late May 2008
- Season revs up with Elvis, bikers: Lake George festival underway; Americade rolls in next week
By LINDSEY HOLLENBAUGH
(Times Union, May 31, 2008)
A warm breeze lapped the clean blue water of Lake George into soft waves against the wooden docks earlier this week. The sound was the only interruption to a quiet weekday morning here.
That didn't last for long. About 10,000 hip-shaking Elvis Presley fans rocked into town for Thursday's Elvis Festival opener and 50,000 roaring motorcycles will roll into town early next week for Americade. Though the unofficial start to the lake's summer season arrives with these events, the disruptions are nothing new to residents of this Adirondack town.
Summer resident Don Montana stops to watch two swans dip into the calm lake for their morning baths. Montana is enjoying the last few hours of quiet. "On one level it's fun," said Montana of the invasion of Elvis look-a-likes and chrome-plated two-wheelers. "And on another level we stay away, we don't go into the village when it gets busy." ... Souvenir shops line Canada Street pedaling Elvis night lights and motorcycle picture frames. ... Fans of the King come from all over the country this weekend when they'll watch more than 60 Elvis impersonators, purchase memorabilia and visit with old friends. By the time the weekend closes, the exhaust pipes of Americade will be filling Canada Street.
... To watch a video of tribute artists from the Lake George Elvis Festival, go to timesunion.com
- Former Gainesville radio personality, Elvis backup singer dies
(AccessNorthGa, May 31, 2008)
A former Gainesville radio personality, Elvis Presley backup singer and emcee at Lanierland Music Park in Cumming has died.
Hugh Jarrett was the bass singer for Elvis Presley's back up quartet, the Jordanaires from 1954 to 1958. Hugh's voice can be heard on over 50 of Elvis' recordings including the $10 million seller Don't Be Cruel. During part of his career, when rock 'n' roll was in its heyday, Jarrett was a radio disc jockey, known as "Big Hugh Baby." That was when he was heard virtually coast-to-coast on WLAC in Nashville, Tennessee, and when he worked for WPLO in Atlanta.
Jarrett settled permanently in Atlanta in 1970. His stints in Gainesville radio included time at WGGA, now Sports Radio 1240 The Ticket (like AccessNorthGa.com, a part of Jacobs Media Corp.), as a gospel music disc jockey. In addition to his radio work, Jarrett dabbled in acting, appearing in the television series, In The Heat of the Night, which starred Carroll O'Conner, and in the made-for-TV movie, Murder in Coweta County, which starred Johnny Cash and Andy Griffith. ...
- Permut and Binder to Film The Colonel
Source: Variety
(comingsoon.net, May 28, 2008)
Producers David Permut and Steve Binder have acquired screen rights to Alanna Nash's 2003 book "The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley," reports Variety.
Permut and Binder will develop a feature titled The Colonel based on the book about the man with shadowy origins who reinvented himself as the Svengali behind the world's most famous entertainer. Parker started his showbiz career as a hustler on the carnival circuit before promoting Minnie Pearl and Eddy Arnold. Parker built Presley into a global music and film star -- and took 50% of the spoils.
- Student artwork at airport showcases heritage
By Nikki Bussey
(commercialappeal.com, May 28, 2008)
New portraits of B.B. King, Elvis Presley and Beale Street now greet the 10million passengers who navigate Memphis International Airport every year. They're winners of the "Memphis, Its Music, Sights and Sounds" competition, created to showcase art from local high school students and give passengers a taste of Memphis culture even if they can't leave the airport.
"I'm really excited about it," said Jessica Ethridge, first-place winner. "Having all those people see it would be a good thing. It could beneficial to me in the future." ...
- From Elvis to Ennis, Roman Miller has seen it all
By Larry Henry
(heraldnet.com, May 28, 2008)
Now in his 80s, Roman Miller, who played catch with Elvis, learned from Einstein and recruited Elgin Baylor, is shaping young people's lives as an athletic advisor at Archbishop Murphy.
He played catch with Elvis. "I got to know him pretty well," Roman Miller said. "He was a good guy." The year was 1962, Seattle was hosting the World's Fair, and Presley was in town to film scenes for his movie, "It Happened at the World's Fair." Miller had connections that allowed him to hang out with "The King" and toss the football around. ...
- ELVIS PRESLEY - OSMOND'S ELVIS DISASTER
(contactmusic.com, May 27, 2008)
Singer JIMMY OSMOND once vomited over an audience member after binging on food to emulate his idol ELVIS PRESLEY. Osmond was working with the legendary rocker during the later stages of Presley's career, after the King had lost his slimline physique and boasted an expanding waistline.
And Osmond was so determined to mimic Presley he did everything he could to gain weight.
However, Osmond's binge eating culminated in an embarrassing incident which saw him throw-up during a performance - with Presley watching.
He says, "I would dress up and over-eat to be like him. Which once led to me being sick over an audience member while Elvis watched from the sound room."
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