DJ Pat O’Day Recalls the Tricks And Scams of Colonel Parker

 

 

DJ Pat O'Day Recalls the Tricks
And Scams of Colonel Parker

                                                     By Alan Hanson

 

Pat O'Day is a radio legend in the Pacific Northwest. He was Seattle's highest-profile DJ and dance promoter in the 1960s. Twice the national radio industry named him top radio "Program Director of the Year," and in 1966 was voted the nation's "Radioman of the Year." He held such firm control over the Puget Sound radio business from his seat at KJR radio that in 1967 a federal anti-trust suit was filed against him. The next year Pat O'Day helped develop Concerts West, which would become the largest concert company in the world. The acts the company handled included Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Chicago, The Beach Boys, Boy Dylan, Elton John, Three Dog Night, Frank Sinatra, and, yes, Elvis Presley.

In 2002, semi-retired O'Day told the story of his radio and concert promoting years in It Was All Just Rock'n'Roll, published by Rock 'n' Roll Press in Seattle. In it he relates his bizarre encounters with Colonel Parker through the years.

O'Day was there at Sicks' Stadium in Seattle for Elvis's concert on September 1, 1957, but it wasn't until 1962 that he first met Colonel Parker. On that occasion, he was the victim of one of the Colonel's stunts. In town with Elvis during location shooting for It Happened At The World's Fair, Parker called O'Day, by then the city's top radio personality, and asked the DJ if he'd like to be in the picture with Elvis. Of course, O'Day jumped at the chance. "What more could a deejay ask for than to be in a Presley move?" he wrote in his book. At the Colonel's instructions, he put on a coat and tie and hurried down to the set at the fairgrounds. After about an hour's wait, Parker grabbed him and rushed him over to where Elvis was standing between takes. Elvis shook hands with Pat, and then the two were directed to face a nearby photographer. After the flashbulb popped, the Colonel shook the DJ's hand and said, "Congratulations Pat. You've just been in a picture with Elvis."

 

Colonel Parker demands $1 million up front

When Elvis decided to go back to concert touring in 1970, O'Day's Concerts West company wanted desperately to be Presley's promoter. When Pat approached Parker about it, the Colonel made a startling request. As an indication of good faith, he told Pat to come back the next day with a check for $1 million, made out to Parker personally. Only then would he consider doing business with Concerts West. Pat talked it over with his partners, and they decided to comply with Parker's demand. When they walked into Parker's hotel suite the next day, the first thing he said was, "Did you bring the money?" When the cashier's check was handed to him, the Colonel looked at it briefly and threw it on the cluttered floor nearby. "Ok, let's sit down and talk!" he said.

When the group went downstairs later for dinner, the check was still on the floor. (One wonders if Elvis ever saw any of that $1 million or if it all just went into his manager's pocket.) The deal was struck, though, and Concerts West handled every Elvis Presley concert from then until his death seven years later.

 

• Colonel Parker 's tiny pony gag

During those years, Pat O'Day observed several examples of what he called the Colonel's "twisted sense of humor." One morning, O'Day wrote, Parker called the Concerts West home office in Bellevue, Washington, with a strange request. He had learned of a farm near Portland, Oregon, that raised miniature horses. He wanted someone to go down there, buy two of the three-foot high animals, and ship them to Barron Hilton in Las Vegas. The partners drew straws, and the loser was off to do the Colonel's bidding.
Parker knew Hilton would be out of town when the tiny horses arrived in Las Vegas. The Colonel had arranged for a couple bales of straw and a wooden fence to be set up in Hilton's office, and the horses were placed inside. When the Barron returned, he found his office filled with straw, horses, and the smell of manure and urine. He also found a birthday card from the Colonel and Elvis.

Hilton didn't know what to think. He knew his hotel and casino made millions off of Elvis, so he didn't want to insult Parker. He decided to move to another office and leave the horses in possession of his old one.

A month or so later, when the Colonel showed up unannounced to see Hilton, he was surprised to see the horses were still there. After being directed to Hilton's new office, he said, "Barron, you still have those dumb horses in your office! For God's sake, get rid of them! Can't you take a joke?" Then he walked out.

 

• RCA victim of Colonel Parker practical joke

Like Hilton, many other executives in various areas of the entertainment world were dependent on Elvis for a good deal of their companies' profits, and that made them vulnerable to Parker's practical jokes. O'Day writes of one "nasty trick" the Colonel pulled on RCA Victor.

Parker used the occasion of his birthday to call RCA's Hollywood offices, according to O'Day. The Colonel demanded he be put through to the president of the record division. Once he had the man on the phone, Parker said:

"This is Colonel Parker. You know, Elvis and I for the past 20 years have shown great loyalty and love for RCA. We have been reliable, honest and done our best to make our relationship with you one that could be a model. So why, after all I have always done for you and for your company—why in God's name!—would you stoop so low? This is an obvious attempt to humiliate me!"

The shocked RCA exec quickly assured Parker that the company had the utmost respect for him, and then gently inquired what happened to upset him so. The Colonel explained that he had never asked anything of RCA, had always been generous with the company, and so on, and really his birthday was not so important. But when someone from RCA had called to tell him the company was going to erect a giant billboard saying "Happy Birthday Colonel Parker, RCA Loves You" on the highway near his Palm Springs home, he gathered some of his closest friends and drove them out to see how much RCA loved him. And what did he discover—no billboard. Feigning humiliation and tears, Parker hung up.

