Flat Elvis Tour Page 3

I am in Georgia with Elaine Greene	Gray, Georgia	Flat Elvis Comes To Tattnall Square
Before the school year ended, excitement came to Elaine Greene's (Laine314) 7th Grade Honors Class at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon, Georgia. The seventh grade students got "All Shook Up" when they heard that the "King of Rock n Roll" was coming to visit. BEV TCB told Laine that it was "Now or Never" if she wanted to participate "Way Down" south in Georgia by "U. S. Male". Laine said that she would "Return to Sender" Flat Elvis as soon as she could. Her class thought it was "Too Much" when he arrived. Laine thought Flat Elvis was definitely a " Good Luck Charm," since she was "Raised on Rock" and had many "Memories" of her love for Elvis' music. "My Wish Came True".....Flat Elvis comes to TSA. Shelley and Emily are all smiles for they know wherever Elvis is that there will always be "Good Rockin Tonight". "Welcome To My World"....Room 304.... where students call it "The Elvis Room". Here students can "Follow That Dream" and where students can "Ask Me" and find answers for their "Suspicious Minds". Flat Elvis is surrounded by the memorabilia that has been given to Laine over the years by her students. It was "Something" for the "Guitar Man". The girls knew he was "The King of The Whole Wide World" for here "It's Only Love" in room 304.	It's Kindergarten Graduation at TSA and Flat Elvis joins the celebration with The Busy Bees ("Just Pretend") Elvis knew there would be "A Little Less Conversation" with them, but he definitely could not say " I Got Stung" or "Hurt" by these cute bees. He did tell them "Softly As I Leave You" that "I'll Remember You". In Biology Lab, Flat Elvis was looking for a "Hard Headed Woman" in Nancy Massey's class. "I Gotta Know," "For The Heart," "Where Do I Go From Here"? "Such An Easy Question"! She said, " Anything That's Part of You" can sometimes spell "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", but Will Hamrick found no sign of " A Wooden Heart", only "A Big Hunka Love". "Any Way You Want Me, That's How I Will Be". Diane and Mabel, faithful lunchroom ladies, did their best to find some fried bananas and peanut butter for "Big E". Mabel said, "I Feel So Bad" as if I were " A Mess Of Blues". Flat Elvis told her "That's All Right, Mama." Diane said " I Beg Of You", Flat Elvis, I will be " Moody Blue" "If You Don' Come Back" so we can make your favorite sandwich. "Girls, Girls, Girls" ......."Ain't That Lovin You, Baby?" (Did an English teacher really ask that?) These girls went "Tutti Frutti" when Flat Elvis joined them at their lunch table.	"One Broken Heart For Sale". Not here. The girls were " Girl Happy" to show Flat Elvis that "I'm Yours" with the Elvis Valentine tins and by "Pledging My Love' to make sure they TCB.... "Take Care of Business"...of keeping Elvis' memory alive. Laine (left) and Beth (right) are true Elvis fans and make trips to "Memphis, Tennessee" for Elvis Week. They were thrilled to have Flat Elvis visit their Graceland at TSA. Adventures with them can sometimes be "Double Trouble" where "For The Good Times" they "Roustabout" with Elvis friends they meet at Graceland Crossing. They "Can't Help Falling In Love" with the musical legacy of Elvis Presley". "That's Someone You Never Forget". Flat Elvis could not leave without a visit from his youngest fan, four month old Hudson Laine Benton, granddaughter of Laine314. She already has a smile on her face when she sees him. Hudson will be "Loving You" and your music "Today, Tomorrow, and Forever" just as Laine does. The students know "Until It's Time For You To Go" that there's a "Gotta Lotta Living To Do" but "Softly, As I Leave You", Flat Elvis gave them this advice: "Don't Be Cruel" to one another "Love Me Tender" to all you meet. "Anything That's Part of You" is special. "All That I Am" is up to you. "If I Can Dream" then you can do anything. "We Call On Him" for all that we are and do. FLAT ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.
