd of the Cirque de Soleil show Viva Elvis was coming out in November, and we got to listen to a sneak peak of Suspicious Minds. Then Donnie Sumner and Bill Baize of the Stamps Quartet, who toured with Elvis in the 70s, came on and spoke so highly of Elvis and his fans and how fortunate they were and are to be a part of it all.

Bill and Donnie of the Stamps

An hour and a half break for lunch took me to the Majestic Grille on Main Street that I have been wanting to try. I asked if I could sit out on the patio, and they looked at me like I was crazy. It was 11:30, breezy and in the shade. Yes, it was going to be another 100+ heat index, but at that moment it didn’t feel so bad. But I succumbed to peer pressure and ate inside. And it was quite comfortable and yummy, and the staff was great too. I highly recommend the artichoke and spinach flatbread!  

The Majestic Grille

Conversations on Elvis part 2 ran from 1pm to 2:30pm and was about Elvis Presley and Memphis. Michael Lollar, the author of the new book Elvis Presley’s Memphis, which is collaboration between the Commercial Appeal and Elvis Presley Enterprises spoke about his times reporting on Elvis. EPE photographer Robert also spoke about the photos in the book.

Michael and Robert

One of Elvis’ best friends and tour manager, Joe Esposito, told some great stories about Elvis and his impact to the world, even today. He mentioned how people tell him when they are sad, they put on Elvis’ songs to feel better. Amen!

Elvis and Joe

Joe Esposito

Keeping in the Elvis’ Memphis theme, next was a Memphis police officer, Earle, who met Elvis in the 1950s. Elvis borrowed a quarter from him and never paid him back. Through weird circumstances, or divine intervention, Earle became friends with Elvis years later and spent many a night at Graceland.

Earle

Ernst Jorgensen made another appearance to discuss the release of Elvis the Complete Masters, which is for sale for about $750 and only available online. It has every Elvis Presley master recording (711 songs) plus over 100 bonus songs, as well as a 200 page book.

Ernst and the Elvis complete masters

I had just under 4 hours between Conversations and Elvis on Tour, so I went home to let the dogs out and eat dinner. I arrived at the Orpheum about an hour and a half before the screening of Elvis on Tour because I wanted to park for free again, and I lucked out and got a space on the street across from the Theatre.

Elvis on Tour is a documentary from 1972. I have been waiting SO long for Elvis on Tour to come out on DVD. Now my Elvis movie collection in complete, and I no longer have to watch Elvis on Tour on dvr or vhs. I was SO excited to see Elvis on Tour on the big screen, especially since Memphis didn’t show it along with the rest of the world on July 29th.

Elvis on Tour

Tom Brown from TCM was again our host and all the guests from Conversations on Elvis this afternoon were in the audience.

Tom Brown

After a ‘making of’ segment entitled Standing Room Only and an introduction by Priscilla Presley, Elvis on Tour began. And the sold out audience was really into it, clapping and screaming and singing along.

Elvis in 72

After the movie, there was a brief intermission then the Stamps came out and sang. And Joe Guercio even came out to lead them on one song. They got a standing ovation!

Joe leads the Stamps

Then we got an extra surprise. We got to see footage that is not included on the dvd or shown anywhere else, but unfortunately we could not take any photographs or video. The screening of Elvis on Tour was by far my favorite event of Elvis Week thus far. It was crowded and everyone was having a great time. It reminded me of Elvis Weeks past where every event was sold out and you could feel the energy!  

my Elvis on Tour stuff

Reading the tour dates on the back of my shirt, I realized that Elvis played Hampton Rhodes Colliseum on April 9, 1972. My first U2 show was at Hampton Rhodes Colliseum on March 7, 1992 – just 20 years later. Wow!

Please watch my video on Conversations on Elvis part 1

Please watch my video on Conversations on Elvis part 2

Please wath my video on the screening of Elvis on Tour