The news this week has been filled with items about the death of Elvis, 25 years ago. As we drove to Houston tonight, the missus and I listened to an Elvis tribute on our favorite "oldies" station, and realized that neither of us could remember when he died. Of course, we were 28 then, and in the midst of raising kids and such, but it got us to thinking.

My first memory about Elvis was when I was a early teenager, probably about 1963 or so. I had been invited to a party by one of the girls in our community whose father was a doctor. It was rumored that he was "queer", and my two buddies informed me that they sure as heck weren't going. Well, I wasn't quite sure just what a "queer" was, but I had a good idea that it wasn't all that great to be associated with one. But I liked the girl, and my dad said it was alright and I should go. I rember absolutely nothing about the girl or the party, except that the doctor and I had a short conversation about Elvis. (And in those days he was always called Elvis Presley, never just Elvis.) Anyway, the doctor had quite a collection of his records. I said I didn't really like his music, and had hardly listened to him. Of course, the doctor could rightly have answered that I was just a dumb ranch kid who wouldn't know good music if it fell on me, but he graciously answered that he thought Elvis had a good voice, and that some of his songs were very good.

I still did not know about the "queer" thing, but I later realized that the doctor was educated, open minded, and probably dressed in slacks rather than jeans - any one of which would make a grown man somewhat suspect in a rural Texas town in those days. Perhaps my memory is really about that revelation, rather than Elvis, but now I agree with the doctor. Elvis did have a good voice, and some of his songs were really good.

How about your memories of the King. Anything to share with us? How about your favorite Elvis song?

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), August 17, 2002

Answers

badabump to the new answers page~!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), August 18, 2002.

Hey Lon, you surprise me. I would have thought that anyone who was alive in the US at the time Elvis died would remember the event. It was BIG news over here. Perhaps I just remember it because I love rock and roll, loud music and anything with lots of bass and drums. Even though I'm almost 50, I still like it loud. I have a portable CD player with stereo earphones and an extra bass setting, which I love. I know my taste in music is "off", but I figure it doesn't affect anyone else and it keeps me happy. You should see me vac the house with Greenday blasting in my ears (don't worry I lock the doors). Actually, I've often wondered whether your Kit likes music, because if his eyesight is very poor, he could get a lot of pleasure from music, whatever his taste is. Cheers.

-- Carol (Play@loud.ok), August 19, 2002.

Carol,

Kit listens to classic rock (50's and 60's) and other fun music every waking moment. He even has his CD player next to his TV set, and listens to both at once. Right now, he's stuck on the soundtrack from the movie "Shrek", which is OK, since I like it too.

BTW, the IMAX theater in Houston is going to have the feature "Australia" soon, and I think I'll go see it. I'll look for you (I hope you waved).

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), August 19, 2002.

Lon, I'm very pleased to hear that Kit gets so much pleasure from music and he has such good taste too. I hope you didn't tell him I listen to Greenday (a modern group), their lyrics are atrocious. I hope you enjoy the film on Australia. Look out out for me in South Australia, I'll be the one holding a placard that says "Hello, FRL friends". Lol, that is so un-me, if I see a camera I disappear. Cheers.

-- Carol (C@oz.com.au), August 20, 2002.

Oops, delete one out. Us insomniacs aren't very good typists.

-- Carol (c@oz.com.au), August 20, 2002.

yeah, Carol, he does enjoy his music. But sometimes the TV and CD combination gets a little bizarre. Imagine watching the "Incredible Hulk", with the music from Disney's "Jungle Book".

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), August 20, 2002.

My most indelible impression of Elvis Presley is the unfettered ~ADOLESCENT PASSION~ that he forever kindled in the matronly heart of my mother's crazy friend, Maureen. [My mother had another meek friend who harbored similar, yet secret longings for bad boy Robert Mitchum].

Lon, I'm followng your lead and will address Elvis Presley by his proper name from here on out. Besides, I truly love Elvis Costello. My favorite tunes of Mr. Presley's have always been Heartbreak Hotel {which makes me think of Hoyt Axton - didn't his mother write that song?} AND Suspicious Minds. Great lead vocal and backup. I caught a bio on the boob tube about Sam Phillips and Sun Records a couple of weeks ago. It was fantastic. They had a photo and soundclip of a pickup Sun session of gospel tunes which had Jerry Lee Lewis on piano, with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins chiming in on vocals. Mercy. Maybe I can find the recordings someday.

Oh, Maureen was my portal to Johnny Cash as well. Once I heard a unforgettable gusto-filled recording by an elementary school chorus belting out this song: http://www.toptown.com/hp/66/ringoffire.htm

Now, about those men who wear slacks . . .

Aunt Bee, have you ever made this recipe?:

table.mpr.org/recipes/main_pbsand.html

Elvis Presley's Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich 2 slices of white bread 2 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter 1 small ripe banana mashed 2 tablespoons butter Spread the peanut butter on one slice of bread and the mashed banana on the other. Press the slices gently together. Melt the butter (or to be truly Elvis-like, melt bacon fat!), over low heat in a small frying pan. Place the sandwich in the pan and fry until golden brown on both sides. Eat it with a glass of buttermilk. Please note: Elvis tended to eat 12-15 sandwiches a sitting! So belly up!

-- flora (***@__._), September 03, 2002.

flora,

I think we must have been growing up at the same time~! :)

Elvis always reminded me of my oldest brother, who looked much like him in his youth, at least in my young eyes. I saw them as both kind souls.

Every Elvis movie I saw, I fell in love, but it left as soon as the movie was over LOL! (I have never been much into following celebrities, and my experience working in movie theatre for years, and seeing what some of them were like IRL, gave me an even bigger aversion).

My favorite recollection of "Elvis" was when I took a vacation to Las Vegas some years back, with a friend. During the time we were there an Elvis Convention was going on. I remember the first night in town, we were having dinner and "Elvis" was at the table next to us. (The white sequined suit Elvis). During the evening, three more came in the restuarant. To make a long story short, I saw more Elvi that weekend than I have ever seen in my life, and every time I spotted one, my friend kept saying, Elvis is EVERYWHERE! I never laughed so hard, for so long, in such a short space of time ever! And the topper was when my friend told me an Elvis joke: "They found Elvis, and he is in a Burger King, and can't get out! He won't fit through the door!" So, between being in the presence of all the fake Elvi and picturing Elvis unable to move through the doors, I was hyterical the whole weekend! Guess you had to be there...

And no flora, I've never made Elvis's famous peanut butter & banana sandwich, although one of hub's fav's is a banana sandwich on toasted and buttered challah.

I don't even eat bananas. Can't stand the smell myself!

But, as a child of the fifties, Elvis will always have a special place in my heart!

Good to see you here flora!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), September 03, 2002.