Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone has a happy New Year! I hope 2011 is an incredible year for each and every one of you! I hope all of your worries disappear and all of your good fortune carries on!  If you’re traveling tonight, please be responsible and safe on the roads!
I am taking vacation BACK IN MEMPHIS and I look forward to seeing so many of you here very soon! It’s nice to come from 31 inches of snow to Memphis 🙂 I thank all of my friends for your support and positive feedback for Backinmemphis.com and I promise you 2011 will be even better my friends!

Happy New Year! Now let’s celebrate ELVIS!

In Lieu of Flowers For Myrna

Dear All:

I’ve received inquiries asking about sending flowers for Myrna.  Myrna’s body is being cremated.  There is no funeral or service or viewing, & Myrna’s ashes are not being buried or interred.  Myrna’s brother advised he will take the urn with Myrna’s ashes home & place it on the mantle next to her mother’s urn.

For those who want to do something, I believe Myrna would most like a charitable donation made in her honor.  Myrna was a very giving person & always thinking of others.  Most Elvis fans give to charity or belong to a fan club that supports one or more charities.  Since the fans are the ones who helped Myrna, I think she would be proud to have donations made to fan club supported charities in her honor/memory.  And, since the fans are the people who took on the role of Myrna’s family & helped her, the fan clubs & fans can post the information regarding anything done in Myrna’s honor &, thus, keep her Elvis Family informed.

I never discussed this with Myrna, so the above are simply my thoughts, based on having known her.

Carole

Betty Harper Art Featured on the January Issue of KEY Magazine!

Mining Elvis Presley's catalog: What was found and what was lost

 “The Complete Elvis Presley Masters” is a marvel to behold, and a behemoth to explore. Over its 30 CDs are the astonishing array of music that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll recorded over a quarter century — 711 master tracks, more than triple what the Beatles issued during their career, plus more than 100 other outtakes, unreleased songs and live performances.
And even though 162 of those songs on the new box set charted during Presley’s lifetime, that leaves a monstrous amount far less known, a source of considerable pride and pleasure to Ernst Jorgensen, the Danish record exec and lifelong Elvis fan who’s been in charge of his catalog reissues for the last 20 years.
“When Elvis died in 1977, who thought we would ever find four demos recorded by him before he ever made a recording at Sun Records?” Jorgensen told me during an interview for a story that appeared Friday in Calendar.   “That has to be the highlight of the rarities section. We found so many things simply by being around.”
Of course, the issue of what was found brings with it the question of what wasn’t. Jorgenson has spent two decades scouring the world for Presley recordings, and at this point doesn’t anticipate any major new discoveries.
“We don’t have our hands on everything,” he said. “In 1959, RCA Records destroyed about 20,000 tapes to save space in some warehouse building in Indianapolis. There were lots of Elvis Sun tapes and ’50s records. These were not the masters, but the outtakes. On that, I have given up. I’ve known every vault keeper there was, I’ve known the paperwork… With the Internet and eBay, most people who have something worth any money have been out shaking it trying to sell it.”
Other than outtakes from the fabled Sun sessions magically appearing one day, Jorgensen’s Holy Grail acquisition would be recordings of Presley’s early live performances.
“What I’d appreciate,” he said with a laugh, “is for you to go back down through Texas and Louisiana and find me some more radio tapes of Elvis on ‘Louisiana Hayride.’ …For me, to hear early Elvis before he was famous, out there singing, is the ultimate. [Chuck Berry’s] ‘Maybellene’ popped up; that’s on the box.” So is an 1955 live recording of an effervescent Presley covering Ruth Brown’s bouncy R&B hit “Tweedle Dee.”
“It came with the territory: If you were young and known at the ‘Louisiana Hayride,’ when you came there on a Saturday you had to sing the songs that were popular at the time,” Jorgensen said. “Whether it was Elvis or [rockabilly singer] Jeanette Hicks, somebody had to sing ‘Tweedle Dee’ that night.”
Randy Lewis

