Friday, March 10.1961 NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS 3 HOME -TOWN FANS GO WILD WHEN ELVIS ROCKS NMExclusive Pictures by BOB WILLIAMS * The girls go wildas Presley sways as he sings at the Ellis Auditorium, Memphis. Dig Elvis'whitejacket withfrilled -edgedlapels,blacktie, shirt buttons and handkerchief, ring on his finger, watch on his wrist and suedeshoeswithfancybuckles. And behind, his guitar, ready for use in certain numbers. Britain? Colonel will know SATURDAY, February 25-a big day in the lives of the thousands of pop music fans who live in the Tennessee city of Memphis. More exciting than Election Night, more colour-says ELVIS ful than Independence Day, and just like Christmas all over again. Why? Because Mr. Rock 'n' Roll himself was coming to town to take part in Elvis Presley Day ! thathe is superstitious(" about photographers, breaking mirrors and And what an occasion it turned out to be !Elvis came,plied : " My lovelifehasn'tpro-all of that"), Elvis was again quizzed saw and conquered all before him.Almost 10,000 people-gressed. Nothing really importantabout his love life. has happened along that line.I'll let The questioner asked if he was en- teenage fans as well as their parents-squeezed themselves intoyou know." gaged to Anita Woods, of Memphis. the Ellis Auditorium for the singer's first in -person concerts in Is marriage out of the question ?" You go out with a girl," Elvis be- " It's hard to say," he told the re-gan, " and the first thing you know four years. porters. "I am not ready for marriageyou are engaged. I once read in a Earlier,ataspecial luncheon, and until I am ...but I can say itMexicannewspaperthat I was civicdignitariesjostledto shakeSpecial reports from wouldnotbeoutbecause of amarried !" he smiled. his hand ;and no lessthan 50 career." Elvis faced the pressmen in a neat, How about Anita, the questioner photographersplus ahostof Memphis-edited by dark suit andtie and white shirt,persisted. " Nothing reallyserious," pressmen queued to get a glimpse which prompted one reporter to ask:Elvis countered. of him at a press reception ! KEITH GOODWIN " Aren't your clothes alittle more Before the press conference closed, Presley-one ofthehighest paid conservative these days ? " it was learned that the singer had stars in the world today-would have Elvis smiled and replied: " I reallyasked that a portion of the receipts grossed a small fortune had his visit "Applause throughout this song wasdon't know. I'm getting a little older,from the Memphis shows should be to Memphis been an ordinary en-so strong it dinned out Elvis' singingbut I don't know much about clothes.donated towards the cost of the Elvis gagement.Instead, because it was aand everything else but the electricYes, you might say I am a little morePresleyYouth Centre,now being charity function, he donated his ser-guitar and bass drum. conservative." built in Tupelo. duced by Mayor Loeb of Memphis.million Presley discs! the announce- vicesfree-andtohelpswellthe " Whenthisnumber-the grand Questioned as to whether recent hits Elvis raised $14,000 for the project Officialsof RCA Recordsfrom Two minutes after grand total of $51,612 even further,finale-wascompleted,Elviscame like "It's Now Or Never" and "AreduringacharityperformanceinNew York, plus representatives of thement (reports correspondent Malcolm he even bought a ticket to get intoback once to acknowledge the storm You Lonesome Tonight " indicate aTupelo several years ago. filmstudiosandmusicpublishingAdams) it was revealed that since the the Auditorium himself of applause, blow his listeners a kissdeparture from his rock style, Elvis " I hope to always keep a homecompanies, were there to pay tributeplaque wasinscribed,Elvis'latest Immediately prior to the concerts,and then sprint for a side door on countered: " I don't dislike rock 'n' in Memphis. Iloveit,and it'stoElvis.OnlyGovernorBulfordU.S.hit"Surrender"(basedon "ComeBackToSorrento")had Elvis(climbingtheBritishchartsFront Street.There, he leapt intoroll - Ijust do what I think I can right near Tupelo where the boysEllington, grounded in Nashville be- again with "Wooden Heart"), vowed an automobile waiting to rescue him do best." I grew up with are still living," hecause of bad flying weather, failedtopped the million mark ! that he was nervous and " fightingfrom an army of autograph seekers." Helaterwent ontosaythat said. toarrivebut sentaproclamation That, in a nutshell,is what hap- butterflies in his stomach."But his although the beaty "Don't Be Cruel" concerning Elvis Presley Day. pened on Elvis Presley Day in Mem- performance at both shows reflected ishisbiggestsellerofall(ithas Highspot of the luncheon was thephis. It was certainly a great day for no signs of nerves, and on both occa- Reception topped the four million mark),his Luncheon presentation by George R.Marek,Memphians andalsoforthephe- sions, he wowed the wildly enthusias- At the press reception,Elvis waspersonalfavourite recordingisthe Before the Press conference, Elvisvice-president and general manager ofnomenal Elvis, who regards it as one ticaudiences with some 20 songs questionedonawidevarietyof ballad -type " It's Now Or Never." was the special guest RCA Victor toof the greatest thrillsinhislife- packed into each 49 -minute act. topics and revealed that he will make Despite his liking for film work,(£33) luncheon where he was intro-commemorate total sales of over 76an occasion thathe'll never forget. 