I noticeda lot of programming tonight starring Elvis Presley. I deduced it must be Elvis Presley's birthday and it is. I watched a little of Elvis Presley Aloha Live From Hawaii. I watched it live in 1973 at age 9. My mother has always been a huge Elvis fan and of course she much anticipated the upcoming television show. It was not only my family that watched. The show was broadcast in over 40 countries throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Asia. An estimated 1.5 billion people across the world watched that night too. I am not sure how it ranks today, but the broadcast set a record for the most viewers ever that night. In a twist of irony, Michael Jackson's (once married to E's daughter, Lisa Marie) funeral was viewed by an estimated 2.5 billion people. The production and promotion was just over $2.5 million dollars in 1972-73. As I listened to then oldies of Elvis and watched as the camera panned across the audience, Elvis and his band, I thought how things have changed in 50 or so years.
Bonus: Parody song about the ghost of Elvis not happy about Lisa Marie's marriage to Michael Jackson. I remember this making the rounds on some of the morning shows way back when the two were first married. I had not heard it in decades, but thought of it while penning this. Pretty funny, but dated.
I saw Elvis as a12 or 13 year old kid in the early 70's, having also been raised by a mother who adored him. He was in decline, but what a performer- and his voice and range were always stunning Having just past the holiday, it was a rule in our house and still is, it ain't Christmas until you hear EP sing Blue Christmas. . Long live the King.
Don't forget it is my birthday too. Still have an Elvis t-shirt brand new never worn from I think a year or 2 before his passing. My Mom cried for days. Eastwood
I was thirteen years old when Aloha From Hawaii aired. I sat directly in front of the TV holding my portable cassette recorder microphone against the little TV speaker. Even after the album of the concert came out, I continued to listen to my cheap cassettes because the album did not include the songs from the pre-taped segments that aired during the telecast. I'm pretty sure I wore all the oxide off of those cassettes!
I saw the Aloha special, as well, but was a junior in college. Not long before his death I got tickets for his show and when we arrived, there had been a mix up in ticketing with 4 other people already sitting in seats. After some serious discussion, it was decided that they would put some folding chairs in front of the stage, off to the side. We were so close we could see the sweat beads on his fat face. My date was very impressed with the show.
People like hillbillies. We're fun to be around and some people like the way we talk. Ever hear the Morgan Wallace song. People loved hearing Popcorn Sutton tell stories. He'll even Larry the Cableguy made it. Don't get me started with Dolly the Queen of Loretta.
King of Rock and Roll dipsticks. Hillbilly done good as they say. How many of your favorite entertainers do people around the world remember their birthday and the day of their death? I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.
Elvis live 1969 he looked great, nothing like his later years when he became huge and distorted. could have seen him when he had a concert in San Francisco but did not go. he died not long after.
Best entertainer that ever lived. Period.
ReplyDeleteFull stop.
Pfui, I spit on your pretensions. Russian girls doing Irish tap dance, to One Republic, that is the best. https://tinyurl.com/5hxknyvh
DeleteMozart. Bach. Beethoven, Vivaldi are the best. Brahms and Sibelius are up there also
ReplyDeleteNot if you go by fan numbers.
DeleteNot even close.
I trend towards PDQ Bach, Weird Al, and ELO.
DeleteBut, the classic composers are.... Classic. Especially GF Handel.
Kinda strange taste for a feral irishman surfer.
DeleteDon't you think?
You're a raised pinky sipper. lol
i forgot Handel.
Deletehttps://tinyurl.com/5hxknyvh
Delete…..Elvis is everywhere, Elvis is Everything……The late great Mojo Nixon had it right
ReplyDeleteGavin Newsom is the evil anti-Elvis...
DeleteYep, don’t forget the leg swing and the Elvis snarl….
DeleteI saw Elvis as a12 or 13 year old kid in the early 70's, having also been raised by a mother who adored him. He was in decline, but what a performer- and his voice and range were always stunning Having just past the holiday, it was a rule in our house and still is, it ain't Christmas until you hear EP sing Blue Christmas. . Long live the King.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget it is my birthday too. Still have an Elvis t-shirt brand new never worn from I think a year or 2 before his passing. My Mom cried for days.
ReplyDeleteEastwood
Born in '73 on Elvis's birthday
ReplyDeleteI was thirteen years old when Aloha From Hawaii aired. I sat directly in front of the TV holding my portable cassette recorder microphone against the little TV speaker. Even after the album of the concert came out, I continued to listen to my cheap cassettes because the album did not include the songs from the pre-taped segments that aired during the telecast. I'm pretty sure I wore all the oxide off of those cassettes!
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing with a cassette recorder in front of the television. Like everyone I knew, we were "three channel" folks in those days.
DeleteThankyu,
ReplyDeleteThankyu very much.
-lg
I saw the Aloha special, as well, but was a junior in college. Not long before his death I got tickets for his show and when we arrived, there had been a mix up in ticketing with 4 other people already sitting in seats. After some serious discussion, it was decided that they would put some folding chairs in front of the stage, off to the side. We were so close we could see the sweat beads on his fat face. My date was very impressed with the show.
ReplyDeleteElvis lives in a trailer park in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
ReplyDeleteI'm still convinced Elvis is sitting outside an old gas station somewhere, in an old over stuffed chair, drinking beer n watching the world go by
ReplyDeleteSound very wonderful thinking about Elvis in that way. Heltau
DeleteWhat, pray tell is the continued obsession with a hillbilly with a good voice who died on the toilet? Asking for a friend.
ReplyDeletePeople like hillbillies. We're fun to be around and some people like the way we talk. Ever hear the Morgan Wallace song. People loved hearing Popcorn Sutton tell stories. He'll even Larry the Cableguy made it. Don't get me started with Dolly the Queen of Loretta.
ReplyDeleteThe King.
ReplyDeletePretty bold title given to a gospel singer.
DeleteI gotta disagree with you there. Elvis was only The Prince of rock & roll. Chuck Berry is The King and Little Richard is The Queen.
DeleteThis YT clip tells how Elvis felt about the "King" title/thing. Imagine any singer saying this today.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/wZQQt1ZTf4Y
My true King knows what I meant- like when I call someone a beast.
DeleteKing of Rock and Roll dipsticks. Hillbilly done good as they say. How many of your favorite entertainers do people around the world remember their birthday and the day of their death? I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.
ReplyDeleteElvis live 1969 he looked great, nothing like his later years when he became huge and distorted. could have seen him when he had a concert in San Francisco but did not go. he died not long after.
ReplyDelete