Elvis Unlimited Magazine

Elvis Unlimited

ISSUE NUMBER 50

Read all about our first annual

New Cd’s!

All the latest news!

Elvis Memorial Days 2011

Follow That Dream News!

Rare item from the museum in Randers:

Exciting new releases just around the corner!

Rare Elvis photos!

Elvis’ handwritten letter

THE BEHIND THE SCENE STORY OF:

GRACELAND - THE NATIONAL LANDMARK W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

4 0 PA G E S C R A M M E D W I T H E LV I S !

2

. . .

H T I W E V I S U L C X E ER V E T S R I F THE

3

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

W E TA L K TO P R I S C I L L A P R E S L E Y

HENRIK AND I WERE star struck. We were walking on

that possible for over 20 years now. Priscilla clicked with air after talking with Priscilla one on one. We both had the Henrik right away. She curls herself right into him every honor to meet her many times through the years. But this time. But I think that’s a huge compliment to us. It’s not time, it was a private meeting. It was a chance of a life time often Priscilla Presley opens herself to the public in such a for us. It was a dream comes true. I was so nervous and personal way. Things became so at ease. We laughed and fumbling over my words. Henrik said he had never seen me joked. It was such pleasant conversation. that way before. I was shaking so bad that when I snapped Priscilla was genuinely touched when Henrik told her photos, they were blurry. But Priscilla was very kind and about the giant birthday card sent from Denmark by Elpatient. Maybe I’m being a little too open here with my vis Unlimited and all the fans that had come to Randers to emotions. But I have to tell you, I was so touched by her sign it. The card was specially delivered and placed in the presence, her grace, her charm…..I was (almost) moved racquetball room at Graceland. She took his hand and perto tears. I said almost! To show you her quick wit, when I sonally thanked him for everything he does to keep Elvis’ told her she was the nicest celebrity I ever met, she said legacy going. And she asked Henrik to please thank the then you must not have met many celebrities. By the secpeople of Denmark for remembering and honoring Elvis. ond meeting with Priscilla, I was ready! I had my research, And she said it very sincerely. This woman is real. She is my questions and I was determined to behave! After all, not the antichrist she is made out to be. She is real. And she is the first lady of Graceland! But by this time, it was she is warm and genuine. Of course, once we made that now Henrik who was a nervous wreck. But we pulled it off. announcement, another fan association put out the same We always do! It is one of our fondest memories. And we “claims”. But they are famous for riding our coat tails and are very proud that we had the privilege to spend time mainly on lies. with Priscilla away from the spotlight and the fans. And I We talked to Priscilla about many different topics so we first have to tell you, she is absolutely stunning in person, will break them down and bring them to you in different her skin glows, and her presence is very calm, sweet and segments in the coming issues of Elvis Unlimited. In this isdemure. She is a beautiful woman on the inside as well as sue, we talk to Priscilla about her life with Elvis in Memphis, on the outside. at the ranch in Mississippi, Elvis’ love of horses and the Priscilla was absolutely different from any celebrity you could ever meet. Many celebrities love to talk about themselves continually. And Priscilla was quite the opposite. Right away, she picked up on my accent. In fact, her family lived in New Jersey and her sister Michelle worked at my Uncle’s insurance firm in South Jersey. Small world! She was intrigued by us. She asked many questions. One of her questions was, well if you’re from New Jersey and you’re (Henrik) from Denmark, how did you two meet? And when we told her we met in Memphis during Elvis Week. She was visibly touched.

She paused, and she filled up a bit, she said, I wish Elvis was here to see all this. He really had no idea the impact he had on people. He truly would be impressed. This is really incredible. WOW! It really is.

Priscilla asked Henrik many questions about himself and Denmark. She was so impressed that the The largest birthday fans traveled all the way from Denmark to Memphis card from Elvis Unlimto visit Graceland. And she thanked him for making ited fans in Denmark!