A Road Trip to Memphis and Tupelo with Flat Elvis!	Culver City, California	By Paul & Joan Gansky
Hmmm!? The curbs seem much higher than I recall! But, it’s good to visit my “Home Sweet Home” Graceland again! Sun Studio – I drove by Mr. Phillips studio many times in my Crown Electric pickup truck. Finally, I got up enough nerve to go in and cut a record for my Mom! Lansky’s – What a surprise to find Mr. Lansky in the Peabody Hotel, near those ducks! He’s still selling cool duds, with his usual personal attention to his delighted customers! I had dinner here at Anna’s Steakhouse with Paul, Rose, Joan and their friends. The steaks are the best in town and what a fantastic collection of memorabilia from Humes High in every room! Rose (holding my leg) was in my class of 1953! Anna went there too! This is a great restaurant! Sad to hear Anna is selling her fine restaurant and “museum” contents soon. This is the house where I was born in Tupelo. Glad to know it’s still here! The new surroundings sure look beautiful! I got my first library card here at the Lee County Library in Tupelo! It was in 1948, so I must have been 13. I read a lot, and got started on a lifetime of reading. Fairgrounds – I see they’ve even put up a plaque to commemorate my fund-raiser concerts here! Cool! But, what is the City Hall doing here?	Elvis Presley Trauma Center – It makes me very proud to see how my fans are still honoring my name by supporting the EP Trauma Center in Memphis! Overton Park Shell – I was soooo nervous when I made my first appearance before a large audience here! My legs got to shakin’ and wouldn’t quit! For some reason, the girls seemed to like it!!!! Poplar Tunes – Hey! This is where I bought my records way back when! And, they stocked my Sun records after Dewey Phillips played them on his “Red, Hot & Blue” radio show from Hotel Chiska over near Beale Street. Paul and Joan took me back to my old apartment in Lauderdale Courts! I lived here for 4 years during high school. It was great having my own bedroom, and Beale Street nearby. Joan and Paul showed me that Johnny’s BBQ in Tupelo is till serving great pulled pork sandwiches and hamburgers! And, they are sitting in my favorite booth! Don’t quite know why I’m standing on my head in Paul’s pocket again! Seems like I traveled a lot this-a-way on the 6,000 mile road trip! I used to come to see movies here at the Lyric Theater when I was a kid in Tupelo! I especially enjoyed the Saturday matinees and serials. Donny Edwards along with two other singers took the stage for me for the 2006 Tupelo Homecoming concert, performing with the Jordanaires and the Dempseys! Very interesting to see so many people here who attended the 1956 show, and now the 2006 show!	Humes – So, my old high school is a middle school now! It’s so cool that the old Eagle’s Nest (now Americana Club) is still standing! Some of my earliest appearances were here. I’d go on stage and sing a few songs whenever the paid entertainers took a break! Libertyland – Look! It’s my favorite ride, the “Zippin’ Pippin” roller coaster! Sad to see Libertyland closed and all the rides up for sale. Nice meeting the security guy know as “The King”!!!! Glad he’s TCB-ing on these premises where I had so much fun with my friends late at night. Wow! Three really hot blondes on my bed!!! Sue, Sandi and Joan! I remember each of them and know they could tell you some good stories about meeting me When I was a kid in Tupelo, Milam School was my junior high. All of these ladies with Paul at the Lyric Theater were in the front row at my 1956 concert in Tupelo! Pat, Elizabeth, Royce, Gloria and Joyce, from Alamo, Tennessee! Glad you “Alamo Girls” could all come to the 2006 - 50-Year repeat of my Homecoming performance! Great to meet Roy Turner, Tupelo resident history buff, mastermind of the Tupelo Homecoming Concert, and the upcoming documentary, “Homecoming – Tupelo Welcomes Elvis Home”. Thanks for everything, Roy! First class all the way!
