Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.  

For this week's entry of Classic Rock Music Monday, we have Shelley Fabares, who passed away on August 22 at age 82 with her 1962 hit, "Johnny Angel". While I've always liked Shelley, I definitely am not a fan of her husband Mike Farrell. Oh, well. I never saw her on the Donna Reed Show (I started watching the show after she already left), but I first noticed her in the Elvis Presley movie, Girl Happy (1965).

From Wikipedia:

Michele Ann Marie Fabares (/ˌfæˈbreɪ/; January 19, 1944 – August 22, 2026) was an American actress and singer. She was known for her television roles as Francine Webster on One Day at a Time, as Mary on sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–1963), and as Christine Armstrong on sitcom Coach (1989–1997), the last of which earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. Her film roles included playing leading lady to Elvis Presley in Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967). In 1962, her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"EPIC: Elvis Presley In Concert" Blu-ray

This year is sure flying by. It was only in March that I went to the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup to see Baz Luhrmann's Epic: Elvis Presley In Concert. 

After returning home, I wrote and posted my review. To see it, go here.

The Blu-ray of the movie arrived today and I just got done watching it. This is my second viewing of the movie and it reinforced my review's grade of A+. It garnered a 97% favorable rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

The Blu-ray package contains two discs. One is for 4K Ultra HD players and the other is the Blu-ray. The images on my player looked quite good and the sound quality is excellent (don't be afraid to crank up the sound).

The movie covers Presley's Las Vegas residency at the International Hotel in 1969 and his early arena tours. The film purportedly contains "rumored" lost footage that was found while Luhrmann's was producing Elvis in 2022 

If one is an Elvis fan or just are a fan of rock 'n roll music documentaries, I recommend adding this to your collection.

Elvis Presley's Last Movie Night

 

Above, autographed photo of Caroline Munro and Roger Moore from The Spy Who Loved Me.

Here's a bit of trivia for those who are Elvis Presley and trivia fans.

Four days before his death in August 1977, Presley and his Memphis entourage went to a movie theater to catch the latest James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me.

According to the U.K.'s The Express:

When Elvis Presley wasn’t shooting movies or touring, the star would enjoy his own playground at home at Graceland. Being a night owl, The King and his inner circle would head out into Memphis after dark to avoid fans, renting out huge venues in the early hours of the morning, including movie theatres. The star’s step-brother, Billy Stanley, has previously shared precious memories of Elvis’ final visit to the cinema with Lisa Marie and Ginger Alden, just four days before he died.

On August 12, 1977, Elvis planned to get a copy of the new sci-fi hit Star Wars to watch with his nine-year-old daughter. Unable to obtain one, the King asked his Memphis Mafia to track down the new James Bond movie for him. He then drove Lisa Marie and his last girlfriend, Ginger, to the Southbrook Theatre, just south of Graceland, to see Roger Moore’s third 007 movie, The Spy Who Loved Me. His stepbrother Billy, the son of Vernon Presley’s second wife, Dee Stanley, was in attendance as part of his inner circle and shared memories of seeing movies with the star there.

To read more, go here. 

Hilton Hawaiian Village Tower Completes Renovation

Above, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tower in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel at Waikiki Beach was one of Elvis Presley's favorite places to stay while in the islands. 

I got to see it back in 2016 while at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. I also visited it and bought an ice cream sundae at their ice cream parlor.

Travel Weekly reports that the Hilton Hawaiian Hotel Rainbow Tower's renovation has been completed:

One of Waikiki's most iconic landmarks, the Rainbow Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Oahu has completed its renovation. The tower's rooms have been refreshed with design touches rooted in Hawaii.

To read more, go here. 

Graceland Unveils ‘All-American’ 4th of July Event

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one doesn't currently have any plans to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday, a trek to Graceland just may be what the doctor ordered.

Graceland announced an "All-American Weekend" to celebrate on July 4 weekend.

According to Parade:

In honor of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, Graceland is hosting an “All-American Weekend” from July 3 to July 5, where fans will be able to see Elvis’ iconic Memphis estate like never before as it getes lit up in red, white and blue.

According to the official Graceland website, this year’s fourth of July celebration will include  include two “electrifying” concerts, including a performance from The Dreamboats, who are slated to “bring their electrifying, high-energy celebration of 1950s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll to the Graceland Soundstage for a night that will have you on your feet from the first note.”

To read more, go here. 

Trump At Graceland

President Donald Trump was in Memphis, Tennessee yesterday to attend a forum on the crime safe task force accomplishments. Following this, he made a surprise visit to Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion.

