Imelda May on Nashville radio

Imelda May - NSN highlights 10-9-11 by Lightning100

3rd and Lindsley was packed and rockin’ on 10-9-11 for our Nashville Sunday Night broadcast headlined by hot new Irish singer/songwriter/musician Imelda May. She won Ireland’s 2009 Meteor Award (their equivalent to the Grammy) for Best Female Artist. In 2010 she performed on the Grammys with Jeff Beck. Her new album Mayhem shows off her unique fusion of musical genres such as surf, blues and rockabilly. This is her time to break big in America. The audio highlight reel above from our show gives you the live performance of “Mayhem,” the single you’ve been hearing on Lightning 100, plus a great rockabilly treatment of “Train Kept A’ Rollin’” and the live “Sneaky Freak,” one of the other many great songs on Mayhem.

Groundbreaking sounds of Muscle Shoals - David Briggs, Norbert Putnam & more

Thursday, October 13, 2011 : 12:00pm
Panel Discussion: Land of 1,000 Dances: The Groundbreaking Sounds of Muscle Shoals with David Briggs, Donnie Fritts, Rick Hall, Jimmy Johnson, Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn, and Norbert Putnam.

Special Program
What do Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Bob Dylan, Bobbie Gentry, the Osmonds, and the Rolling Stones have in common? They all recorded classic hits in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. As early as Arthur Alexander's 1961 hit "You Better Move On," legendary performers have laid down some of the greatest recordings of all time in Muscle Shoals. They were produced and backed by an extraordinary crew of local musicians and creative professionals. Join us as we meet and talk with the pioneering masters behind the sounds of Muscle Shoals. Hosted by Holly George-Warren. Followed by a signing in the Museum Store. Presented in partnership with the Americana Music Association (AMA). Included with museum admission. Free to museum members and to AMA conference registrants with badges.


The Land of 1,000 Dances: The Groundbreaking Sounds of Muscle Shoals panel participants will sign their custom Hatch Show Print Poster, purchased from the Museum Store, on Thursday, October 13, at 1:30 p.m.  Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT

Support the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Priscilla Presley on changes to Viva Elvis

Viva ELVIS has been running for almost two years at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. But the Cirque du Soleil  has announced  that the show is going to undergo some alterations. Exactly what those changes are going to be, however, nobody seems to know yet. Not even Priscilla Presley. Nor Cirque du Soleil’s Gilles St. Croix, who was one of two artistic guides (the other was Cirque owner Guy Laliberté) involved with the creation of the show.

I spoke with Presley and St. Croix recently during the opening night party of the Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS in Los Angeles. Neither one could (or would) say anything concrete about the changes, which seem to be still a matter of discussion. But Priscilla, whom I accidentally crossed paths with on the way into the party,  assured me that there was no conflict between her and the Cirque du Soleil on the rethink of the show. “We’re definitely both on the same page,” she said, adding that she didn’t want anyone to get the impression that there was anything seriously wrong with Viva ELVIS.

Other Cirque shows have been revamped (Criss Angel’s BELIEVE, for instance). And all of them are in flux to a certain extent, continually being tweaked or adjusted. A month from now the Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour is going to be a far more polished show than we what we saw during its first public performance in Montreal last week (Oct. 2, 2011)

Asked what she thought of  IRIS, Presley replied that it had made her a little bit jealous, “But in a nice way.”  She was particularly enthusiastic about the circus acts, a couple of which (two male acrobats who fly over the audience, and a group of contortionist) are among the best this writer has ever seen. Clearly she’d like to see more topnotch circus acts in Viva ELVIS.

 At the same time, she said she realized that the creators of IRIS had an easier time of it, in a way, because they didn’t have an icon like Elvis Presley to contend with as they built the show in the first place.

We had a lovely chat. Afterwards, when I ran into St. Croix, I remarked at how warm and friendly Priscilla had been (she managed to give the flattering impression that she actually remembered meeting me before, at the Viva ELVIS opening and treated me like an old acquaintance).  He said that she’s simply one of the nicest people he has ever worked with, as well as one of the most beautiful 66-year-old women in the world:  ”Isn’t she amazing?”

He agreed that Cirque was very much on the same page with Priscilla and Elvis Presley Enterprises about the need to make changes to the show.

