Elvis Presley | Interviews and Articles. All about The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Read all the latest Interviews and Articles about Elvis Presley. The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Display of mother's Star of David headstone revives talk of Elvis Presley's Jewish roots
June 2021 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (JTA) – The large crate sat unopened in a 20,000-square-foot warehouse here for more than four decades, concealing a little-known fact about one of America's cultural icons. Inside was the headstone of Elvis Presley's mother, Gladys, which had been stored in the Graceland archives along with 1.5 million other items since 1977. And on the upper left side of the long-unseen marker - designed by Elvis himself - is a Star of David.
The King is dead, but did Elvis ever rule Orlando?
In summer 1956, Elvis Presley played Orlando for his 3rd time in the 1950s, and the newspaper's 'On the Town' columnist Jean Yothers got a kiss for the cameras.
Interview with Bobby Wood
Interview with Bobby Wood. Working with Elvis was definitely one of the highlights of my career. I'll never forget those days. We just had a good time.
Interview: Elvis Presley co-star, Suzanna Leigh
Suzanna Leigh was the Kate Winslet of her day: a beautiful feted young British actress who made it big in Hollywood. In her heyday she starred opposite Elvis Presley and Tony Curtis and stepped out with Steve McQueen; her other beaux included Patrick Lichfield, Richard Harris and Michael Caine (for one night only - well, it was the Sixties, after all). She lived a champagne lifestyle, mixed with the beautiful people and drove a Rolls Royce. She was presented to the Queen at a Royal Command Performance. (HRH wanted only to hear about Elvis, she remembers.)
Cliff Richard on Elvis Presley: 'He sounded like he had secrets you needed to learn'
In an extract from his new memoir A Head Full of Music, Cliff Richard recalls his first encounter with the King – and how he fell for his music, style and way of being. That Saturday in May 1956, Norman Mitham, Terry Smart and I did the walk. We were planning to do the usual: hang out in the park, look in a couple of shops, have a cup of tea in a cafe, maybe call in at Marsden's to listen to a new single or two. And then, outside the newsagent's, Aspland's, we saw the parked car.
Lowell Hays: Elvis' Jeweller Remembers The King
I grew up in Memphis with Elvis but did not meet Elvis until 1969. I was born into the jewelry business which my father had established in 1937. The night I met Elvis he was shooting at a target on the side of his dad's office. It was raining, and Elvis was wearing a full-length ranch mink coat. Over the period of that year, I got to know Elvis. We went to movies, and football games together. In December 1969, he called me on Christmas Eve and wanted to do his Christmas shopping at around 10:00 or 11:00 at night. I took my briefcase to the Memphian Theatre, a movie house in Memphis where I met Elvis. He sat down, went through my jewelry briefcase and very carefully selected pieces of jewelry for friends, family, his aunt and his dad. From then on I was Elvis' jeweler. He invited me to go on the tours with him, with one requirement that I bring along a case full of jewelry. He loved to give gifts to people he met along the way. Elvis bought a small garnet cross from me. He had it with him when we were in Jackson, Mississippi at a concert, and someone told him about a little boy who was dying. It was a Make-A-Wish Foundation request, and he wanted to see Elvis. So, Elvis agreed, and we took the limo to the hospital where the little boy was staying. Elvis visited with him awhile and then gave him that very cross I had made for Elvis.
Elvis Presley and the Police
If Elvis Presley had not grown up to be the King of Rock 'n' Roll, there's a chance he would have been a police officer, such was his deep respect for law enforcement. As a youngster, Presley wanted to grow up to be a policeman, according to press accounts in the 1970s. He collected badges. If he performed in a city, he’d want a badge from there. What he wanted was not merely an honorary badge, but a real one. And he obtained several, some with his name or initials inscribed on them. But Elvis had some fun too, in the 1970s, he was known to actually pull over speeding drivers and flash one of his various badges and lecture them. Then, give an autograph and speed away, leaving behind a stunned person with an awesome story. To achieve this Elvis actually had a flashing blue light that he would put on the roof when required. Elvis also obtained a police radio and a revolving blue light to put on top of the car roof.