Came back to Albuquerque to visit my dear friend Margaret Freisinger	Albuquerque New Mexico	Seeing this Tupelo doll brought back memories of my birthplace in Mississippi. "Every dream that I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times. "
Since I missed meeting the Elvis Club of Albuquerque members last visit, I was invited back for the festive 4th of July party which included a marvelous fireworks display. Loved the fireworks!	Here I am with some of my Albuquerque fans... standing tall and proud holding the Stars and Stripes.
Visiting Terry Sandahl	Centennial, Colorado	FLAT ELVIS IN COLORADO !!
Here I am in glorious Colorado ~~ One of my favorite places to visit! I’m here visiting my long time fan Terry, and she’s taking me to some great places. So here we go~~~ First we stopped at her office so she could show me what she’s done. There’s a lot more on the other walls, but this was the most impressive. Here’s a shot of the memorial outside the station dedicated to all the fallen officers. Very impressive. Here I am at the Continental Divide. This is nose bleed country for sure!! And the slopes where I had a ton of fun with my snow mobiles~~ Okay~~last stop before I head out is Tiny Town. Now here’s a place that’s just my size!! Last stop was the radio station to see if I’ve got anything on the charts.	Next we took a trip down to the Denver Police Department. When I hit the door the Sergeant said, Hey, it’s Flat Elvis!! Come on in! No need to run our boy through the scanner. He’s one of us! Unfortunately this picture was very dark and Terry couldn’t get it light enough. Checkin out some badges and me in the pokey! Next on the tour was Vail, Colorado. Now there’s a gorgeous little village! Hey, how would this moose look in the jungle room??? Had to check out the Harley shop here. Maybe I can pick up a Fat Boy!! Okay~~It’s time to head on down the road. Got a flight to catch to New York and the American Idol concert July 15^th. It sure was great being in Colorado again. Thanks for inviting me. Adios my friend, FE	Here’s a pic of me with my friend Art Dill, who was the police chief when I was hanging with the boys. He was a great chief Had to check out some bling while I was in town for sure. Or how bout this lone wolf??? Course there’s some sweet lookin’ cars in the showroom here too. Thank you Terry for a wonderful trip down memory lane, that was fun!!
Im visiting Ruth Pirkle In Georgia	Gainesville, Georgia	Ruth is sharing me with her sister Wilda on this trip to Georgia
I arrived in Gainesville, GA to spend some time with Ruth who's a big fan of mine and a member of the Elvis Insiders, the group I've been hearing a lot about. A couple days after I got here, her family held their annual family reunion. Man, look at all that food. Nothing like good southern cooking.	Ruth had on a t-shirt with me on it and this young fellow, her cousin's grandson, asked her if she'd been to Memphis. He started asking her about me and then he saw that I was there! Turns out he's a big fan of mine and wants to go see Graceland. I'm amazed, man, at the number of young kids that have become my fans. I enjoyed the food and meeting Ruth's relatives, though a lot of them she didn't know cause she only sees them once a year. They all seemed to know who I was, though. Nice people...well, this one guy kept saying 'I told you he was alive! I told you he was alive!' Stone cold freak, man!	I got to meet Ruth's grandson, Alex. He has this friend named Elmo, but Alex calls him Elvis. Cute! That jumpsuit looks familiar too... We're resting here after dancing to a couple of my old songs that Elmo sings but has modified a little bit. Alex is waiting on a new little brother to be born and Ruth's stepmother was in the hospital, so we sorta stayed close to home. I'm gonna hang around Gainesville a few more days and spend some time with Ruth's sister, Wilda, who is also an Elvis Insider.
Still in Georgia now visiting Ruth's sister Wilda Southers	Gainesville, Georgia	Being in the South sure reminds me of my Graceland home!
