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Happy 75th Birthday Tribute – January 8, 2010

Happy 75the Birthday to the King of Rock & Roll Elvis Presely. Over the next few days leave you tribute or thoughts about Elvis Presely please …

I was living in San Diego, CA at the time Elvis did his first concert there. The Mayor of San Diego stopped the concert and ‘banned’ Elvis from ever performing in San Diego again. The next saturday after the concert I went with some of my friend to the only record store in San Diego at the time that sold Rock & Roll records. We all bought Elvis records. This was the first 45 rpm record I bought in my life. I still have it in my collection of old 45’s.

Here is another video with some rare home movie footage along with stage performances.

More home movies and stage performances of Elvis, also includes some of his family members.

Pieces Of My Life performed by Elvis. I really love the song – it is one of my favorites.

Lyrics:
Pieces Of My Life

A water glass full of whiskey
And women that I never knew too well
Lord, the things I’ve seen and done
Most of which I’d be ashamed to tell

I don’t know how it started
But that’s what makes a man a man, I guess
Now I’m holdin’ on to nothing’
Tryin’ to forget the rest

I’m lookin’ back on my life
To see if I can find the pieces
I know that some were stolen
And some just blew away
Well, I found the bad parts
Found all the sad parts
But I guess I threw the best part away

Playin’ in bars, playin’ like a star
anything to get a name
Carryin’ on livin’ on songs
my friends wrote for me to sing

I’m lookin’ back on my life
To see if I can find the pieces
I know that some were stolen
And some just blew away
Well, I found the bad parts
Found all the sad parts
But I guess I threw the best part away

Lord, the pieces of my life,
They’re everywhere, they’re everywhere
And the one I think I miss most of all
Is you and you know who.


And finally Graceland in 2008 – A Haunting Memory …


A man and his music that changed the world forever in just 20 short years – inspiring all those who followed.

What a Legacy Elvis left!!!

Awesome!

Bob

5 comments to Happy 75th Birthday Tribute – January 8, 2010

  • Frank

    Robert,
    I’m a bachelor this week with my wife over in Phoenix at my oldest daughter’s house being with the grand-kids while Tanya (daughter) is away on business. Our oldest granddaughter Paije, who plays volleyball for San Diego State University, had to get her right shoulder operated on this week. So Sue is helping out. Right now I am listening to Elvis music and having a British Ale that came in my Christmas stocking. It is called “Bad Elf” Ale (Why Santa would give me this ale is beyond the pale!). I have been outside stuccoing a guesthouse I’m building. It has been a little cool, but nothing like what most of you have been going through.
    Last night I watched “Jailhouse Rock” on TV. You inspired me so I’ve been spinning Elvis all day. Right now “Old Shep” is playing. Everyone remembers that one!
    My favorite Elvis song is still “Don’t Be Cruel”. I do not know why…there is no specific memory associated with it. Maybe it is the beat and rhythm or maybe it just takes be back to a time of innocents.
    My youngest child (child #3) Jodie and her husband are somewhere between Angkor Wat and Saigon at the moment. They both quit their jobs a few months ago (she was a Nurse for Intel and he worked with environmental issues for the State of Oregon). They have wanted to travel around the world for some time. I am looking forward to her report from our old “home Town”. They have a terrific Blog and they have been very good at keeping Susan and me up to date by emails and skype calls. Not that we worry!!!

    I’ll be going to Hawaii for a week and a half on the 18th. My son Silas (child #2) is moving from the North Shore to China Town (Honolulu). I’m going to help him move. Well, someone has to do it! He’ll be in a little apartment but he’ll be renting a studio about a 10 minute walk from his place… in order to paint. He found that all his artwork business was in town and he was spending too much time and gas going back and forth.

    Well I wasn’t going to take teenagers to Europe again, but here I am, going again in June. This time it is to Berlin, Prague, Munich, Lucerne and Paris. I haven’t been to Berlin since the “Wall” came down. Should be interesting. My friend Carlos (the fellow that helps me chaperone) I will be busy this year. Several of the kids going this year are cute girls, so we’ll be busy guarding them from all the guys.
    Well, time to seriously sip my suds and concentrate on the sounds of Elvis! Happy New Year and Decade to all. I toast all the Saigon Kids with all my heart…hic! Frank

  • Frank

    “When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again” is playing. Reminds me! Did everyone enjoy the New Year’s BLUE MOON? Our Arizona sky’s were so clear and beautiful that night…although we went to bed early…actually I think that happens every night…Oh my gosh just like my grandparents did..
    Did you know that every Saigon Kids Reunion has been when their was a full moon? The one in Nashville was during a Blue Moon!! Frank

    • Admin

      Frank – Yes, the New Year Blue Moon was awesome here also. I might also mention it was a ‘partial eclipse’ too. A Blue Moon only occurs on New Year’s every 19 years.