Of course, the RCA exec immediately called a Palm Springs billboard company and ordered Colonel Parker's message put up on the largest billboard the company owned. The exec then called Parker back, apologized, and explained the billboard would be up by noon. "I accept your apology," wept the Colonel. "I never asked for anything, you know, but thank you. I feel better."

Parker then called three friends and they all piled in his Cadillac and drove to the outskirts of Palm Springs. There they laughed convulsively as they watched the Colonel's giant birthday card being painted by the side of the highway.

 

• Colonel Parker's Elvis ticket scam no joke

Not all of Colonel Parker's shenanigans were as humorous to Pat O'Day. The promoter remembers a big problem Concerts West had with the state of Tennessee in the early seventies. It seems the state's Attorney General and Department of Revenue had discovered that tickets for the first four rows of some Presley concerts were forged and sold without paying the state the required admission taxes.

It didn't take long for O'Day and his partners to discover that Colonel Parker was behind the scam. In cahoots with a Concerts West executive, Parker was printing the tickets, selling them on the sly, and pocketing the cash. When called on the carpet, the Concerts West exec claimed the whole thing was Parker's idea, and he had no choice but to go along with it. The money went to pay off gambling debts, he claimed. It is an example of how Parker's control of Elvis made business associates vulnerable not only to the Colonel's practical jokes but also to his shady business deals.

 

• Colonel Parker could have saved Elvis, says O'Day

By the end of Elvis's life, however, Pat O'Day, who had called Colonel Parker a "genius" back in 1957, became very disillusioned with the man. Below are O'Day's final thoughts in his book about Elvis and his manager:

"The side of the Colonel that wasn't so funny found him doing next to nothing as his golden goose slowly killed himself. It was no mystery what was going on with Elvis. When I visited with him in 1970, I met with a shy, thin, dynamic, proud, energized icon of rock 'n' roll. When I tried to talk with him again six years later, I encountered a bloated, overweight, shockingly pale, psychotic mess.

"Colonel Parker continued to book one tour after another for a desperately ill man. Never has someone needed intervention more than Elvis did then, and the Colonel had the power over him to accomplish it if he chose. One is left to wonder whether Parker feared he would lose that power over a sober Elvis. We'll never know.

"That Elvis of the early '70s was the finest single performer I ever witnessed, with one of the world's most wonderful voices, little boy charm and a certain charisma God has gifted to so few … We might have had this wonderful entertainer for many more years had someone close stepped in and helped. The only person close enough was Colonel Tom Parker, who chose to do nothing."

Did the Colonel have the power, as Pat O'Day believes, to get Elvis's life back on track? My personal opinion is that Parker, on his own, did not have the power to do so. It would have taken a concerted commitment among everyone around Elvis to turn his life around. Certainly, Colonel Parker, along with all the others, earned his share of regret by not doing all he could to help Elvis in those final, fatal years

78´s photos

In the summer of 1978 I made a Pilgrimage to Graceland with my wife and son. I made the pilgrimage to celebrate Elvis' first memorial anniversary. Now I commemorate his 30th memorial anniversary in 2007.
The following pictures reflect some of the images that I saw and photographed.
1. Gold Dust West Casino in Reno, Nevada. Located on 4th & Vine. Featuring Stamps Quartet (Ed Enoch, Buck, Larry; J.D. Sumner was absent due to open heart surgery). I saw the show on July 8th. The 1973 Lincoln Continental was a present given by Elvis to J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. Tennessee license number 575 205-XT. Date purchased 12-27-75.

2. In Las Vegas, at the Stardust. Rick Saucedo (an Elvis-impersonator) presents "Elvis – The Legend Lives" with Elvis' own Jordanaires (featuring Ray Walker and D.J Fontana, Presley's drummer of 16 years). The Sweet Kharisma resembled Elvis' group, the Sweet Inspiration. Rick Saucedo was dressed in a white jump-suit with a blue Star of David (with blue stones) on his back.

3. L.C. Humes High School (presently,1978, Humes Jr. High) on Manasses St. Elvis attended grades 7-12 here. He graduated in 1953. There's a saying on the top-right of the building: "The whole world here unlocks the experience of the past to the builders of the future." Saying on left wall: "The hope of democracy depends on the diffusion of knowledge and wisdom." Elvis said that the very first day he walked into this building he felt like the hairs on his head were standing on end because he was a country boy that had come to a city school, and he was totally scared to death.

4. Sam Phillips Recording Studio at 639 Madison St. Sam was the man who helped Elvis get his start in the record business. Sam Phillips Recording Studio as it is seen today (1978) is on Madison St. The original Sun Recording Studio is now Uniserve, a Auto body shop on 706 Marshall St. What happened was that one day in August Elvis walked into Sun Recording Studio to record a disk as a birthday present for his mother. He paid $6.00 for the disk. Well, at that time Sam Phillips was looking for a white singer with a black man's voice. Marion Keisker, the secretary, thought that she found what Sam was looking for when she found Elvis Presley. So she spent $24.00 on a tape of Elvis, but she forgot to get his name or his address. Well, a year later Elvis came back to record a disk as a birthday present to Red West, and about a week after that the Blue Mountain Boys (Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and Elvis) were in the studio recording Elvis' first hit single, "That's All Right, Mama" (the same song he sang for his mother Gladys a year earlier in the same studio).

5. Original Sun Recording Studio on 706 Marshall St. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones both say that without Sam Phillips and his studio they wouldn't be where they are today. Rock-n-Roll became popular right behind the studio doors. And Elvis was the spark that lit the fire! Also, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, and a whole lot of other performers have gotten their start from Sam Phillips.

