Tag Archives: Elvis Presley

“I’m not very popular here with those inside the system, as you might guess. I never wanted to be.” — Waylon Jennings

It’s his birthday today. Like a lot of artists whose music I own (I still like to own music: will never give it up), Waylon Jennings is on almost constant rotation. He’s always there. In playlists, first of all, but … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Chips Moman

Elvis Presley and producer Chips Moman, American Sound Studio, Memphis, 1969 Great music producer, songwriter, and American Sound studio owner Chips Moman was an essential part of the thrilling warp-and-weft of the Memphis music scene from the 1960s on. His … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday to “Mr. Excitement”, Jackie Wilson

Jackie Wilson’s voice is otherworldly. He had a four-octave range. You listen and there are times where you can’t even believe what you’re hearing. Wilson started out in Detroit talent contests, where he had a tendency to win. Big fish … Continue reading →

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“I dread to think about life without singing.” — Tom Jones

I’ve written about him before, mostly here. He’s still out there. His voice is not only intact but as powerful as it ever was. He is recently a widow after 59 years of marriage. He is beloved by his fan … Continue reading →

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“I never heard the term ‘rockabilly’ back then. Nobody did…When people asked what music we played, we were rock ’n’ rollers.” — Sonny Burgess

“This record sold like hotcakes. TOO BAD IT DIDN’T SELL LIKE RECORDS!” — Sonny Burgess, introducing one of his songs, as related by Deke Dickerson It’s the birthday of Arkansas-born Sonny Burgess, who died in 2017. Burgess was a Sun … Continue reading →

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“I don’t call myself a poet, because I don’t like the word. I’m a trapeze artist.” – Bob Dylan

For Bob Dylan’s birthday “When I first heard Elvis Presley’s voice I just knew that I wasn’t going to work for anybody and nobody was going to be my boss. Hearing him for the first time was like busting out … Continue reading →

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Elvis takes New Orleans: talking King Creole on the Guide for the Film Fanatic podcast

My pal Jason Bailey is a film critic, author, and podcast host. He has many! I’ve been a guest on all of them, I think. His new podcast is called Guide for the Film Fanatic, using as its inspiration the … Continue reading →

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“A lot of people try to equate me with guys like Frankie Avalon and Fabian, but in the old days I sold a lot of records over a period of time, and you can’t sustain that by being just another pretty face.” — Ricky Nelson

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Nelson) was a popular radio show in the 1940s, and an even more popular television show in the 1950s. It was a family affair. Their son Ricky was a beautiful child, and he grew … Continue reading →

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“I don’t cook and I don’t care.” — Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret entertaining US troops in Vietnam, 1966 Today is Ann-Margret’s birthday. Her autobiography, Ann-Margret: My Story is wonderful. What a career. And it’s still unfolding. There are so many classic scenes. Tommy. Carnal Knowledge. Of course, too, there is the … Continue reading →

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“Sometimes I can sing it when I can’t say it.” — Carl Perkins

“The music was new, the kids were just eatin’ it up. They were claiming it as their own music. But I really think when the kids were comin’ to the sock hops and to the rock and roll shows, I … Continue reading →

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