W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

4

TODAY WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CONCERT COMMONLY KNOWN AS -

ELVIS PRESL AMERICA’S O VOL 2 FOR THIS CONCERT WE FIND ELVIS OUT ON LONG ISLAND, NY, PERFORMING ON HIS SUMMER TOUR OF 1975. THIS TIME IT’S THE EVENING SHOW, AFTER A MATINEE PERFORMANCE ON JULY THE 19TH IN UNIONDALE, NY, AT THE NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM. IT’S MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS SIMPLY THE NASSAU COLISEUM.

THIS CONCERT is presented in an audience recording, but probably one of the best you will ever hear for an Elvis concert in the 70’s with the tape recorders available at the time. The sound quality is very high, and Elvis’ vocals are very clear when he is singing, and most of his talking is also very clear, making it a very enjoyable 2

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

listening experience. Hopefully one day a soundboard recording pops up, though this concert is very listenable in it’s current state.

This summer tour, with the exception of the final five city tour of 1976, can easily be considered the last great stand Elvis made. He was healthier,

happier, and less distracted by his personal life on the stage than he had been in 1973, and 1974 specifically. The angry Elvis that took the stage in mid to late 1974 is gone.

The long angry rants are gone. Long talks about karate, and being clearly out of it on the stage has gone. Back

LEY OWN,

W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

3

ELVIS MEMORIAL DAYS 2011

BY RIKKE FRIIS

NOW WE CAN DISCLOSE SOME OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING OUR ELVIS MEMORIAL DAYS 2011:

ELVIS MEMORIAL DAYS 2011 - INFO 3 Acoustic Request Nights with Glen D. Hardin at the piano. Saturday August 13 with Jenson Bloomer at the microphone, Sunday August 14 it will be Henrik Busborg and Monday August 15 Bobo Moreno - All three days at 8 PM at Graceland Randers.

The request nights will be put together from your requested songs!

Besides this unique experience, your ticket also includes:

- Access to the Elvis Museum at Graceland Randers - Q&A Session with Barbara Hearn (Elvis’ girlfriend in 1956) - Henrik Knudsen will show and tell about some of the exhibited items We will also have an auction or two PRICES: 1 x Request Night $50 / 2 x Request Nights $95 / 3 x Request Nights $120 Send your requests to: info@gracelandranders.dk no later than July 30, 2011

THE FIRST EVER Elvis Memorial Days at Graceland Randers took place August 12-16, 2011. The idea was, of course, to commemorate the untimely passing of Elvis on August 16, 1977.

We had brought in friends and entertainers from the US and England as well from Denmark. The Elvis Museum in the basement of Graceland Randers was the venue for all this.

4

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

Friday August 12, 2011 we had Barbara Hearn Smith in the museum telling stories about her years as a friend of Elvis and her time as his girlfriend back in 1956. She entertained and signed autographs every day through August 16. She had many compelling stories and such a vibrant way to tell them.

On Saturday we started the first of three acoustic request nights with Glen D. Hardin at the piano in the museum. A piano, that used to belong to Milton Berle and had been played by icons such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

This first night we had brought back Jenson Bloomer, who had not been performing in Denmark in a decade or so.

My most memorable Bloomer moment was when someone requested “American Trilogy” and Jenson hesitantly accepted the challenge only to break out in an incredible and awe-inspiring rendition. Glen D. impressed us all beyond our wildest dreams on that piano!

The second night Glen D. was accompanied by Henrik Busborg and an entire television crew, working with Busborg to produce an episode of a very popular television program about alternative lifestyles in Denmark. Busborg really gave us all a night to remember and my favorite here was a very beautiful “Memories”, delivered with such confidence and emotion.