6. "The Wall of Love" around Graceland. On this wall are written the most eulogizing words about Elvis – all out of respect and love by his innumerable fans. Examples: "I miss you Elvis, and I still love you." "Elvis – a man is never dead until his memory dies; he will remain immortal in our hearts." "No stage will ever shine so bright, no voice will ever sing and bring the joy you brought, you'll always be the King." "Elvis – a god among men."

7. A page out of the 3-album Pilgrimage of Graceland collection from the summer of 1978.

8. In front of Graceland, home of Elvis. "Keep Out" sign is posted on yellow nylon rope. Two white marble lions guard the four-pillared stone mansion of antebellum design.

9. Author of "In Search of Elvis" book with son at Graceland. The book was never published.

10. In front of Graceland gates, made from white cast iron and painted with green trimmings; includes Elvis-with-guitar figures and musical notes; the two halves of the gate swing inward and form a symmetrical whole.

11. My son in front of the fountain in the Meditation Garden.

12. Elvis Presley's burial site with cross (at northern head), which has a smiling picture of Elvis and three red roses on it, and with Vernon's eulogy on the tombstone. The eulogy begins with the words: "He was a precious gift from God we cherished and loved dearly." It ends with the words: "We miss you, Son (from Vernon) and Daddy (from Lisa Marie). I thank God that he gave us you as our son." Note: Elvis' middle name is spelled Aaron, the biblical way, instead of Aron, the way it appears on most documents. Born January 8, 1935. Died August 16, 1977. Age 42. Tombstone inscription is cast in a 400-pound granite slab which covers the grave of Elvis. Vernon Presley received the inspiration to write the eulogy one morning at dawn when he was awakened by the bright rays of the sun streaming through his window. The words came to him in a rush from his subconscious mind. What he wrote seems to be a beautiful example of automatic writing.

13. He was a precious gift from God
We cherished and loved dearly.
He had a God-given talent that he shared
With the world. And without a doubt,
He became most widely acclaimed;
Capturing the hearts of young and old alike.
He was admired not only as an entertainer,
But as the great humanitarian that he was;
For his generosity, and his kind feelings
For his fellow man.
He revolutionized the field of music and
Received its highest awards.
He became a living legend in his own time;
Earning the respect and love of millions.
God saw that he needed some rest and
Called him home to be with Him.
We miss you, Son and Daddy. I thank God
That he gave us you as our son.

14. Floral ornaments surrounding Elvis' burial site: blue arrangement with famous T.C.B. insignia and lightning bolt (meaning "Taking Care of Business in a flash"); biblical one with page of Psalms 23 – "The Lord is my Shepherd;" heart with red roses; guitar with orange and white roses; cross with red roses. These arrangements seemed to be permanently placed because they were plastic, and not real.

15. Ten-foot Presley tombstone, Cross, risen Christ and two angels. It was originally placed at Forest Hill Cemetery Mid-Town. Symbolical heart is placed on chest; hands outstretched as if to say: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest." Two angels, symbolical of angels present at Christ's resurrection; acronym HIS means "In His Service." The entire tombstone is made of white marble. Statue to right of Presley tombstone is a white marble statue of Mercury, the messenger of Zeus (Jupiter), in a Roman outfit, with winged sandals, a winged low-crowned hat, and other accoutrements of the graceful and swift-of-motion god.

Two Kings

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqb9WfXlBs4

 

 

 

Two Kings celebrate the legacies of Elvis Presley and Martin Luther King

Jack Dennis

, San Antonio Arts Examiner

January 14, 2012

I first met Pam Tillis in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1979 while she was singing backup  to her father, country music singer Mel Tillis.
Mel surprised his daughter by announcing to the crowd at the Frontier Hotel that night that he was inviting up front so she could sing a song by herself.
"Daddy would do that occasionally," Tillis laughed later. "So I am always ready."
"Daddy always says he  wanted to play at the Frontier because that is where Elvis played, but we are close enough here at the Frontier," she laughed after the show.
The Stardust, which was imploded in 2006, had the distinct history of being the first place Elvis Presley ever performed in Vegas, back in 1956.
Mel Tillis introduced his next big hit that night. It was "Are You Sincere?," a song Elvis had recorded and released a few years before his death in 1977. 
Years later, daughter Pam, released a big hit "Maybe It Was Memphis."
It is only fitting that Pam Tillis today, pays tribute to Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll, and another King, Martin Luther in her co-written song 'Two Kings.'

Pam Tillis and Kris Thomas join in the soulful and inspiring "Two Kings" to honor Elvis and MLK.

Credits: 

Pam Tillis website

Video: Two Kings

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqb9WfXlBs4

 

 

Rating for Two Kings, a song celebrating the legacy of Elvis Presley and Dr. Martin Luther King:

5

Related Topics

• elvis presley
• Martin Luther King
• MLK
• Pam Tillis
• Country Music
• soul

 

 

 

www.raisedonelvis.com     

 

 

 

 

I believe in the bible, I believe that all good things come from God. I don't believe I'd sing the way I do if God hadn't wanted me to.
My voice is God's will, not mine." ~Elvis Presley 

"I could never become so rich that I would forget what it's like to be poor." Elvis Presley

 

 

77´s PICTURES

 

  

Elvis and Ginger in Harrison, Arkansas at the funeral of Ginger's grandfather on January 3, 1977


Elvis and Ginger leaving Harrison, Arkansas January 4th

In November 1976 Elvis gave Ginger Alden a white Lincoln Continental, the last he would purchase. On January 3, 1977 Elvis and Ginger along with a 15 man entourage attended the funeral of Ginger's Grandfather. Elvis had Ginger's family flown in to Harrison, Arkansas where they drove 20 miles to Jasper, Arkansas for the services which took place in a very small church. Elvis used Ginger's white Lincoln Continental during this 24 hour visit. The local Newspaper reported "The Star is Seen Barely and Briefly". A photo of Elvis entering the car is featured in the article (last photo above).

