Almost Graceland.

[presley31]

Buy Almost Graceland from Amazon


Steve Carlson, is regarded as one of the most successful commercial actors in USA, having filmed or supplied the voice for over 600 TV and radio commercials, industrial films and narration.

He has appeared as a series regular on General Hospital, The Young and The Restless and A New Day In Eden among many other appearances in hit shows such as Seinfeld, Baywatch and Hawaii 5-0

Steve has also been a writer in Hollywood for nearly twenty years, writing books on the craft and know-how of acting, but has now turned to Elvis as his subject matter in Almost Graceland, the tale of unemployed construction worker Ray Johnson.

Steve explained the reasons for writing his book to Elvis.co.uk:

'I think Almost Graceland started writing itself in my mind when I first heard that Elvis was born a twin but that the twin was still-born. I hadn't heard that before a few years ago but immediately started to wonder what would have happened if little Jesse had lived?'

'Would we have had the Presley brothers like the Everly brothers? ' 'How would that have changed Elvis's life and career as we know it?'

'The tack I decided to take was that they didn't meet until later in life. Elvis's life played out just as it really did. The twin possibility was kept from everyone; his family, friends, the press.'

'The whole experience has been great fun. This was one of the most unique of lives and it was a pleasure to spend time in and around it - even in a fictional sense.'


Here is a brief synopsis from Steve’s website:

Ray Johnston was an unemployed construction worker, whose only real claim-to-fame was that hardly a day went by without someone telling him how much he looked like Elvis. He got pretty tired of it.

Ray's life changed dramatically when he found some of his mother’s journals and learned that he was adopted. This was compounded when he later discovered that he had been born in Tupelo, Mississippi and shared the same hospital and the same birthday with … Elvis Presley.

Now, wait a minute! Those facts, plus the way Ray looked, (which even he had to grudgingly admit, was a dead ringer for Elvis) were just too many coincidences.

What was he supposed to do now? What should he do with this information? Would anybody believe him? How would Elvis feel? Ray found out. Word got out which led to the two men meeting face to face. That changed everything. As upset as Elvis was, thinking someone was trying to capitalize on his dead brother, neither could deny what they saw. Their eyes were mirrors.

An uneasy relationship ensued while they tried to figure out what to do about this.

Ray also got to know Vernon, Elvis's dad (and Ray's dad?). Though Elvis hadn't told anyone but Vernon about Ray, Elvis still couldn't decide if he wanted him around or not. One day he would, the next, everything would be called off. It was very frustrating for Ray, especially with a 'rag' offering up to a million dollars for the 'brother' story, which was awfully tempting at times

Eventually, Ray and Elvis rode motorcycles together, they argued, played racquetball, sang, dealt with a blackmail, shared stories about their very different lives and started growing closer. Ray was even mistaken for Elvis and kidnapped for ransom. Elvis got quite a kick out of that one. Ray also saw Elvis getting sicker by the day.

ALMOST GRACELAND tells the story of these two men, up to Elvis' death and it's aftermath. We are also privy to the poignant legacy left by Elvis, one that would change Ray's life forever.



200711/21 www.elvis.co.uk / www.epgold.com

[cameron]

Buy Almost Graceland from Amazon


Steve Carlson, is regarded as one of the most successful commercial actors in USA, having filmed or supplied the voice for over 600 TV and radio commercials, industrial films and narration.

He has appeared as a series regular on General Hospital, The Young and The Restless and A New Day In Eden among many other appearances in hit shows such as Seinfeld, Baywatch and Hawaii 5-0

Steve has also been a writer in Hollywood for nearly twenty years, writing books on the craft and know-how of acting, but has now turned to Elvis as his subject matter in Almost Graceland, the tale of unemployed construction worker Ray Johnson.

Steve explained the reasons for writing his book to Elvis.co.uk:

'I think Almost Graceland started writing itself in my mind when I first heard that Elvis was born a twin but that the twin was still-born. I hadn't heard that before a few years ago but immediately started to wonder what would have happened if little Jesse had lived?'

