Long Live the King

[HostDave]

By Timothy Rubacky, Senior Vice President

I love Memphis. It is a city of surprises, great food, fantastic music, friendly people and a rich sense of history. In fact, that describes much of the South and as my adopted home, the South has taken on a true personality.

One of those true personalities associated with the South and especially with Memphis was born in 1935 in Tupelo, MS and moved to Memphis 13 years later. The musical roots of the city made a huge impression on the young boy, and when he began his musical career in 1954, the strains of country, gospel, blues and jazz ran deep. In fact, his music popularized what came to be known as rockabilly and has been described as “an up-tempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues.” A flamboyant gentleman by the name of Colonel Tom Parker took note of the young man’s talent and became his manager for the next two decades.

The seeds of greatness were sown from the very beginning. The singer’s very first single in 1956 reached the top spot on the music charts. Back in the 1950s, rockabilly evolved into rock and roll and the humble singer with the Memphis roots quickly became the voice of a new generation fueled with a series of chart-topping albums and frequent appearances on the new medium of network television. The same year as his first hit single, he started his movie career.

Just as his career peaked, he was drafted and after a two- year hiatus during which his fame reached epic proportions, he returned to his career in 1958 and became a cultural icon. Although he toured, concerts took a backseat to a career in Hollywood where he churned out movie after movie featuring his music and in which he always got the girl in the end. While critics hated the movies, the public loved them and they were the platform that made his albums enormous hits.

But such a bright career burning so fiercely began to dull. At the age of only 32 he launched a comeback concert performance on live television, his first such performance in seven years. He then went on the road with a series of immensely profitable tours and became one of the early performers to establish a long-term presence in Las Vegas with a popular show on the Strip. By 1973 at just 38 years old, he performed in the first concert ever broadcast around the world by satellite. It seemed his fame knew no limits.

But even to the casual observers, there was something wrong with the man from Memphis. He looked ill and had gained a great deal of weight. His unexpected death in 1977 at age 42 was a shock to his tens of millions of fans and an enormous loss to his close-knit friends and family.

In the 35 years since his passing his former home just outside Memphis, in which he was buried on the grounds, has become a tourist attraction for millions of devotees annually. In retrospect, he was not only one of the most well-known and well-loved performers of the 20th century, he was truly a cultural icon that changed a generation. His talents were felt far beyond just rock and roll, which he defined and of which he was the undisputed master. His talents ranged across the country, pop, gospel and blues charts. He was the best-selling solo artist in history, nominated for 14 Grammys and won three.

He was, of course, Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll.

Elvis is Memphis and Memphis is Elvis. And as the hometown of the American Queen Steamboat Company and the homeport of the American Queen herself, we feel his shadow each time we walk onto the streets. We wanted to pay tribute to the man that meant so much and we were honored beyond measure when Priscilla Presley agreed to be the godmother of the American Queen prior to the boat’s re-entry into service earlier this year.

Elvis’ spirit runs deep around here, and we wanted to do even more. We’ve dedicated an entire voyage to the King on a trip from New Orleans to Memphis November 24 to December 3, 2012. The 10-day holiday includes a 7-night sailing and two hotel nights. We have several performers scheduled who will pay tribute to Elvis during his career. Victor Trevino is an award-winning rockabilly Elvis performer. Brandon Bennett is the foremost vintage 1950s Elvis performer and Bill Cherry performs Elvis’ popular 1970s hits and his greatest Las Vegas shows. Those who knew the King are also joining us. Marlyn Mason will speak about co-starring in the 1969 Elvis film The Trouble with Girls. Elvis’ co-star from the movie Girl Happy, Chris Noel, will talk about her time with Elvis and being a 1960s beach movie staple. Elvis’ long-time bodyguard and friend, Sam Thompson, will share details about what it was like to be on tour with the King of Rock and Roll.

While Elvis left this world, through great performers and his friends and co-stars, his memory lives on. We invite you to step aboard the American Queen and get to know the humble boy from Memphis.