The third and final night saw Bobo Moreno as the singer, still with Glen D. at the piano. Moreno’s soulful voice gave us a completely new experience of how these request nights can be delivered. Some of my favorites that night were “C C Rider”, “Kentucky Rain” and “Memories”. This

W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

5

6

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

T H E S TO RY O F A L DVO R I N

THE AL DVORIN STORY WITH PERMISSION FROM RICHARD CROFTS PHOTOS: PER NORDBY

IT WAS AUGUST 18, 2004. there was a concert at the Cannery in Las Vegas. It was a Paul Casey show. It was his band, but the Sweets, and I think the Imperials were doing the show with him. I spent the day at sound check visiting with people, and making friends. I’d met Al Dvorin before, but never spent any time with him at length. Later that night I had the Sweets at my house for a party. It was a great evening. The night after my party Al, Sam, Dick, Jerry, Joe, Loanne Parker & Charles Stone filmed a DVD called the TCB Gang in Elvis’s suit (remodeled) at the Hilton. I wanted to invite myself so bad!!

It wasn’t my place to, so I didn’t, but damn did I want to be there for that! That night I got a call from Dick Grob. Al was staying at the Aladdin, and needed to get a ride to Palm Springs to do another show with Casey, and they wanted me to drive him. I couldn’t think of a shorter word than yes, so I settled for that! Jim Mydlach, who was one of the Colonel’s guys for years gave me the info, and time, and my expenses for the trip. I pulled up the next morning and there he was waiting for me! So, he got in, and we hit the 15 South to California. I prepped myself for the trip with a good selection of CD’s, but we spent most of the time talking. He told me story after story after story. He was a part of the Colonels brigade for a while before

Elvis was even known to Parker, so he saw the whole thing from start to finish. The guy was sharp as a tack, and hadn’t lost a thing.

He was VERY smart, and had an amazing memory. He told me about how Colonel made him into the PA guy. He told Colonel, “I can do ticket sales, I can do trinket sales, I can do bookings, I can do promotion. I can do it all. I have a terrible voice, though. Nobody wants to hear me speaking on a PA!“ Colonel insisted, and Al went down in pop culture history. He even delivered his line for me! It was pretty damn cool! I also had the Memphis 74 concert in my stash of CD’s, and played the ending for him. He said he hadn’t heard that in years, and was so happy to hear it!

He was having a ball. He said Elvis was so proud of being from Memphis, and recording that live album there that he asked Parker to ask him (Al) to change the closing phrase for that one show so when people heard the record they would hear that it was recorded in Memphis. On the way down the 15 we stopped in Barstow at the Denny’s. Al was a little slow, he had to stop in the parking lot W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

7

G R AC E L A N D R A N D E R S - G R A N D O P E N I N G

- GRAND OPENING IT WAS A DAY WE HAD ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, WORKING TOWARDS, AND BOTH AWAITED AND DREADED AT THE SAME TIME. GETTING OUT OF BED WAS NO PROBLEM THAT MORNING OF APRIL 15, 2011. THE GRAND OPENING WEEKEND OF GRACELAND RANDERS HAD ARRIVED.

MOST OF THE morning was spent getting things ready for the afternoon’s cutting of the ribbon, getting press people in place, answering press requests by phone, receiving presents, taking photos, and receiving the VIPs and participating parties.

Friday afternoon was dedicated to the official ceremony with the cutting of the ribbon and the accompanying speeches and entertainment. Many people had turned up to take part in the outdoor event - around 2000 - that made us indescribably happy.

Among the attending people were representatives from European Elvis fan clubs, American Car Clubs, and Elvis fans from around the world.

Additionally, a lot of press people attended, over 60 from almost all over the world. Famous Danish people such as; Poul Krebs, A Friend In Lon-

8

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

don, Lis & Per and of course the guests who were especially invited to participate actively in the event, were there to celebrate with us.

We lucked out on the weather front.

It was not exactly warm, but it kept dry all the way throughout our outdoor event.

Everything went over very well.

Glitches were corrected in time...

A red ribbon that didn’t fit was replaced minutes before the ceremony and an MC who didn’t show was replaced by Graceland Randers staff and Henrik himself. Among the speakers were Suzi Quatro, who told us about how she became an Elvis fans at an early age and how she once turned down an invitation to visit Elvis at Graceland, only to regret it ever since. Also speaking was The Mayor of Randers and the city’s Tourist Director, as well as the former American Ambassador in Denmark, James P. Cain, who took everybody by storm with his witty and warm speech.

