Elvis
phenomenon hasn't left the building yet
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All
Elvis, all of the time … That's still the mantra in
Memphis, Tenn., at Graceland, worldwide headquarters
of all things Elvis.
It's
also where former Kansas Citian Jack Soden continues
his 20-year-plus stewardship of the King of Rock 'n'
Roll's modern-day legacy. “Everything's just going great,”
Soden reports. Starting with the all-Elvis music channel
on Sirius satellite radio network.
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“They initiated the conversation about an all-Elvis channel,
and we loved the idea,” Soden says. “It started July 7. They
built a broadcast studio at the visitor center for Graceland,
and there's a live DJ in there 24 hours a day.” It's a nice
schmooze for tourists and is commercial-free for Sirius subscribers,
Soden notes.
If all Elvis sounds
a bit much, consider this. “I look to the analogy of cable
TV,” Soden says. “I'm sure there are people who have 150 channels
but only watch one, but most people flip around. And for listeners
who want a little bit of Elvis, it's always there. Elvis is
the only one who has his own channel. XM has Frank and friends,
but that includes his friends.”
There's
even redemption for those burned out on the likes of “Hound
Dog” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” “You know, Elvis recorded 750
songs, and there aren't many artists who would have a catalog
to support an entire station,” Soden says.
“But
let's face it, some of Elvis' standards pop up on other channels.
But with the Elvis channel, they get this real mix. Needless
to say Elvis was compelled to record a number of songs in
the movies he wasn't thrilled about. But then look at the
huge, worldwide hit we had two years ago with ‘A Little Less
Conversation.' ”
As
for skeptics of the Big E … “We opened Graceland in 1982,
and ever since then someone's been predicting the impending
demise of the Elvis phenomenon,” Soden says.
“And
I always say, anyone waiting for the Elvis Presley phenomenon
to run out has a long wait ahead of them.”
All
shook up alert
The
latest hot ticket on Broadway: an Elvis-inspired musical called
“All Shook Up.” In the tradition of the wildly successful
ABBA-inspired musical “Mamma Mia.”
“Its
grand opening on Broadway is March 24, and it's going to have
a preview in Chicago starting Dec. 19,” Soden says.
“This
has been so fun. I mean, this project has been in development
for four years. From watching actors sitting on stools and
reading to the actual production.”
Forget
about the actual King being in the thing.
“There
is no Elvis character in it, it's just that the music of Elvis
is intertwined in the story,” Soden says.
“It's
very cute and fun — almost Shakespearean. Although I wouldn't
make too much of that, except it takes place in a small town,
and a stranger comes to town and starts casting spells, and
everyone falls in love with the wrong person, and it just
gets crazier and crazier.”
(News,
Source: Kansas City Star)
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