Source: http://elvispresleygalore.blogspot.com/2008/01/wonderful-world-of-christmas.html
BEYOND THE BEND BEYOND THE REEF BIG BOOTS BIG BOSS MAN BIG LOVEBIG HEARTACHE
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Goodbye Lamar Fike
It has now been over a week since the passing of one of Elvis? oldest friends. Lamar Fike died from complications of lymphoma on January 21. Sorry it took so long to post a fitting tribute to him.
Lamar Fike was an intriguing member of Elvis? Memphis Mafia, and he is notable for several reasons. At 270 pounds, he was certainly the heaviest member of Elvis? entourage.
There is some confusion about how Elvis and Lamar had their first contact. According to one report, Lamar first met Elvis in 1954, at Sun Studios where nineteen-year-old Fike was learning how to be a disc jockey. The other story is that Lamar first met Elvis by just hanging around the front of his house at 1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis until he was finally invited in. Elvis lived there from May 1956 to March 1957.
With the exception of Red West and George Kline, two of Elvis? friends from high school, Lamar Fike knew Elvis the longest. Kline never lived at Graceland or worked for Elvis, but he remained a lifetime friend. West was a year behind Elvis in high school, stayed friends with him after that, and become part of the earliest Memphis Mafia in 1960, as did Lamar Fike.
Jamming at Graceland, August 1957. Fike on left. Back of Anita Hill?s head at bottom.
In 1958, during the filming of Jailhouse Rock, Elvis was hospitalized for swallowing a cap for his tooth. When Lamar learned about it, he got in touch with Elvis, who immediately told him to fly out to Hollywood and join him.
Lamar Fike and Elvis at RCA studio in Los Angeles during soundtrack recording.
After the movie wrapped, Elvis brought Lamar to Graceland, and he was the first friend to be given a room in Graceland. So, Elvis had his pal around full time.
When Elvis was drafted, Lamar tried to enlist so he could be with Elvis, but he was turned down because of his weight. However, Elvis took care of that problem.
Elvis was transferred to an Army post in Germany later in 1958, and he asked Lamar to come over on the plane with Elvis' father and grandmother Minnie Mae. Fike stayed and became part of Elvis? extended family. While in Germany, Lamar endured many jokes about his big size and served as the court jester for Elvis and other friends. Elvis could kid him without Lamar ever getting upset. He was happy to be close to his idol, and Elvis genuinely liked to have him around. The German press called him the ?Wrestler,? but Elvis liked to call him ?Buddha.?
Elvis and Lamar Fike while on furlough in Paris, June 1959
After Elvis was discharged in 1960, Lamar returned with him to Graceland. A group of Elvis buddies - Red West, Joe Esposito, Charlie Hodge, and Lamar Fike - morphed into what became known as the Memphis Mafia. Other members came and went over the years.
Col. Parker, Elvis, Lamar Fike, Joe Esposito, and Charlie Hodge, June 1968.
Lamar?s responsibilities for the next year or so, while Elvis? was off making movies, are not well documented. It?s seemed like he just stayed at Graceland, keeping an eye on the place until Elvis returned during breaks from movie filming. His job responsibility seems to have been simply to be Elvis? buddy.
In 1962, Lamar left Graceland to become road manager for singer Brenda Lee. The following year, he moved to Nashville to run the Hill and Range Publishing office. This housed Elvis' publishing companies, so the connection with Elvis continued.
Lamar Fike at International Hotel, Las Vegas, 1969
Photos from 1969-70 period.
Lamar Fike was definitely a big guy.
In the 70s, when Elvis was once again performing live, Lamar came back into the fold and was given the job as Elvis? lighting director at the concerts. He got to travel to Las Vegas and every other place Elvis performed. On tour with the King. Great job. Occasionally, he also took care of transportation in Las Vegas and Memphis.
Elvis, Jerry Schilling, Lamar Fike, Joe Esposito
Lamar Fike Gives Elvis a Ride on Stage
Lamar eventually married, and moved out of Graceland, but continued in Elvis? entourage until 1977.
Lamar Fike is on Far Left
The photo above is a promo still from the 2005 CBS miniseries Elvis, starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Elvis. The actor on the far left is portraying Lamar Fike. The other guys, left to right, are Joe Esposito, Jerry Schilling, Red West, and Charlie Hodge. Elvis had his Memphis Mafia boys dressing sharp when they were with him.
So, now we say goodbye to Lamar Fike. ElvisWorld seems smaller as we lose another of his buddies. But, I?ll bet Elvis was really happy to see Lamar show up in Heaven.
� 2010 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2011/1/29/4738117.html
MARGUERITA MARY IN THE MORNING MARY LOU BROWN MAYBELLINE MEAN WOMAN BLUES
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Priscilla Presleys Plastic Surgery - Is She Plastic Too?
Sheila Clinch asked: Living in a town where there is a constant struggle to look good, Hollywood stars would not mind if they have to shell out their living just to pay a cosmetic surgeon to maintain their look. Or this is what they think. There are numbers of celebrities that turned out to be [...]
Source: http://gatewaypacificincorporated.com/?p=158
EASY COME EASY GO SUCH AN EASY QUESTION ECHOES OF LOVE EDGE OF REALITY EL TORO
Elvis Presley and His Music From the Heart
Gen Wright asked: When Elvis began putting together his collection of music for his comeback, he was able to reflect on many years of a great range of popular American music, including his own and that of other people.Elvis was blessed with a natural talent to sing just about anything, but he also needed to [...]