In the evening it was time for our Celebrating Randers Red Carpet Show with Suzi Quatro, Glen D. Hardin, Bill Baize, Stephen Ackles, Peter Viskinde Band, Ester Brohus, Mike Andersen, Charles Stone, Sonny West and Sandi Pichon. It was an evening that represented all of Elvis’ musical genres, the Rock ‘n Roll by Suzi Quatro, the country by Ester Brohus, the gospel

by Bill Baize, the blues by Mike Andersen and a little bit of everything by Stephen Ackles. This was also an evening of impulsive decisions… Without having planned it, and with no previous rehearsal, Ester Brohus sneaked on stage in the middle of a song by Bill Baize to “help” him out towards the end of the song. It was great fun

G R AC E L A N D R A N D E R S - G R A N D O P E N I N G

to witness this impulsiveness, which you had to be in the wings to experience first hand.

Saturday was the day of the official opening of the Graceland Randers doors to the public for the very first time. It was a very overwhelming day in every respect. We had approximately 1.000 guests inside the house of which 600 took a tour of the Elvis Museum. It was a positive and happy day and we are all very grateful. Sunday was also very well visited. Some even came back for a second day.

Saturday and Sunday night we also had the house full of people for the first ever concerts at Grace-

land Randers. It was unbelievable to see the house in use this way!

Sandi, Sonny and Charles spent the weekend signing autographs, telling stories, having their pictures taken and having a blast of proportions during their stay. Ah, the things we heard...

We would like to thank all of you for your support for the project Graceland Randers, both during the building, the opening weekend and those of you who have come by since. This also goes for those of you who have not had the chance to visit yet. The support form the sidelines has been just as amazing. THANK YOU! We hope to welcome you all at Graceland Randers soon!

W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

9

Interview with Stump Monroe

BY RICHARD CROFTS, TMMB

(Adapted for magazine purposes)

FOR THOSE THAT AREN’T AWARE, STUMP’S NAME IS JEROME MONROE, AND HE WAS THE DRUMMER FOR THE SWEET INSPIRATIONS. HE WAS HIRED BY THEM IN 1969 WHEN THE SWEETS WERE PLAYING VEGAS AS A SOLO ACT. THEY GOT THE CALL FROM THE ELVIS CAMP, AND WERE HIRED ON TO OPEN THE SHOW FOR ELVIS, AND TO BACK HIM UP DURING HIS LIVE ACT. THE BAND WAS RETAINED AS PART OF THE OPENING.

10

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

I N T E RV I E W W I T H S T U M P M O N RO E

STUMP PLAYED almost EVERY single show Elvis did from 1969-1977 only missing a couple of shows in that time period. Once he had an eye injury, and a couple missed due to sickness. So, this interview has a lot of cool stuff in it you may have never heard. A little different take on stuff you have heard.

I asked almost every question that was submitted, and taped it (he was aware). I transcribed the tape, and here it is as he answered our questions, enjoy!

Where are you from, and what are you doing nowadays?

Well, I’m from Washington DC, but I’ve lived here in Vegas since 1969 when I came here with the Sweets when they came to play Vegas, and then we went to work for Elvis. I’ve never left since then. I have my band in Vegas, I play drums for called A Touch Of Silk.

We do a lot of songs, standards, you know, R&B, blues, rock, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s stuff, that kind of thing. We play a lot of hotels around town, and California, Northern Nevada, wherever we can book a gig we do it.

How did you about getting the job with the Sweets in the first place?

I was playing with Vegas with Martha Reeves, and the Sweets needed a drummer. Greg Gaston, the guitar player for them, knew me from other shows, and got me the job. I sat in with them one night. I guessed I got the job. I was never officially hired, or fired. Myrna was like the manager though, she saved my life man. She took care of all of the bookwork, all of the paperwork. She took our taxes

out, and made sure we got paid.

When we got hired to work with Elvis they only hired the Sweets, they didn’t hire the band, man, just the Sweets.

