August 16, 1977

[RP_McMurphy]

Elvis Presley passed away thirty years ago tommorow. I was 10 years old and in the middle of summer break in Oceanside, California. I was watching cartoons from a Los Angeles television station and they broke in with the news. Even though I was only 10 at the time and he wasn't in my generation. I did understand what a huge Icon he was and still is to this day. RIP King and my heaven be stocked full of peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

[Wildcat Larry]

And Elvis was scheduled to be the first "big" act to play the new Lexington venue called Rupp Arena a couple of weeks later. The Lexington Center folks were really looking forward to Elvis kicking of the entertainment part of the operation, especially monetarily.

Elvis, a true icon.

However, I think I saw him buying some donuts at the 7/11 down the street, yesterday. :icon_confused: :shrug1:

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

We'd just checked into the Executive Inn in Louisville ready to enjoy the Ky. State Fair when we heard the sad news. The first 8 track I ever owned was Elvis the Elvis station on Sirius is one of my favs.

http://billslater.com/tcb_ptch.gif

[surveyor]

I already had a collection of Elvis albums and was a big fan since first seeing the cheesy movies at the drive-in in the 60's - Spin Out, Viva Las Vegas, etc.

A neighbor friend's mother was crying and yelling at her husband in the yard over it. Blaming him for not taking her to see Elvis when he was in Louisville a year earlier. She wailed she'd NEVER get to see him now.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

I'm 31 years old, so I was alive when Elvis passed, but obviously I don't remember it.

As someone who grew up primarily in the 80's, I never did understand what the fuss was about when it came to Elvis. But then, I never really got the Beatles either.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I was 19 and getting ready to go to EKU..I remember it like it was yesterday..I watched Larry King Live last from Graceland with Pricilla Presley..that place is awesome....and the people that were outside was unbelievable...RIP Elvis

and there will never be another Elvis Presley

[cdrw]

.... RIP King and my heaven be stocked full of peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Wow. Did Elvis like peanut butter and banana sandwiches? That's my favorite. I'd guess he didn't use whole wheat bread, though!

[surveyor]

Wow. Did Elvis like peanut butter and banana sandwiches? That's my favorite. I'd guess he didn't use whole wheat bread, though!

Only sissies use whole wheat.

Elvis' cook/maid fried them in about 1/2" of butter.

That was the only way he could maintain his svelt figger and stamina for racketball, lol.

[Sir Richard F. Burton]

Only sissies use whole wheat.

Elvis' cook/maid fried them in about 1/2" of butter.

That was the only way he could maintain his svelt figger and stamina for racketball, lol.

and his "black" belt in karate.

[BigBlue75]

and was just getting relieved from a day watch when this guy came in and started telling everyone that Elvis had died. Naturally, we were all stunned, but the thing I remember most is that the guy who ran around telling everyone about it wasn't too highly thought of in the first place, and he had to keep a low profile for about two weeks after that because when we saw him we all associated him with Elvis dying and we all got mad at him. (Stupid, I know, but that's how it affected us.)

The one thing I remember about Elvis is despite how badly he abused his body and didn't take care of himself, that incredible voice of his never left him. Amazing!

[RP_McMurphy]

If so I have some rum stories for you and yes maybe a run or two to San Juan.

[Arkansas Cat Fan]

I live in the Memphis area. Elvis Week is a very big deal here. People come from all over. They stand out in the heat for hours to walk by his grave. They have Elvis Shows with his back up singers live and Elvis on tape. And they have Elvis imitaters and contests to see who is best. They sold 30 new motorcycles special made to be like the one that Elvis had. (My brother-in-law was a little kid when Elvis was riding that bike. Elvis stopped outside Graceland one day and took my brother-in-law riding with him.)

[BigBlue75]

If so I have some rum stories for you and yes maybe a run or two to San Juan.

Nope. Fort Allen in Ponce (or NAVCOMMSTA PUERTO RICO, to be exact). South side of the island.
The mosquito capital of the free world.

And I know what you mean about rum stories. I have a few of those myself. Ah, those were the days..

[cdrw]

Only sissies use whole wheat.