      So, Frank, do you also fall asleep in your rockin’ chair in front of the TV shortly after supper – like grandpa always did!?! … ha ha ha … 🙂 … then walk in your sleep to bed around 8:30 pm … ha ha ha …

      Frank, think – Reunion – Memphsis – Meet me in Memphsis … LOL … I’ll be at the “Heartbreak Hotel” … suite 33 … or, rock’n with Lawdy Miss Clawdy that devil in nylon hose at the ‘house of the blues’ where ‘the night life ain’t no good life, but it’s my life’ … goodness gracious great balls of fire … I’m all shook up … long distance information give me Memphsis Tennessee … hello … this is the Big Bopper speaking … do I want … ya know what I want … but … but … LUCILE … you can do anything you wanna do but don’t you step on my blue suede shoes … cuz I’m a …. M – A – N …. MAN!!!

      ROCK IT!!!

      Jonny B Good tonight … 🙂

      Bob

  • Kenneth R. Yeager

    There was a celebration on my local radio station here in Hamburg as well. Me singing the words to those old songs while driving…I think back when I first really heard Elvis and I think it was in Alabama when we returned from Baghdad in 1954. Drove my his old barracks in Friedberg near Frankfurt numerous times while out riding my motorcycle. There used to be a sign outside the base citing his former occupation there. Unfortunately, last time I rode that way (this past summer) I failed to go by the old post and so I don’t know if it is still there or not. So many of the old US military buildings are gone now.

    Snow is on the ground (about four inches) with more expected. I’m getting my exercise this week. All is well in my neck of the woods…Hope the same for the rest of you all.

    @ Frank – giving the beer a rest right now…too cool….but a nice glass of red wine in the evenings is enjoyable.

    @ Bob – don’t know about you, but I’m too young for a “senior moment.” Just 65 past August. When the 700lbs motorcycle is too heavy to lift off the kickstand, then I qualify to be a “senior.” Now, dirty old man is a different thing…..lol Ken

    • Admin

      Ken – Same here, Elvis celebrations everywhere … radio stations, TV, bars, night clubs, etc. also many other events celebrating Elvis’ 75th bday. Most reports I’ve heard say there are celebrations all around the world. I find it amazing that 30+ years after his passing he is still remembered and celebrated to the extend he is … awesome. I don’t know of any other entertainer who is remembered and celebrated to the magnitude that Elvis is so many years after his passing.

      There is an interesting book written by Professor Doll (yes, that is her real name – lol) that traces Elvis’ blood line back 50 generations. It says that in 1710 his ancestors came to the USA from Germany. His blood line traces back to royalty throughout Europe. Very interesting read.

      Elvis was assigned to ‘tanks’ while in the Army in Germany. It is kind of interesting to note that if he had not been drafted at the time he was, he would never have gone to Germany and never have met Priscilla.

      I first heard Elvis on the radio in San Diego, CA. around 1954, or so. It was shortly after the movie Rock Around The Clock with Bill Haley (sp?) came out in the theaters. The first time I saw Elvis in person was in Hawaii. His first concert in Hawaii. It would have been around 1956/57 time frame. I remember he stayed at the Hawaiian Village Hotel (built and owned by Henry Kaiser at the time). He stayed in the top floor of rooms. His fan club in Hawaii made a Lei that reached from the top floor of the hotel all the way to the ground. I’ve forgotten how many floors the hotel was then – about 10 or 12, as I recall. The only place in Hawaii that was large enough to do his concert was the ‘old’ Honolulu Stadium – locally known as “Termite Palace” because it had been built around WW II (maybe before, even) out of wood before it was known how to treat wood to protect it from ‘termites’. It was the only sports stadium in Honolulu for many many years, until they finally built the current Aloha Stadium. It is amazing the old Honolulu Stadium (Termite Palace) never collapsed from the termite damage. I was lucky to get tickets and seats in the 20th row, front and center stage for Elvis’ concert. He wore his “Gold Suit” while performing. I attended the concert with my church youth group. Somebody at the church must have had ‘connections’ to get such good seats for our group of about 20 kids. It was an awesome concert!!! My date for the concert was the ‘hottest’ girl in my school – lol – it was the *only* time she ever accepted an invitation from me to attend a church function or event – lol – (she was not a member of my church). I was the only guy at school who was able to get tickets to the Elvis concert – lol – (blessings come to those who attend church … ha ha ha). She was the envy of all the girls at school after that … lol … about a month later the Coasters did a concert at the Honolulu Civic Arena … again our church youth group got tickets … this was the point in my life when I learned “the power” of concert tickets for ‘scoring’ with the chicks!! LOL – It was amazing how a guy could go from … the babe’s won’t give me the time of day … toooooo … the most popular guy in the school – lol – that all the hottest chicks wanted to be veryyyy close too … all because he held in his hand “concert tickets” to otherwise sold out concerts – LOL – of course all he guys at school hated my happy a** when I dangled concert tickets in front of their girl friends … ha ha ha … ahhhhh but for the days of my youth … 🙂

      Rock ONnnnnn … Saigon Kids 🙂

      Bob

      PS: Ken – I’ve got about 20″ of snow piled up here … praise the Lord for snow blowers … LOL – 🙂

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