He signed a guitar in the Jungle Room (known during Presley's time as the den). 

He is the second sitting U.S. President to visit Graceland.

According to Google:

As of March 2026, only two sitting U.S. presidents have toured Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion: George W. Bush (in 2006 with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi) and Donald Trump (on March 23, 2026). Other presidents, such as Jimmy Carter, have visited the estate after leaving office.

Here's a video on Trump's visit:

"EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert" Review

Yesterday, I went to the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup to see the new Baz Luhrmann EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert movie. It is a documentary/concert film. Afterwards, I went to Jerry's Café for dinner before heading home.

The movie focused Presley's early residency at the International Hotel in Las Vegas (circa 1969) and some arena concerts circa 1971-1972.  

Reviews of the movie have been raving and, quite frankly, it didn't disappoint. The only narration was by Presley himself and not any talking heads of commentators. 

Much of the footage I had never seen before. The sharpness and color were great, as if the footage was shot only recently. What really impressed me was the sound. The theater had a great surround system and make one almost feel as if they were in the showroom. 

I was thinking during the movie that it was too bad my mother wasn't alive to enjoy it. She was the big Elvis fan in the family. 

I have to give this movie a strong A+ grade. 

Elvis Slept Here: Inside the Luxurious Waikiki Resort

Above, the Hilton Waikiki Village from the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Expect a flood of Elvis Presley articles in the media as EPIC: Elvis Presley In Concert is opening this week in theaters.

One is from USA Today about the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel at Waikiki Beach. I visited the hotel in 2016 while vacationing down the beach from it at the Sheraton Waikiki.

The article begins with:

Elvis loved quite a few things: luxury cars, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, and Hawaii. The King of Rock and Roll spent nearly 20 years of his life visiting Hawaii, and more specifically, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, an iconic resort that’s still open today — and brimming with fellow Elvis fans who want a glimpse into the King’s past.

The resort has an elite roster of famous fans who’ve roamed its halls, from Barack Obama to Ronald Reagan to Michael Jackson. But Elvis is regarded as the superstar who put this hotel on the map, having filmed “Blue Hawaii” on its property in 1961 and returning frequently over the course of two decades.

As you can imagine, the hotel has embraced the iconic connection. Visitors can explore the resort’s timeline wall, which features photos of Presley during his stays, information about the star, and memorabilia from his various visits.

To read more, go here. 

EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert

The documentary by Baz Luhrmann opens in theaters this week. I have been seeing rave reviews.

The movie features long-lost films found at the Graceland estate and restored.

The Hanford Sentinel posted a review which starts with:

Over the years, countless attempts have been made to resurrect the King, whether it was movies, TV specials or musical ventures celebrating his artistry and legacy, attempting to bring him back and keep him among us.

No single project has done a better job of making Elvis feel present and alive than "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert," director Baz Luhrmann's dazzling documentary-slash-concert film, which lets us see and feel Elvis on stage, in his element.

It's a pure joy to see, to feel, to behold, as Elvis tells his story, in his own words, and hits the stage to let us bask in his greatness. The movie, meanwhile, helps to reclaim Elvis as a singular force of nature, an otherworldly dynamo, not the parody of himself with which we've come to associate his Vegas years.

The movie will be opening February 27 at the Red Rock 10 Theaters in Gallup. I'll be seeing it there.

To read more, go here.

Where To Eat When You're Visiting Elvis Presley's Graceland

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I visited Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in 2016, the Elvis Presley's Memphis Museum complex was still under construction.

I stayed at the Graceland RV Park & Campground across the street from the mansion and I cooked my own meals at my RV. 

But those who now visit Graceland can find several restaurants in the vicinity to dine at.

MSN has posted a slideshow of eateries.

They begin it with:

You can't call yourself a true Elvis Presley fan unless you've been to Graceland. This 120-acre institution in Memphis was once Presley's private home and is now a major tourist attraction. Presley bought the mansion in 1957 when he was just 22 years old and it was his home base until his death in 1977. Today, visitors can tour the mansion, see Presley's former jets, and view exhibits and artifacts at Elvis Presley's Memphis museum and entertainment complex. There are also plenty of restaurants on and off the grounds where you can fuel up before or after all that exploring.