Elvis would still be alive if he had eaten more whole-grain foods.

By the way, anyone here familiar with the song "Elvis is Everywhere"
by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper?

[Arkansas Cat Fan]

[quote] "Elvis would still be alive if he had eaten more whole-grain foods."

Do you think the whole-grain foods would have dried up all the drugs in his system or what???

[cdrw]

Do you think the whole-grain foods would have dried up all the drugs in his system or what???

Drugs?? Elvis?!?

[Arkansas Cat Fan]

[quote "Drugs?? Elvis?!?"


I know, shocking isn't it.

[cdrw]

By the way, anyone here familiar with the song "Elvis is Everywhere" by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper?

Here's the video:

Gopc3fgnXDw

[surveyor]

Elvis would still be alive if he had eaten more whole-grain foods.


Nah.

He'd still be alive if his fat intake wasn't hovering around 100+ grams per day and his diet didn't consist of quaaludes, percodans, amphetamines, phenylbarbatol and a host of other drugs.

[WILD1]

We'd just checked into the Executive Inn in Louisville ready to enjoy the Ky. State Fair when we heard the sad news. The first 8 track I ever owned was Elvis the Elvis station on Sirius is one of my favs.

http://billslater.com/tcb_ptch.gif

Dude, you're killin' me, not to mention completely ruining your rep. :icon_lol:

[WILD1]

Ok, here's my take on "E"...he was a white, pretty package for "black music" and was much more palpable to the bigots of the day than were the genre's originators. He didn't write great songs, play an instrument (the guitar was mostly a prop) or even sing that well. However, he broke down some barriers and probably paved the way for many of the performers who followed him and for this, we owe him a debt of gratitude but, that's it. Just one woman's opinion.

[Arkansas Cat Fan]

Ok, here's my take on "E"...he was a white, pretty package for "black music" and was much more palpable to the bigots of the day than were the genre's originators. He didn't write great songs, play an instrument (the guitar was mostly a prop) or even sing that well. However, he broke down some barriers and probably paved the way for many of the performers who followed him and for this, we owe him a debt of gratitude but, that's it. Just one woman's opinion.

That's pretty harsh. You think Elvis didn't sing well?? I never really was a big fan of his before I moved to Memphis. You know, I just didn't like the look but Elvis could sing. My God, he could sing. Everyone has an opinion, and that's mine.

[UKS2H]

Ok, here's my take on "E"...he was a white, pretty package for "black music" and was much more palpable to the bigots of the day than were the genre's originators. He didn't write great songs, play an instrument (the guitar was mostly a prop) or even sing that well. However, he broke down some barriers and probably paved the way for many of the performers who followed him and for this, we owe him a debt of gratitude but, that's it. Just one woman's opinion.

You are forgiven for your terrible taste in music. ;)

Just kidding with you of course! But, here's my case for the King:

Elvis is America to a lot of foreigners still to this day. He not only broke down some barriers, he broke down ALL barriers. He was a regular guy with regular problems who just happened to be able to be successful in MANY different genres. I wasn't around for Elvis but I definitely understand that he is the face of America to a lot of people as far as American music goes, and even to some as just America. If you don't believe it, check out the huge Elvis festivals throughout Asia and Europe that happen annually.

It's fine to dislike Elvis, as it may not be cool anymore to like him, especially for young people, but, you have to respect him for what he was: The King.

[BigBlue75]

Ok, here's my take on "E"...he was a white, pretty package for "black music" and was much more palpable to the bigots of the day than were the genre's originators. He didn't write great songs, play an instrument (the guitar was mostly a prop) or even sing that well. However, he broke down some barriers and probably paved the way for many of the performers who followed him and for this, we owe him a debt of gratitude but, that's it. Just one woman's opinion.

To each his own and all that, but to say Elvis couldn't sing? C'mon.. And I know for dead certain he could play not only the guitar, he could also play the piano..and he did both in concert more than once. Now, you can debate all day how WELL he played them as compared to others, but he most definitely could play instruments.

Oh, and looking at your avatar, I guess that means you think Mick Jagger CAN sing. Am I right?

[surveyor]

Somebody done crapped in dah poo' ..............