Wilda is a retired senior sergeant with the Sheriff's Patrol Division and now works part-time in the quartermaster office. She said she wanted to take me to work with her. All the people she works with were really glad to see me. She took me to meet the Sheriff, Steve Cronic. Sheriff Cronic was very gracious and said he knew how I loved law enforcement. He presented me with a badge and made me an honorary deputy with the Hall County Sheriff's Office. Man, that was such an honor. That Sheriff Cronic is a fine man. He has some really great people working for him.	(NOTE FROM WILDA: The sheriff wanted to investigate Elvis' missing feet, but he was afraid he wouldn't have a leg to stand on.) Here I am with Wilda, Jonathan Jackson and Nero, the wonder dog. The sheriff's office has five patrol canines. Nero is the smallest but the toughest and we became buddies pretty fast. Joe Groover, Nero's partner, took the pictures of all of us. Joe came in second in the state in the Police/Fire games as 'Tough Cop'. Wilda was going to take me to a party but her stepmother had to have surgery and she went to the hospital in Atlanta to be with her. That was much more important than a party. What are parrotheads, anyway???	Investigator Jason Crisp let me sit on his desk while he told me about some of the cases he was working on. When I get off this tour I may come back to Gainesville and see if they'll let me work with them for a while. I've enjoyed the time I spent with Ruth and Wilda here in Gainesville, but I must travel on now to see some more of my fans. I'll meet up with them again in Memphis next year when I make it back home after this tour is over.
Visiting my friend Donna Deen	Plano, Texas	Donna will be taking me to Oklahoma and to Kansas on her trip
I headed back to my ol’ stomping grounds in Texas to visit my friend Donna. Donna and her Mom were planning a trip to Oklahoma and Kansas and invited me to come along! Before we left, I watched a little TV. Watching Bush & Koizumi on TV while visiting Graceland. Unbelievable, man. President & Mrs. Bush and the Prime Minister, Koizumi of Japan are in my house! And I’m not there to greet them! Oh, well….it looks like Cilla and Yisa did a good job of showing them around. It’s such an honor to have the President and Prime Minister come to Graceland. I’m humbled. Beauty queens in Oklahoma City) Donna, her Mom and two of her Mom’s high school friends traveled to Oklahoma City for a swanky luncheon with the members of Classen High’s Class of ’49 (Donna of course reminded me that she graduated from high school years later!). We also visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial and paid our respects to those who died in the terrible bombing on April 19, 1995. On a lighter note, we took a canal ride in Bricktown (lots of stores, restaurants and cool statues to look at!). Donna couldn’t resist having my picture taken with three Miss Americas who graduated from Oklahoma City University. You know me, I like women, especially pretty ones! The Miss Americas represented here are Jane Jayroe, 1967; Susan Powell, 1981; and Shawntel Smith, 1996. Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa	Donna’s Mom’s friends flew back to Texas and Donna, her Mom and I traveled on up to Tulsa, Oklahoma. We took in some culture at the Gilcrease Museum, which houses a lot of Western art and Indian artifacts. Here I am just outside the museum admiring this Indian. Wonder what he’s shooting at? Little House near Independence, KS) Donna and her Mom drove up to Bartlesville, Oklahoma to stay with cousin Mary Ann her husband Bill. They were fun folks to hang out with! One day we drove up to near Independence, Kansas to check out the site where the real “Little House on the Prairie” stood. Donna’s a big fan of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I’m checking out the Ingalls’ travels over the years. Looks like the Ingalls family got around as much as I did during my concert years! "Here's Donna, her cousin Mary Ann and me in front of a hang-dug well at the 'Little House' site in Kansas. Man, I could use a bottle of Mountain Valley water right now.... With buffalo at Woolaroc Whoa! This herd of buffalo stopped traffic as we left Woolaroc, which is 12 miles from Bartlesville, OK.	Oklahoma Kansas At Woolaroc, you can tour the museum (more Western art and Indian artifacts—even shrunken heads!), visit the lodge where Frank Phillips (of Phillips 66 oil/gas fame) entertained world leaders, entertainers, dignitaries and other bigwigs of the day and navigate your way through the wildlife preserve. Besides buffalo, we saw elk, goats, ostrich, horses, llamas, cattle and even an emu! Naw, I ain't in Saudi Arabia--this oil well's at the Oklahoma State Capitol Building! I came to the Oklahoma State Capitol to meet some Okie lawmakers, but nobody's here today! "How lucky can a guy get? Here I am with six lovely ladies in OKC!" THANK YOU DONNA FOR TAKING ME ALONG ON YOUR VACATION AND FOR SHOWING ME A GOOD TIME..