If you want to feast like the King of Rock and Roll did, you'll find several dining venues on the Graceland grounds. You can grab some of Presley's favorite Southern comfort foods like grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches and meatloaf along with Memphis-style barbecue, sweet treats, and coffee. The Guest House at Graceland also has inviting spots where you can grab cocktails and tasty bites. Head off the estate and you'll find more enticing eateries within walking distance. If you're planning a pilgrimage to Presley's former home, this is where and what to eat when you're visiting Graceland.

To see the slideshow, go here. 

Elvis Presley and Willys Jeep M38A1

 Here's a clip of Elvis Presley and a Willys Jeep M38A1:

Elvis Judge Forced To Resign

Image credit: St. Charles County Circuit Court/Missouri.gov

Missouri Judge Matthew Thornhill has resigned for wearing an Elvis Presley wig and played Elvis music in court.

According to Straight Arrow News:

A Missouri judge has been forced to step down after presiding over his courtroom in an Elvis Presley costume. The judge struck a deal to avoid a disciplinary hearing. 

In court documents, Missouri’s judicial disciplinary board said Circuit Judge Matthew Thornhill of suburban St. Louis dressed up as Presley on several occasions and played music during court proceedings. The documents included several photos of Thornhill dressed as Elvis in court.

Thornhill, a former prosecutor who was first elected as a judge in 2006, expressed regret for his actions in a letter to the Missouri Supreme Court.

“It was my intention … to add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants,” he said. “I now recognize that this could affect the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings.”

Like the article's headline reads, "At Least He Didn't Sing Jailhouse Rock". 

To read the full story, go here.

Ed Faulkner, Longtime John Wayne Co-Star, Dies At 93

Above, Ed Faulkner in Chisum (1970).

The name Ed Faulkner may not conjure up any recollections, but his face is quite familiar to fans of John Wayne and Elvis Presley movies.

The  Daily Beast reported:

Actor Edward Faulkner, who appeared in six films with John Wayne and two with Elvis Presley, has died at 93 of natural causes. Faulkner died Aug. 26 at a health care facility in Vista, California, his daughter Leslie Wadsworth revealed to The Hollywood Reporter. The McLintock!, Rio Lobo, and The Green Berets actor had a long-standing chess rivalry with Wayne. “I occasionally let him win,” Faulkner said, who once kept a plane idled to keep from interrupting a match between the actor and Wayne. Faulkner, a 6′3″ Kentucky native, saddled up on horses in multiple TV westerns, but his debut on the silver screen came in the form of an uncredited role on the 1960 film G.I. Blues, starring Elvis Presley.

Faulkner also appeared in The Undefeated, Chisum and Hellfighters with Wayne.

To read more, go here.

48th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's Death

Above, Elvis Presley's Grave at Graceland in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a rainy August day in Hawthorne, California and I was watching the James Cagney movie, One, Two, Three when a news bulletin interrupted the movie.

Elvis Presley had died.

My mom was working out in the yard (she was an Elvis fan) and I went out and immediately told her the news.

It was one of those news events where people can remember where and what they were doing when hearing the news. That is still true with this story, even though we're two years shy of the fiftieth anniversary.

Here's a video from NBC News with David Brinkley reporting:

Elvis Presley Hated His Hit Song "Burning Love"

It was in late 1972 that Elvis Presley released "Burning Love" as a single.

A few months later, he performed it during his Aloha From Hawaii television special. It is interesting to note that during the rehearsal concert the night before the Aloha special, he forgot some of the lyrics. But he performed it during the actual television special the next night perfectly.

Still, he severely disliked it. 

Collider posted an article on Presley's disdain for the song.

They begin it with:

Elvis Presley is undoubtedly the King of rock 'n' roll. His music, a mash-up of country, gospel, and rhythm and blues, not only revolutionized the 1950s and beyond, but his distinct voice, electric dance moves, and magnetic persona did too. Beyond his influence on music, his talent graced the big and small screen, and he defined what it meant to be a triple threat. Today, his legacy is synonymous with the word' icon.' During his lifetime, few could outmatch his talent. Unsurprisingly, the music legend also possessed an innate ability and passion for music and wasn't shy about voicing his opinions on various songs, including his own. One of his biggest hit singles, "Burning Love", was also the track he hated the most.

To find out why, go here. 

Woman Pleads Guilty In Graceland Scam

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On the heals of the passing of Lisa Marie Presley, a Missouri woman tried to defraud the Presley Family and take possession of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fortunately, the scheme was foiled and now the woman has plead guilty to a count of mail fraud.

From Billboard:

A Missouri woman has pleaded guilty to mail fraud for her role in an alleged scam to steal the Elvis Presley family’s ownership interest in the famed Graceland mansion.

