Elvis and Celine - The Stunning Duet from American Idol

Our friends at American Idol wrote an exciting new chapter in Elvis history on the "Idol Gives Back" special on April 25th. Through the magic of video editing and rotoscope technology, Elvis Presley and Celine Dion performed "If I Can Dream" together. The presentation was absolutely stunning - both musically and technologically. "If I Can Dream" is about peace, brotherhood and hope for a better day. It was the perfect choice of Elvis song for the theme of the show. The Idol Gives Back initiative is all about helping children in need in Africa and the United States.The Elvis/Celine duet completely wowed television viewers and has been making the news everywhere. Today it's the number one video download on iTunes. Your purchase of the download on iTunes benefits Idol Gives Back.We congratulate everyone at American Idol who was involved in making the Elvis/Celine duet happen and we tip our hats to Celine for doing a beautiful, classy job singing with our guy.

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Elvis' Lyrics Published Online

Here is an excerpt of the press release on the addition of song lyrics from Elvis' catalogue on the Yahoo! and Gracenote online database. Press releaseYahoo! Music (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Gracenote(R) today announced a new licensing deal allowing Yahoo! Music to offer the largest catalog of legal, licensed song lyrics from Gracenote to Yahoo! Music's consumers. Beginning today, song lyrics for hundreds of thousands of songs from all five major publishers will be incorporated into Yahoo! Music through Gracenote's growing database. The agreement with Gracenote makes Yahoo! Music the first mass-market Web service to make licensed song lyrics available to consumers. Through the agreement, consumers can search for song lyrics from the Yahoo! Music Search bar, simply by entering even a partial lyric from the song. Consumers will have viewing access to lyrics from nearly 100 music publishers, including the top five: BMG Music Publishing, EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, and dozens of prominent independent publishers. The addition of a comprehensive lyrics library complements existing Yahoo! Music products and services such as radio, music videos and on-demand music offerings, Gracenote began developing its Lyrics program more than two years ago, with the goal of building the first and most comprehensive database of legal, accurate song lyrics for consumers. The deal between Yahoo! Music and Gracenote is an important step toward enhancing the digital music experience of the consumer while protecting the legal and artistic rights of songwriters and music publishers. "Song lyrics are continually among the top 10 searches performed on major search engines, though the results often provide consumers a frustrating experience filled with inconsistent and incomplete lyrics, and annoying pop-ups," said Craig Palmer, president and chief executive officer of Gracenote. "With Gracenote and Yahoo!, consumers will have access to the largest database of high quality lyrics linked directly to the rich album and artist content available throughout Yahoo! Music."

Coming Soon From JAT Productions

JAT Productions announced their next projects for 2007. The next book is related to the movie "Tickle Me" and scheduled for August 2007, while volume 3 of the "Hot Shots and Cool Clips" is due for release late 2007. Also due for release is the none Elvis release "Country's Golden Hits".

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Elvis Owned Ring To Be Auctioned

Grey Flannel Auctions reports that on May 16: Movie and Elvis fans will check in to see many sparkling items, among them a fire opal ring given by Presley to Ginger Alden, then his fiance. For more details go to the Greyflannelauctions website.

Jerry Schilling To Promote TCM Event

Jerry Schilling, author of “Me and a guy named Elvis” and longtime friend of Elvis, is wrapping up a European visit. He met with his publisher in London, and did promotion work for TCM, including a series of interviews. Jerry will be the tv-host for the special TCM Day on August 16th. Details soon to follow. “Me and a guy named Elvis” sold 40.000 copies so far. Jerry: “This is beyond my expectation. The book hasn’t been released that long, and there’s already a third print, with the UK release, the pocketbook release and Elvis Week yet to come.”

