January 8th (2022) Elvis Presley’s birthday

In a few days, it will be January the 8th (2022) which is the 87th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Aron Presley (he was born in 1935).

Graceland will have visitors from around the world as it has had since its opening in 1982. Elvis’ music will be on the airways. His movies will be on television. Elvis fans around the world will acknowledge this day. Those curious about Elvis will utilize their search engines online or go old school and go to the library. Some fortunate enough will ask others, like this man, about Elvis and how it was when Elvis lived on this earth and dominated the entertainment field. I often feel kinda sorry for those who never were around to truly get to be living breathing Elvis Presley fan during his career and remarkable life.

Lisa Marie may appear or she may release a statement. Priscilla will most certainly do the same. My prayers go out to them and their family members.

Many in the “Elvis Presley community” will converse and share insights and firsthand stories about Elvis.

For those reading this if you have not yet done so, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you seek out – support – purchase their works – visit their websites – watch their videos – etc. these unique and exemplary people who are exceptional sources concerning the life of Elvis such as; Billy Smith, Jo Smith, Alanna Nash, Russ Howe, Steve Binder, Paul Lichter, Larry Geller, Jerry Schilling, Linda Thompson, Ginger Alden, Kathy Westmoreland, Betty Harper, and Sandie Kay Stevens.

Personally, I will think about what life would have been like had Elvis been with us longer. I will reflect on his failing health. His career. His love of his mother. How he influenced millions. His wonderful 4 1/2 octave vocal range. How he cared about others in need. His loyalty. His triumphs and his failures. His style. His vocal inflections. His 3 decades of works. His legacy. His loves. His compassion. His charitable endeavors. And I will revisit my own personal memories.

I wish you all a healthy, blessed, and happy 2022.

Take care and may God bless you and yours always.

Jeff Schrembs

PS: THANK YOU Jack Soden for all you have done and do for Elvis Presley fans worldwide.

Thank you

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I wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU to Elvis Presley fans worldwide, the friends/loved ones’ of Elvis who are still around, the family/friends of those who have (sadly) passed away but were an integral part of Elvis’ life story, Lisa Marie, Linda Thompson, Priscilla, Jack Soden, all of the hardworking staff at Graceland, and to those I have been blessed to know as a direct result of being an Elvis fan including but not limited to; BIlly Jo Smith and family, Alanna Nash, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Sandi Pichon, Kathy Westmoreland, etc. To anyone I failed to list please accept my apologies.

In less than a week will be the “anniversary” of the (sadly) passing of Elvis who passed away on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. I still can’t believe that I have lived on this earth not only as long as Elvis did but T H I R T E E N years…older. My heart and prayers go out to so many who on August 16, 1977 lost their father. Their friend. Their relative. Their co-worker. Their son. Their nephew. I know that time does not heal all wounds but please know how thankful I am to you and yours and may God grant you good health and success on this “anniversary” and the other 364 days of each year.

We are the last generation that lived during Elvis’ wondrous career and (sadly) far too many of us pass away each year and I encourage Elvis Presley fans everywhere to seek out these individuals. To say thank you. To support their professional endeavors Elvis related or not.

Take care and may God bless you always.

Jeff Schrembs

Prayers for Lisa Marie Presley, her children, and her family/loved ones.

Recently it has been (sadly) reported on and on about the details of Lisa Marie’s divorce proceedings. Having young children, and some over 18, divorce/custody issues are NEVER “fun”. It takes tolls each minute of each hour of each day. Lisa Marie Presley has to be strong for her children as their mother and her decisions will affect each of them throughout their lives.

I hope others will pray for Lisa Marie Presley and her family as well as for our fellow man. This world needs more forgiving, love, empathy, etc. for each of us carries the weights of our decisions. Our actions. And our choices even when there is only one “choice”. We are so “busy” and inundated with bad news/evil far and away, we don’t convey our thanks/love to one another or to our maker which everything flows from.

 

*** this article was written by Jeff Schrembs 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ***

I added this, after thought and prayer, true story for context and the hope it will lead to more understanding. More support. More prayers. etc.

At nine years old, after staying with her father over summer break, on August 16, 1977, couldn’t sleep. Her father came into her bedroom, where Lisa was on her white oval shaped bed and consoled her – kissed her forehead – and said goodnight.

Hours later Lisa Marie learned of her father’s death through the wailing of her grandfather Vernon, the cooks, members of the Memphis Mafia, etc. it was chaos. Little 9-year-old Lisa Marie picked up the red phone in Gracelands kitchen by the 4 closed circuit cameras (black and white) and put her finger into the first hole (of the telephone number) and repeated this 9 times. Linda Thompson, who had been Elvis’ girlfriend from 1972 (approx) until 1976, answered and heard Lisa Marie say “my daddy’s dead…my daddy’s’ dead”. Linda asked to speak to an adult and confirmed this nightmare was real.