Elvis arriving from Orlando, FL in the hotel lobby in Montgomery, AL with Ed Parker on February 15, 1977 before his show in Montgomery on the 16th

Boarding the Lisa Marie to leave Johnson City on his way to Charlotte on February 19, 1977 during the first tour of the year

Leaving the stage after his show in Detroit on April 22, 1977
  
Leaving his hotel in Troy, MI on April 26, 1977

Hitting the stage later the same day in Kalamazoo, MI on April 26, 1977

Enroute to the Freedom Hall to perform in Louisville Kentucky on May 21, 1977

In 1956 Vernon and Gladys Talked About Raising Young Elvis

 

Young Elvis Presley had become a phenomenon, and in the fall of 1956, the New York Daily Mirror decided it was time to give him a serious look. And so in early September, columnist Sidney Fields headed down to Memphis to gather material for a series of articles in the Mirror. He didn't get a chance to talk with Elvis, who was in Hollywood shooting Love Me Tender at the time, but Fields was able to get an extensive interview with Elvis's parents, who invited him into the Presley home. That interview with Gladys and Vernon Presley was the basis for a five-part expose entitled "The Real Story of Elvis Presley," which ran in the Daily Mirror from September 23-27, 1956. What follows is a brief summary of the series' first three parts, in which the Presleys revealed much about how they raised their son.

   Sidney Fields had gone to Memphis hoping to discover "WHAT is Elvis Presley?" Visiting his parents seemed like a logical first step in looking for the answer. On first meeting Vernon and Gladys Presley, he was impressed with their closeness and honesty. "They do have a deep bond between them," he observed, "which is nice to watch, and they express it in a quiet kindness." He described Gladys as "39, plump, placid, and pious" and Vernon as "40, a gentle, graying, handsome man, as tall as his son."

Mrs. Presley showed Fields their son's room, the predominant feature of which was stuffed animals—teddy bears, pandas, elephants, monkeys, dogs—everywhere. "I took him to carnivals when he was a kid," explained Vernon, "and taught him how to pitch baseballs at wooden bottles and win stuffed animals. He still does it. Last week he won a toy dump truck. It's in the living room."

They sat down to talk in the living room, which Fields described as "mixed modern and traditional with a touch of gaudiness." Gladys pointed out that "Elvis picked out everything with me to furnish the house, and he's always sending new things home. He sent so many lamps home I had to store most of them away."

 

Young Elvis always kept in touch with parents

Whether their son was in Hollywood or on the road, he always keeps in touch with them, said Mrs. Presley. "He phones us every other night, no matter where he is. 'How's my babies?' he asks us. We've always been very close. Why, to this day he gets frightened when his father dives into the pool for fear he won't come up. He was always that way about us."

Gladys recalled another incident that demonstrated young Elvis's concern for his father. When Elvis was 5, his father and some other men were helping a neighbor put out a fire inside his house. Elvis screamed when he saw his father and the other men run inside the house to save some of the family's belongings. "He was afraid his father wouldn't ever come out," said Gladys. "I just told him, 'Daddy will be all right, now. You stop that, hear!' And he did."

Fields asked about their own upbringing and how that shaped their goals for their only son. Gladys, one of eight children, explained, "We didn't get to go to school. Vernon didn't graduate either. We can only read and write enough to get by. That's why I always wanted my son to have an education."

"We were poor," Vernon added. "When I was sick my wife walked to work many times because she had no carfare. And many times we hardly had any lunch money to give Elvis. But we did eat and had clothes and a roof over our heads. Maybe we got them all on credit, but we had them. We never had much until three years ago, but Elvis never wanted for anything even when we were troubled. And we always taught him right from wrong as far as we knew, though we didn't have hardly any education."

Mrs. Presley was pleased with how they taught their son. "He was raised well," she said. "He never lies. He doesn't swear. I never heard him call anyone anything except 'Mister' and 'Sir.' And we taught him if he can't help a man out of a ditch the least he can do is say a prayer for him, and the Lord will never let him fall."

 

When young Elvis was disciplined when needed

His mother spanked the young Elvis when needed, and his father remembers hitting his son just once. "He was 5 then," Gladys explained. "He took two empty Coke bottles from a neighbor's porch. He told me the neighbor let him take 'em, but that was stealin' and he had to be corrected. I got Vernon to take the switch to him and give him one or two licks." Vernon added with a wince, "It hurt me more'n it did him."

His parents recalled that when Elvis started at L.C. Humes High School at age 13, he didn't go in the first day because he was so scared. He was afraid the other kids would laugh at him. He had a desperate need to be liked. "And when he isn't, he worries about it," said his father.

The Presleys admitted they were always protective of their only son. As an example, Vernon explained how they tried to stop Elvis from playing football after he fell in love with the game at age 15. "After school the white boys would team up against the colored boys," he recalled. "They'd come home with their clothes torn and their hides, too. Elvis being all we had, we didn't want him to get hurt. But he wouldn't stop. Gladys was workin' in the hospital then and one day a boy was brought in from a football game, and he died of a blood clot. That scared both of us and we made Elvis quit." Mrs. Presley added, "Know what he told me? He said: 'I'll stop because I don't want to worry you.'"