Jordanaire, Ray Walker evokes sizzling Nashville nights with Elvis and Jerry Reed
The only original Jordanaire still standing, genial bass extraordinaire Ray Walker (born March 19, 1934) has experienced an astronomical 60-year career in show business, adding a nuanced low backing vocal to definitive hit singles by Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson (e.g. 'Poor Little Fool' and 'Travelin' Man'), and Patsy Cline. In fact, Walker's debut recording session with the King of Rock 'n' Roll in June 1958 yielded a million selling record - '(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I'. By 1969 the renowned country-gospel quartet was singing harmonies on roughly 80 percent of the songs recorded in Nashville, performing on over 30,000 total studio recordings.
Interview with Loanne Parker (About Elvis Presley and 'The Colonel')
The following is an interview with Col. Tom Parker's widow, Loanne Parker. There were absolutely no restrictions on the questions that we were able to ask of Mrs. Parker, and in this interview Loanne and Joanna spend considerable time discussing the various myths and stories surrounding the Colonel.
Interview with Ronnie Tutt
As if any introduction is required. Ronnie Tutt was a regular member of Elvis' TCB band from July 1969 until June 1977. He started playing drums in his last year of college in 1955, appearing on stage the same night as Elvis that year, in the shows house band.
Egil 'Bud' Krogh - Tell me about Elvis' visit to the White House
It was December 21, 1970. I got a call from Dwight Chapin, who was one of my best friends on the White House staff. And he said, 'The King is here'. And I said, 'King who?' I looked at the President's schedule and said, 'There aren't any kings on the president's schedule'. He said, 'No, not just any two-bit king, the real king. The King of Rock--Elvis.
Interview with Dolores Fuller
Dolores Fuller is best known (downright famous, in fact) for her 40-years-past career as an actress, her mid-'50s relationship with director Edward D. Wood Jr., and the three movies that she made with him. By the end of the 1950s, she'd started her own record company, Dee Records, and one of the talents that she discovered was a New York-born singer/guitarist named John Ramistella, who later became Johnny Rivers. Later on, her ability as a songwriter manifested itself through the intervention of her friend, producer Hal Wallis; Fuller had wanted to get an acting role in the Elvis Presley movie Blue Hawaii, which Wallis was producing, but instead he put her in touch with Hill & Range, the publisher that provided Presley with songs. Fuller went into a collaborative partnership with composer Ben Weisman and got one song, 'Rock-A-Hula Baby', into 'Blue Hawaii'.
Priscilla Movie Premiered in Venice
Sofia Coppola's movie 'Priscilla' debuted at the Venice Film Festival where the film received a seven-minute ovation from the audience. The movie is nominated for a Golden Lion in the 'Best Film' category.
There was a lot of Hawaii in Elvis
'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' was Elvis Presley's third and last movie filmed in the Aloha State, but the King of Rock 'n' Roll's lifelong love affair with the islands began with his arrival Nov. 9, 1957, on the cruise ship S.S. Matsonia for a pair of concerts the following day at the old Honolulu Stadium.
Ronnie Milsap talks about recording with Elvis Presley
Upon setting up shop in Memphis in the late 1960s, Ronnie Milsap joined forces with super-producer Chips Moman, and by decade's end, was tickling the ivories for none other than Elvis Presley. 'Oh, I was given total (artistic) freedom (on Kentucky Rain)', Milsap recalled. 'The only suggestion I got from Elvis was that he wanted to hear thunder roll on the piano. He basically said, 'Play what you feel'.
Interview with Actress Marianna Hill
After accepting the Paramount contract, actress Marianna Hill found herself cast as the second female lead in the Elvis Presley vehicle, 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' (1966). Often cast as ethnic types, Hill now found herself playing Hawaiian nightclub singer Lani Kaimana, one of several women who Presley's character romances while manipulating them to help his helicopter charter business. Hill relished the opportunity to work more closely with Presley. After briefly working with him on 'Roustabout', it was not until she did 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' that she really had an opportunity to get to know him.
