Lifestyle FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014

Jenna Bush Hager, a special correspondent for NBC’s “Today” show, addresses fans before Canadian singer David Thibault, 16, performs Elvis Presley songs during an annual birthday celebration at the Automobile Museum at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn Wednesday, Jan 8, 2014. (Right) This 1972 file photo shows Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, during a performance. — AP photos Fans gather at Graceland for Presley’s birthday

elevision and radio personality icon’s 79th birthday. “That was the Phillips, who is Sam Phillips’ son and a Wink Martindale remembers beginning of Presley-mania.” member of the Memphis Music Hall Tthe day nearly 60 years ago Martindale and Jenna Bush Hager, of Fame. Martindale was a longtime when Elvis Presley’s first single, “That’s daughter of former President George friend of Presley, who dated All Right,” played for the first time on W. Bush, attended the annual birth- Martindale’s wife Sandy before they the radio. It was July 8, 1954, and a day party at Presley’s longtime married. After his days in Memphis, fresh-faced Martindale was working Memphis home. The event featured a Martindale went on to TV fame as as a disc jockey at WHBQ in Memphis. cake cutting and the singing of host of Teenage Dance Party and the He was at the studio when legendary “Happy Birthday” by 16-year-old game shows Gambit and Tic Tac producer Sam Phillips brought by an Canadian David Thibault (TEE’-bo). Dough. Presley was born in Tupelo, acetate copy of the song Presley cut Bush Hager, a correspondent for the Miss., on Jan 8, 1935, and moved to at Phillips’ Sun Records. “Today” show, was at Graceland to Memphis with his parents at age 13. DJ Dewey Phillips - no relation to tour the home and tape a segment He was 42 when he died Aug 16, Sam - played the song on his influen- with Thibault. The teen from Quebec 1977. — AP tial “Red, Hot and Blue” radio show, has gained fame after his singing of and rock n’ roll history was made. “It “Blue Christmas” garnered millions of A fan shows her love of Elvis was almost like an out-of-body expe- views on YouTube. Presley as Elvis impersonator Jeff rience,” Martindale told Presley fans Bush Hager, Thibault, and Rainey performs for the crowd who came to Graceland on Martindale participated in the cake- during the 79th birthday Wednesday to celebrate the late cutting along with producer Knox celebration for Elvis Presley. At one year, S Korean babies get gilded parties t takes a lot more than a cake and a song to band runs an information technology business. ‘People these days attach a greater meaning celebrate a baby’s first birthday in South The trappings of Dot-byul’s party were typical. A to ëdol’ because they do not give birth to a lot IKorea, where in the past disease and starva- slide show and a decorated ‘photo table’ with of children,’ said Jung Ji-hyon, who threw a tra- tion claimed so many lives that the completion of framed pictures chronicled her young life. ditional banquet for her baby boy. Other par- an infant’s first year was a major milestone. The Another table, adorned with flowers and candles, ents choose Western-style celebrations. The first birthday, or ‘doljanchi’, is now an event featured a three-tier cake. Guests gave packets of more lavish, the better. ‘I will only have two kids where affluent parents in one of the world’s rich- money, as they would at a wedding, and at most and I want to do everything I can do for est countries flaunt their wealth, connections and received gift bags packaged with the baby’s pic- them. I would feel terrible to see my daughter even their offspring’s gilded career prospects at ture and boxes of tea. Gift bags at first birthday feel inferior to her peers,’ said Jennifer Song, a lavish parties. At one party in Apgujeong, events can contain mugs, rice, towels, candles or 28-year-old housewife who is pregnant with her dubbed the Beverly Hills of Seoul, one-year-old other items. Parents devote considerable second child. Dot-byul peered down at a tray of items symbol- thought to the gifts to differentiate their party Song said planning for a ‘dol’ ceremony was ising various professions - including a stetho- from others. more stressful than for a wedding, another tra- scope for a doctor, a judge’s gavel and a micro- dition that has become a huge financial burden phone. Fewer babies, more money for young South Koreans. Dressed in a white princess gown with every Although starvation is no longer a threat, chil- In 2012, Song paid 10 million won ($9,400) moment captured by a professional photogra- dren have become precious commodities in for her first born’s ‘dol’ at the Westin Chosun pher, she paused for a gurgle and then wrapped another sense. As fewer South Koreans marry Hotel in central Seoul, and is already planning her tiny hands around a golf ball, in a gesture and more women pursue careers, the birthrate in the party for her next child. ‘As soon as I learned Dalmatian dog “Chimmi” poses during a seen as signifying that she will grow up to be a this Asian country has plummeted. The average of my pregnancy, I called the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, photocall to promote the “Cacib 2014” pedi- golfer. ‘We can hold low-key celebrations for her number of babies born per woman fell to 1.23 in which is known for its outdoor celebrations, to gree dog exhibition yesterday in second, third and future birthdays, but for the 2010 from 4.53 in 1970, the Organisation for reserve a place, but they put me on a waiting Nuremberg, southern Germany. More than very first I wanted to throw this party to show Economic Cooperation and Development says. list,’ she said. There is now a cottage industry to 3,500 dogs will compete during the show Dot-byul that everyone came here today to bless That was the lowest rate among rich countries tap into the money spent on the first birthday this weekend. — AFP her,’ said her mother Kim Jae-yeon, whose hus- listed by the OECD. celebrations. —Reuters