BBC Plans Extensive Series Of Elvis Programs

 

 

 

BBC TV and radio are lining up a massive series of programming across the network to celebrate what would have been Elvis Presley's 75th birthday in January.

 

 

In a repeat of the formula used to mark the release of The Beatles Remasters series in September, the two-week season starts on Boxing Day and runs until the singer's birthdate on January 8.

Radio 2 will broadcast 10 documentaries covering various aspects of Presley's career, from his gospel roots and relationship with Dewey Phillips, the first DJ to champion his music, to his movie output and the branding which turned him into an icon.

 

 

The series begins at 10pm on December 26 with model and actress Jerry Hall presenting Gospel According To The King, about Presley's roots in church music. This is followed by a two-part examination of his acting career, Movie King Or Celluloid Sell Out?, at 11.30pm on December 28 and 29, presented by music journalist Paul Morley.

 

 

The second episode will be preceded by Paul Gambaccini's documentary Red, Hot And Blue, about Presley's relationship with Phillips. Gambaccini is also the presenter of Elvis The Brand, a two- parter broadcast on January 4 and 5. Gambaccini describes the programme as the story of "cultural obsession for what is arguably the most influential celebrity brand in history. This is analysis of Elvis as both cultural icon and commercial goldmine".

 

 

Among other programmes are Don't Start Me Talking About Elvis, an oral history of The King's fans first broadcast in 2007, while Rob Brydon's World Of Elvis: The Las Vegas Years on January 2 explores Presley's tenure in Sin City.

 

 

Elvis: When The King Met The President on January 5 tells the story of his 1973 visit to then US president Richard Nixon to offer his services in the fight against drug abuse and Communist brainwashing while Seventies pop star Suzi Quatro presents Graceland on January 7, about her lifelong fascination with Presley, including an anecdote about the occasion in 1974 when she declined an invitation to visit him at his lavish abode.

 

And, in the wake of his extended radio profiles of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Judy Garland, pop historian Michael Freedland marks The King's life with a six-part series starting on Elvis's birthday on January 8.

 

 

On television, BBC Two will dedicate the evening of January 2 to an Elvis Night comprising the in-concert films Elvis Presley: The Comeback from 1968 and 1973's Elvis In Hawaii, as well as a compilation of his home movies, and a new documentary, Elvis In Vegas. This is executive-produced by BBC TV head of music Mark Cooper and will examine "the untold story" of how Presley's career was transformed by his on-off residency in Las Vegas from 1969 until his death in 1977, and also how this boosted the Nevada city's fortunes.

Directed by Jeremy Marre, the film aims to show how the scheming of manager "Colonel" Tom Parker and the excesses of Vegas in turn destroyed Presley. Among contributors are his wife Priscilla Presley, Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra and songwriters Leiber & Stoller.

 

 

The season is brought to a close with a two-hour edition of Claudia Winkleman's Arts Show on BBC Two on January 8, rounding up Presley's career and examining his legacy.

I'll add this to the birthday thread and if I get a chance, will sort it out into a timetable so we don't miss a thing :yahoo:

Smooth Radio UK

 

Smooth Radio is proud to announce a brand new three part documentary on Elvis Presley titled, “The Day I Met The King,” to be broadcast across three consecutive Sundays at 1pm on 10th, 17th and 24th January.

In this exclusive series, made in partnership with Todd Slaughter and The Official Elvis Presley Fan Club, we hear the giants of music and the hit makers from the last 50 years share their stories of meeting, working with and living with the greatest name in music, The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Elvis Presley.

 

Made to celebrate what would have been Elvis’ 75th birthday on January 8th “The Day I Met The King” is peppered with his incredible music and features fascinating interviews with the legendary names he inspired including Tom Jones, Sir Tim Rice, Robert Plant, Sir Paul McCartney and the late Johnny Cash all sharing their personal story of the day they met Elvis. We also hear from Priscilla Presley as she talks about what is was like living with the most famous man on the planet. The people who wrote his songs share their memories and along with those who acted alongside Elvis including Annette Day, who starred opposite him in the movie ‘Double Trouble’.

 

Since his death on August 16, 1977 Elvis’ legend has lived and grown to near biblical proportions in some places. He is still an inspiration to millions across the world and through his short life changed lives and the face of music forever. ‘The Day I Met The King’ offers a remarkable insight into the legend from those who knew him and is not to be missed.

