Raw interview video with the Godmother of the American Queen (Priscilla Presley)

[vivaelvis]

Here's a video of Priscilla in Memphis today as she anchored off the American Queen steamboat from the new Beale Street Landing. She says that in a couple of months Graceland will have its 18 millionth visitor. She says she's very proud of Memphis and its growth. She failed to mention its crime and deterioration though. LOL


http://wreg.com/2012/04/27/priscilla...merican-queen/

[King Of The Whole World]

I saw her on CNN yesterday talking about Memphis. The funny part was the interviewer asked her, what would Elvis think of the music today? She said he was a big fan of music in general, liked all music from gospel to rock and roll. The lady then asked her would Elvis like rap music? Priscilla at first was trying to think of how to avoid the question by not saying Elvis would have hated it. But she said he would like some rap. The lady ended on that question and was laughing, I think she was thinking the same thing I was thinking.....BS.

I don't know if I can find the video of it.

[debtdbruno]

Well......what can I say?.....if Elvis didn't like it, all I can say he would have good taste......LOL

[Diane]

Well......what can I say?.....if Elvis didn't like it, all I can say he would have good taste......LOL

LOL I agree, I doubt if Elvis would have liked it. I'm not a fan of rap music either but I do like some reggae.

[vivaelvis]

I saw her on CNN yesterday talking about Memphis. The funny part was the interviewer asked her, what would Elvis think of the music today? She said he was a big fan of music in general, liked all music from gospel to rock and roll. The lady then asked her would Elvis like rap music? Priscilla at first was trying to think of how to avoid the question by not saying Elvis would have hated it. But she said he would like some rap. The lady ended on that question and was laughing, I think she was thinking the same thing I was thinking.....BS.

I don't know if I can find the video of it.

There's no way for sure to know what he would have been listening to at 77 years of age. However, he would not have been your typical old man. Elvis was already scared to death at 39 afraid of turning 40 and growing old and having grey hair. Elvis was always into the new music scene and commented on it during the comeback special. He performed modern day songs by other artists at his concerts routinely.

As for would he have liked rap. There's no way anyone (including Priscilla) can say he wouldn't. Although it's possible that he would have liked it years ago when it was likable back in the 80's and 90's. Just because you and I do not care for it doesn't mean that he wouldn't have either. Klein, Schilling, West, and others have all commented in the past that Elvis would have liked some rap artists. Rap is today what the blues were back in Elvis' youth. I'm sure he would have given it a chance and viewed it with an open mind. He probably would have even invited the local Memphis rappers like Three-Six Mafia and Yo Gotti to Graceland. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

[KPM]

There's no way for sure to know what he would have been listening to at 77 years of age. However, he would not have been your typical old man. Elvis was already scared to death at 39 afraid of turning 40 and growing old and having grey hair. Elvis was always into the new music scene and commented on it during the comeback special. He performed modern day songs by other artists at his concerts routinely.

As for would he have liked rap. There's no way anyone (including Priscilla) can say he wouldn't. Although it's possible that he would have liked it years ago when it was likable back in the 80's and 90's. Just because you and I do not care for it doesn't mean that he wouldn't have either. Klein, Schilling, West, and others have all commented in the past that Elvis would have liked some rap artists. Rap is today what the blues were back in Elvis' youth. I'm sure he would have given it a chance and viewed it with an open mind. He probably would have even invited the local Memphis rappers like Three-Six Mafia and Yo Gotti to Graceland. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