The band was paid out of the Sweets salary. Myrna made sure we all got our money, and took care of everything, I didn’t think of stuff like that back then. If she hadn’t done that I wouldn’t be able to get the benefits I get now, and other stuff like that.

Myrna was wonderful, I really miss her. She was the spirit of the whole thing, she ran everything. Without her, I would have nothing now. I thank God for Myrna, because I didn’t know any better back then, and she did, she took care of all of us, and no one knows that.

I’d be interested in his background not just with Elvis, but with everyone he’s worked with.

These are bands Stump played for regularly, or sat in with a few times: - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - The Del Vikings - The Flamingo’s - Billy Stewart - Dee Clark - Cuba Gooding Sr and the Main Ingredients - Betty Wright - Wilson Pickett - Chuck Jackson - The Coasters He opened for Ricky Nelson with the Sweets after Elvis died.

Of course, I knew there would be interest right away on this last one, so I probed further, asking him about Ricky. He said “Ricky was a real sweetheart, him & wife both. Very nice people. I don’t

know how to say this without being rude, because I have nothing bad to say about Ricky at all, but he was no Elvis if you know what I mean, but he was a great guy, and I have nothing but good things to say about him.

Very sad what happened to him. A real sweet man that would come up and talk to you about anything” Stump shared a bill with, but didn’t back: - James Brown - Jackie Wilson - Sam Cooke - Otis Redding - Curtiss Mayfield - Freddie King He’s met: - Aretha Franklin, - Sammy Davis Jr. and went for dinner at his home, - Raquel Welch - Elton John - Redd Foxx - he was a cool cat, and a good friend - BB King - Ike & Tina - Kenny Rogers Those were the people he recalled while we were talking. There was one though that stopped me in my tracks.

I’ve known Stump for many years, and he’s honest if nothing else. He tells it as it is, and has no agenda. He told me this next name matter of fact, like it was well known. I had to stop him, and ask him the back story on this, and this was his answer: He said that he was out on the road with Elvis, and doesn’t remember where. He was back stage, and saw Elvis talking to someone. He said

W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

11

PART 2 THIS IS PART TWO OF THE INTERVIEW WE DID WITH COLONEL TOM PARKERS WIFE, LOANNE. SHE CONTINUES TO GIVE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF A MAN OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY ELVIS’ FANS...

12

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

W E TA L K TO M R S. C O LO N E L - LOA N N E PA R K E R PA RT 2

ELVIS REALLY LIKED THE ­COLONEL. Tom Hulett told me once,

else in to do a little work but that was it. He had Tom; he had George Parkhill (in the later years) before that GP worked for RCA Records. He had Jim O’Brien in his office in LA, that was it. And when you think that Colonel didn’t finish high school. His education was very limited. And he was dealing with William Morris Agents.

I mean with people that are really personas. He was dealing with attorneys; he was dealing with some really tough people. And he did it. Colonel

Colonel. It was after the show where Elvis insulted the executives at the he said you know I never understood Hilton. And that was a long story. Joe the depth of Elvis’ feelings for the was a maitre de or waiter in the ItalColonel until (it was) the night before. ian restaurant who used to bring Colonel wasn’t feeling well and he food up to Elvis in the suite from the was sitting backstage, Tom said Elvis restaurant and they started to talk. walked in and he looked over at ColoThey became friends. And it reached nel and he said, what’s wrong with a point where this man was spending Colonel? And Tom said, he’s not feelmore time up in Elvis’ suite then he ing great. Elvis asked (concerned) is was spending in the restaurant. And he alright? And Tom said, Elvis went his wife had a serious illness and he right over to him and he kneeled was complaining to Elvis. He would down by the Colonel cry (which may and he said, are you «ELVIS AND THE COLONEL WERE have been very LIKE A MARRIAGE. I THINK alright? (Loanne beinsincere). But gins to cry, filling up THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED. SO either Elvis went with emotion). They THEY CARED. THEY WERE TO- over to her house cared for each other.