Interview with Larry Strickland
The following is an interview with Larry Strickland - June 28, 2007 by Joe Krein. It was popular to wear for guys and girls these bib overalls. Well I had bought a pair, I thought they were really cool, I figured I was this really hip guy. So I had no clue about what was about to happen. So he is hugging Ed and all that stuff. Ed turns to me and says Elvis I want you to meet Larry Strickland he is our new bass singer for the group. Elvis puts out his hand and shakes it and then he takes Ed and pulls him about three steps away from me but not far enough that I can't hear them. But I hear everything that he says. He says 'Ed where in the world did you get the f###ing farmer?'
Interview With Photographer Alfred Wertheimer
In 1956, Alfred Wertheimer was a struggling twenty-six year old free-lance photojournalist in New York City, Wertheimer's good fortune gained him access to Elvis Presley during that first, heady flush of fame in 1956. The resulting photos captured the everyday Elvis, relaxed and off-guard during down times. Now, Al Wertheimer's classic photos are the most esteemed collection of pictures of Elvis Presley ever taken.
Interview with Sonny West
The following interview with Sonny West took place in Sydney Australia, on May 4th, 2005. If you think you know Sonny and his motivations over the years, you may want to think again after reading this interview.
Interview with James Burton by Scott Jenkings
When you think of the TCB Band on stage with Elvis, it is probably James Burton's guitar that first springs to mind. It's difficult to imagine what Elvis concerts would have sounded like had Elvis not chosen James to help make his Las Vegas '69 comeback what it was. I felt very privileged that James gave me over two hours of his time on his day off, the day after the recent Elvis Presley In Concert show in Sydney Australia.
Elvis Presley | How he changed his public image by Lloyd Shearer
Last year Elvis Aaron Presley earned the staggering sum of $2,800,000 on which he cheerfully paid, after all deductions, a federal income tax of $1,700,000. Certainly this was one of the largest returns, if not the single largest, filed by any taxpayer in 1961, let alone a young man of 27 who 10 years ago mowed lawns in Memphis, Tenn., at 50 cent per lawn.
Recalling Elvis Presley's Iconic 1969 Las Vegas Run
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's triumphant 1969 return to live performance with a sold-out engagement at the newly opened International Hotel in Las Vegas. Energized by the galvanizing global success of 1968's Singer Presents … Elvis NBC TV special, Elvis was primed and ready for a long-awaited return to the concert stage. Yet for Elvis, it was still a mighty gamble, as Vegas was the same town that treated him like an alien from a traveling freak show during his ill-fated 1956 appearances at The New Frontier Hotel. Elvis knew what was on the line and was understandably nervous about how he'd be received.
Meet Annette Day who starred alongside Elvis
In 1967 Annette Day was filming Double Trouble with Elvis Presley. They say everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news that Elvis Presley had died. That is certainly true of Annette Day, who has very vivid recollections. 'I was sitting at home, I lived at Beckenham in London then, and I heard it on the television news', she says.
Anita Wood has died aged 85
Anita Marie Wood Brewer, 85, died early Thursday morning of pneumonia at St. Dominics Hospital in Jackson, MS. Anita Wood was a TV performer, recording artist and former girlfriend of Elvis Presley. Elvis and Anita Wood met in 1957 and in the same year Elvis referred to Wood as his 'No. 1 Girl'. The two dated seriously for several years from 1957 to 1962. Wood signed a contract to work as an actress for Paramount Pictures, but later gave it up for Elvis.
Interview with Sam Bell | From a tree house, to using a 'broom' guitar and racism
Sam Bell grew up with Elvis in Tupelo and in this video interview shares some of his favorite memories of his childhood friend Elvis. Much is covered in this interesting 3 and a half minute video; from a tree house, to church, using a broom as a make believe guitar, Shakrag, Elvis' musical ability and that old chestnut; racism.