Rockin' The Blue Board, Vol. 1

According to a posting on the For Elvis CD Collector's forum members of a German forum site received an almost free (5 Euro) CD entitled "Rockin' The Blue Board, Vol. 1" containing an audience recording of Elvis' midnight show at the Hilton from August 20, 1973. This concert was previously released on the Fort Baxter Box "A Profile, The King on Stage". This should be a real silver pressed CD, the cover isn't available yet, but the producers apparently used a fifties image. From the posting on the FECC forum:Title: Rockin' The Blue Board, Vol. 1 Label: Forum Records Label Number: FOR 20081973 Release Date: 2007 Recording Type: Audience Recording + Soundboard Location: Las Vegas, Hilton Hotel Date: August 20 - 1973 , Midnight Show Sound: Excellent !

Track Listing: 01 2001 Theme 01:11
02 C.C. Rider 03:12
03 I Got A Woman / Amen
03:46 04 Love Me 01:29
05 Steamroller Blues 02:47
06 You Gave Me A Mountain 03:10
07 Trouble 02:03
08 Blue Suede Shoes 01:02
09 Rock 'n' Roll Medley 02:43
10 Love Me Tender 01:46
11 Fever 02:46
12 What Now My Love 02:55
13 Suspicious Minds 03:49
14 Band introductions 01:49
15 My Boy 03:24
16 Release Me 02:09
17 An American Trilogy 04:01
18 Mystery Train / Tiger Man 02:21
19 Help Me Make It Through The Night 01:47
20 How Great Thou Art 02:39
21 Can't Help Falling In Love 01:36
22 Closing Vamp 00:51
23 When The Snow Is On The Roses (24-08-70) 01:57
24 Hound Dog (27-05-74) 02:07
25 Big Boss Man (06-10-74) 02:37
26 Return To Sender (01-08-76) 02:01
27 Moody Blue (21-02-77) 03:49
28 Proud Mary (19-08-74) 03:15
29 Promised Land (19-08-74) 02:46
30 Rags To Riches (31-12-76) 02:25
31 Elvis Talks To The Audience (28-09-74) 03:06
32 Jailhouse Rock (21-02-77) 02:03

Tracks 23-32 are bonus songs from various shows


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Ticketmaster Online Auction: VIP Tickets for Elvis: The 30th Anniversary Concert

Exclusive front-row location with backstage hospitality in addition to regular VIP ticket benefits. UPDATE: On April 5, this page was updated with information addressing questions from bidders outside the United States. The one-night-only Elvis Presley Enterprises/SEG Events production Elvis: The 30th Anniversary Concert, reuniting Elvis via video with a large cast of his former band-mates live on stage, will be presented at the FedExForum in Memphis at 8:00 PM on August 16, 2007. During the period of April 3-16, 2007 there will be an online-only auction of ten (10) front-row VIP tickets that, unlike the VIP tickets made available in the regular sale, are for seats on the front row and include the addition of backstage hospitality room access. Auction details: Front Row VIP Package Auction: 10 VIP tickets to be auctioned in sets of 2 or 4. Minimum bid: $275.00 per ticket. Includes: Regular VIP benefits PLUS backstage hospitality and front-row seat location. Begins: 10: 00 AM CST, April 3, 2007 Ends: 5:00 PM CST, April 16, 2007 Auction location is online only on Ticketmaster.com at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/8sqdc6 Tickets to the concert went on sale in September 2006. VIP tickets priced at $250 each sold out in twenty minutes. A VIP ticket entitles the bearer to prime seating for the show, access to a VIP reception room (not backstage) before and after the concert to enjoy beverage service and hors d'oeuvres, an opportunity to mingle with the cast in the reception room, and a special gift package of commemorative concert merchandise. Only the ten (10) front-row VIP tickets that are being auctioned also include access to the backstage hospitality room that will be home-base for the cast, production team, EPE management and corporate guests throughout the evening. Bidding from Outside the United States:The auctions are available only to customers who have a United States billing address. In order to be eligible to participate in a Ticketmaster auction, one must have a "My Ticketmaster Account" with a credit card that has a billing address in the country the event will take place and passes the Ticketmaster Auction bidding authorization process. Ticketmaster is working toward accommodating international bidders in the near future, but, unfortunately, not in time for the ticket auctions for Elvis: The 30th Anniversary Concert. Additional Upcoming VIP Ticket Auction Soon after, a certain number of additional regular VIP tickets will be auctioned on Ticketmaster.com at http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/3ffcg4. These prime seats have become available due to a change in concert production set-up plans. These will have the regular VIP ticket-holder benefits. The minimum bid will be $275.00 per ticket. This second auction will run from 10:00 AM CST on April 18, 2007 until 5:00 PM CST on April 30. Additional Seat Releases – Regular Sale REMINDER: As explained in a Concert FAQ posted last year on Elvis.com, the producers of Elvis: The30th Anniversary Concert have had to hold back a certain number of seats in the regular $90.00, $75.00 and $50.00 price categories to accommodate known and potential corporate and sponsor commitments, special contingencies, and finalization of concert production space needs. Releases of held-back tickets will happen on various dates from now until show night. These tickets will be put back in the normal sales operation of Ticketmaster and the FedExForum box office. Regular tickets, subject to current availability, can be purchased via Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com or by Ticketmaster phone at (901) 525-1515. Tickets also may be purchased in person at all Ticketmaster Retail Ticket Center locations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri and in person at the FedExForum box office.