11 films in the next five years.He Elvis confessed that personal appear - stressed that he would like to con-antes were still his first love.How Review centrateonmoviesasmuchasabout atriptoEurope,including Reviewing the afternoon concert inpossible inthe future, and added :dates inBritain ? Elvis was very theMemphisSundaynewspaper," I would like to play dramatic roles,guarded in his reply. " Perhaps... of/evil " The Commercial Appeal," Charlesbut I am not yet ready for it. Ieventually.Col. Parker will know the Edmundson wrote :" Elvissethiswould be foolish to undertake them when," he said. gaffed/WA audience shrieking, whistling, moan-yet." After tellingthe pressmen of his ear TRUVOICE ing and swooning with joy.He sang, Quizzed about his romantic attach-smokinghabits(" Idon'tsmoke recited,downed,gesticulatedandments,26 -year -oldElvis (who was much.Sometimes I smoke a cigar siow". swiveled at the microphone while hisborn not soveryfar away from when Col. Parker gives me one-but audience applauded so loudly muchMemphis, in the town of Tupelo) re-thatisn'toften "),andconfessing of the timeasto drown out the 41 music. " The remarkable performance was blendid from various ingredients - Negrocottonfieldharmony,camp Life -lines meetingfervour,Hollywood show- manship,beatniknonchalance and some of the manipulations of mass psychology. of the CHAMBER " Enthusiasmreached aclimax Here is NEW Music you create ... as you have never heard when Elvis relaxed and broke into before. You will thrill all listeners by the true, rich, stirring musicyoumake-through themagicof Selmer' the cottonfield hoedown of' You Allisons andBob TRUVOICE ECHO CHAMBER. Words cannot describe it Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog'Realnames :Johnny Allison. ... you must hear it ... feel it ... try it ! Now read on ... a number which helped make himBirth dates :December31,1939 1942THE ALLISONS, John and Bob, ,Lt=u. (Johnny);February 2, singingas guestartistsduringthe (Bob). PollWinners ConcertonSunday. Birthplaces : London (Johnny); Trowbridge (Bob). IF YOU MISSED Height :5ft. 1I ins.(Johnny);Important engagements abroad: WM AT YOUR 5 ft. 8 ins. (Bob). FinalsofEurovisionconteston Weight : 10st. 10lb.(Johnny) ; March 18, at Cannes. LOCAL CINEMA 9 st.7 lb. (Bob). Former occupations before entering Colour of eyes :Hazel. show business: Engineering YOU CAN STAL Colour ofhair:Brown (Johnny); draughtsman (Johnny); clerk dark brown (Bob). (Bob). SEE Brothers andsisters:Susan,Peter and Shirley. Hobbies: Collecting match box Parents' names: Winifred and labels, reading, swimming, cycling, Edward Allison. gardening (Johnny); swimming, FEATURES Instruments played :Guitars. cycling, collecting records (Bob). Where educated: Wandsworth Tech-Favourite colour: Blue. INCLUDE nical, London (Johnny); EmanuelFavourite singers : Buddy Holly Grammar, London (Bob). (Johnny); Connie Francis (Bob). Words alone fail to describe this amazing advance Musical education: With a churchFavourite actors : Peter Sellers, Wide range of echo choir. Richard Attenborough, John Mills. effects which may be in new dimensions in music and so we have pro- PRESLEY Ages atwhich entered show busi-Favouritefood:Curry(Johnny); varied from single and multiple echoes duced a long-playing record with the well-known ness: 21 (Johnny);19 (Bob). Italian (Bob). guitar -player, First public appearances: BoyFavourite drink :Coffee. to large building reverberation. Bert Weedon, demonstratingthe in his latest and Scouts' show at Fulham, London,Favourite clothes :Casual. Remote -control foot -switch enables echo possibilities of the TRUVOICE ECHO CHAMBER. greatest role in 1959. Favourite instrumentalists: The effect to be switched on and off without Post the Coupon NOW for your FREE RECORD Biggestbreakincareer:Winning Hunters. recourse to control panel. BritishheatoftheEurovisionFavourite composers: Bach, Handel, and descriptive brochure. Song Contest. Rodgers and Hammerstein. Signal level switch enables Echo Chamber FLAMING TV debut: Televising of Song Con-Miscellaneous likes: Hot climate ... to be easily adjusted to suit high and low Please send owe descriptive brochure and details of how to obtain rrTly test heat. riding in cars . . . performing in level amplifiers. FREE RECO° I important public appearance t First large theatres. Spare compartment for 3 -way Input box. NAM A talent contest where their presentMiscellaneous dislikes :Spiders . .. manager and agent Tito Burns was girls with heavy makeup. Completely self-contained la attractive ADDRESS...... v..I on the panel. Best friends :Each other ! two tone case with rear compartment for Current hit: "Are You Sure." Most thrilling experience! Appearing COUNTY Disc label: Fontana. at NME Poll Winners' concert on foot -switch, mains and connecting cables. STARA My instrurninte isa. Maks Recording manager: Jack Baverstock. Sunday. Spare tapes carried in case lid. Musical director: Harry Robinson. Tastes in music: Anything. 36 pa. Purchased front M 1013 AT THE 'ALTO Compositions : "AreYou Sure"Pet: Cat named Bunty. MODEL '200' CO BBBBBBST. (which was penned for the Euro-Personal and professional ambitious: MODEL '400' 7$ pis. Prop.1.0,3.25,5.50.IL 1 i visionSongContest)and many To beasuccessinallfieldsof S ed111111101114 Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.I Sun.4.30 & 7.10 others yet to be performed. show business.