I can tell you Chuck Berry hates rap music-the reason being is he does not consider it music, basically backbeat with spoken monotone words which rhyme. He has spoke on KMOX radio in his hometown of St Louis a couple times about his dislike for rap.
I can say definitely, Elvis may have not hated all rap-but he would have hated the negative rap, and the lifestyle it seems to push.
Blues and rap are miles apart-most rap is pounding like sledge hammers and lets face it repetitive....blues has a soul that spoke to Elvis and speaks to us all-rap just does not have that IMO.
I once had a discussion with another member here and we debated the negativity of rap-I pointed out that on a recent newshow on CNN back then it was stated 70% of rap was negative in tone toward woman, race issues, promoting gangs. policeman, and laws.....he countered that the same thing was said about rocks music in 1956............I asked him how many songs from the 50s spoke of woman like "bi****es" to be treated violently.....or spoke of killing policeman or cheating the system, disobeying laws, using drugs etc......also I pointed out rap is the only music I know
of in which people actually kill other rap stars.......I listed about 10-15 drive by shootings and murders directly connected to the rap industry and its artists/producers.
Rap that advocates and pushes those type messages-would not be something Elvis would have liked or listened to.
As far as bringing local rappers to Graceland-perhaps if he had changed his lifestyle totally and suddenly became a social butterfly with newcomers-he might have invited some rappers to his home....but that seems doubtful.

[vivaelvis]

I can tell you Chuck Berry hates rap music-the reason being is he does not consider it music, basically backbeat with spoken monotone words which rhyme. He has spoke on KMOX radio in his hometown of St Louis a couple times about his dislike for rap.
I can say definitely, Elvis may have not hated all rap-but he would have hated the negative rap, and the lifestyle it seems to push.
Blues and rap are miles apart-most rap is pounding like sledge hammers and lets face it repetitive....blues has a soul that spoke to Elvis and speaks to us all-rap just does not have that IMO.
I once had a discussion with another member here and we debated the negativity of rap-I pointed out that on a recent newshow on CNN back then it was stated 70% of rap was negative in tone toward woman, race issues, promoting gangs. policeman, and laws.....he countered that the same thing was said about rocks music in 1956............I asked him how many songs from the 50s spoke of woman like "bi****es" to be treated violently.....or spoke of killing policeman or cheating the system, disobeying laws, using drugs etc......also I pointed out rap is the only music I know
of in which people actually kill other rap stars.......I listed about 10-15 drive by shootings and murders directly connected to the rap industry and its artists/producers.
Rap that advocates and pushes those type messages-would not be something Elvis would have liked or listened to.
As far as bringing local rappers to Graceland-perhaps if he had changed his lifestyle totally and suddenly became a social butterfly with newcomers-he might have invited some rappers to his home....but that seems doubtful.

I agree with you on the negativity of rap music. The rap today is NOT the rap of the 80's. It all changed to the negative side when that west coast rap/thug/gansta style came in and poisoned society. It's no coincidence that crime began to skyrocket once rap music became gansta rap.

I do disagree with your last sentence though. Elvis himself invited strangers into his home, some right off the rough streets of Memphis in the 70's. In the 50's, he invited a former inmate who was a blues singer to Graceland. This was when one of Elvis' relatives refused to shake the man's hand and Elvis threatened to send them back to Tupelo. Those past facts leads me to believe that he would have opened his doors too to those local rappers as well.

Back when I was going to school in Memphis in the early 90's, I used to listen to rap daily with all the other white and black kids around me. But as I grew older, and saw the negative influence that it has had on society, I no longer can even stand to listen to it today. It's music of racism for one thing and that rubs me the wrong way.

[KPM]

I agree with you on the negativity of rap music. The rap today is NOT the rap of the 80's. It all changed to the negative side when that west coast rap/thug/gansta style came in and poisoned society. It's no coincidence that crime began to skyrocket once rap music became gansta rap.

I do disagree with your last sentence though. Elvis himself invited strangers into his home, some right off the rough streets of Memphis in the 70's. In the 50's, he invited a former inmate who was a blues singer to Graceland. This was when one of Elvis' relatives refused to shake the man's hand and Elvis threatened to send them back to Tupelo. Those past facts leads me to believe that he would have opened his doors too to those local rappers as well.

Back when I was going to school in Memphis in the early 90's, I used to listen to rap daily with all the other white and black kids around me. But as I grew older, and saw the negative influence that it has had on society, I no longer can even stand to listen to it today. It's music of racism for one thing and that rubs me the wrong way.