Interview with Guitarist-arranger-songwriter Billy Strange
In this video interview with Billy Strange (From 2010, to celebrate his 80th birthday), Billy talks about his friendship with Elvis, writing songs for him with Mac Davis. Writing Memories, discussing the lyrics with Elvis in the process of writing the song, A Little Less Conversation and about that songs mega success in 2002. Working with Elvis on the song Viva Las Vegas, 'I was playing guitar on Viva Las Vegas ... he liked what I did'. On their friendship he talks about Elvis calling him up 'to his house' and them 'playing with the baby, Lisa Marie for hours. Billy also talks about working with Nancy Sinatra and her hit, These Boots Were Made for Walking and much more.
'Priscilla' Trailer: See Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny as Elvis and Priscilla Presley
It's a love story for the ages, and Sofia Coppola is ready to tell it. On Wednesday, A24 shared the first teaser-trailer for the writer-director's upcoming biopic, Priscilla, which depicts Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley and Euphoria's Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. 'Priscilla, what about boys at school? There must be some handsome ones', Priscilla is asked in the teaser.
Elvis Presley Was No James Dean But 'King Creole' Proves That He Could Have Been
It isn't easy to talk about Elvis Presley the movie star without dealing with counterfactuals. As the story goes, Elvis' greatest ambition was to one day win an Academy Award for acting. He idolized James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Tony Curtis, prodigious performers who successfully mounted challenging material. Was ever there a version of events where Elvis could have joined the ranks of explosive young actors defining the struggles of class and masculinity for their generation?
Barbara Hearn and Elvis Presley | Her story
Elvis was singing in the men's room. But I'd gotten used to that. This time, though, there was something new. And it led me, after all these years, to the legendary Barbara Hearn. A little explanation -- all right, a lot of explanation -- is in order:
Interview With Nancy Rooks, Elvis Presley's Cook
Nancy Rooks was hired on at Graceland as Elvis Presley's cook / maid in May of 1967. She was there at Graceland on that awful day of August 16th 1977 and continued working at Graceland after Elvis' death.
Interview with Barbara Leigh
Barbara Leigh is an accomplished model and actress who currently works for the Playboy organization. As an actress, Barbara has appeared in numerous TV series and on the big screen with major stars including Rock Hudson and Steve McQueen. Barbara is also fondly remembered as the 'original' Vampirella. In 1970 Barbara was introduced to Elvis and that meeting began a torrid, two-year affair. Barbara speaks candidly about her time with Elvis.
Flaming Star (1960)
What happens when you surround Elvis Presley with a first-rate cast, a top screenwriter and a highly talented director?
Elvis' first great protest song
Hound Dog was Elvis' first great protest song. Social rebellion had been implicit in many of his greatest Sun performances - especially Good Rocking Tonight - and became explicit in Baby Let's Play House where his sexy, yet sinister vocal directly challenges the mores of Fifties America, warning his girl that college, school and Cadillacs didn't make her a better person. But 13 years before In The Ghetto, Elvis' aggressive, dynamic cover of Big Mama Thornton's R&B hit, was an epic expression of a working class hero's righteous anger against those who had judged, misunderstood and patronised him. Elvis' Hound Dog is, Rolling Stone proclaimed, 'a declaration of independence from one generation to its cold, rigid elders'.
Norbert Putnam: 'Elvis was conducting us with his body language'
'I tell young musicians that we recorded 35 tracks in five nights, and they tell me that's impossible!' snickers Norbert Putnam, bassist with Elvis Presley from 1970 to 1977.
Interview with Riley Keough
From the age of 10, or whenever she could get her hands on a camera - whatever came first - Riley Keough was making movies.
Interview with Barbara Eden
Interview with Elvis' Flaming Star, co-star Barbara Eden. God, what a talent he was! I remember the first time I saw him. It was on television. I had a job dancing, and one of the girls took me home to rehearse, and her sister came running in the room and said, 'Look! Look! Quick! Stop!' It was the Ed Sullivan Show. And he was just electric. You'd never forget him after that.