Megan Murphy from New Jersey & Henrik Knudsen from Denmark took me home for a visit	Memphis Tennessee	HOME SWEET HOME
I arrived at Graceland Here on the lawn of Graceland I'm doing an early morning walk up. Arriving at Sun Studios brings sweet memories.	I'm looking across Elvis Presely Blvd...at Graceland I'm here on EP Blvd looking at the LisaMarie... wondering if I should take it to Denver for Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches. I still like checking out the girls on Beale Street. Been a long time since I was on Beale!	I love going to the gates of Graceland to sign autographs for my fans. checking out the Chisca Hotel where I used to go visit Dewey Phillips radio show. looking at my former club and remembering when it was Lansky's shop. heading over to the Sirius Elvis booth to visit with Doc Walker.
Arrived in Maryland to visit Kimba Robinson	Hagerstown, Maryland	Thanks Kimba for the Martial Arts work out, that was a real treat! Howie it was nice jamming with you.
After a long, ten-hour drive from Brunswick, Maine, I arrived in Hagerstown, Maryland. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to take in the sights this time around but Kimba went out of her way to introduce me to Ron-Don. No burgers and fries for me tho.....Kimba promised me a P.B. and Banana wich	Plans to do some Bluegrass Jamming with the Wagner's (Kimba's parents) were cancelled so we had an intimate session with just the three of us (Kimba, Me and her son Howie.) Howie and I became fast friends.	*His favorite song is Teddy Bear* and can HE sing! Got in a good workout practicing martial arts with Kimba right before I left.**
EMERGENCY! FLAT ELVIS RESCUE NOTE: It was wondered how long it would be before we had a Flat Elvis mishap. would a strong wind come along and blow him away, or would he fall overboard into the ocean off a cruise ship? Howie had me in the pool with him and we were having fun when I accidentally fell in the water.	OH NO! Kimba didn't know if I could swim or float, so the next thing I knew Kimba jumped in the pool with her clothes on and rescued me from drowning! Wow she really cared about me. Check this out here I am between Kimba's toes, good rescue Kimba!	Safe and sound back with my buddy Howie to have more fun. Good thing I am laminated really good! Every once in awhile Howie would ask his mom if I am really okay that I didn't drown.....it's the cutest thing. Even Howie cares about me. I really am loved.
I'm here in Maine visiting Laurie Rando	Brunswick, Maine	Gonna have me some Lobster!
I arrived in Boston the morning of July 5th. My friend Laurie and her fiance Paul picked me up. They also had their friend Kimba and her son Howie fly in from Maryland at the same time. We decided to stay in Mass for a couple of days and go to the beach cottage. As luck would have it, the batteries to the digital camera would not work. This is a place I could hang out forever, nice and private. After spending a relaxing two days there we headed to Laurie's place in Maine. The first thing Kimba wanted to do was eat some Maine Lobster!!!	Kimba, FE & Howie Laurie, FE, Robert & Kimba	We had a very relaxing time in Brunswick Maine. The weather wasn't the best for sightseeing. It rained a lot, but we made the best of it. I got to see a lot of old friends, that's what's important. The girls decided to take me out for a surprise night on the town. Of course, the papparazzi was everywhere!!!! Don't believe what you read in the tabloids, it's never true! Kimba, FE & Laurie My stay in Maine was refreshing. It's always great to be with friends. Now, on to the next part of my tour!!!!
