| AUGUST MEMORIES Your thoughts shared |
As August fast approaches, Elvis Express Radio would like to offer you a place to share your memories of when YOU
heard the tragic news that Elvis Presley had passed away.
Even if you are too young to remember that day, we invite you to share how you became a fan and what Elvis means to
you. We would love to see young and old, all colours and creeds all sharing their memories, their thoughts, their love for
one man...........Elvis A. Presley - 1935 to 1977 but for eternity.
We started this page after getting the following from on of our listeners, Fran from Melbourne, Austrailia:
"I just wonder Lee, what some of the fans were doing on August 16 1977? How did they find out about Elvis passing
away? I realise there are many fans out there who were not even born on August 16. Still, it would be interesting to hear
how they came to know about and love Elvis. Maybe the fans could reply via email and it be posted on the EER website as
I think it would make great reading. Thank you Lee and everyone at EER for your dedication each week in providing such
great shows. I love listening to them each week."
heard the tragic news that Elvis Presley had passed away.
Even if you are too young to remember that day, we invite you to share how you became a fan and what Elvis means to
you. We would love to see young and old, all colours and creeds all sharing their memories, their thoughts, their love for
one man...........Elvis A. Presley - 1935 to 1977 but for eternity.
We started this page after getting the following from on of our listeners, Fran from Melbourne, Austrailia:
"I just wonder Lee, what some of the fans were doing on August 16 1977? How did they find out about Elvis passing
away? I realise there are many fans out there who were not even born on August 16. Still, it would be interesting to hear
how they came to know about and love Elvis. Maybe the fans could reply via email and it be posted on the EER website as
I think it would make great reading. Thank you Lee and everyone at EER for your dedication each week in providing such
great shows. I love listening to them each week."
Fran from Melbourne Australia
You know, I cant believe it will 31 years next month that Elvis passed away. To me it feels like only yesterday. I remember the morning of August 16 so
well. I'd just woken up and my mum told me that there were reports saying that Elvis had passed away. Initially I thought there must be some mistake, I
thought maybe he is in hospital again.
The world literally stood still for me that day. It was so surreal, such disbelief. I remember everyone was talking about it. It was on the radio, tv
everywhere. Even if you weren't an Elvis fan, people in the streets were genuinely moved and saddened by his passing.
Elvis, we love and miss you always.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth from Merrick, NY
I was 11 years old the year Elvis died. I can remember a lot of things I did back then. I can remember my aunt taking me to see Star Wars the big movie
at the time. I can remember my family vacation. I can remember various things but for some reason I can't remember where or what I was doing when
Elvis died. I can remember John Lennon's passing in detail but for some reason I have no recollection of when I heard it or what my reaction was.
It was 4 years later on a hot July evening when I spotted a movie about Elvis starring Kurt Russell. I'm not sure what it was that triggered it but there
started my love, obsession, devotion to Elvis. The very next day I went straight to the library and took out ever Elvis record they had, That August our
local oldies radio station played an all day tribute to Elvis in chronological order of his life. They had a narration of a woman (an Elvis fan) reading her
diary during each of the years of Elvis's career until his death. I was glued to the radio.
Throughout the years everything Elvis I went to read or attended. I finally made my pilgrimage to Memphis in May 1997. What a great trip!!
This year I will be going down to Memphis in December around my birthday. On the morning of my birthday I plan to go visit the gravesite in the early
morning. I will be 43! I'm sure I'll have a lot to think about and probably leave a note for Elvis thanking him for all the history and influence he has left
us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Tosini
I'd like to say that August 16th was kind of strange day for me, I was 15 years old and it was during the school summer holidays. That morning my mum
took me on a trip to New Brighton on the wirral, nr Liverpool, as we were on our way on the bus, my mother showed me the bus ticket and said "If the 1st
and last number on the ticket are the same then it usually means that something is going to happen soon whether good or bad, and that was that, we
never thought more of it, I just said "yer ok" as a teenager would.
