Friday, January 21, 2011

January 21 - Lamar, Zsa Zsa And The Soldier Boy

Zsa Zsa Gabor Sells LA "Elvis" Mansion 


Zsa Zsa Gabor and her husband sold selling their hillside mansion in Bel Air, Los Angeles. The couple claimed Elvis Presley had lived in the house during movie filming in L.A.; but this is not true.


Soldier Boy


The Rockwell Records label announced the release of the next title in their series of Elvis Vinyl entitled "Soldier Boy". This album brings the masters of 1958 to a close and then start out on the 1960's with some greats songs from the March 1960 sessions.





The label also announced the re-release of some old and recent Elvis titles in the coming days:
"Tender Love" will be released in black vinyl;
"I Was The One" will be re-packaged as limited edition green and coloured effect disc;
"All Shook Up" is the next re-release also as a limited run in yellow and coloured effect disc.

No Plaque On The Block

Officials relented have on a plan to auction a plaque commemorating Elvis Presley's three concerts at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena after fans of the King complained about the sale. "It should be placed someplace where masses of people can see it and remember Elvis," said Priscilla Parker, 71, of Dormont, president of the We Remember Elvis Fan Club.

Parker and four girlfriends raised $1,157 for the plaque that was placed in the Civic Arena on Elvis' birthday in 1982. It remained there until the building closed last summer. The city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, which owns the arena, included the plaque in an online memorabilia auction that opened this week.

After hearing fans' complaints, the authority pulled the plaque from the auction and offered it instead to the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District, said Doug Straley, the authority's project executive. The history center will accept it, spokesman Ned Schano said.

"If they want to put it in the Heinz History Center, that is fine with us," said Parker, who pointed out "It shouldn't be in somebody's private collection."

Parker said Elvis' death inspired the fan club's five founding members to make the plaque. Elvis played at the Civic Arena on New Year's Eve in 1976, eight months before he died.

The friends raised donations and sold items at flea markets to pay for the plaque. Elvis' estate approved their sketch for its design.




Lamar Fike Passed Away

Lamar Fike passed away. He is probably best known to most fans as the 'big' guy of the former Memphis Mafia. He worked for the King from 1957 to 1977 and even traveled to Germany with him in 1958. Lamar had a history of health problems. Last October he was taken to the hospital with breathing difficulties.


Official Announcement By Marty Lacker

The following is an official announcement as made by Marty Lacker on authorisation of Lamar Fike's family...

"I have the unfortunate task of officially sadly announcing the passing of Lamar Fike as authorized by his cousin Tommy McDonald who was very close to Lamar and was with him daily in his hospital room in Arlington,Texas. Lamar passed away very peacefully last night, Friday, January 21.

Lamar had been hospitalized since last October 14th and then transferred to the physical therapy wing of the hospital.

Unfortunately he did not improve and was sent back to the hospital about a month ago.

Outside of Red West, Lamar was with Elvis the longest and he remained close to him until Elvis' passing. Lamar was also very close to Elvis' mother.

Lamar's wishes to be cremated will be carried out and the Brown, Owen, Brumley Funeral Home, Ft.Worth are handling his funeral. 

A memorial service will be held in Mart, Texas, one of Lamar's boyhood homes at a date to be announced.  He was born in Cleveland, Mississippi on November 11,1935.

Those of us in the Memphis Mafia who remained his friend are greatly saddened by the loss of yet another member of our close group.  May God Bless his Soul and may he Rest In Peace".

Marty Lacker.



(Source: Elvis Express / Google / Reuters)