Source: http://gatewaypacificincorporated.com/?p=116
EARLY MORNING RAIN EARTH ANGEL EARTH BOY EASY COME EASY GO SUCH AN EASY QUESTION
Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Elvis
Google Images search is best if you enjoy going to unusual websites. You just click on an interesting Elvis picture and you never know what you might find. That?s how I found a most interesting story about Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, and one of his Elvis paintings.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2010/12/27/4713049.html
elvis presley chords elvis presley died elvis presley country elvis presley surrender elvis presley mystery train
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Elvis Presley and His Music From the Heart
Gen Wright asked: When Elvis began putting together his collection of music for his comeback, he was able to reflect on many years of a great range of popular American music, including his own and that of other people.Elvis was blessed with a natural talent to sing just about anything, but he also needed to [...]
Source: http://gatewaypacificincorporated.com/?p=116
SLOWLY BUT SURELY SMOKEY MOUNTAIN BOY SMORGASBORD SNOWBIRD SO CLOSE YET SO FAR FROM PARADISE
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
50th Anniversary Movie Pictorials: Flaming Star - 1960
Last October, we started a new series of pictorial essays celebrating the 50th anniversaries of Elvis? movies. Number two in the series is Flaming star, which opened in December 1960. It was Elvis?s second western, and like Love Me Tender, his character died in it. Thankfully, that never happened again.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2010/12/4/4695054.html
TOMORROW NIGHT TONIGHT IS SO RIGHT FOR LOVE TONIGHT S ALL RIGHT FOR LOVE TOO MUCH TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Most Significant Month In Elvis' History
Back in late 2005, I was trying to think of something to write for the upcoming Birthday Tribute Issue of Elvis International magazine. I always try to submit something for each issue, and Darwin Lamm, the publisher, likes to do anniversary themes. So, I checked out what went on with Elvis fifty years earlier in January, 1956. I quickly realized that lots of important stuff happened, and I had my story idea.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2011/1/2/4717798.html
IF I CAN DREAM IF I GET HOME ON CHRISTMAS DAY IF I LOVED YOU IF I WERE YOU IF I M A FOOL FOR LOVING YOU
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Backstage With Elvis
Theresea Hughes asked: Elvis often enjoyed causal meetings with celebrities like Marty Allen, Tom Jones, Bobby Darin, Jack Lord, Buddy Hacket, and Jean Rivers.In the early days Elvis also enjoyed the company of Sammy Davis Jr. and in later years enjoyed the company of Sammy Davis Jr. and his wife.At one of Elvis’s movie nights [...]
Source: http://gatewaypacificincorporated.com/?p=156
CRYING IN THE CHAPEL DAINTY LITTLE MOONBEAMS DANNY DANNY BOY DARK MOON
Friday, January 21, 2011
Happy Birthday, Elvis
I was pleased when I checked my ?Elvis Birthday? file and saw how many new pictures I added since last year. Here are some of the more interesting ones.
Actually, there are two versions of Elvis with a party hat Photoshopped onto his head, but we?ll save one for next year.
I like the little dog in this Elvis birthday cartoon. He?s got the hair, sunglasses and a broom for guitar. What, no jumpsuit?
This one uses a photo from the ?68 Comeback Special that we don?t see very often. Elvis looks like he is taking care of business big time, doesn?t he?
Last year we presented a photo essay of Elvis birthday cakes, and my file contains plenty of new ones. Let?s narrow it down and just look at ones that include a tiny Elvis made out of icing. It must take a lot of skill to create a recognizable likeness of someone using icing as your medium.
This one does a good job on Elvis? jumpsuit. There are nice red stripes on the legs, topped with little round silver balls. There are more of these balls down the sleeves. But I just don?t get the other two in the middle of the picture.
I don?t think Elvis ever wore sunglasses with pink frames, but they work here. I wish we had a back view, because it looks like Elvis has a cape.
The hair gets a different treatment here, and check out the big jumpsuit collar. This is the third icing Elvis sitting on the cake. I guess it?s a lot harder to do him standing up.
For some reason, this reminds me more of Andy Kauffman doing Elvis, rather than Elvis himself. Too bad there isn?t enough detail to see the design on the jumpsuit, which appears to be modeled after the early jumpsuits with a big sash belt.
We know this cake was created just for Elvis because it says ?The King." It is either a small cake, or the icing Elvis is very large. I like that he is sitting on a record. Nice bling, too.
So, that?s our Elvis birthday celebration for this year. Elvis, we wish you were still around to have some cake with us. You can?t, so there?s just one more thing we want to say:
� 2010 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Source: http://www.elvisblog.net/blog/_archives/2011/1/6/4720890.html
KING OF THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD KISMET KISS ME QUICK KISSIN COUSINS KISSIN COUSINS
Elvis Presley and His Music From the Heart
Gen Wright asked: When Elvis began putting together his collection of music for his comeback, he was able to reflect on many years of a great range of popular American music, including his own and that of other people.Elvis was blessed with a natural talent to sing just about anything, but he also needed to [...]
Source: http://gatewaypacificincorporated.com/?p=116
DOUBLE TROUBLE DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE DOWN IN THE ALLEY DRUMS OF THE ISLAND EARLY MORNING RAIN