The Kings Home

May 7 2011

Walking in Memphis

Here's a site we just discovered that we think you'll enjoy. It's a video tour taped in Memphis. You'll recognise Graceland of course, Beale Street, the Sun Studios, but you'll see the Rhythm & Blues museum as well, the Fed Ex Stadion and much more, plus interviews with EPE spokesman Kevin Kern, George Klein, Elvis author Sandi Pichon and much more. This site really offers you a taste of Elvis Town!

Living in Europe and ready to join us for Elvis Week 2012? Contact us at peter@elvismatters.com for more info!

GRACELAND TOURS

click here

Published: may 7th 2011 08:29 AM.
Source: Graceland Tours / Published by: ElvisMatters - Peter Verbruggen .

posted by: Theking at 17:55 | link | comments |

January 5 2011

Graceland Holland

Graceland Holland

It looks as if it's just a matter of time before each country has its own Graceland. This picture shows 'Graceland Holland', built in the city of Breda (where Tom Parker was born in June 1909). The owner hopes to have the house ready by next Summer. His plans are unknown, although he stated that he has no Elvis related commercial plans at this stage.

Published: january 5th 2011 08:29 PM.
Source: ElvisMatters / Published by: ElvisMatters - Peter Verbruggen . - Photographer: Louis van Hal

posted by: Theking at 16:52 | link | comments |

December 25 2010

Myrna Smith passed away

It is with great sadness that we have to report that our dear friend, Myrna Smith, has passed away. Myrna was taken to the hospital last March with severe kidney problems. Thank you for being our friend, Myrna. Thank you for the great music you made - and thank you for the joy you brought to millions with Elvis's music. We'll remember you forever. Rest in peace, Sweet Myrna.

YouTube

Why Me Lord

Published: december 25th 2010 10:25 AM.
Source: ElvisMatters / Published by: ElvisMatters - Peter Verbruggen .

posted by: Theking at 16:50 | link | comments |

December 11 2010

Sherril Nielsen passed away

Word comes that the truly lifting voice of Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen has passed away. The news comes from Donnie Sumner, nephew of famed J.D. Sumner, that Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen died at about 11:00 A.M. Friday. For Elvis fans, or those who enjoy gospel music, the name of Nielsen is one that can bring a smile from a memory of a song or note that sent shivers up your spine. Nielsen was that good.

This message was sent to us by Donnie Sumner, long time member of the vocal group Voice: ""I regret to inform you that MY FRIEND Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen passed away Friday morning at about 11:00 A.M. Sherrill fought a good fight and has now received his new body. I will miss MY FRIEND. Remember Brenda in your prayers. I haven't heard about the funeral arrangements yet, but Sherrill and Brenda have a home in Cullman AL and I assume the memorial service will be in Cullman I'll let all of my friends know as soon as I am informed.

God bless you all, Your friend Donnie Sumner."