John Lennon and ... a box full of Elvis Presley singles
Up on the 17th floor of the St Regis Hotel in New York City, John Lennon is learning to type. 'It's great', he says, 'Yoko's teaching me'. John is in his bedroom, surrounded by the detritus of creation: guitars, books, notepads, nylon-tipped pens, and... a box full of Elvis Presley singles. 'I asked someone to get all his old singles for me', he says, now down on his hands and knees, opening the box and spilling the bright red RCA labels over the floor. The next 10 minutes are spent sorting them out. My Baby Left Me, Hound Dog, One Night and the old Sun classics are in one pile, while crap (John's opinion) like Bossa Nova Baby and Are You Lonesome Tonight? go on another.
Jerry Schilling On His Lifelong Relationship With Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley's Friend, Confidante & Business Partner Jerry Schilling On His Lifelong Relationship With The King | Jerry Schilling's tender friendship with the King is a core component of his identity, but his story wouldn't mean much if he wasn't a fascinating character in his own right. In this interview, he goes deep on how Elvis Presley irrevocably shaped him.
Elvis Presley with Yvonne Lime | Easter 1957
In 1957, Yvonne Lime was chosen to co-star with Elvis Presley in Loving You in which she played the role of Sally. Elvis and Yvonne developed more than a professional interest in one another - and they dated some during the filming. Yvonne spent Easter weekend 1957 with Elvis and his parents at Audubon Drive in Memphis and Elvis took her to see Graceland that was in the midst of renovation and the two posed for a series of photographs in front of the house.
The first time Robert Plant heard Elvis Presley: 'It was an opiate'
Elvis Presley could merely open his mouth and fans across the world would be utterly entranced by what came out of it. Elvis inspired the onslaught of rock and roll bands of the 1960s, including one of rock's finest exports, Led Zeppelin. Singer Robert Plant owes much of his introduction to genre to Elvis, as confirmed in a number of press pieces throughout the years.
The Story of Elvis' Stop in Vickers Gas Station, Memphis, October 4, 1976
Read the story of and view photos from Elvis' Stop in Vickers Gas Station, Memphis, October 4, 1976.
Elvis' 1974 Easter Television Special
The following article was first published in the U.K. based ‘Elvis Monthly' magazine in 1974, written by Wayne Stierle. The annoyance is the single sleeve which proclaims an 'Easter Television Special From Elvis'. The fact is most fans are eagerly awaiting it, and why not? (Unless Elvis decided to convert his millions of non-religious fans and fans of other beliefs to his way of worshiping it'll be great. If he pulls off a religious trip, well, it'll be interesting to see how the country responds to it). But, no such thing, folks, and here we go on a binge of phone calls to find out what's happening, or not happening. Come on along!
Interview with Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap auspiciously bridged the gap between country and pop in the early '80s, and his influence still permeates contemporary country music radio. In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview, Milsap, the dictionary definition of a crossover phenomenon, recalls meeting boyhood idol Elvis Presley and ultimately getting to play on the King of Rock and Roll's heralded 1969 comeback sessions at American Sound Studios in Memphis.
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 5
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 5 (of a 5 part series).
Deputy Chief Robert Cantwell Remembers Elvis Presley
If Elvis Presley lived, perhaps he would still visit Denver, where it turns out 'The King' struck up some close friendships in the 1970s. Elvis was even made an honorary captain on the city's police force. Robert Cantwell first got to know Elvis in 1970 while working as a guard in a hotel the night Elvis played the Denver Coliseum. When Elvis emerged from an elevator, Cantwell wasn't sure it was him. So he asked for identification. 'He was definitely a country, Southern gentleman', Cantwell tells Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner. 'Off the stage he was a different Elvis. He was a superstar on the stage and a super friend off the stage'.
Turning 50, 'Elvis On Tour' remains a valuable document of the 1970s
'Elvis On Tour' shows Elvis Presley in the midst of the whirlwind touring that dominated his career in the 1970s. 'Elvis On Tour' directors and members of Elvis' backing band tell about the experience - with the film now reissued as an expanded edition in a Blu-ray/CD set.
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 4
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 4 (of a 5 part series).
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 3
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 3 (of a 5 part series).
William Schallert on working with Elvis Presley in 'Speedway'
William Schallert recalls working with Elvis Presley in 'Speedway' (1968).
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 2
Elvis Presley co-star Interviews 1992 Part 2 (of a 5 part series).
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