 

And when he got 19 and started making money," Gladys said, "he told us: 'You've taken care of me for 19 years. Now it's my turn."

Even with their son about to turn 22, the Presleys expected their close family ties would last forever. "This is Elvis's home," declared his father. "He's never had no other home except with us."

"And even when he gets married," said his mother, "part of him will always be here."

When Sidney Fields left Memphis and returned to the big city up north, he took with him a good feeling about Elvis Presley's parents. "I like these people," he wrote in one of his Daily Mirror articles a few weeks later. "They're simple, neighborly, unaffected by the fame and fortune of their son, or the furor he has created."

 

Alan Hanson

Elvis Blamed for Actions of Some Fans in Canada

 

 

During his breakout year of 1956, it was to be expected that whenever Elvis appeared in a community he would be the target of criticism leveled by civic groups and government agencies who felt his act was a negative influence on teenagers. However, adult anxiety over Elvis caused him to be blamed for some teenager misdeeds, even in cities where he had never appeared.One example was Ottawa, Canada, where police raided a beer party in July 1956. According to a July 18, 1956, article in Variety, "When police walked in, Presley pictures were on the walls, Presley disks were on the record players, 'I Love Elvis' badges were on blouses and skirts. 'It's a pain in the neck,' said a policeman.'" The president of the Ottawa Elvis Presley Fan Club, 18-year-old Bernard Raymond, who was among those detained, later pleaded guilty to participating in drinking at the party.

Raymond was ousted from the club for his actions, and the Elvis club decided to do the same to any of their members (over 1,200 at the time) who disgrace the club in any way in the future. "We have no intentions of being connected with these so-called rock 'n' roll violence worshippers," said club secretary Peter Mercer.

Meanwhile, that same month Aylmer, another town in Quebec, took steps to "strike Elvis Presley off the books." Honorius Belesque, 18, mayor-elect of Aylmer's "Teen Town," called for a ban on Elvis's teenage followers. (Variety's report on the ban included no details on how the "ban" would be enforced.) Belesque said she favored a more "liberal" trend in music but called Elvis's songs "suggestive." Her call for a ban on Elvis's music failed to draw support from local jukebox operators, who refused to remove Presley disks from their machines.

ELVIS PRESLEY videos

 

 

 

  
THAT'S ALRIGHT MAMA <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIWlWA1YTBw>

MYSTERY TRAIN <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCyqTsJ47mo>

BABY LET'S PLAY HOUSE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92iwC-xI3mE>

I FORGOT TO REMEMBER TO FORGET <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXERHsuIyUQ>

BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZWXpmbu4Z4>

I'M LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT, SHE'S GONE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n_m3q7XYz4>

PARALYZED <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f8m9avHmmQ>

I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTslxVa3SZ8>

TOO MUCH <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqgyZMOkr48>

LOVE ME <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8APTMRfDmKY>

KING CREOLE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4j6hM4nVlc>

TROUBLE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGw1tMWOlVA>

DIXIELAND ROCK <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcCVoXXttEE>

STUCK ON YOU <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1w9Xahzv8Y>

SUCH A NIGHT <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT6GIU4g-gs>

VIVA LAS VEGAS <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPuKoqu6kMk>

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrojFR7jM9E>

CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9rDBohg1yc>

DEVIL IN DESGUISE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3_Q96eJr1k>

SUSPICIOUS MINDS <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0pQVHvFqvQ>

BURNING LOVE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL5d0leKh0o>

JAILHOUSE ROCK <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI>
LOVE ME TENDER <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBUb0ElnNY>

ALWAYS ON MY MIND <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI94AsuvUUA>

MY WAY <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfOj1URIcHs>

FEVER <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Ht1q9psfY>

BLUE SUEDES SHOES <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Ond-OwgU8>

HOUND DOG <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJsQSb9RFo0>

DON´T BE CRUEL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KulIvSbA5Vk&feature=artistob&playnext=1&\ list=TL6p1slqzNRi0>

ALL SHOOK UP <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATDJ8VPJG5s&feature=relmfu>

HARD HEADED WOMAN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN6DXflD7fU&feature=relmfu>

HEARTBREACK HOTEL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PotB76gi2_4&feature=related>

TEDDY BEAR <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhdUucs8AlY&feature=related>

Elvis’s Pet Names For Special Women in His Life

 

 

 

Elvis and his guys had some kind of pet name for each other and for almost anybody else who spent some time around him. Below are nicknames given to 10 women in Elvis's life. They range from relatives to girlfriends to movie costars. First, check out the list below and see how many you can identify. Then read on to see how you did.

"Satnin" / "Little" / "Dodger" / "Foghorn" / "Nungen" / "Ooshie" / "Thumper" / "Mommy" / "Gingerbread" / "Josephine"

Unless otherwise stated, most of the following information comes from either the 1992 book, Elvis: From Memphis to Hollywood by Alan Fortas, or the 1995 volume, Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafia, by Billy Smith, Marty Lacker, and Lamar Fike.

"Satnin": Gladys Presley, June Juanico, Priscilla Presley

Elvis liked this nickname so much that he used it for three women in his life. His mother was the first. Then there was June Juanico (right), a 1956 girlfriend from Biloxi, Mississippi. Finally, he used "Satnin" as a pet name for Priscilla.