Grown men, with various black belts in the martial arts, wept and fell to their knees crying. Vernon was inconsolable and he was frail due to his age and deteriorating medical issues. Women were in a state of shock but still tried to comfort Lisa Marie.

At times Little Lisa Marie tried to comfort her grandfather but he was unable to respond as his heart was literally…broken.

Lisa Marie was surrounded by men and women she knew and scores of others she did not. She was told her mother, and Linda Thompson was flying into Memphis. Lisa asked if her father would be back from the ambulance ride.

Over the next (approximately) year she would see her grandfather Vernon (sadly) die. She attended his funeral a little more mature knowing the finality of death which she endured so many feelings/emotions/loss of her father’s death. Lisa Marie was traumatized x 10000.

Legally her mother, Priscilla, now became the executor of Elvis’ estate as Vernon had died and everything went to Lisa but she was a minor so until she was 18 Priscilla would oversee everything. When her 18th birthday came she wasn’t ready so she let her mother run things until Lisa was 21. At 21 she still wasn’t able so it was extended until Lisa was 25 years old.

Immediately upon her father’s death, there were stories written, tv shows about, newspapers full of, etc. the attacks (by so many through decades upon decades ) of hearing so many accused her father of being a drug addict. That he tried to kill himself. That he was really still alive.

Lisa Marie is a talented, smart, and loving mother to her children. She never asked for this. Does anyone know how much time it takes to get over your father’s death? Or how that affects one’s decisions? One’s life? The same questions about her grandfather Vernon’s death? Keep in mind this was a very close family who openly shed tears for the death of Elvis and then Vernon. These tears were not limited to August of 1977 as for many they continue through the typing of this post.

I wish Lisa Marie, and her family, happiness – success – good health – stability – long life, etc. and that this divorce, and the monetary aspects, gets resolved very soon. Lisa Marie, like all others, should garner our sympathy and support for life is so very…very short.

When one, as this has been my experiences, falls in love and then marries before men/witnesses/God it is a beautiful thing. To have children born out of this love is a blessing. Hence, it is horrendous to have to go through divorce proceedings not only for the “adults” but also for the minor children.

No amount of money will heal the (temporary and permanent) scars on ones’ emotional state, mental state, physical state, parental state, and even the monetary state regardless of one’s last name (which in this case is beloved but brings forth far too much scrutiny, chatter, gossip, etc.) so facts and context matters but always secondary to what is right including the respect and appreciation we each should have for all of our fellow men including Lisa Marie.

Lastly, I don’t ask (with all sincerity and humility) others to pray, support, show compassion about. not feed into hurtful statements, etc about Lisa Marie Presley because of her name but…in spite of it.

Take care and may God bless you and yours…always.

Jeff Self Photo 2018 BEST ONe

Linda Thompson book to be released August 2016

*** Book cover courtesy of Amazon.com ***

 

Linda Thompson is well known to Elvis Presley fans around the world as being the woman Elvis chose to date, for a period of years, after Elvis seperated/divorced from Priscilla. But her life story is not limited to being one of the great loves of Elvis (which she was).

People email me around the world, to http://www.ElvisCollector.info and http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org, asking why I don’t have photos/videos/blogs/audio/etc. about Lisa Marie and/or Linda Thompson. My answer has been, and will forever be, that Lisa Marie has her own (blessed) memories and she has forums in which to tell her story. Thus it is not my place to interject concerning a father and his daughter.

Pertaining to Linda Thompson she also has her own story and forums in which to share and/or tell her story and I trust the judgment, and wisdom, of Linda Thompson.

My observations concerning Linda Thompson is that she really loved, and cared for above and beyond, Elvis. She is (including but not limited to); very intelligent, (no disrespect intended) but a beautiful person/woman, quick witted, funny, fashionable, loyal, trustworthy, a successful and talented writer including several beautiful songs such as “my grown up Christmas list” which, in full disclosure, is one of my favorite “contemporary Christmas songs”.  Personally she is a wonderful mother and grandmother and she exudes a spiritual (positive) spirit and can (literally) light up a room.

Her new book, scheduled to be released in August of 2016 per Amazon, is entitled “A little thing called life”. Her is the direct link for pre-ordering/ordering Linda Thompson book released August 2016. I pre-ordered her book via Amazon and look forward to receiving it,  and reading it, and I am thankful that she opted to share aspects of her life with the world. Doing so is a brave and honorable thing.