If he did-its not in many books I have read or interviews I have heard with the Wests, Joe, Jerry, George, as a matter of fact they all point to 1968s killing of Martin Luther King in Memphis as somewhat of a turning point to..... a little more concern for home safety and strangers in general. So if he invited many strangers off the streets-it must have been the exception not the rule for normal everyday life. The guys were not allowed to bring their wives or girlfriends unless they already had cleared it with Elvis. Local talent I just do not recall any stories about local talent being invited to Graceland-but if it ever happened it also seems to be the exception, not the rule.
Elvis was getting a little paranoid about "nuts" who might want to kill him by the 70s.
Not hard to understand why, with so many crazy threats.
Some rap I have liked, Nelly, Tanye West, LL-Cool J, Will Smith mostly positive messages and a little less pounding.

[vivaelvis]

If he did-its not in many books I have read or interviews I have heard with the Wests, Joe, Jerry, George, as a matter of fact they all point to 1968s killing of Martin Luther King in Memphis as somewhat of a turning point to..... a little more concern for home safety and strangers in general. So if he invited many strangers off the streets-it must have been the exception not the rule for normal everyday life. The guys were not allowed to bring their wives or girlfriends unless they already had cleared it with Elvis. Local talent I just do not recall any stories about local talent being invited to Graceland-but if it ever happened it also seems to be the exception, not the rule.
Elvis was getting a little paranoid about "nuts" who might want to kill him by the 70s.
Not hard to understand why, with so many crazy threats.
Some rap I have liked, Nelly, Tanye West, LL-Cool J, Will Smith mostly positive messages and a little less pounding.

I don't have the exact book it was in but the story goes that Elvis, Myrna Smith, Linda Thompson and I believe Jerry Schilling were riding around Memphis when Elvis' care broke down. He saw two black guys fighting across the street at a gas station, he walked over to them and broke up the fight then asked them if they would kindly give him and his friends a ride back to Graceland. When they did, Elvis then invited them to stay over night as his guest and had his cook to make them up something to eat.

[KPM]

I don't have the exact book it was in but the story goes that Elvis, Myrna Smith, Linda Thompson and I believe Jerry Schilling were riding around Memphis when Elvis' care broke down. He saw two black guys fighting across the street at a gas station, he walked over to them and broke up the fight then asked them if they would kindly give him and his friends a ride back to Graceland. When they did, Elvis then invited them to stay over night as his guest and had his cook to make them up something to eat.

I recall the story of Elvis breaking up a fight at a gas station-that happened in 1975-76 but do not recall mention of his car breaking down nor about the guys taking them to Graceland. Its in a couple of books.
The story was that Elvis was willing to fight to break up the fight between the 2-the police were called and the officer said he was happy the fight was stopped but not happy that Elvis was willing to fight to break up-a fight.


Found this on the net it Happened in Madison Wi. and a roadside marker now is on the spot where it happened.
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotligh..._incident.html

[King Of The Whole World]

KPM,

Here is the video of the article you posted.

[KPM]

Thank you my friend, for finding that video.

[vivaelvis]

I recall the story of Elvis breaking up a fight at a gas station-that happened in 1975-76 but do not recall mention of his car breaking down nor about the guys taking them to Graceland. Its in a couple of books.
The story was that Elvis was willing to fight to break up the fight between the 2-the police were called and the officer said he was happy the fight was stopped but not happy that Elvis was willing to fight to break up-a fight.


Found this on the net it Happened in Madison Wi. and a roadside marker now is on the spot where it happened.
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/spotligh..._incident.html

Thanks for the link. That was pretty cool!

However, I this isn't the same story that I was referring to. The men in my story were African American. One of which had a gun on them. Linda Thompson has told the story before in TV interviews. She even mentioned that she thought that they were going to be robbed and killed that night and how Elvis was flashing money around in the car. I wished I could find it to prove my story is true. Anyway. the 2 guys gave Elvis and his friends a ride back to Graceland and Elvis was so gracious about it that he requested for one of the cooks to make them a nice hot meal for the troubles.

