Friday, June 30, 2006

Love me Tender

A President, a Prim Minster and a King



As I am writing this BLOG update, President Bush and Prim Minster Koizumi of Japan is visiting Elvis's Graceland and are going to eat a Memphis Bar-B-Q lunch at the world famous Rendezvous restaurant downtown. This is the first time that a sitting US President have visited Graceland (former President Carter visited as a private citizen), also a first for a Prim Minster and a First Lady. The Japanese Prim Minster is a hugh fan of Elvis and President Bush wanted to treat him to Graceland. Koizumi favorite Elvis song? "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", Thank you very much!

I can truly say that a US President and a Japanese Prim Minster have walked in the same spot where I have. It brings me back to Aug 17, 1977 when I personally witnessed history in the making when Elvis died. I will always remember that day and what I was doing. It was noon and I was painting my Mother's house when my sister Sandy called and said, "Have you heard the news?", " Elvis just died." I immediately got dressed, grabbed my super 8 movie camera, and my Mom and sister went with me to Graceland. I'd say we were among the first visitors to arrive. It turned out to be an all day deal with crowds swelling to around 100,000 people on one city block. I have never witnessed nothing like this before. The national and International news media was everywhere.

Also the next day, by again being among the first, we got to see Elvis lying in his coffin just inside the foyer at his Graceland house. I will never forget what he looked like. He was fat and his hair was cut short. Some folks swore that I was the one who took his unauthorized photo lying in the casket, but I didn't do it. However, I did get some valuable snap shots of that day's historical event. I also attended Elvis's Funeral with the same emotional stance as the previous two historical days. FACT: Outside of the Whitehouse, Graceland is the most visited home in North America.

Although, I have never personally met Elvis, I did play for one of his party's at The Thunder Bird Lounge in Memphis where I was with the house band, "Tommy Jaye and the Escorts" back in 1967. There is a short paragraph about that event at my Rockabilly Hall of Fame ® Page.



Related Links:
Click here: ElvisPresley.com Official News
Click here: Memphis TV Stations News Covarage
Click here: Bobby Sowell - Rockabilly Hall of Fame
(Check out Bobby's Elvis Story at his RHOF Page)


Thank you very much!

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