[JohnJ]

I was home watching a movie on TV when the news was announced that Elvis had died. What a shock.

[WILD1]

To each his own and all that, but to say Elvis couldn't sing? C'mon.. And I know for dead certain he could play not only the guitar, he could also play the piano..and he did both in concert more than once. Now, you can debate all day how WELL he played them as compared to others, but he most definitely could play instruments.

Oh, and looking at your avatar, I guess that means you think Mick Jagger CAN sing. Am I right?

Like I said, that's just my opinion and I don't need, desire or expect anyone else to agree with it. I've heard a lot of his music, and some of the stuff is ok, and some of it, especially some of the live recordings, sucks, badly. While he may have been able to strum a few chords on a guitar or plunk a few piano keys, he's not revered for his musicianship, as are say Clapton or Hendrix, which was the point.
No, Mick's not a great singer, either, never said he was, you only assumed so, but along w/Keith, he has actually written some of the best rock and roll music ever created, so has Bob Dylan for that matter, (again, that's just my opinion), and last time I checked, Mick had yet to swell to obesity and expire on the "throne", while probably eating something akin to deep-fried bacon grease, a scenario which sound's eerily like some bad, white-trash, hillbilly operatic tragedy or an episode of Jerry Springer. Regardless, he's just never been my cup of tea and although I hear he could at times be a kind and generous person, I really don't understand all the continued hype over him. :shrug1:

[trublu]

I was driving down the bypass in Richmond when I heard the news. I was never a big Elvis fan, but still I was shocked.
I just found out yesterday that my dog's vet is an Elvis impersonator. I was pretty surprised. He is an Auburn grad and now this. My dog doesn't seem to mind though.

[BigBlue75]

Like I said, that's just my opinion and I don't need, desire or expect anyone else to agree with it. I've heard a lot of his music, and some of the stuff is ok, and some of it, especially some of the live recordings, sucks, badly. While he may have been able to strum a few chords on a guitar or plunk a few piano keys, he's not revered for his musicianship, as are say Clapton or Hendrix, which was the point.
No, Mick's not a great singer, either, never said he was, you only assumed so, but along w/Keith, he has actually written some of the best rock and roll music ever created, so has Bob Dylan for that matter, (again, that's just my opinion), and last time I checked, Mick had yet to swell to obesity and expire on the "throne", while probably eating something akin to deep-fried bacon grease, a scenario which sound's eerily like some bad, white-trash, hillbilly operatic tragedy or an episode of Jerry Springer. Regardless, he's just never been my cup of tea and although I hear he could at times be a kind and generous person, I really don't understand all the continued hype over him. :shrug1:

Well, I guess it all depends on your preference for music styles. I wasn't very old, but I can remember when the British invasion hit and the Stones were all over television. I've never denied the Stones the place in history, my gosh, Mick and those guys are pushing their mid-to-late sixties now and they're still selling out stadiums, but I just never cared for their songs all that much. They have about three or four songs out of their entire catalogue that I won't turn off if I hear them on the radio, but that'st just me.
As far as Elvis and his skills as a musician, again, he did have the ability to play, but I don't think he himself would have claimed to be "revered for his musicianship", and let's face it, there are only a handful of people who are at the level of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Elvis' instrument was always his voice. As far as abusing his body, he might not have done it in the same manner as Elvis when it comes to food but please don't tell me you think Jagger is squeaky clean when it comes to drug use/abuse. He just hasn't had to pay the ultimate price for it like Presley..but that's beside the point.

Sognwriting? I'm by no means an Elvis historian, but I don't ever recall him being known as a songwriter or that he even TRIED to write songs, for that matter, so that's a moot point.

Anyway, if you don't like his music, that's your perogative. Just because I do and you don't doesn't make either one of us wrong.

As far as the hype, (without asking how old you are) I guess you had to be a Baby Boomer to understand what Elvis meant to a generation.

[WILD1]

As far as abusing his body, he might not have done it in the same manner as Elvis when it comes to food but please don't tell me you think Jagger is squeaky clean when it comes to drug use/abuse. He just hasn't had to pay the ultimate price for it like Presley..but that's beside the point.
I never stated anything of the sort as again, you're only assuming.