The origin of the term "Satnin" is in dispute. Elvis's cousin, Billy Smith, claims, "Satnin' meant a real condensed round of fattening, and Aunt Gladys was always heavy. Elvis would pat her on the stomach and say, 'Baby's going to bring you something to eat, Satnin'."

However, in her 1997 book, Elvis: In the Twilight of Memory, June Juanico said "Satnin" had a different origin. It was while on a date in Memphis in May 1956 that Elvis first called June, "My beautiful little Satnin." When she asked where the term came from, he explained: "She (his mother) used to sing to me when I was little. You remember the song, 'Mammy's Little Baby Loves Shortnin' Bread'? Well, she used to sing 'mama's little baby has satnin skin.' You know, June, skin soft as satin."

"Little": Anita Wood

George Klein introduced 19-year-old Anita to Elvis in 1957, and she remained his preferred girlfriend until his induction into the army a year later. She remembers the last thing Elvis said to her before he went overseas: "I love you, Little …" Even after Elvis met Priscilla in Germany, he continued to call Anita and send her presents. She was still in the picture when Elvis returned from the army, and it wasn't until 1962, when she found out about Elvis and Priscilla, that she ended her relationship with Elvis.

Years later she saw his show in Las Vegas and met him backstage. She says Elvis told her, "Little, I wondered if we made a mistake." She responded, "No Elvis, we didn't, you wouldn't have Lisa and I wouldn't have my children and my husband." She never saw Elvis again after that night.

"Dodger":
Minnie Mae Presley

Minnie Mae Presley was Elvis's grandmother and the mother of Vernon Presley. Her husband Jessie deserted her in 1942, and after Elvis became wealthy, he gave her a home for the rest of his life. She even lived with Elvis during his army stint in Germany. Minnie Mae outlived her famous grandson, dying on May 8, 1980.

Lamar Fike described Minnie Mae as a, "tough old bird. Tall, skinny, and peppery. Elvis called her 'Dodger' because he threw a ball once and it missed her face by a fraction of an inch."





"Foghorn":
Elisabeth Stefaniak

Elisabeth was German-born but as a teenager became an American citizen through her stepfather, a American soldier. She was 19 in 1958 when she met Elvis at the base movie theater in Germany. After they dated a few times, Elvis convinced her parents to let Elisabeth move in with him as his personal secretary. She answered Elvis's fan mail for the remainder of his time in Germany. Privately, the two continued their personal relationship.

When he left Germany and the army in March 1960, Elvis took Elisabeth back to Memphis with him to continue as his personal secretary. In Elvis the Soldier, which she co-wrote, Elisabeth recalls that one day at Graceland, Elvis told her, "Foghorn (a nickname he had always called me because of my low voice), I'm going to take you for a motorcycle ride." Soon afterwards Elisabeth left Graceland to marry Rex Mansfield, Elvis's closest friend during his army hitch.

"Nungen": Priscilla Presley

"They'd baby-talk back and forth," recalls Lamar Fike of Elvis and Priscilla. "He called her 'Nungen,' which was Elvis for 'young one.' But he also started calling her 'Satnin' since Gladys was gone."

Alan Fortas remembers that "Fire Eyes" was one of Priscilla's pet names for Elvis. "Elvis, with his history of baby talk, already had four hard-to-take nicknames for Priscilla," Fortas added. "'Nungen,' which was an affectionate twist on 'young one,' 'Cilla,' 'Little One,' and the one he began using with increased frequency, now that its former owner didn't need it anymore: 'Satnin.'"




"Ooshie": Ursula Andress

Marty Lacker remembers seeing a picture of Elvis and Ursula gazing into each other's eyes on the set of Fun in Acapulco. "Like they're ready to gobble each other up. But that wasn't any real big romance. He just enjoyed being with her. She came to visit him on the Roustabout set later on. Her nickname was 'Ooshie'."

Alan Fortas said the guys had a lot of fun when Ursula was around, but Elvis wasn't interested in her romantically because she was married to John Derek at the time. Still, Elvis and Ursula flirted with each other, according to Billy Smith, and she would call Graceland occasionally. "She wouldn't ask for Elvis," Billy says, "because she knew Priscilla was there. So she'd ask for Alan … and Alan would call her back, and Elvis would get on the phone."

"Thumper": Ann-Margret

"I believe Ann-Margret really did care a lot for Elvis," said Alan Fortas in his book. "And I think she truly wanted to marry him, even though she knew full well about Priscilla, and used the code names 'Scoobie' and 'Bunny' when she telephoned him at Graceland. (The guys joked that 'Thumper' would be more appropriate.)"

Marty Lacker remembers another nickname the guys had for her. "Ann genuinely liked people, and she liked every one of us. I think she also respected us. We used to have a lot of fun with her. She had a terrific sense of humor. We called her 'Rusty' because that was her name in the movie and because of her red hair."

"Mommy":
Linda Thompson

In the summer of 1972, George Klein introduced 22-year-old Linda Thompson to Elvis at the Memphian theater. She soon became his live-in girlfriend and primary caregiver for the next four years. Eventually, Elvis's bizarre behavior became too much for Linda to handle, and she finally left Elvis in November 1976.

"Linda was the best woman he had ever been with," judged Marty Lacker. "He called her 'Mommy,' and she called him 'Little Baby Buntin'.' She cared about him. She wouldn't fall asleep at night until after Elvis did. If something happened while he was sleeping, she'd be up in a minute."