That night I had my mate around, my mum was in bed, we were watching the tv and it happened to be 'News at ten', i'm not sure who was reading the
news, either Reginald Bosenquet(don't know how to spell sir name) or Sandy Gall? Then towards the end of the news an item came on stating that they
had unconfirmed reports that Elvis had died, I done a double take, ran upstairs to my mum and woke her up, told her, she said "don't be silly "and went
back to sleep, I immediatly put on radio luxembourg and listened all night. I was very upset and traumertized as I have been an Elvis fan since 1973.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigel Wilson
hi lee
memorie of the king i was away on hoilday it was all over the tv and newpaper and it was just like the world come to and end
i alway look back and say the king is not dead but in our eye he is in our heart and our soul forever
so keep on rock n roll elvis live forever
from nigel wilson fan forever
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia from Kingston TN
I was 12 years old when Elvis died and I remember every detail. We were living in Orlando, Fla and I was in the backyard laying in the sun. Everyone
on my road knew how much I love Elvis.
Our neighbor Helen came running into the backyard and asked me if I had heard the news, when I asked what news she said Elvis died. At first I started
laughing thinking she was playing a joke on me but I could tell by the look on her face she wasn't.
I ran into my house and turned the T.V. on and there it was. Elvis Presley dead at 42. I started crying and I cried the whole weekend. Even today I cry.
But on his birthday for the last 9 years I have something to celebrate. My son Daniel was born at 12:45 pm on January 8, 1999. So I figure God
couldn't let me meet Elvis so he gave me my Daniel on his birthday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ida Ritter
I was working, I was 19 years old. I will never forget that when we found out, I was in my boss's office, and silence went over all of us immediately, we
were speechless, and my boss took the phone to call his house to confirm the news, news that at that very moment we were praying and hoping were a
mistake. When I arrived home that day, we started listening to the news and later in the newspapers all over the city of Chicago.
I was his fan and loved his music since the very first I listen to it when I was just a kid. But I was one of the lucky ones that got to see him in concert,
unforgettable moments, then I finally was able to visit his house in Memphis and looking at it was another dream come through because while I was
walking through it I said to myself: how many times he walked those same steps. How could we forget that terrible day when the world was deprived of
the presence of the greatest entertainer that ever set foot on a stage, his music impacted the world and this country and will continue for ever.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Hingston
I started to watch the Elvis films in 1976 and that's when I became a fan. I was on holiday in Wales with my family when Elvis died. I was only 12 years
old. We had no tv in our chalet so I didn't know until I woke up the next morning when my parents told me and showed me a newspaper. I was so upset.
That evening I wondered into a room at the Butlins place where there was a tv and ''Elvis That's The Way it Is'' was on and sat down to watch it.
I remember a lot of people was in the room watching it. My parents came in looking for me but I didn't budge and carried on watching it.
I felt sad as I wanted to save and go to see Elvis in concert and would never get to see him so my dream was to go to Graceland which I did and so glad
I did. Christmas of 1977 I got my first Elvis record and book and from then started my Elvis collection.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew (Lincoln UK)
Hi Lee
I have a huge bundle of memories from August 77, here are a few: the cartoon strip of Elvis' life in the Daily Mirror, pull out souvenirs in the Daily
Express, a life size poster from The Sun. The policeman crying on the televised clip of Elvis' funeral, visiting fan club members in Gloucester and them
showing me a gift that they had bought for Elvis that they would never be able to give, bubble gum cards, Way Down being at number 1 for what
seemed like forever, Top of the Pops showing a montage of photos as a backdrop to the song, Danny Mirror singing I Remember Elvis Presley. But
mostly I remember just listening to the songs over and over.
The fan club at the time changed TCB to TCE Taking Care of Elvis, I found that very moving... and still do, we lost a good friend on August 16th 1977
TCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris from Munich
How I became an Elvis fan? Well, that’s a long and twisted story:
As an teenager in the early eighties I became familiar with Rock´n Roll via a Bavarian Rock´n Roll Band that ruled the charts for the better part of that
decade. But I wanted more, wanted to know the origins of that sound and started taping Rock´n Roll from an incredibly popular R &R-show on radio.
The D.J. was a huge Elvis fan, so I heard there songs like “Fool Such As I”, “That´s All Right, Mama”, “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” or “Ain´t That Loving
You Baby” for the first time, among songs of Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, Eddie Cochran and others. But I never taped love
songs or ballads at that time. I really, really loved “Jailhouse Rock” and still love that song today and I will never ever forget the moment, when I first
heard the Burbank-version from that song on this radio show. It was some kind of rebirth, so I ordered my first Elvis single: “Treat Me Nice” / “Jailhouse
Rock” and I played that vinyl for weeks non-stop.
