Elvis: The Concert

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Elvis the Concert is a concert tour started in 1997 that features Elvis Presley performing with his 1970s backup band via computer technology.

Contents

[edit] Origins

In the mid-1990s, Elvis Presley Enterprises started experimenting with recordings of Elvis' live concerts and discovered that through the use of multitracking they were able to eliminate virtually all of the ambient noise from recordings, thus leaving only Elvis' voice. After some work, they conceived a special concert, to be held on August 16, 1997, the twentieth Anniversary of Elvis' death. The show featured Elvis' original 1970s back-up band, his back-up singers (J.D. Sumner & the Stamps Quartet, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations, Kathy Westmoreland and Millie Kirkham) and was performed at Memphis, Tennessee's Mid-South Coliseum. During the show, Priscilla Presley introduced a video that Lisa Marie Presley made. The video was of Lisa Marie Presley performing a duet with her father Elvis on the song "Don't Cry Daddy". It was so successful that the video was shown again.

The show was a huge success, gaining worldwide press. The massive success of the show prompted EPE to draw up plans for a special version of the show to take on the road.

[edit] The World Tour

Starting in 1998, a scaled-down version of the show was taken on tour. The format of the show follows one of Elvis' 1970's live concerts, albeit somewhat different.

The line-up of musicians involved, is as follows:

Back-up Vocals

  • Tutt is sometimes unable to perform with Elvis' band due to pressing worldwide commitments (which include playing drums in Neil Diamond's band). For these shows, he is replaced by his friend and protege Paul Leim
    • The two different groups alternate between tours, taking over whenever the other group is unable to perform.

For reasons unspecified by EPE, rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson chose not to tour with the group. He was replaced in the orchestra by Tony Smith. (However, Wilkinson did join the group at the 25th Anniversary concert, held at the Pyramid in Memphis.)

The show was conceived by Todd Morgan, Randy Johnson. Joe Guercio and Stig Edgren.

Produced by Elvis Presley Enterprises and Stig Edgren Directed and staged by Randy Johnson Musical Direction by Joe Guercio

[edit] Show Format

The format of the show begins with the traditional opening theme of Elvis' concerts: Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra (Better known as the theme to the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"). This segues into the song "See See Rider" from Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii.

The show is divided into two different acts, each one 45 minutes to an hour, with an intermission. The main material used for the shows comes from 'Elvis: That's the Way it is", "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii", and "Elvis on Tour". And in recent years songs from the '68 Comeback Special has been added to the mix, most notably the songs "Trouble" (which usually segues into either "Hound Dog" or "That's All Right"), and "If I Can Dream" which is used to end the first act.

During the show, a large video screen hangs above the main set upon which the video of Elvis' performance is projected. Two smaller screens hang on either side, and video of the live musicians, or special video packages are shown.

The first act usually ends with a gospel music segment. If The Imperials are performing, they perform a solo version of "He Touched Me". If the Stamps are performing, they perform an a cappella rendition of "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" (after an introduction by Elvis from the movie Elvis on Tour.) After that song, A version of "How Great Thou Art" by Elvis is played with the band. In early shows, this proved to be problematic, since the audio was taken from the 1974 live album "Elvis As Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis", but there was no video footage. Thus, the screen was left black, and only the audio was played. After a few tours, a special piece of footage was made from the 1972 movie Elvis on Tour which was edited, speeded up, and slowed down in a few places in order to have it match up with the 1974 audio.

The show always ends with Elvis' traditional show closer "Can't Help Falling in Love", and the traditional announcement of "Elvis has Left the Building." At the 1997 and 2002 concerts Elvis' former announcer Al Dvorin closed the show by saying "Elvis has left for Graceland".

After a domestic tour (which ended with a show at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, IN, the site of Elvis final live concert on June 26, 1977.), the show went to Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In 2002, a special 25th anniversary show commemorating the 25th anniversary of Presley's death was held in Memphis, TN at the Pyramid arena. This show was even bigger than the 20th anniversary concert, and featured three different acts. The first act, served a retrospective of Elvis' career from 1956 to 1968. Elvis' former drummer D.J. Fontana made an appearance, playing drums to footage from one of Elvis' appearances on the Steve Allen Show. Saxophonist Boots Randolph made an appearance as well playing sax on "Blue Suede Shoes" and on a performance of "Return to Sender." (taken from his movie Girls! Girls! Girls!) as part of a special section highlighting Elvis' career in movies.

Act 2 served the gospel side of Elvis. During a special section of gospel music, a surprise was is store for fans as J.D. Sumner's voice was multi-tracked for a performance (with Elvis and the Stamps) of "Why Me, Lord?"

Lisa Marie also made an appearance singing an original song she wrote called "Nobody Noticed It (You're Still Lovely)".

Act 3 was the usual "Elvis the Concert" show format and featured new songs, like "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" from "That's The Way It Is" outtakes. This was the only show in which John Wilkinson, who was Elvis' rhythm guitar player from 1969 to 1977, made an appearance. He is not shown on the new DVD, "Elvis Lives," but he can be seen on the fan footage of this show.

[edit] Future plans for tours

On August 16th, 2007, Elvis: The 30th Anniversary Concert was held at the Fed-Ex Forum in Memphis, Tennessee and was on a bigger scale than the 20th and 25th concerts. Booked was: Joe Guercio (musical director & conductor); the TCB Band members James Burton (lead guitar), Glen D. Hardin (piano), Jerry Scheff (bass guitar), and Ronnie Tutt (drums); Sweet Inspirations members Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown; Imperials members Sherman Andrus, Terry Blackwood Joe Moscheo and Gus Gaches; Stamps members Bill Baize, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland and Donnie Sumner; Jordanaires members Gordon Stoker and Ray Walker; D.J. Fontana (drums) and Millie Kirkham (soprano). Also appearing: The Dempseys and members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The 30th Anniversary featured another duet by Elvis Presley and Lisa Marie Presley. This time singing In The Ghetto. Video is available for download on iTunes. Also, a new opening was done for the show which feature a space view of Earth which zoomed in on Memphis and then Graceland right into the window which led to Elvis' bedroom. Their you see "Elvis" getting ready for the show with Jerry Schilling giving him his sunglasses. They go down the stairs to the outside of Graceland where they are met up with Joe Esposito then goes into a helicopter. They fly to the FedEx Forum where audio of Elvis (from CD An Afternoon In The Garden) saying "It's a big place, man". Then they land and go inside. Then the show starts. At the show, Priscilla announced that this would be the last show for Elvis The Concert.

In 2007, The 2002 25th Anniversary Concert was made available in DVD form in a disc called "Elvis Lives." The concert was shown on PBS Stations during the annual pledge week. Elvis Lives only contain Act III (70s Concert) which was a regular Elvis The Concert.

In late 2007, Elvis: The Concert will open up for The White Stripes on their European tour.

[edit] External links