"Gingerbread":
Ginger Alden

George Klein, Elvis's main girlfriend-finder through the years, introduced 19-year-old Ginger Alden to Elvis at Graceland in November 1976, shortly before Linda Thompson's relationship with Elvis ended. "I don't know that there was any way that relationship could work," noted Marty Lacker. "Ginger wanted to go out and party all the time and show Elvis off. And she wanted him to socialize with her group of friends—all sorts of things that Elvis wouldn't do."

Elvis's pet name for his last girlfriend was "Gingerbread." Billy Smith's alternate nickname for her, however, reflected how much the guys disliked her. "Elvis didn't know it," says Billy, "but I always called her 'Gingersnatch.' And I didn't stop there. I called her sister Rosemary 'Poundcake.' Which was really crude of me, but I couldn't help it. I was so pissed off at that family."

"Josephine": Jo Smith

Billy Smith's wife Jo deeply resented Elvis for taking her husband away from her and their children for long periods of time to make movies. Still, toward the end of Elvis's life, she moved into a trailer with Billy on the Graceland grounds because she knew how close the two cousins were to each other.

"After we'd been back with him a little while, my feelings about Elvis changed," she recalls. "He called me Josephine. That's not my name. But every single time he came down the steps, he sang that Fats Domino song to me, 'Hello, Josephine.' And he'd give me a big bear hug. He told me, "I'm going to make up for all the pain I put you through."

Of course, there were many other nicknames coined by Elvis and the guys for people who passed through Elvis's life. Their use testifies to Elvis's sense of humor and to the childlike part of Elvis's personality that he refused to leave in the past.

January 10, On this day in Elvis history

January 10, 1956 Elvis arrived at the RCA studio at McGavock Street. He worked from 2.00 tot 10.00 p.m. and recorded his first sides for his new label. Some musician from the studio played along with Elvis. Chet Atkins on guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano and D.J.Fontana on drums. They recorded Heartbreak Hotel, I Got A Woman and Money Honey. But everyone agreed: they didn't catch the sound Elvis wanted. There is too much echo effect and the sound is nothing like Sam Philips had created in the Sun studios. Elvis was very disappointed. January 10, 1957 Elvis, Gene Smith, Cliff Gleaves and Bitsy Mott left by train for Los Angeles, where they checked into the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Elvis was scheduled to record for RCA over the weekend before starting work on the soundtrack for his new Paramount picture. January 10, 1958 Elvis took the train to Los Angeles with Alan Fortas, Gene Smith, Cliff Gleaves and Bitsy Mott. January 10, 1970 In the RCA studio on Sunset in Las Vegas the rehearsals began. Ronnie Tutt had been unable to reach an agreement on salary and was replaced by Bob Lanning. James Burton recruited his friend Glen D. Hardin on piano. Elvis wanted to change the repertoire from his first Vega appearance. So Proud Mary, Polk Salad Annie, Walk A Mile In My Shoes and Sweet Caroline were added to the show, including some songs from his own recently recorded work. January 10, 1973 The full orchestra was present now and the rehearsals continued with Felton Jarvis present to lend encouragement. Felton thought was still weak after his kidney transplantation which Elvis had helped to arrange and paid for. January 10, 1976 Dr. Nick and his family flew out to Denver at Elvis' invitation. They returned the following day.

December 30, On this day in Elvis history

 

 

December 30, 1957
The album "Elvis' Christmas Album" hit #1 in the U.S.

December 30, 1958
Elvis received a letter from the Colonel that there were rumors in the press about parties at the hotel. The Colonel cautioned

Elvis to maintain a low profile.
December 30, 1966
Elvis purchased another horse, along with a great deal of equipment for riding.
December 30, 1969
There were a lot of fireworks delivered at Graceland for the New Year's Eve party.
December 30, 1970
- Elvis returned to Washington D.C. with 8 friends, including ex-sheriff Bill Morris, for a visit to the headquarters of the National

Sheriffs Association. Elvis took out memberships for everyone to that they would all be eligible for automatic life insurance policies.

Morris had also promised to arrange for an appointment with J. Edgar Hoover, but once again this failed. However, the group did go on a

special tour at the FBI headquarters the next day.
AND
- "Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 1" hit #21 in the U.K.
AND
- The Elvis Presley album "Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1" hit #49 in the U.K.

December 30, 1971
Priscilla and Lisa Marie flew back to Los Angeles. Following their departure, Elvis announced to everyone that Priscilla was leaving him.

She hadn't told him why, he said, simply that she no longer loved him.
December 30, 1973
Elvis got a house call from the podiatrist who had helped him a couple of days before with an ingrown toenail.
December 30, 1974
Elvis sent the Colonel a telegram: "Dear Colonel, I appreciate your signing any papers necessary for me while I am recuperating.

The best from all the boys and myself. Happy New Year, Elvis."
December 30, 1975
Elvis left for Pontiac, Michigan around midnight.
December 30, 1976

Elvis performed at Omni, Atlanta, Georgia.