At that time there was a german tv special for Elvis´ 50th birthday on January 8th 1985 and I remember myself totally disappointed for the lack of Elvis
in that show (well, that happened a zillion times after that…), but I catched an Rock´n Roll special on tv the same day: Here he was! My hero: Live at Ed
Sullian- and Dorsey Bros.-show. That was the day my obsession started.
From that day on, every Friday after school I went to a gigantic record store here in town to search for new Elvis records, but my first album purchase
happened to be a german double album called “One Night With Elvis” from the german fanclub EPG. – Still 50s. Still Rock´n Roll.
On this album I found the fanclub address and wrote to them for more information. When I received those flyers I became member at the very moment.
When I received my first magazine I read it about twenty times. But I still listend to Elvis´ 50s recordings, as if the seventies and late 60s were some kind
of poison.
Then in February 1986 I split from my girlfriend and I became very, very lovesick. No Rock´n Roll at all…
In that mood I remembered the cassette tape of the arcade “40 Greatest Hits” I had presented my mother for her birthday. There I listened to “Can´t
Help Falling In Love”, “My Way” and “I´ ll Remember You” . That broke the barriers and from that day on I also listened to 70 concerts, to 60s
soundtracks etc. The girl will never be forgotten, neither will Elvis…
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louie Mazzola
I was coming home from work, my brother was sitting at the kitchen table and told me.
I had tickets for the next Monday August 22nd Nassau Coliseum.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Marriott
I was camping in Cornwall with my Mum and Dad. I was inside the tent on my blowup bed when I heard my Dad tell my Mum that he'd just heard on the
radio that Elvis had passed away. She then let out an "Oh, no" in horror!
I remember feeling very sad, everyone was numb with the shock and the whole site went quiet. It was very Erie. A horrible day.
You'll never be forgotten Elvis, you can trust us fans on that.
Thanks for everything you gave us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moggy
wow 31 years, I cant believe how time has gone,but one good thing after all this time is that ELVIS is still rocking on.
16/8/77 I remember my waking me up and telling me that Elvis has died,I could not believe it,I was 10 years old and my idol has gone,I had just started
collecting Elvis records posters and more,with all my birthday and pocket money.
Got up stunned and feeling numb,felt like we had lost a member of our family,my mum cried, I just count cry I was numb,didn't really believe it.
We listened to the radio all day with Elvis playing none stop,people ringing in to the radio,with requests, words of shock and love for our Elvis.
It was only the next day that I could believe it was true, with all the news on TV,and all the radio coverage.
How was the world going to cope without Elvis Presley,how was I going to cope without my idol.
I watched the news of Elvis funeral and I cried and cried.
Now Elvis seems to be stronger,every year at this time, I celebrate Elvis, not mourn, I've been to Graceland and knelt at his grave and thanked him for
all he has given me and all of us. He is still here in all of us.........................long live Elvis!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know, I cant believe it will 31 years next month that Elvis passed away. To me it feels like only yesterday. I remember the morning of August 16 so
well. I'd just woken up and my mum told me that there were reports saying that Elvis had passed away. Initially I thought there must be some mistake, I
thought maybe he is in hospital again.
The world literally stood still for me that day. It was so surreal, such disbelief. I remember everyone was talking about it. It was on the radio, tv
everywhere. Even if you weren't an Elvis fan, people in the streets were genuinely moved and saddened by his passing.
Elvis, we love and miss you always.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth from Merrick, NY
I was 11 years old the year Elvis died. I can remember a lot of things I did back then. I can remember my aunt taking me to see Star Wars the big movie
at the time. I can remember my family vacation. I can remember various things but for some reason I can't remember where or what I was doing when
Elvis died. I can remember John Lennon's passing in detail but for some reason I have no recollection of when I heard it or what my reaction was.
It was 4 years later on a hot July evening when I spotted a movie about Elvis starring Kurt Russell. I'm not sure what it was that triggered it but there
started my love, obsession, devotion to Elvis. The very next day I went straight to the library and took out ever Elvis record they had, That August our
local oldies radio station played an all day tribute to Elvis in chronological order of his life. They had a narration of a woman (an Elvis fan) reading her
diary during each of the years of Elvis's career until his death. I was glued to the radio.