GETHER A LONG TIME. AND SEE and thought he But at the end I think THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR AGES was doing healElvis lost the capacity WAS ENOUGH THAT THEY WERE ing treatments DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.» to really care. But that and personally stuff does awful things I wonder if this to you. It takes over. Elvis and the and Tom would call the buildings to man wasn’t taking advantage of ElColonel were like a marriage. I think set up the tour, Colonel knew most vis’ goodness. Telling Elvis he could that’s what happened. So they cared. of the building managers and he’d heal her. Well, he was warned by the They were together a long time. And say get your contract to us and they hotel a number of times, if you don’t see the difference in their ages was would all say the same thing, Colonel stay on the job, we’re going to have enough that they were different genyour word is good enough. I mean to replace you. And the man ignored erations. So they had problems. But they did contracts because you had them because to him, Elvis was more it’s like if someone says to me, we’ve to but they would say, no the deal is important than being on the job. been married 25 years and we’ve made. If you say it’s made, it’s made.

So they fired him. They gave him a never had a fight. And I think, you’re Colonel had a great reputation backnotice. Now this town is very much lying! ing what he said.

“Union” with the culinary Union which is all the workers. In order to fire IT’S NOT POSSIBLE. “OLD SCHOOL” someone, you have to have at least Colonel only handled Elvis. All the It was where a person’s word was 3 written valid complaints and they other managers had several acts. valuable. If someone said we’ll do have to be warned at least 3 times.

Colonel was totally devoted to Elvis. this, they did it. And today, even conThey are very strict with this. So there Elvis didn’t have a public relations tracts are….it’s tough. It’s really is no way they could have fired this firm, he didn’t have all that. Colonel tough out there. People aren’t kind to man without this happening. Because did all that. That would have been one another very much anymore. the Union never protested it and had very expensive. When you think of the it have been something wrong, they amount of people Colonel had on his Was the Colonel ever fed up? would have approached Hilton big staff. He had Mary & Patty in Tn. Now Yeah, when he walked off. And of time. So this man goes crying to Elvis, and then he would bring someone course, the guys say Elvis fired the my wife is dying and now they fire W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

13

W E TA L K TO M R S. C O LO N E L - LOA N N E PA R K E R PA RT 2

me because I have to spend time with ill had the adjoining room and he and said, Elvis wants to talk to you, her. And Elvis only hearing this side of knocked on the door and said, Colohe wants to know when we’re going the story, he got very angry and very nel Elvis called and said he wants you back out. And Colonel said, well, when emotional, (here’s this woman I’m tryupstairs right away. And Colonel said, does he want to go back? I don’t think ing to heal and help and they fire her why didn’t he call ME? He called YOU? they ever addressed it. That was it. He husband) So on stage that night. And And told YOU to ORDER ME to go upstarted booking tours (again).

I was at the show. Elvis made some stairs? Colonel then said to me, this very bad remarks about Baron Hilton is it. I’m going up there and I’m going WHY ELVIS DIDN’T and the Hilton Corp. And it was totally to tell him that this is the end. Either GO TO EUROPE…. out of line. You don’t do that. You just he controls his substance and starts You want straight answers? You exdon’t. He was plain how he could there to entertain. «COLONEL’S LAST EFFORT TO TRY get through customs.

Not to explain.

TO DO SOMETHING TO GET EL- Frank Sinatra was put And when Elvis VIS BACK ON TRACK WAS THE in prison in Austrasaid that, Colonel TELEVISION SPECIAL THAT THEY lia because he had a FILMED. COLONEL SAID TO ME, couple of pills on him. turned to me and said, I wish I could HE GOT IN GREAT SHAPE FOR And the guns. Elvis become invisible. THE SATELLITE SHOW AND MAYBE and all his guys were I’ve never been so THIS WILL GIVE HIM THE INCEN- always armed. That’s TIVE TO GET BACK IN SHAPE» embarrassed. The one reason. And the Hilton people were most important reason sitting at our booth. So Colonel went working and starts reading some new was Elvis did not want to play outdoors back stage and he was furious with songs or I’m finished. Well, the result for security purposes. Let’s face it, you Elvis. And I went on up to the room was he went up, Elvis said you’re fired. can have 100 police officers around and he came up to the room, Colonel Colonel said I quit. He came down the stage but if 1,000’s of people are was so mad. He said I’ve had it. I can’t stairs. This was about 3 in the mornthere and they rush the stage, those put up with this anymore. You can’t do ing, and he said to me, get dressed, 100 police officers can do nothing. So this. These people are being good to get into the office, I have dictation. he could not play outside. There was him. He doesn’t even know the facts.

