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    Elvis Presley: The Searcher

    April 21, 2018

    "Without You"

    October 15, 2017

    "Let me tell you about when I met Elvis ..."

    March 14, 2017

    The art of commerce

    August 16, 2016

    The Rolling Stone article (spoiler alert)

    July 17, 2016

    Elvis & Nixon, the King & the President

    June 23, 2016

    A family affair

    April 13, 2016

    Elvis Presley: inspiration, not theft

    March 26, 2016

    I read the news today

    February 14, 2016

    "I sing all kinds."

    January 25, 2016

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    Recent Posts

    Eddy Arnold's gold record

    July 20, 2015

    The Boren family

    July 20, 2015

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    Featured Posts

    Elvis Presley, without a song

    18 Dec 2015

    |

    Tony Plews

    There was a succession of unusual events in the life of Elvis Presley during late 1970 and early 1971. A visit to Tupelo, dropping in at the White House, and several other happenings indicated a man who was becoming increasingly restless with life.

     

    In the midst of this, on 16th January 1971, Elvis attended very special ceremony in Memphis. He had decided to accept an award as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of 1970, made by the prestigious Jaycee's organisation. He'd been nominated before but had turned down the honour, not wanting to draw further attention to himself. His friend Jerry Schilling persuaded him to accept the award, this being the last year he could be shortlisted because of his age.

     

    The other nine nominees were men of great prestige and accomplishment, and Presley joined a long list of Presidents, scientists and diplomats who had been similarly honoured since the 1930s.

     

    His speech was simple, and he occasionally stumbled over his words (he was, ironically, very nervous) but he delivered a simple precis on his approach to life, taking an old Roy Hamilton hit, "Without a Song" as his theme.

     

    Charismatic and humble, he held the room in the palm of his hand as he spoke of his childhood and explained his guiding philosophy. It may have been the most beautiful and poignant sixty seconds of his entire career.

     

     

     

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    1970

    A Star Is Born

    Al Dvorin

    Alice Cooper

    Arena: Tales of Rock 'n' Roll

    Bicycle

    Bill Haley

    Bob Luman

    Bristol Sessions

    Buddy Killen

    Carter Family

    Charlene Arthur

    Colonel Tom Parker

    Crossroads

    Dallas

    Dr Martin Luther King

    Eddy Arnold

    Elvis Presley

    Fats Domino

    Frank Sinatra

    Grand Ole Opry

    Hank Snow

    Hank Williams

    Heartbreak Hotel

    Hill & Range

    Hoyt Axton

    If I Can Dream

    Jack Stapp

    Jamboree Attractions

    Jaycee's Award

    Jim Beck

    Jim Reeves

    Jimmie Rodgers

    Jimmy Sweeney

    Juneteenth

    Led Zeppelin

    Lowell Fulson

    Mae Boren Axton

    Marion Keisker

    Marty Robbins

    Memphis

    Memphis Recording Service

    Miami Herald

    My Happiness

    One Night

    President

    RCA Victor

    Ralph Peer