Another Vegas Cirque that due for a tune-up, he said, is its first one, Mystère, which has been running steadily at Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas since December of 1993.
BIM: Having seen the show numerous times, I think change is much needed. Each time I saw the show, changes were supposedly made. But to me, the show was missing something. It just has no umph whatsoever! The best part of the show is the hotel and the theater itself. Lots of Elvis in a very tasteful way. And the theater has the most amazing seats, I even napped during the last performance I saw there of Viva Elvis. Yes, it's that good ;)

Back In Memphis - The Gazette

Elvis Presley's Dr. Nick speaks about Dr. Conrad Murray trial

Doctors to 'The Kings': Presley's Dr. Nick on Conrad Murray: MyFoxMEMPHIS.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The trial continues for Dr. Conrad Murray, the personal physician of Michael Jackson, charged with the involuntary manslaughter of the pop icon.

Jackson's bodyguard was the first person to reach Jackson's bedroom after Dr. Murray urgently called for help. He testified that he was told by Dr. Murray to hide medicine vials before calling 911. The prosecution is using this testimony to argue Murray delayed calling 911 in order to cover up evidence that he was giving Jackson Propofol, a surgical anesthetic drug.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Michael Jackson has drawn numerous comparisons to the unexpected death of another musical icon 34 years ago. But, Elvis Presley's former personal physician, George Nichopoulos, said the medical treatment and care given both men were far different.

One was the acclaimed King of Rock N' Roll, the other was the recognized King of Pop. But besides their individual musical greatness, both Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson were tortured victims of their own excesses, including extensive drug use.

"We have those reports, each one of them saying Elvis Presley died of polypharmacy - that is massive does of different drugs in his system," then Shelby County Commissioner Vasco Smith stated in 1993.

Dr. Murray's attorney, Ed Chernoff, stated, "Michael Jackson swallowed eight 2 milligram Lorazepam pills. A dose of Propofol that with the Lorazepam created a perfect storm in his body that killed him instantly."

The current trial examining the role of Jackson's hired physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, in Jackson's 2010 drug-induced death is drawing comparisons, whether fair or not, to Presley's 1977 death and his unique doctor/patient relationship for 11 years with former personal physician Dr. George Nichopoulos. In a telephone conversation on Thursday, the fabled "Dr. Nick" said he didn't see any similarities between the medical treatments given to Presley and Jackson.

Nichopoulos questions the hired Murray's motivation for care and concern for his patient. "He was after the money… I wouldn't think it'd be murder; I think it's a stretch in that regard. I think it's malpractice."

Nichopoulos himself was no stranger to controversy when it came to being accused of over-prescribing addictive pain-killing drugs to his patients, including Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. Just years after Presley's death, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, in acquitting him of any medical wrongdoing in Presley's demise, did suspend his license for three months.

In 1995, Nichopoulos faced sanctions again for prescribing pain medicine and his license was revoked, despite the public support of patients and friends.

"I feel in my heart he is being persecuted in this situation," said Presley's friend and "Dr. Nick" supporter, George Klein, in 1994.

"Medicine doesn't have the fun that medicine had a few years ago," Nichopoulos said in 1994. "Now there's so much government in it. So much paperwork, it takes a lot out of it."

Now in his '80's, Nichopoulos, who wrote a book about his relationship with Elvis last year, believes Dr. Murray committed a number of mistakes, especially in regards to treating Jackson's alleged sleeping problem and the patient's access to powerful drugs.

"I've never used this drug. I don't think we had it around when I was practicing. But, you can't leave the room when you're trying to put somebody to sleep," he said. "Michael Jackson had his medicine in his room… I never let Elvis keep medicine in his room. I had a nurse there with him who controlled his medication, kept it in her trailer. She didn't give him anything unless she checked with me first."

Elvis' Granddaughter Riley Keough has a new beau

So it seems Riley Keough who is not only known as Elvis Presley's granddaughter but also a fashion model is making it big in Hollywood. She is becoming a well established actress. Currently, she is working on a film called, Magic Mike. Her character, Zora is a stripper who is a bad influennce on a fellow male stripper played by Alex Pettyfer. And it seems Riley and Alex are taking their work home with them. The two were spotted last weekend at LAX airport smooching. Filming continues this week in Florida. “They looked really cute together, cuddling and kissing each other before boarding their flight,” a witness revealed. “They seem to be enjoying their new relationship.”

Imelda May on The Tonight Show Video

Imelda May made her third appearance this year on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.