Mining Elvis Presley’s catalog: What was found and what was lost

 “The Complete Elvis Presley Masters” is a marvel to behold, and a behemoth to explore. Over its 30 CDs are the astonishing array of music that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll recorded over a quarter century — 711 master tracks, more than triple what the Beatles issued during their career, plus more than 100 other outtakes, unreleased songs and live performances.
And even though 162 of those songs on the new box set charted during Presley’s lifetime, that leaves a monstrous amount far less known, a source of considerable pride and pleasure to Ernst Jorgensen, the Danish record exec and lifelong Elvis fan who’s been in charge of his catalog reissues for the last 20 years.
“When Elvis died in 1977, who thought we would ever find four demos recorded by him before he ever made a recording at Sun Records?” Jorgensen told me during an interview for a story that appeared Friday in Calendar.   “That has to be the highlight of the rarities section. We found so many things simply by being around.”
Of course, the issue of what was found brings with it the question of what wasn’t. Jorgenson has spent two decades scouring the world for Presley recordings, and at this point doesn’t anticipate any major new discoveries.
“We don’t have our hands on everything,” he said. “In 1959, RCA Records destroyed about 20,000 tapes to save space in some warehouse building in Indianapolis. There were lots of Elvis Sun tapes and ’50s records. These were not the masters, but the outtakes. On that, I have given up. I’ve known every vault keeper there was, I’ve known the paperwork… With the Internet and eBay, most people who have something worth any money have been out shaking it trying to sell it.”
Other than outtakes from the fabled Sun sessions magically appearing one day, Jorgensen’s Holy Grail acquisition would be recordings of Presley’s early live performances.
“What I’d appreciate,” he said with a laugh, “is for you to go back down through Texas and Louisiana and find me some more radio tapes of Elvis on ‘Louisiana Hayride.’ …For me, to hear early Elvis before he was famous, out there singing, is the ultimate. [Chuck Berry’s] ‘Maybellene’ popped up; that’s on the box.” So is an 1955 live recording of an effervescent Presley covering Ruth Brown’s bouncy R&B hit “Tweedle Dee.”
“It came with the territory: If you were young and known at the ‘Louisiana Hayride,’ when you came there on a Saturday you had to sing the songs that were popular at the time,” Jorgensen said. “Whether it was Elvis or [rockabilly singer] Jeanette Hicks, somebody had to sing ‘Tweedle Dee’ that night.”
Randy Lewis

Final Funeral Arrangements For Myrna Smith

Dear All:

As I told you earlier today, the amount we had in Myrna’s account (the account at Premier America Credit Union to which the fans have so generously donated) was $1,099.60 & I was hoping it would be enough to cover her cremation if we needed to pay for that.

First I will tell you that neither Myrna’s brother (John) nor her son (Martin) came forward to pay for Myrna’s final expenses. I received a request from John to give him the money to pay for the cremation. I said I would only pay the money directly to the establishment providing cremation services.

The total amount due to The Alpha Society was $1,110.63 – this amount covers cremation, pick up of the body, completing & filing documents required upon death, and the urn for Myrna’s ashes. I made up the small amount we were short & left $9 in the account to cover a monthly service charge of $4.50 for Dec. & Jan. (there is a service charge only when the account drops below the minimum).

Today (12/27/10) I sent our check to The Alpha Society to pay the $1,110.63. I believe Myrna is watching & knows that her Elvis Family was there for her to take care of her final arrangements. I know she appreciates it & loves you very much for all you have done. Bless you all for caring & for being Myrna’s true family.

Dear Fans, you are the only ones who were there for Myrna (i) to pay Canyon Oaks so Myrna could stay there & get the care she needed & (ii) to pay Myrna’s final expenses.

I will keep you informed & let you know if plans are made to somehow celebrate Myrna’s life. Two of Myrna’s friends have mentioned doing something, we will wait & see.

Sincere thanks to all the fans. My personal thanks also for the sweet Emails I have received. I love you all.

Carole

EPE Finally Acknowledges Myrna Smith ( In Death)

More than a little late, but Elvis Presley Enterprises finally acknowledged Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations. Today, 3 days after her passing they sent out their fan club newsletter with this blurb at the bottom (No photo, no personal sentiment):

Remembering Myrna Smith

We regret to inform you of the passing of Myrna Smith on Friday night, Christmas Eve. Myrna was singer and song-writer, and a member of the group Sweet Inspirations, who recorded and performed with Elvis Presley from 1969-1977. She also sang back-up for other stars including Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin.

Along with their professional relationship, Myrna and Elvis were also close friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

I wish they would have let the fans know Myrna was sick and acknowledged her while she was with us. Because although there are many fan sites, Elvis.com has the power to reach an incredible number of fans.Unfortunately, EPE has changed so much since Patsy Andersen has left the building. Just my opinion.

Myrna Smith Funeral Arrangements Still Being Planned

Dear All:

This is a difficult Email to send, but it is what is best for Myrna.  I think many of you already know, but Myrna passed approx. 1:45 PM Pacific (California) time Dec, 24.  She is now with the Lord & she is again well & singing.  I’m sorry I didn’t get this out sooner.

I know the plans are for a cremation.  My guess is the urn with Myrna’s ashes will be taken back to her house & put on the mantel next to those of her mother (this is an assumption on my part).  When I get information, I will pass it along.  Myrna’s brother (John) has said he does not have any money to take care of final arrangements.  We currently have $1,099 in Myrna’s account that has been donated by fans &, I believe, that may be just enough for cremation.  Please do not send any more donations at this time.  We need to first find out what is needed.

All of you are Myrna’s true family.  You are the ones who stepped forward to help Myrna when she needed help.  Myrna knew that you loved her & cared about her, & she truly loved you for it.

Carole

Scotty Moore Turns 79 Today!

Photo by Megan Murphy – backinmemphis.com





Winfield Scott “Scotty” Moore III (born December 27, 1931 near Gadsden, Tennessee) is an American guitarist. He is best known for his backing of Elvis Presley in the first part of his career, between 1954 and the beginning of Elvis’ Hollywood years. He was ranked forty-fourth in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Want to learn more about Scotty Moore? Visit his official web site which is filled with incredible research, photos, articles & you can even purchase autographed photos & books!

Scotty Moore’s Official Web Site

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=back07f-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000ANVNHG&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

Myrna Smith Interview