[KPM]

Thanks for the link. That was pretty cool!

However, I this isn't the same story that I was referring to. The men in my story were African American. One of which had a gun on them. Linda Thompson has told the story before in TV interviews. She even mentioned that she thought that they were going to be robbed and killed that night and how Elvis was flashing money around in the car. I wished I could find it to prove my story is true. Anyway. the 2 guys gave Elvis and his friends a ride back to Graceland and Elvis was so gracious about it that he requested for one of the cooks to make them a nice hot meal for the troubles.

If you can find that post the link. I honestly have never heard a peep about this.
It seems that story would be well known-especially since you mention one guy allegedly had a gun.
I'll look around and try to find that one myself-if Linda told the story on TV its here on the Internet somewhere....and if its on the Internet I should be able to locate it eventually.

[King Of The Whole World]

Thanks for the link. That was pretty cool!

However, I this isn't the same story that I was referring to. The men in my story were African American. One of which had a gun on them. Linda Thompson has told the story before in TV interviews. She even mentioned that she thought that they were going to be robbed and killed that night and how Elvis was flashing money around in the car. I wished I could find it to prove my story is true. Anyway. the 2 guys gave Elvis and his friends a ride back to Graceland and Elvis was so gracious about it that he requested for one of the cooks to make them a nice hot meal for the troubles.

I sure would like to see that interview, not that I don't believe you. We all have read and seen so much that we forget where we saw certain comments or interviews.

[vivaelvis]

If you can find that post the link. I honestly have never heard a peep about this.
It seems that story would be well known-especially since you mention one guy allegedly had a gun.
I'll look around and try to find that one myself-if Linda told the story on TV its here on the Internet somewhere....and if its on the Internet I should be able to locate it eventually.

Not everything that's ever been on TV is online. I would say maybe 10% of everything is available through some outlet. Definitely not all. But I hope you do find it to prove my story as fact.

[KPM]

Not everything that's ever been on TV is online. I would say maybe 10% of everything is available through some outlet. Definitely not all. But I hope you do find it to prove my story as fact.

Well I would agree not everything is on the net-but when it comes to Elvis much of it does end up in some form on the Internet-if not the actual footage then a transcript of the interview.l
But just a quick look at your basic premise has only shown one story-from Linda, Myrna Smith and others concerning a car break down, a gun involved.... but there is no mention of 2-men fighting, one having a gun, so I will post this link because it has similar elements to your premise. You originally mentioned a book that included the story if you could remember the title-I have about 60 books (have actually read probably another 20 but do not own them)and just do not recall this item.
I always judge something by how often the same thing is mentioned in differing places, who makes the claim in the book or interview.......the more verifiable an item is by multiple sources gives it creedance. Lets face it-Elvis is well documented for his entire career to death and his life is a pretty open book.
Why is this important to me? (and IMO should be important to all fans)
Because so many things are said, or printed about Elvis that have only a grain of truth, half truths, or even total lies which end up being taken as gospel....most of the time innocently and unintentionally....so please do not think its personal-its not....I expect the same of myself-and if someone wants to know where I got info from.... I will do my best to find the source to let them feel good about passing on that info to others.

I think you have seen if I post something which is questioned I will work my rear off to find the source if I can not recall it-and if can not find it I will say so.
But here is the link to the one I found which meets some of the items you mention.
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/elvi..._pantera.shtml

[King Of The Whole World]

Can you imagine driving down Elvis Presley Blvd and seeing Elvis pulling out of the driveway? That would be the best thing in the world.

[ELVIS_]

They called the ship "The American Queen?" Are they serious? it's an oxymoreon but Why hide it anymore.
She's the complete opposite of Elvis.

[rocknroll]

I have the article as it was reported in the newspaper in 1977. I cut it out. I'll have to see if I can dig it up. I do remember the reporter saying Elvis was 42, same as his waistline.

It was 2 white guys, Elvis' car didn't breakdown, he was just driving by. He got out, struck a karate pose and asked if they wanted to take him on. It ended with the guys shaking hands.