Lisa Jeanine Findley, who has gone by various aliases including Lisa Holden and Lisa Howell, initially pleaded not guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft last year. But during a hearing before a Memphis federal judge on Tuesday (Feb. 25), Findley agreed to plead guilty to one count of mail fraud. According to court documents, the other charge — a count of aggravated identity theft — will be dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Findley was arrested in August on the charges, with prosecutors alleging she posed as three different people affiliated with a fake company named Naussany Investments & Private Lending to claim that Presley’s daughter, the late Lisa Marie Presley, had utilized the music legend’s Memphis, Tenn., home as collateral for a $3.8 million loan she had failed to repay. Findley also allegedly falsified loan documents and forged the signatures of both Lisa Marie and a notary public in order to file a false deed of trust with the Shelby County Register’s Office, as well as a false creditor’s claim with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles.

To read more, go here. 

Elvis Presley Helped In Getting The USS Arizona Memorial Built

Above, the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In previous blog posts, I mentioned that Elvis Presley was pivotal in the fundraising for the construction of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.

Thanks in big part to a concert he held in Hawaii, money was raised to finish construction of the memorial and it made more people aware of the memorial who then added their contributions for the project.

War History Online posted a detailed article on Presley's contributions to the memorial fund.

It begins with:

In the 1950s, Americans of a certain age were eligible for the draft into the US military. Many famous athletes and actors served, including musicians like Elvis Presley, who was drafted into the US Army and stationed in West Germany. He served honorably and remained a strong supporter of the military after his discharge. One key instance of his support was his involvement with the memorial for the USS Arizona (BB-39), which was struck during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

To read the full article, go here. 

Mark James, Writer of "Suspicious Minds", Dies At 83

Mark James, who penned "Suspicious Minds" that Elvis Presley made into his last number one hit, has died. He was 83.

Best Classic Bands reported:

Mark James, who wrote such memorable songs as “Suspicious Minds,” a #1 single for Elvis Presley in 1969 and “Hooked on a Feeling,” a top 5 single for B.J. Thomas that same year—and later a #1 smash for the Swedish rock group, Blue Swede—died June 8, 2024, at age 83. His death, in Nashville, was reported by the Houston Chronicle [story is behind a paywall] today (June 11). James also co-wrote with two others “Always on My Mind,” which was first recorded in 1972 by Brenda Lee. A decade later, the song was recorded by Willie Nelson and became a #1 country hit. Its popularity was so significant that it earned its writers the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.  

To read more, go here.

Judge Stops Graceland Foreclosure Sale

Above, Graceland from Elvis Presley Blvd. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Memphis judge has halted a foreclosure sale of Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion that was scheduled for today.

AP News reported:

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A judge on Wednesday said Elvis Presley’s estate could be successful in arguing that a company’s attempt to auction Graceland is fraudulent as he halted a foreclosure sale of the beloved Memphis tourist attraction.

Later Wednesday, a statement from someone who appeared to be a representative of the company said it would drop its claim, which the Presley estate has argued is based on fake documents. Online court records did not immediately show any legal filings suggesting the claim had been dropped.

Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins issued a temporary injunction against the proposed auction that had been scheduled for Thursday in Memphis, where the king of rock ‘n’ roll’s former home is located. Jenkins’ injunction essentially keeps in place a previous restraining order issued at the request of Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough. 

To read more, go here. 

Elvis's Granddaughter Fighting Foreclosure of Graceland

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Elvis Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, is fighting a foreclosure of Graceland, alleging that some signatures are forgeries.

NBC News reported:

Elvis Presley’s granddaughter is trying to halt the court-approved sale of Graceland, the late singer’s Memphis, Tennessee, compound.

Riley Keough, a successful dramatic actor also known as Danielle Riley Keough, has filed a claim in Tennessee civil court that alleges the creditor behind the foreclosure claim used forged signatures.

Keough, who was granted virtual control of Graceland Mansion and much of Elvis' estate after her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, died last year, alleges in the suit that the creditor's paperwork on a $3.8 million loan to Graceland trustees, with a deed of trust on the compound pledged as collateral, is fraudulent.

In a statement, Elvis Presley Enterprises — the entity that runs Graceland and the assets of the Elvis Presley Trust — suggested the announced sale is a scheme.

“Elvis Presley Enterprises can confirm that these claims are fraudulent. There is no foreclosure sale. Simply put, the counter lawsuit has been filed is to stop the fraud,” it said.

To read more, go here.