Date:	30 Dec 1976
Time:	8.30pm
Venue:	Atlanta, GA. Omni
Tickets:	17,000
Costume:	King Of Spades (white) suit
Track list:	Also Sprach Zarathustra See See Rider I Got A Woman/Amen Love Me Fairytale You Gave Me A Mountain Jailhouse Rock O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never Jailhouse Rock Such A Night Reconsider Baby Are You Lonesome Tonight? That's All Right My Way Polk Salad Annie [band introductions] Early Morning Rain What'd I Say Johnny B. Goode Love Letters School Days Hurt Hound Dog Unchained Melody Can't Help Falling In Love
Recordings:	0
Photos:

CONCERT DETAILS: Tour Ref: On Tour number 27 - December 27th - December 31st 1976 Date: December 30 1976 Venue: The Omni Location: Atlanta GA Showtime: (8:30 pm) Crowd: 17000 REVIEWS: Article *: VIDEO INFORMATION: Release: Elvis Bicentennial Vol.3 Length: 41 mins Quality: ELVIS ATTIRE: Suit: 1974 Arabian Belt: V-Neck suit belt Cape: GROUP ATTIRE: J.D. Sumner: Red Suit Musicians: Red Suit TICKET STUBS:	SONGS - TRACKLISTINGS: 2001 Theme C C Rider I Got A Woman - segued medley with - Amen Big Boss Man ( above song includes 1 false start ) Love Me Fairytale ( above song includes 1 false start ) Happy Birthday You Gave Me A Mountain O Sole Mio (by Sherrill Nielsen) - segued medley with - Its Now Or Never Jailhouse Rock Such A Night Reconsider Baby Are You Lonesome Tonight ? Thats All Right My Way Polk Salad Annie Band Introductions Early Morning Rain ( featuring John Wilkinson ) Whatd I Say ( featuring James Burton ) Johnny B Goode ( featuring James Burton ) Drum Solo ( featuring Ronnie Tutt ) Bass Solo ( featuring Jerry Scheff ) Piano Solo ( featuring Tony Brown ) Love Letters School Day Hurt ( followed by 2 reprises of above song ) Hound Dog Unchained Melody Cant Help Falling In Love Closing Vamp CDRS FROM CONCERT: PICTURES FROM CONCERT: © George Hill © George Hill © George Hill © © © Linda Helms © Linda Helms
VIDEO DESCRIPTION
Description: Great footage from a great show. Footage combines good picture with photo slides. Quality: Sound: Shot by:
VIDEO FOOTAGE   video footage presented by Tomek
CONCERT DATE: December 30, 1976. Atlanta, GA Elvis Is Back - Slimmer, Healthier Presley Shows Adoring Fans He's In Top Form Again By Scott Cain The Atlanta Journal December 31, 1976 There's good news for Presley fans: Elvis is back in the groove. This Thursday show at the Omni was tops, the best possible year-end present for his Atlanta fans. From a vocal standpoint, Elvis was operating at his peak, both in tonal quality and exertion. He has lost a little weight and looks much healthier than he did last June. His vitality is restored and he was full of pep. Furthermore, he was in a good mood. He was giving his best and knew it, adding a wonderful aura of self-confidence to the show. The concert was unique in many respects. You haven't lived until you have seen the king of rock 'n' roll lying flat on his back on the stage. And who would ever have thought that the king of rock 'n' roll could be upstaged while in just that position? This happened while Elvis was giving a particularly powerful rendition of "Hurt." He was going through an elaborate display of theatrics, culminating in a swirling motion in which he revolved closer and closer to the floor, finally lying down. This brought a wild ovation, during which a determined mother pushed her young daughter, perhaps 6 years old, onto the platform. The girl boldly stalked up to Elvis, who was still prostrate. Elvis took this interruption in stride, bestowing a warm hug on the child. The program also was unusual in that Elvis revealed himself as an acceptable pianist. He plopped down at the keyboard and accompanied himself as he sang a lovely version of "Unchained Melody." His piano playing which consisted largely of a few simple chords, has more in common with saloon technique than with Horowitz, but it was still an expected bonus. Elvis gave an uncommonly long performance. He did 25 songs in more or less full form, plus snippets of numerous others. His part of the show lasted an hour and a half, which is substantially longer than has been his custom. There were virtually no lags, either. Elvis stopped one song because he felt the tempo was wrong and he halted another because he was having trouble getting into the same key as his band, but these were only minor lapses. Hie repertoire ran the gamut. He opened with "C.C. Rider," and performed such Presley classics as "Jailhouse Rock," "That's All Right, Mama," "Hound Dog," "Amen," "It's Now or Never," and "Fairy Tale." Elvis shrewdly built the momentum of the performance, and the core of the show was centered on his no-holds-barred interpretations of "My Way," "Working on the Chain Gang," "Early Morning Rain," and "Love Letters." The Presley audience was beside itself with glee. The fanaticism of his fans has reached such a peak that Elvis sometimes has difficulty staying in control of the situation. He was able to restrain the fury somewhat. He has sharply reduced the scarf-giving and the kissing. He gave away about 15 scarves and kissed only three or four of his feminine admirers. He did not accept as many gifts from the audience as he has done previously, but the ones he got were notable for their diversity. One girl gave him something that looked like a shrunken head. It had a tongue that went in and out and, when a string was pulled, emitted a hideous laugh. Still another fan had baked Elvis a two-layer birthday cake, with a king's crown on top and an abundance of flaming candles all around. When Elvis accepted this donation. The audience warbled "Happy Birthday" to him, even though he will not be 42 until next month. The concert had been sold out weeks in advance and Elvis reassured his squealing fans that he will return any time they want him. The most notable member of the audience was the defeated candidate for the office of mayor of Plains, Georgia. When Billy Carter entered the auditorium during intermission, he attracted as much attention as Jacqueline Onassis did in her heyday. Courtesy of Linda Helms Live In Atlanta Recorded live at the Omni December 30, 1976 Evening Show. Atlanta, GA Tracklisting Recording: Audience Highlights: Sound: below average Covers: [front] [back]