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The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest

The next preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest is May 18-20 at the Tampa Elvis Festival. The festival is currently accepting Elvis Tribute Artist registrations for the contest. In addition, tickets for the Qualifying Round and Finals of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in Memphis during Elvis Week are on sale now.


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New EPE Ad Campaign: Discover Your Inner Elvis

The folks who market the late Elvis Presley on Monday will unveil the first national ad campaign for Graceland, The King's 13-acre estate in Memphis, in an effort to rock 'n' roll tourism there this summer and strike up the brand. TV spots and a dedicated website will feature the theme "Discover your Inner Elvis" in a summer-long promotion that also commemorates the 30th anniversary of Presley's death."We consider it our responsibility to share the legacy of Elvis with visitors," says Paul Jankowski, chief marketing officer of Elvis Presley Enterprises. Graceland was Presley's primary residence during the 20 years leading up to his death in August 1977. It's an important source of revenue for EPE and its parent company CKX, whose assets also include American Idol and marketing rights for boxer Muhammad Ali. Tourist spending at Graceland rose 12.1%, to $13 million, in 2006 vs. 2005, CKX reports. Many visitors paid the highest fee for VIP tickets that, among other things, enabled them to go to the front of the lines. But attendance was flat at 554,193, which the company says was partly due to high gas prices. Still, CKX is investing heavily to generate interest in The King. "CKX has given us the ability to explore a lot of ideas that had been floating around a long time," Jankowski says. On the table: •Inner Elvis. The new ad campaign is "the most we've ever spent on advertising," Jankowski says. The ad, which will run on cable networks including Lifetime, Oxygen, and E!, features a woman dressed as Elvis performing on stage at his famous Aloha from Hawaii concert. At the end, viewers see that she has imagined the scene after looking at a jumpsuit on display at Graceland. The new website, DiscoverElvis.com, will offer Graceland news and admission discounts.•Competition. Taking a page from Idol, Elvis impersonators can compete in the "Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest." Regional winners from a 20-city tour will compete for more than $10,000 in prizes and a recording session in a finale during Elvis Week, an annual Graceland confab filled with special events.•New products. Elvis will appear on a limited edition Reese's candy this summer in a promotion that gives consumers instant-win prizes including a trip for two to Graceland and an Elvis car. American Greetings also will use the anniversary to expand its line of Christmas tree ornaments. Three decorations designed as jukeboxes play songs as an Elvis image appears on a small screen.In addition, American Greetings will feature Elvis this fall on greeting cards, including a new line of audio cards. •More Elvis, more Graceland. Cirque du Soleil will produce and develop an Elvis-themed tour and has signed a deal with EPE for a permanent Cirque de Soleil show in Las Vegas based on the life, times and music of Elvis. The show is expected to open in November 2009.CKX also wants to freshen and expand Graceland with a bigger visitors center, new attractions, shops and a boutique hotel. The company last year acquired 22 acres of land surrounding Graceland as part of the plans.