Sundays at 1pm UK TIME on 10th, 17th and 24th January, across UK on regional fm stations, and DAB and on line:

 

www.SmoothRadio.com

 

Source: Todd Slaughter / Updated: Jan 8, 2010

Win A Trip To Memphis :cheer:

 

Win a trip to Memphis with Radio Caroline during the month of March and listen to the start of a new "Talking Elvis" radio series written and presented by Todd Slaughter, researched by Victoria Molloy, and produced by Jon Aldersea at Blue Line 45 studios. Each show is broadcast at 5.00pm UK time, 18.00 hrs CET, and 11.00am in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

Talking Elvis on Radio Caroline with Todd Slaughter

 

Programme 1 – Tuesday 9th March: The Great British Songwriters: with Guy Fletcher OBE, Les Read OBE, David Most, George Harrison MBE, Sir Paul McCartney, Ken Howard, and Sir Tim Rice.

 

Programme 2 –Tuesday 16th March: Fan Of Elvis: Sir Tom Jones, Sir Paul McCartney, Annette Day, Tony Prince, Robert Plant, Sir Tim Rice, Eric Idle, and Sir Cliff Richard.

 

Programme 3 – Tuesday 23th March: Sun Days: Marion Keisker, Rufus Thomas, Scotty Moore, Wink Martindale, Johnny Cash, George Klein, and of course Sam Phillips.

 

Programme 4 – Tuesday 30th March: Close To Elvis: Steve Binder, Loanne Parker, Johnny Tillotson, Bob Dylan, Victoria Molloy and Priscilla Presley.

 

Don’t miss these Radio Caroline Programmes on Sky Channel 0199, NTL Eire, across Europe on the Astra satellite and a variety of fm radio services, plus around the world on the Worldspace Satellite Network and on line on www.radiocaroline.co.uk

 

Source: Todd Slaughter / Updated: Jan 30, 2010

 

I will be listening to these! I want to go to Memphis :yahoo:

Win A Trip To Memphis :cheer:

 

Win a trip to Memphis with Radio Caroline during the month of March and listen to the start of a new "Talking Elvis" radio series written and presented by Todd Slaughter, researched by Victoria Molloy, and produced by Jon Aldersea at Blue Line 45 studios. Each show is broadcast at 5.00pm UK time, 18.00 hrs CET, and 11.00am in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

Talking Elvis on Radio Caroline with Todd Slaughter

 

Programme 1 – Tuesday 9th March: The Great British Songwriters: with Guy Fletcher OBE, Les Read OBE, David Most, George Harrison MBE, Sir Paul McCartney, Ken Howard, and Sir Tim Rice.

 

Programme 2 –Tuesday 16th March: Fan Of Elvis: Sir Tom Jones, Sir Paul McCartney, Annette Day, Tony Prince, Robert Plant, Sir Tim Rice, Eric Idle, and Sir Cliff Richard.

 

Programme 3 – Tuesday 23th March: Sun Days: Marion Keisker, Rufus Thomas, Scotty Moore, Wink Martindale, Johnny Cash, George Klein, and of course Sam Phillips.

 

Programme 4 – Tuesday 30th March: Close To Elvis: Steve Binder, Loanne Parker, Johnny Tillotson, Bob Dylan, Victoria Molloy and Priscilla Presley.

 

Don’t miss these Radio Caroline Programmes on Sky Channel 0199, NTL Eire, across Europe on the Astra satellite and a variety of fm radio services, plus around the world on the Worldspace Satellite Network and on line on www.radiocaroline.co.uk

 

Source: Todd Slaughter / Updated: Jan 30, 2010

 

I will be listening to these! I want to go to Memphis :yahoo:

 

 

Please please please, can i come too? :dance: :w00t:

 

Please please please, can i come too? :dance: :w00t:

You bet! Yours will be the first number I call when I win :yahoo:

You bet! Yours will be the first number I call when I win :yahoo:

 

 

Yaaaaaaaaaaay, nice one. :cheer: I will give you a ring sometime soon Carole. It's long overdue. :(

Yaaaaaaaaaaay, nice one. :cheer: I will give you a ring sometime soon Carole. It's long overdue. :(

I'm off the week after next for half term, so I will text you to arrange a time for me to call you B)