Throughout the years everything Elvis I went to read or attended. I finally made my pilgrimage to Memphis in May 1997. What a great trip!!
This year I will be going down to Memphis in December around my birthday. On the morning of my birthday I plan to go visit the gravesite in the early
morning. I will be 43! I'm sure I'll have a lot to think about and probably leave a note for Elvis thanking him for all the history and influence he has left
us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Tosini
I'd like to say that August 16th was kind of strange day for me, I was 15 years old and it was during the school summer holidays. That morning my mum
took me on a trip to New Brighton on the wirral, nr Liverpool, as we were on our way on the bus, my mother showed me the bus ticket and said "If the 1st
and last number on the ticket are the same then it usually means that something is going to happen soon whether good or bad, and that was that, we
never thought more of it, I just said "yer ok" as a teenager would.
That night I had my mate around, my mum was in bed, we were watching the tv and it happened to be 'News at ten', i'm not sure who was reading the
news, either Reginald Bosenquet(don't know how to spell sir name) or Sandy Gall? Then towards the end of the news an item came on stating that they
had unconfirmed reports that Elvis had died, I done a double take, ran upstairs to my mum and woke her up, told her, she said "don't be silly "and went
back to sleep, I immediatly put on radio luxembourg and listened all night. I was very upset and traumertized as I have been an Elvis fan since 1973.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigel Wilson
hi lee
memorie of the king i was away on hoilday it was all over the tv and newpaper and it was just like the world come to and end
i alway look back and say the king is not dead but in our eye he is in our heart and our soul forever
so keep on rock n roll elvis live forever
from nigel wilson fan forever
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia from Kingston TN
I was 12 years old when Elvis died and I remember every detail. We were living in Orlando, Fla and I was in the backyard laying in the sun. Everyone
on my road knew how much I love Elvis.
Our neighbor Helen came running into the backyard and asked me if I had heard the news, when I asked what news she said Elvis died. At first I started
laughing thinking she was playing a joke on me but I could tell by the look on her face she wasn't.
I ran into my house and turned the T.V. on and there it was. Elvis Presley dead at 42. I started crying and I cried the whole weekend. Even today I cry.
But on his birthday for the last 9 years I have something to celebrate. My son Daniel was born at 12:45 pm on January 8, 1999. So I figure God
couldn't let me meet Elvis so he gave me my Daniel on his birthday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ida Ritter
I was working, I was 19 years old. I will never forget that when we found out, I was in my boss's office, and silence went over all of us immediately, we
were speechless, and my boss took the phone to call his house to confirm the news, news that at that very moment we were praying and hoping were a
mistake. When I arrived home that day, we started listening to the news and later in the newspapers all over the city of Chicago.
I was his fan and loved his music since the very first I listen to it when I was just a kid. But I was one of the lucky ones that got to see him in concert,
unforgettable moments, then I finally was able to visit his house in Memphis and looking at it was another dream come through because while I was
walking through it I said to myself: how many times he walked those same steps. How could we forget that terrible day when the world was deprived of
the presence of the greatest entertainer that ever set foot on a stage, his music impacted the world and this country and will continue for ever.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Hingston
I started to watch the Elvis films in 1976 and that's when I became a fan. I was on holiday in Wales with my family when Elvis died. I was only 12 years
old. We had no tv in our chalet so I didn't know until I woke up the next morning when my parents told me and showed me a newspaper. I was so upset.
That evening I wondered into a room at the Butlins place where there was a tv and ''Elvis That's The Way it Is'' was on and sat down to watch it.
I remember a lot of people was in the room watching it. My parents came in looking for me but I didn't budge and carried on watching it.
I felt sad as I wanted to save and go to see Elvis in concert and would never get to see him so my dream was to go to Graceland which I did and so glad
I did. Christmas of 1977 I got my first Elvis record and book and from then started my Elvis collection.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew (Lincoln UK)
Hi Lee
I have a huge bundle of memories from August 77, here are a few: the cartoon strip of Elvis' life in the Daily Mirror, pull out souvenirs in the Daily
Express, a life size poster from The Sun. The policeman crying on the televised clip of Elvis' funeral, visiting fan club members in Gloucester and them
showing me a gift that they had bought for Elvis that they would never be able to give, bubble gum cards, Way Down being at number 1 for what
seemed like forever, Top of the Pops showing a montage of photos as a backdrop to the song, Danny Mirror singing I Remember Elvis Presley. But
mostly I remember just listening to the songs over and over.
