BackinMemphis

The King is Back on the Charts! INTERNATIONAL MOMENTUM BUILDS AS VIVA ELVIS - THE ALBUM BREAKS INTO THE BILLBOARD 200 Legacy Recordings Celebrates Elvis' 75th Birthday Year with a Groundbreaking New Studio Work Inspired by Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas NEW YORK - Viva ELVIS - The Album, a 21st century celebration of Elvis and his music featuring the voice of the King in a whole new soundscape, is gathering worldwide momentum in the wake of its recent release through Legacy Recordings, in cooperation with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.  Released stateside on November 9, Viva ELVIS - The Album has debuted in the upper half of the Billboard 200. Conceptualized and realized by producer/arranger Erich Van Tourneau, Viva ELVIS - The Album is a multi-faceted audio extravaganza creating a larger-than-life musical portrait of Elvis through newly re-imagined versions of "Blue Suede Sho...

Feds Crack Down on Lead in Glasses Vandor, a 53-year-old private company that merchandises products with a pop-culture tie-in, is at the center of a federal probe into drinking glasses that may be contaminated with lead. Tests commissioned by the Associated Press found high levels of lead in glasses featuring characters such as Wonder Woman and Superman. The glasses, which were made in China, were sold online by Warner Bros. Vandor—which imported the products featuring images of Star Wars, Elvis Presley, The Wizard of Oz, The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Barbie, DC Comics, and more —said the glasses were meant for adult collectors. But the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency didn't buy that argument and today announced it is conducting its own testing, according to spokesman Scott Wolfson. Vandor, founded in 1957, is based in Salt Lake City but operates in China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. It's a reminder that companies that do business abroad are held accountable to U.S. safe...

An Elvis Presley group of never-before-seen black and white contact sheets from "Flaming Star" 20th Century Fox, 1960. Four separate sheets, each with 20 candid images equaling 80 shots of Elvis and other actors outdoors on location. Shot between and during scenes, Elvis looks serious and contemplative in most of the 66 shots in which he appears.14 x 11in; Each individual image: 2 3/4 x 2in Estimate: $300 - 320 Entertainment Memorabilia including Animation Art, takes place on December 13, 2010 at 7601 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

Cirque du Soleil will perform a portion of Viva ELVIS at the 2010 Sprint Cup Series awards ceremony Dec. 3 at Wynn Las Vegas, NASCAR announced Monday. The special performance -- featuring dance, acrobatics and live music in celebration of the king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley -- will be broadcast live on SPEED at 9 p.m. ET, as part of a special entertainment lineup. NASCAR takes Vegas by storm Additional performances slated to commemorate the 2010 NASCAR season include country music vocal group Rascal Flatts and comedic host Frank Caliendo. Viva ELVIS will entertain NASCAR fans in front of an audience that will include 2010 Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and other drivers who finished in the top 10 of the final series standings. The performance will present popular Presley songs in a contemporary form that includes the voice of the superstar. Since its world premier earlier this year, Viva ELVIS has received critical acclaim from top entertainment and news outlets wi...

The Memphis Meetup's Meet N Greet Friday, January 7th, 2011 12 Noon - 2:00 PM Memphis Marriott's Blue Shoe Bar & Grill (The Presidents' Event is right across the lobby from the restaurant - it ends at noon) They will have a buffet lunch in addition to their regular menu. We will have a separate section of the restaurant set aside for us. Everyone will pay for their own food and drinks. There will be door prizes with all the monies going to the Memphis Spay & Neuter Services which provides low-cost and sometimes free spay and neuter services in the Memphis Metro area. For more information about this wonderful service, check out their website http://www.spaymemphis.org/ or "Friend" them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mid-S...102656686453408 If you plan to attend, please email me. Friends and family are very welcome to attend. Gigi Ballester ballester_gigi@yahoo.com

Susan Boyle, the amazing 49-year-old Scottish singer who hogged the spotlight after participating in 'Britain's Got Talent 2009' reality show has proved for the second time that she has magic in her music. Reportedly Susan's latest album, 'The Gift' reached the top of the charts on either side of the Atlantic and made her the first solo artist ever to have reached that level, beating great legends like Madonna and Elvis Presley too, in the process. This amazing gal has the most beautiful renditions thereby making her the darling of millions of fans in the UK and the US. It was around the same time around last year when her album 'I Dreamed A Dream' had achieved the same kind of success and created quite a frenzy during the festive season. That was her first solo album. Susan Boyle is adored by all her fans to the hilt, and Simon Cowell one of the most adored judges amongst all reality show judges, calls her his Superwoman! Susan Boyle has broken rec...

Instead of an Elvis Presley-themed hotel-casino, land across the street from CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip will continue to be occupied by small retailers and restaurants. That's the bottom line in a bankruptcy reorganization plan involving more than half a billion dollars in debt. The reorganization plan received final approval this week for the company controlling the 17.72 contiguous acres of land at the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue. Las Vegas Bankruptcy Judge Bruce Markell gave final approval to the latest revision of the plan in which the land's owner, FX Luxury Las Vegas I LLC, will see its interest in the property wiped out but will have an option to re-invest in the property by buying a 5 percent stake in the successor company. FX Luxury is controlled by American Idol TV show owner Robert F.X. Sillerman and co-investors. When their plans for an Elvis Presley-themed resort for the property fell through, FX Luxury defaulted on its mort...