Visiting Jeff & Nancy Graff	Cleveland, Ohio	It was really nice to visit the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame
Here I am, outside of Brooklyn High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where I made my first performance north of the Mason-Dixon line in October of 1955. I think the sign is new... After lunch, we headed over to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which by the way, I was in the first class inducted. It was my first time here, and I have to say, it's a very cool building... My shows at the Houston Astrodome were among my favorites, and here I am next to the outfit I wore in 1970. Of course, I looked much better in it than next to it... It was so damn hot in Cleveland, and this guy wouldn't even share his water with me.	They say timing is everything, and it just so happened that I was in Cleveland when my old friend, Tom Jones, was in town for a concert. I got to see him perform at Blossom Music Center, and man, did that boy ever sweat! He sang four of my songs, including "Love Letters," "I'm Never Going to Fall in Love," "Green, Green Grass of Home," and "High Healed Sneakers." Not as good as me, but a good show nonetheless... Here I am, inside of the lobby at the Rock Hall in front of the marquee. Damn, you'd think they would have had my name up there somewhere. I was shocked to see Steven Tyler's head on display, but I figured, what the heck? It was a great photo opportunity, and my good friend, Cathi Avenell, would appreciate it. OK, not her so much, but her daughter, Becky... OK, I know this sign is controversial, but this is the plaque outside of the Rock Hall. Even though we know I started it all in Memphis, give Cleveland its due, OK??	Here I am with my escorts, Jeff and Nancy Graff, as they were shopping for wine at their favorite wine shop. They picked a lovely sparkling Rosé that went extremely well with my favorite foods... With Jeff and Nancy's help, and approval from EPE, I got to visit my exhibit in the main level of the Rock Hall. Here we are in an area where pictures are not allowed. Don't tell anyone... Since my former son-in-law is also in the Hall, painful as it was, I posed with this guitar in the lobby... I was fortunate to be in town for the display of many tall ships in Cleveland's harbor. Here is my favorite... Hot damn, the Dixie Chicks' new CD is just fantastic. And, man, are they gorgeous. My friends, Jeff and Nancy, are going to see them in Columbus. I wish I could go. Someone get me some tickets to their show in Memphis
I am visiting with Connie Stough in Forrest City, Arkansas for a few days.	Widener, Arkansas	Thanks Connie for taking me down memory lane.
When I first arrived at Connie's home she took me immediately to her Elvis Room to show me some of her things that she’s been collecting over the years, and she has quite an interesting assortment of items,even this life-size stand-up of me that talks and it kind of startled me when I first walked into the room & saw it but I really like it & so does Connie! Not only does she have an entire room devoted to only me but there are pictures of me in every room of her home, even in the bathrooms, and her husband Pete doesn’t seem to mind one bit! He’s a nice guy and it doesn’t bother him at all that Connie is one of my biggest fans! The next day after a good nights rest we drove into town to re-visit two of the places that I performed at in 1955! Forrest City High School Sam Smith football stadium where I played to a huge crowd on Monday Sept. 05, 1955 on the back of a flatbed trailer truck.	Connie says that her parents brought her to the show and she can barely remember some of it since she was only about five years old at the time! She is absolutely sure that this was the early beginnings of her life-long love and devotion to me! The next stop was just right down the street in front of the Forrest City High School building itself where the boys and I came back on Nov. 14,1955 to do two benefit shows for the local Shriner’s Organization in the school auditorium at 7PM and 9:15PM. Connie tells me that her parents also brought her to both of these performances & they told her that she really screamed loud when I came out on stage saying, “that’s my Elvis”! Connie was a little embarrassed to tell me this part of the story but I’m glad she did because I thought it was sweet and it’s nice to know that she was so excited to see me even at such a young age!	On my last day with Connie & her family we just stayed inside her quaint country cottage home where it was nice and cool and watched one of my movies and a concert. She told me her grandson Austin, who is eight years old is a big fan of mine also and his favorite movie is Blue Hawaii, which is also his Nanny’s favorite one too! (Nanny is the name he calls Connie). Then we watched Aloha From Hawaii while enjoying a very tasty pineapple drink! After that it was time for me to leave & get back on the road again, but since I was only about an hour away from Memphis I decided to swing by Graceland and check on things! Connie lives about 50 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, and says she comes over as much as she can to drive up and down EP Blvd. to see what's going on and who’s hanging out at the gates of Graceland! I really enjoyed my visit with Connie and her family and sure hope to see them all again somewhere down the road!

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