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Elvis Lives DVD Chart Update

The "Elvis Lives" DVD dropped to #5 from last week's #4 in its eight week of release in the official Belgian (Flemish part of the country) Music DVD chart. In the Canarian Islands it remains steady at #4 in the third week on the chart. On the Canarian Islands album chart the "ELV1S 30#1 hits" climbs up to #42 from last week's #50 after being present for four weeks in the chart (peaking at #37). On the Irish album chart "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" climbs up to #63 from last week's #78 and in Spain it climbs to #34 from #36. In Canada "Elvis lives" charted one week coming in at #10 in the official Canadian DVD chart three weeks ago while the "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" compilation remains steady at #74 in the Top 100 Country chart in its 237th week while "Ultimate Gospel" dropped to #72 from last week's #42 on that chart.

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Elvis Lives

PULL on your blue suede shoes and start practising your lip curl – the search is on for the best Liverpool Elvis. Fans of the King are invited to take part in a national competition, Britain’s Best Elvis 2007, to find the most convincing impersonator. The Merseyside heat will take place at Southport Theatre on April 21 and Elvises are expected to try out their crooning and hip-swiveling gyrations on a panel of judges. Lovers of Elvis, male and female and of any age, will get the chance to battle it out for three places in the One Night Of Elvis: The Return To Memphis show to take place that night. The audience will pick a winner to go to the UK grand final in Blackpool in June, where they will battle it out for a place in the international final in Memphis, USA, in August. The competition, organised by the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club of Great Britain, kicks off at 1pm, with the show to follow at 7.30pm. Todd Slaughter, who has run the club for 40 years, said: “It is great fun. We want to hear from Elvis’s with a Merseyside accent – not a fake Memphis one. We’d love to see female Elvis’s and kids too. “Elvis is a great communicator and is still inspiring people 30 years after his death. People adore his music. There is a huge appetite and audience for Elvis even after all these years. “When we have organised prev-ious searches we have been inundated with Elvis’s. People have to be prepared to sing one Elvis song, without backing, for the judges. It is a bit like X-Factor but without the Simon Cowell cynicism. “We are looking for someone with a great voice and personality. We know people will turn up in sunglasses and wigs and jumpsuits that have been made for them. “It is a really good opportunity for our winner to compete for a nice holiday to Memphis.” Are you Merseyside’s best Elvis? If so contact Mary Murtagh on 0151-472 2504 or email: mary murtagh@liverpoolecho.co.uk www.atouchofelvis.co.uk

New BMG Releases

Due for release May 4, 2007 are two new BMG releases according to the German Amazon. Set for release on the RCA International label (Sony / BMG) is the 2 CD compilation "The Early Years". Currently this release is is #8500 on the German Amazon CD sales.Due for release on the Ar-Express label (Sony / BMG) is the compilation "Hit Collection". Currently this release is is #8499 on the German Amazon CD sales.

Track Listing

1. Love Me Tender - From the 20th
2. It's Now Or Never
3. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
4. Don't
5. Loving You
6. Can't Help Falling In Love
7. Love Letters
8. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
9. That's When Your Heartaches Begin
10. True Love
11. Young And Beautiful
12. Doin' The Best I Can
13. Something Blue
14. Angel
15. That's Someone You Never Forget
16. Just Pretend
17. For The Good Times
18. Woman Without Love
19. He'll Have To Go
20. It's Impossible


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