'Would we have had the Presley brothers like the Everly brothers? ' 'How would that have changed Elvis's life and career as we know it?'

'The tack I decided to take was that they didn't meet until later in life. Elvis's life played out just as it really did. The twin possibility was kept from everyone; his family, friends, the press.'

'The whole experience has been great fun. This was one of the most unique of lives and it was a pleasure to spend time in and around it - even in a fictional sense.'


Here is a brief synopsis from Steve’s website:

Ray Johnston was an unemployed construction worker, whose only real claim-to-fame was that hardly a day went by without someone telling him how much he looked like Elvis. He got pretty tired of it.

Ray's life changed dramatically when he found some of his mother’s journals and learned that he was adopted. This was compounded when he later discovered that he had been born in Tupelo, Mississippi and shared the same hospital and the same birthday with … Elvis Presley.

Now, wait a minute! Those facts, plus the way Ray looked, (which even he had to grudgingly admit, was a dead ringer for Elvis) were just too many coincidences.

What was he supposed to do now? What should he do with this information? Would anybody believe him? How would Elvis feel? Ray found out. Word got out which led to the two men meeting face to face. That changed everything. As upset as Elvis was, thinking someone was trying to capitalize on his dead brother, neither could deny what they saw. Their eyes were mirrors.

An uneasy relationship ensued while they tried to figure out what to do about this.

Ray also got to know Vernon, Elvis's dad (and Ray's dad?). Though Elvis hadn't told anyone but Vernon about Ray, Elvis still couldn't decide if he wanted him around or not. One day he would, the next, everything would be called off. It was very frustrating for Ray, especially with a 'rag' offering up to a million dollars for the 'brother' story, which was awfully tempting at times

Eventually, Ray and Elvis rode motorcycles together, they argued, played racquetball, sang, dealt with a blackmail, shared stories about their very different lives and started growing closer. Ray was even mistaken for Elvis and kidnapped for ransom. Elvis got quite a kick out of that one. Ray also saw Elvis getting sicker by the day.

ALMOST GRACELAND tells the story of these two men, up to Elvis' death and it's aftermath. We are also privy to the poignant legacy left by Elvis, one that would change Ray's life forever.



200711/21 www.elvis.co.uk / www.epgold.com

Interesting story .
One that has been told "as truth" a few times.
Thanks for posting.

[Getlo]

This was compounded when he later discovered that he had been born in Tupelo, Mississippi and shared the same hospital and the same birthday with … Elvis Presley.

Ooooh ...

So close, yet ... such an *****.

[presley31]

Interesting story .
One that has been told "as truth" a few times.
Thanks for posting.

I agree, very interesting.

[Diane]

There is a big discrepancy in that article where it says he found out he was born in Tupelo in the same hospital and same day Elvis was born.

As far as I know Gladys didn't go to the hospital to have her babies, the doctor came to the house. Am I wrong?

Diane

[Getlo]

As far as I know Gladys didn't go to the hospital to have her babies, the doctor came to the house. Am I wrong?

That's the point I made by highlighting the word "hospital" above. If they're going to make this stupid film, they really ought to get this one detail right.

But apparently, this story has been repeated "as truth" elsewhere.

[presley31]

Still looks interesting to me

[cameron]

This is a fictional story in a book . Looks like a fun read to me.
Elvis and Jesse was born at home; but later Gladys had to be taken to the hospital because of losing so much blood.
At least so says the book; Elvis and Gladys .

[Diane]

Thank you Cameron, I didn't remember Gladys had to be taken to the hospital.

This could be an entertaining book.....I don't know.

Diane

[cameron]

I'd never heard that from anyplace else either.
Just in Elvis and Gladys . Of course, most books don't go into Gladys life that much or even Elvis' .
This was one book I really can say I liked.

[Lisarose]

As fiction, it should be interesting. The hospital thing, will make a lot of fans cringe, but you gotta remember, it's FICTION. I'd read it. Couldn't be worse than some of the books I've read that claim to be factual and then get the facts screwed up! (Refer to the question I submitted in the Elvis Trivia thread, that was embarrassing! LOL)