“…and hold your loved ones tight.”
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
“Give thanks for all you’ve been blessed with…”
“…and hold your loved ones tight.”
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Miscellaneous
Get well wishes to rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson [Update: Wilkinson home]
ElvisMatters reports that John Wilkinson, who played rhythm guitar from 1969 to 1977 for Elvis, is back in the hospital. Best wishes to John for a speedy recovery and a return home in time for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Read the full article on ElvisMatters: John Wilkinson back in hospital.
[November 28, 2010, UPDATE – Wilkinson is back home:
(A)fter a check-up and some pain relief medications, his doctors told him he was as healthy as could be ‘given the wear and tear and the mileage’. John is enjoying the company of his wife Terry and his two doggies – and like he told us on the phone: ‘a day without Elvis music is a day wasted.’ Even today, 33 years on, John listens to his idol/boss/friend every single day: ‘I loved him then, and I love him now. Some things will never change.'”
(Source: www.elvismatters.com)]
Stop Where You Are
The Elvis Information Network today posted a spotlight on Elvis statues and memorials across the globe. I loved seeing the different interpretations and tributes.
My favorite, by far, is the statue currently on display at the Tennessee Welcome Center on Interstate 40 (labeled as “Mud Island, Memphis, Tennessee” on the EIN page; you can also see some detailed close-up shots of it near the top of their page).
This bronze statue by sculptor Eric Parks actually stood on Beale Street from 1980 to 1994. Though it was only ten years old by the time I saw it in 1990, it had already significantly deteriorated due to weather erosion and fan graffiti.
In 1994, the statue was removed for restoration. It was replaced by the rather bland but weather-resistant Elvis statue that still resides on Beale Street today (labeled as “The iconic Elvis statue on Beale Street, Memphis Tennessee” on the EIN page).
The original Parks statue, refurbished to its former glory, made its return in 1997, this time inside the visitor center – safe from weather and overzealous fans.
I hope to return to Memphis within the next few years, and the former “Elvis On Beale” statue at the Tennessee Welcome Center is definitely on my list of must-sees.
Be sure to check out EIN’s Elvis Statues & Memorials page.
Update on Sweet Inspiration Myrna Smith
Elvis Unlimited yesterday posted an update on Myrna Smith, who provided backing vocals for Elvis from 1969 to 1977 as a member of the Sweet Inspirations. “Myrna continues to be very weak, her health is not good, & she sleeps most of the time. She is still getting dialysis three times a week,” reports the site.
For more information, read the full update on Myrna at Elvis Unlimited.
I’ve been listening to Myrna for as long as I’ve been listening to Elvis – basically my whole life. I wish her well.
. . . . and the answer is: Frank Sinatra
Such an easy question? Elvis trivia comes to the iPhone
I was planning to have a review for you today of a new iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad app called the Official Elvis Challenge. I have an iPod Classic, so no go there, but I was hoping it would work on an iPod Touch (3rd generation). Unfortunately, it must not have the right operating system version to run the app, which requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
I wasn’t able to try it out, but I wanted to mention it anyway because this Elvis-themed trivia game from USAopoly looks really cool!
Official Elvis Challenge menu screen
First of all, I love that the main menu screen image is a photo from the mid-1970s. 1950s images of Elvis are so overused in marketing and products, so it’s nice to see a company do something different and use a 1970s image instead.
“So I was . . . shakin’. In fact, that’s how I got in this business, was shakin’. May be how I’ll get out of it, too,” Elvis said in 1969. Appropriately, the Official Elvis Challenge includes a shaking feature. It also has three levels of play and a variety of Elvis games.
If anyone has a chance to play the Official Elvis Challenge, be sure to post in the comments about your experiences.
Here is another sample screen, including an interesting trivia question:
Official Elvis Challenge trivia question
Do you know the source of the above quote? I’ll post the answer tomorrow. No fair Googling it!
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Original images courtesy of USAopoly. Used with permission.
Long after this endless summer has gone
Elvis, 1972
“Most of all, I’d like to thank you. And I’d like to tell you, this is the last day of our tour, and we couldn’t have asked for a better audience. You’ve really made it worthwhile. […] If you want us back, just let us know, and we’ll come back.” –Elvis Presley, June 26, 1977, Indianapolis, Indiana, concluding his final concert
The Mystery Train 