From Sherrill's website: In 1961, because of Dad Speer’s health problems, the Singing Speer Family asked Sherrill to join their group. Sherrill, at that time, was singing with the Songfellows Quartet from Los Angeles, CA. Sherrill was excited at the prospect of singing with the legendary Singing Speer Family, a group that were members of the Nazarene Church in Montgomery, AL, where Sherrill and his grandparents attended when he was just a small boy.Little did Sherrill know that this was the stepping stone to his legendary career (some 50 plus years). While he was with the Singing Speer Family, Jake Hess approached Sherrill about singing tenor for a group that he was planning to organize. In 1963, Sherrill became a member of the legendary Jake Hess and the Imperials Quartet. He traveled with the Imperials until the spring of 1966 where he returned to California and the Songfellows. In 1967, he joined the Plainsmen Quartet in Baton Rouge, LA. In 1970, Sherrill moved to Atlanta, GA to join the Hovie Lister and the sensational Statesmen Quartet.In 1973, Sherrill took a new direction by moving to Nashville, TN to organize a gospel group that opened the show for Elvis Presley. Elvis’ love for Sherrill’s tenor voice and gospel music led him to claim the group as his own and Elvis named the group VOICE (after a name he saw on the cover of a religious periodical). According to Felton Jarvis, Elvis’ producer, Sherrill was Elvis’ favorite singer. In 1977, Elvis and Sherrill’s duet, “Softly As I Leave You” was nominated for a Grammy as duet of the year. Sherrill stayed with Elvis until Elvis’ death in 1977.In 1983, the Masters V was looking for a “master tenor voice” to replace Rozie Rozell,. who had suffered astoke. They immediately contacted Sherrill and he performed with this legendary group which consisted at that time of Jake Hess, James Blackwood, J. D. Sumner and Hovie Lister. He left the Masters V for a short time and returned for a second stint with jack Toney, Ed Hill, J. D. Sumner and Hovie Lister. For the past 12 years, Sherrill has been performing gospel music in churches and schools in the beautiful Country of Denmark and other parts of Europe. Denmark is the homeland of his grandfather, C. R. Nielsen, who raised him. Papa Nielsen wasSherrill’s hero. One of the most exciting experiences of Sherrill’s life was the opportunity to sing in the church where his grandfather was baptized on the night that would have been his 100th birthday. Living in Denmark, with bicycle paths and a much slower pace afforded him the serenity and inspiration to pen the words andmusic to approximately 40 songs. In 1966, Shaun’s first meeting with Elvis as a backup singer on his gospel album “How Great Thou Art”, led to their friendship and an eventual contract drawn up by Elvis himself. This contract stated that Shaun and the group VOICE would open his shows, sing back up on his records and write songs for his publishing company.Shaun is recognized by millions as the singer on Elvis’ recording of “Softly As I Leave You” on which Elvis does a recitation behind Shaun’s vocal. First released in 1978, this single rose to number 6 in the nation and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Shaun’s vocal of “O Sole Mio” as the introduction to “It’s Now or Never” is featured on Elvis’ last album titled “In Concert”.As a young developing singer, Shaun learned by singing along with the recordings of the Irish tenor JohnMcCormick, Roy Orbison, Mario Lanza, Hank Williams and Elvis. When these diverse influences delivered with his soul as a gospel singer touch you, they privilege a moving and unforgettable excursion through the gamut of your emotions. Upon reviewing an album recorded by Shaun, Elvis’ record producer Felton Jarvis wrote: “Shaun was Elvis’ favorite singer”. Elvis brought such happiness to so many of us with his music, Shaun brought such happiness to Elvis with his music. Shaun, an undisputed legend in gospel music, is the only person to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of 3 different groups: The Speer Family, The Imperials and the Statesmen. Shaun’s first international recognition as a solo artist came with a song titled “Lights of L.A., which charted in Billboards’ country chart. Sherrill, then and now: In 1963, Sherrill met the lovely and talented Brenda Hall. His first love and the love of his life while singing in Harrisburg, PA. They married and moved to Atlanta, GA. Then onto Nashville, TN and Ontario, CA. In 1967, they went their separate ways because of the many hardships brought on by the music business. In 1965, they had a beautiful baby girl, SherRee’ Elicia who was killed by a drunk driver in 1985. In April 2004, Brenda’s Secretary, JoAnn Garza found Sherrill on the Internet. Sherrill flew from Denmark, Europe to Houston, TX and the two love birds were reunited and were married on June 28, 2004 (some 40 years later). In July 2005, Brenda retired from her Architectural/Engineering position in Houston, TX and the two recently moved to Cullman, AL.

Gepubliceerd: 11 december 2010, 08:13
Bron: ElvisMatters / Gepubliceerd door: ElvisMatters - Peter Verbruggen

posted by: Theking at 17:47 | link | comments |

November 18 2008

Watch the new 'Blue Christmas' video

To promote the 'Christmas Duets' CD, a new video clip was made for the song 'Blue Christmas', the duet Elvis sings with Martina McBride. The result is an example of terrific video editing. Earlier, we've seen the duet with Celine Dion, where the footage of Elvis was taken from the '68 Special' and placed on stage of 'American Idol'. In this case, Martina McBride walks on the set of the '68 Special'. The song version in this clip is the unplugged version, and is different than the one on the cd. Watch the clip on the link below.