The fan club at the time changed TCB to TCE Taking Care of Elvis, I found that very moving... and still do, we lost a good friend on August 16th 1977
TCE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris from Munich
How I became an Elvis fan? Well, that’s a long and twisted story:
As an teenager in the early eighties I became familiar with Rock´n Roll via a Bavarian Rock´n Roll Band that ruled the charts for the better part of that
decade. But I wanted more, wanted to know the origins of that sound and started taping Rock´n Roll from an incredibly popular R &R-show on radio.
The D.J. was a huge Elvis fan, so I heard there songs like “Fool Such As I”, “That´s All Right, Mama”, “Blue Moon Of Kentucky” or “Ain´t That Loving
You Baby” for the first time, among songs of Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins, Bo Diddley, Eddie Cochran and others. But I never taped love
songs or ballads at that time. I really, really loved “Jailhouse Rock” and still love that song today and I will never ever forget the moment, when I first
heard the Burbank-version from that song on this radio show. It was some kind of rebirth, so I ordered my first Elvis single: “Treat Me Nice” / “Jailhouse
Rock” and I played that vinyl for weeks non-stop.
At that time there was a german tv special for Elvis´ 50th birthday on January 8th 1985 and I remember myself totally disappointed for the lack of Elvis
in that show (well, that happened a zillion times after that…), but I catched an Rock´n Roll special on tv the same day: Here he was! My hero: Live at Ed
Sullian- and Dorsey Bros.-show. That was the day my obsession started.
From that day on, every Friday after school I went to a gigantic record store here in town to search for new Elvis records, but my first album purchase
happened to be a german double album called “One Night With Elvis” from the german fanclub EPG. – Still 50s. Still Rock´n Roll.
On this album I found the fanclub address and wrote to them for more information. When I received those flyers I became member at the very moment.
When I received my first magazine I read it about twenty times. But I still listend to Elvis´ 50s recordings, as if the seventies and late 60s were some kind
of poison.
Then in February 1986 I split from my girlfriend and I became very, very lovesick. No Rock´n Roll at all…
In that mood I remembered the cassette tape of the arcade “40 Greatest Hits” I had presented my mother for her birthday. There I listened to “Can´t
Help Falling In Love”, “My Way” and “I´ ll Remember You” . That broke the barriers and from that day on I also listened to 70 concerts, to 60s
soundtracks etc. The girl will never be forgotten, neither will Elvis…
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louie Mazzola
I was coming home from work, my brother was sitting at the kitchen table and told me.
I had tickets for the next Monday August 22nd Nassau Coliseum.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Marriott
I was camping in Cornwall with my Mum and Dad. I was inside the tent on my blowup bed when I heard my Dad tell my Mum that he'd just heard on the
radio that Elvis had passed away. She then let out an "Oh, no" in horror!
I remember feeling very sad, everyone was numb with the shock and the whole site went quiet. It was very Erie. A horrible day.
You'll never be forgotten Elvis, you can trust us fans on that.
Thanks for everything you gave us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moggy
wow 31 years, I cant believe how time has gone,but one good thing after all this time is that ELVIS is still rocking on.
16/8/77 I remember my waking me up and telling me that Elvis has died,I could not believe it,I was 10 years old and my idol has gone,I had just started
collecting Elvis records posters and more,with all my birthday and pocket money.
Got up stunned and feeling numb,felt like we had lost a member of our family,my mum cried, I just count cry I was numb,didn't really believe it.
We listened to the radio all day with Elvis playing none stop,people ringing in to the radio,with requests, words of shock and love for our Elvis.
It was only the next day that I could believe it was true, with all the news on TV,and all the radio coverage.
How was the world going to cope without Elvis Presley,how was I going to cope without my idol.
I watched the news of Elvis funeral and I cried and cried.
Now Elvis seems to be stronger,every year at this time, I celebrate Elvis, not mourn, I've been to Graceland and knelt at his grave and thanked him for
all he has given me and all of us. He is still here in all of us.........................long live Elvis!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| PLEASE send us your 'August Memories' to us at eer-desk@ntlworld.com |
| TCE ALWAYS @ E.E.R |