Not Elvis' Tour Bus
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Click the player above to listen to Joe Krein talking with Ed Hill about the bus and how it was purchased.
Ed Hill was asked to sing baritone with JD Sumner and The Stamps Quartet, temporarily until a pernanent voice could be acquired. 'Temporarily' lengthened into five years of fulltime service with the Stamps and Elvis Presley.
The owner, Bill Kinard sent a photo, and right away it was clear that this was NOT Elvis Presley's tour bus.
This was the bus for J.D. Sumner and the Stamps. Yes, Elvis purchased paid for the bus, however it was NEVER used by Elvis Presley for his tours. Kinard insisted that it was Elvis' tour bus, used by Elvis and when Elvis heard J.D. needed a tour bus, he gave him his own personal bus.
NO! Elvis never did use this bus as his tour bus!
To our knowledge, Elvis did drive the bus on two occasions. The first time was when he first bought it. Elvis asked J.D. if he could drive it. J.D. got a little nervous and Elvis said; 'If I break it I'll buy you another one'.
After the history of the bus was proved to Mr Kinard he then changed the story.
So imagine our surprise when we awoke yesterday to see news on many Elvis sites with the headlines 'Elvis bus is coming to tupelo'. And what do you know, it's the SAME bus being promoted by the SAME person ...
Not once in the promotion does he mention J.D. Sumner, let alone that it was the Stamps bus and NOT Elvis'.
On Mr. Kinards website he states; 'Legacy Hall of Fame Inc. plans to bring Elvis Presley's TCB Tour Bus and a 1957 Pink Cadillac that Elvis purchased to East, Tupelo, Mississippi, restore it, and put it on display for fans to come and see from around the world. In order to do this we must raise funds to pay for the cost to save the TCB Tour Bus, restore it, and construct a fans museum to protect the bus and display the above. Legacy Hall of Fame Inc. is asking for donations of $5.00, $10.00 and etc., (US Dollars) from individuals, a fan club can donate what ever they like'.
Once again we inform Mr. Kinard that this bus with the TCB logo on the side is NOT Elvis Presley's tour bus! It was NEVER used by Elvis Presley on any of his tours! It was bought for J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet by Elvis who did 'test drive' the bus when it first arrived.
The F.B.E.I spoke with Stamps Quartet singer, Ed Hill (listen), who confirmed that this bus was bought for J.D. Sumner by Elvis and that it was never actually used by Elvis personally.
After seeing the news of this bus and Caddy, Marty Lacker wrote regarding the subject and informed us of the following; Elvis' tour bus was a FLEX not an MCI like this one is that Bill Kinard has. After 1968 Elvis never used that bus again [FLEX]. We used the FLEX to go back and forth to Hollywood to make movies. This adds even more weight to the fact that the bus was never used by Elvis for his tours etc.
- Read / Listen to Joe Kreins Interview with Donna Butterworth
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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.