Sognwriting? I'm by no means an Elvis historian, but I don't ever recall him being known as a songwriter or that he even TRIED to write songs, for that matter, so that's a moot point.
What you consider "moot" was precisely my point. I have mad respect and admiration for songwriters of "good" (a subjective term) songs as it's a skill/talent very few performers, Elvis being one, possess. It's been said many, many times that performers may come and go but, a good song is timeless. I couldn't agree more.

Anyway, if you don't like his music, that's your perogative. Just because I do and you don't doesn't make either one of us wrong.
Another assumption. I never stated that one of us was wrong or that one of us was right, that's why they're called "opinions". We simply agree to disagree and there's no harm in that.

As far as the hype, (without asking how old you are) I guess you had to be a Baby Boomer to understand what Elvis meant to a generation.
Well, I am a Baby Boomer but he still doesn't mean as much to me as do the Beatles or Stones but again, that's only my opinion.

[BigBlue75]

Okay, Wild1, What I see happening here is that both of us are reading things into each other's comments that we neither said nor intended to say. For the record, I wasn't trying to be argmentative and I apologize if it appeared as such. It's probably best if we just leave the "debate" (for lack of a better word) where it is and move on.

[Brian McCat]

I know another place where Elvis isn´t.

Heck, I´m not as old as BB75, and I think Elvis is great. ;) It´s not a generational thing, it´s a cultural thing. Either you empathize with the Elvis culture or you don´t. If you don´t, that´s cool.

I was riding in the back seat of our Volkswagen station wagon, sticking to the plastic seat, when the announcement came over the radio. It was terrible news. I do recall that he was supposed to play at Rupp Arena.

[WILD1]

Okay, Wild1, What I see happening here is that both of us are reading things into each other's comments that we neither said nor intended to say. For the record, I wasn't trying to be argmentative and I apologize if it appeared as such. It's probably best if we just leave the "debate" (for lack of a better word) where it is and move on.

No apologies are necessary, however, it was very gentlemanly of you to offer one (quite the rarity) and I appreciate the gesture. (Your momma/daddy raised you right. :thumbup:) We can respectfully disagree and leave it at that.

[capcat]

I just found out yesterday that my dog's vet is an Elvis impersonator. I was pretty surprised.
:eek: LOL

[Jeff Craddock]

I loved Elvis in the 50's, but after that, not so much. His early recordings are classics--not much in rock 'n roll will ever be the equal of some of the early Sun recordings. But the post-Army Elvis--Vegas, the movies, etc.--held no interest whatsoever for me.

IMO, he was an unbelievable talent who was undone by 1) his management, 2) his fame, and 3) by a group of hangers-on who indulged the worst of him. By the time he died, he had become a parody of himself (JMO), but I can still tell you exactly where I was when I heard he'd died. I was in a dorm room at the University of Georgia, where I'd gone to attend a week-long conference on--of all things--addictions. I turned on the TV and there it was. It brought back many memories of my youth--I came of age with Elvis--and left me feeling very sad.

And WILD1, while I agree with some of what you say, I have to dispute one point. Elvis could flat out sing. I just wasn't interested in hearing anyone sing "Viva Las Vegas"....:shock:

[BigBlue75]

Heck, I´m not as old as BB75, and I think Elvis is great. .

And (*ahem*) BB75 ain't that old, either, thank you very much. :tongue3:

(Just kidding.. I know what you meant, Brian. Couldn't pass that one up)

[surveyor]

I've heard a lot of his music, and some of the stuff is ok, and some of it, especially some of the live recordings, sucks, badly.

I agree, for the most part. Elvis: That's the Way it is and This Is Elvis exampled that. The Aloha from Hawaii special was that way, too, to a lesser degree.
However, for every bad live performance there were numerous good ones where he put much more effort into the melody.

No different than The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Heart......all musical acts I've seen live and were piss-poor performances. I've seen numerous recorded live performances of the Stones and Zeppelin that were absolutely horrid. All can produce great, edited, mixed recordings, but live can often be disappointing.