Blue Christmas Video

Published: november 17th 2008 12:36 PM.
Source: USA Today / Published by: ElvisMatters - David Hamal .

posted by: Theking at 18:27 | link | comments |

October 12 2008

Lisa Marie Presley Welcomes Twin Girls

Lisa Marie Presley gave birth to twin girls on Friday, reports Star. The 40-year-old daughter and heir of Elvis Presley welcomed her daughters with 47-year-old musician husband Michael Lockwood by her side at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Lisa Marie’s two older children, Riley, 21, and Ben, 16, from her first marriage to Danny Keough, were also present for the twins’ arrival.

“Lisa Marie is mom to four now! She’s feeling good, a little tired too,” a family friend reveals. “She is so happy and Michael is ecstatic. He’s wanted to be a dad for so long. This is his dream come true…. The babies are healthy and beautiful. Ben was seen pushing them down the hall in their cart and cooing to them.” Congratulations to the happy couple!

Source: Star Magazine / Published by: ElvisMatters - Peter Verbruggen .

posted by: Theking at 11:22 | link | comments |

October 2 2008

The Making of Elvis Presley Christmas Duets

Go behind-the-scenes with some of today's biggest country music artists Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson, Anne Murray, Amy Grant, Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, and Wynonna Judd create history with the first Elvis Presley duet recordings album and the first Christmas compilation of its kind ever produced. For the first time, you can hear samples from this CD while looking at this 6min30 documentary. The CD will be released in a limited edition, with a special cover and a regular edition.

Christmas Duets: The Making Of

Pre order Christmas Duets - Special Edition

Pre order Christmas Duets

Published: october 1st 2008 11:22 AM.
Source: Elvis.com / Published by: ElvisMatters - David Hamal .

posted by: Theking at 16:14 | link | comments |

July 18 2008

Elvis Cadillac sold

One of Elvis’ Cadillacs, a custom made Cadillac Devile Sedan – tuned to a station wagon – has just been sold on Ebay. There were only 2 of these cars made, one for Elvis and one for Dean Martin. Elvis received the keys in 1972 and used it in Palm Springs and Las Vegas. It was a gift for Colonel Parker, but Elvis used the car more than Parker did, so he did not want to keep the car anymore. The car stayed in Vegas until 1976 before it moved to Graceland where it stayed until 1981 to end up in a museum. The ‘buy it now’ price was $59.995, but the seller ended the auction because the car was sold outside of Ebay.

See more pictures on Ebay

Source: Ebay / Published by: ElvisMatters - David Hamal .

posted by: Theking at 22:07 | link | comments |

Dutch TV Station hosts Elvis night on august 16

The Dutch TV station will host an Elvis Presley evening on august 16. Because of the 40th anniversary of the 68 Comeback Special, the main part will go about this show. After the ‘Special’, there is the docu ‘Elvis ’08 Comeback Special’ with interviews with Dutch Elvis-fans. The evening ends with ‘That’s The Way It Is’ en ‘ This Is Elvis’.

Source: Veronica / Published by: ElvisMatters - David Hamal .

posted by: Theking at 22:01 | link | comments |

May 21 2008

Help Save TCB Tour Bus Elvis Gave JD Sumner

Legacy Hall of Fame Inc., a non profit foundation, is asking for your donations to help save, restore, and preserve Elvis Presley's TCB Tour Bus. Legacy Hall of Fame Inc. plans to bring Elvis Presley's TCB Tour Bus to Tupelo, Mississippi, restore it, and put it on display for fans to come and see from around the world. If the Tour Bus is restored, it will be put on display. For more information you may also contact: Bill & Linda Kinard at (662) 620- 9966.

Source: Elvis Unlimited / EPGold / Published by: ElvisMatters - Peter Verbruggen .