So he dictated to me the terms of his no venue big enough and most of the He said, I can’t do it. I can’t deal with leaving. And he spelled out the things offers that were made when Colonel it. And at this point in my life, I don’t he had already booked for Elvis. And checked them out, they were not leneed this. Well, we went to bed and a what he felt was due in management gitimate. There really was no money couple of hours later, George Parkhand so on and so forth. And I typed it. there. And the few that were legitimate I took the dictation. I was there. And planned on selling tickets that were so he had it delivered to Elvis. And high priced. There’s no way an Elvis they did not speak for months. fan could ever in a life time afford to And Colonel was tying up things. go. And Colonel and Elvis agreed we’re He said this is it. I’m not gonna not going to take you to the fans and book anything else. I will honor then say but you can’t see him. I mean the engagements that we conhow cruel could you get? That’s it. tracted for. That’s business. He said that’s it. I’m finished. He Colonel couldn’t leave the country? really was preparing for a life Colonel was on a first name basis without Elvis. And I believe it was with President Ronald Reagan and Sonny West who called Colonel President Clinton as well as Lyndon Johnson who had a slogan, All the way 14

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D

W E TA L K TO M R S. C O LO N E L - LOA N N E PA R K E R PA RT 2

with LBJ. Colonel gave him that to him.

So no, he could have traveled. And he could have sent Concerts West. They could have gone out with the show. So it wasn’t that. There are business reasons why Elvis did not go. There was no building that was large enough to accommodate enough people that the fans could have afforded the tickets. That usually people get. They get that. That’s the most important thing.

And he couldn’t play outside. It’s true.

I mean Elvis remembered a couple of times in the early days when his clothes were actually torn off him. He had scratches all over his body by people who grabbed him.

WHEN ELVIS SOLD HIS SONG RIGHTS Elvis wanted some work done on an

airplane he had and things like that.

Elvis wanted money. And Colonel said no. He told Elvis don’t sell it. He said that’s your retirement. That’s Lisa’s.

That should be for Lisa. Don’t sell it.

And Elvis’ response was, if you don’t do it, I’ll find someone who will. We have got to sell it. Greg McDonald had come to Colonel’s office at MGM to drive him from LA to Palm Springs for the weekend. And he was sitting there when Elvis and his Dad came in, and Greg said you could hear Elvis shouting, if you don’t sell it, I’ll find someone who will. I’m selling it! So Colonel said to me, I have made the terms so tough that Elvis, he can’t possibly sign it. He said this will stop the sale. I’ve got to stop it. It’s wrong.

Elvis signed it. Now let’s think about this from a different perspective, that

catalog became really something.

It had value most, after Elvis died.

When he had it, it wouldn’t have been valuable. And at that point, that the contract was signed, whoever expected? Because anything from that point on, that he recorded was not included in the rights. So that’s the way Elvis looked at it. The way he looked at it was this stuff isn’t selling every much right now and I want money. And immediately upon his death suddenly, it’s invaluable. But only after his death. See there’s a lot of different ways of looking at these things. Now Priscilla did get a lot of money. But I don’t blame her. I see no fault in that. She was protecting her child. And she’s done a great deal.

And on her own, she’s done so many things. She has a fantastic sense of

W W W. E LV I S U N L I M I T E D . C O M

15

Why don’t you join the leading Elvis magazine in the world?

Subscribtion: marketing@gracelandranders.com www.gracelandranders.com 16

E LV I S U N L I M I T E D