I remember first seeing Linda Thompson back in the 1970’s a couple of times and then (sadly) during Elvis’ funeral with her (if my memory is correct) mother. The first few times I saw her she was immaculately dressed and affectionate/supportive of Elvis publicly and vice versa. But when I saw her at Elvis’ funeral she was (justifiably so)…devastated. Yet she was doing everything she could, with a grace and loving heart, to comfort Lisa Marie and Vernon Presley (who was beyond crushed and it was very moving/touching to see how many friends/family members/co-workers/relatives/etc. were doing everything they could for Vernon. But, his sorrow went to his marrow). His heart. His soul. He loved his son and I don’t know how he was able to get through Elvis’ funeral and the months afterward until he (sadly) died.

Interestingly Linda’s older brother, Sam Thompson, worked  in a security capacity for Elvis from 1972 until 1976 (approximately when Linda Thompson and Elvis ended their relationship). Sam Thompson went on to have a successful career and I wish him continued success in all of his personal and professional endeavors.

I have always encouraged Elvis Presley fans to; reach out, support, let them know how much they are respected and appreciated, add their various works to their collection(s), seek out, and acknowledge their lives and their sacrifices (which include the sacrifices of their family/loved ones). These sentiments are, of course, applicable to Linda Thompson.

I have always believed that Elvis Presley fans are the most loyal, and diverse, fans in the world. I hope that they, and tens of thousands of others, purchase her book – encourage family/friends to do so – and share their feedback via social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc.).

I say this (in part) because Linda Thompson has had a unique life , and is not solely about Elvis but includes aspects about Elvis from her firsthand perspective, and any endeavor she is involved in, in my opinion, is a worthwhile endeavor and should be very interesting. I look forward to reading her book and I am thankful she took the time to write this long awaited book.

Take care and may God bless you and yours…always.

 

Jeff Schrembs

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* Please feel free to share this blog post via social media. As always your comments are appreciated. Thank you

 

 

Elvis (Presley) week August 2015

1961 candid head down Elvis sad looking

This being August of 2015 Elvis, even more than routinely, will be in the forefront of media attention not only for it being (sadly) the 38th anniversary of his passing (i.e. August 16, 1977) but for the United States Postal Service offering a “forever Elvis Stamp”.

While many will be traveling to Graceland, or getting together in person and/or online with other Elvis fans, there will be many who will acknowledge their memories of Elvis privately. Regardless of geographical location with the plethora of Elvis’ professional material available for sale, and/or on the internet, is extensive and much of which is of quality.

On one page of the website http://www.ElvisCollector.info I have the names of those who were integral part of Elvis’ life but (sadly) they too have passed away. After much thought, and with an emphasis of respect to the loved ones and family members of those who have passed, I decided on incorporating this into the site.

Many of those listed on the site I was fortunate enough to know, or have met, or have spoken with, or have communicated with, and/or I was able to (over a period of decades) convey my appreciation and respect. I continue to keep their family, and loved ones, in my prayers knowing that there are no words that can heal the loss that they have endured through the very writing of this post.

Knowing full well that we are the last generation with personal connections to Elvis, while he was alive in his prime, and performing to sold out crowds throughout the United States. Man, those days seem….like a lifetime ago.

To Lisa Marie, Priscilla, EPE, Jack Soden, etc. thank you for allowing Elvis Presley fans to view Graceland since 1982.

To so many that loved Elvis, and Elvis loved and trusted, such as; Marty Lacker, Red West, Sonny West, Billy Smith, Jerry Schilling, Joe Esposito, Sandi Pichon, Sandie Kay Stevens, Kay Wheeler, Kathy Westmoreland, etc. they were (individually and collectively) integral parts of Elvis life – his successes – etc. onstage and off. To each I say “thank you”.

To Alanna Nash, Russ Howe, JAT, Paul Litcher, etc. thank you for your professional endeavors which include unique books – exhibits – websites – dvd – cd’s – etc. about Elvis Presley’s incredible life.

I listen to Elvis music routinely. So many of the songs I not only know the lyrics by heart but have listed to (literally) thousands of times. Some of these songs were the backdrop of my youth and even in my twilight years I always enjoy, and am impressed by, countless recordings/concerts/dvds/cds/tv appearances/movies that Elvis made in his three decades in the entertainment field.

There will never be another Elvis.

One of the primary lessons of Elvis’ life is that he was blessed with God given talents and he found the strength to pursue his talents, working extremely hard at his craft, and in many ways became an inspiration.

Take care and may God bless you.

Jeff Schrembs

http://www.ElvisCollector.info

http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org

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