ELVIS WEEK AND SIRIUS SATELLITE INTERVIEW
For me the thrill of Elvis Week is sharing my artwork, catching up with long time friends and the excitement of meeting new fans. This year marked my 30th Elvis Week, and the 34th since initiating the American Trilogy Billboard in 1978 to commemorate the first year.
With Elvis Week 34 in my rear view mirror, I now look forward to the “Big 35th” celebration. As you have all probably heard by now Lisa Marie, Priscilla and their family will be part of the festivities.
Thanks to everyone who took time to come by, see my Elvis art and visit. I really appreciate each and every one of you. Also, a special thanks to Argo @ Elvis SIRIUS satellite radio for the interview. Below I’ve provided a link for those of you who missed it and photographs of Elvis Week.
Betty Harper on Sirius XM Elvis Week 2011 – parts 1 and 2
FLASHBACK: ELVIS T-SHIRTS FOR THE FANS
Seeing old friends and meeting new fans during Elvis Week 2011 makes me reminisce over the past 30 years of traveling to Memphis. It was 1981 when I began exhibiting my Elvis Artwork in Memphis, from that point on it became a yearly event. In 1984 I created my first t-shirt exclusively for the art exhibit. I wanted something special for the fans that they could not get anywhere else.
As I was gathering T-Shirts for a photo shoot, I realized that there were a few missing from previous years. I thought I had kept one shirt from each year but when I came up short I reached out to fans for help. I was surprised at the response; thank you, thankyouverymuch to all of the fans.
ELVIS AND MEMPHIS TOURS
When I visit any place for the first time I like to see as much as can possibly be crammed into my time. If it is my second or third visit then covering all the missed sights is at the top of my list. For more than thirty years I have been going to Memphis, and still I learn new things about the city. With Elvis Week at our door step, I know many of you are headed that way so I want to pass on some information that you might find useful and that will enhance your visit to the City of the Blues and Elvis.
I love history and exploring the past of any location is very exciting to me. The people and times it took to develop their town. So for me being able to hook up with a knowledgeable tour guide is a must and the key to exploring that history.
It doesn’t hurt to have someone who is also an historian to give the most in depth look at their town. When in Memphis that person is Mike Freeman, Mikes Memphis Tours (1-901-289-7401). Mike is a tour guide, writer, publisher & historian. When it comes to being knowledgeable about Memphis, Elvis or Tupelo, Mike is the man in the know. He is a wealth of information.
His latest venture is a new book about Clarence Saunders the founder of Piggly Wiggly. Saunders used his new wealth to build an estate in Memphis larger than anyone had done before. People called it the Pink Palace. Today it is a museum.
Have a safe trip to Memphis and while you are in town for Elvis Week hope you find time to visit me at Everything Elvis in the Graceland Plaza. I will be there on the 13th, 14th & 15th from 12 – 4:00.
ELVIS WEEK COUNTDoWn: KEY MAGAZINE COVER; ELVIS AND ANN MARGRET
Elvis Week is only Seventeen days away. For those of you headed to Memphis, I hope you will keep an eye out for the August issue of the cities Key Magazine. “Key” is distributed to all the hotels twice a month for visitors wanted to know what is going on in the city. The latest issue will release on the 1st and 15th of August and will feature my artwork of Elvis and Ann-Margret from Viva Las Vegas. This original work of art is part of the private collection of Sandra Bray from Los Angeles.
A couple of years ago, while my daughter, Loretta Harper, was working on the film “Loss of a Teardrop Diamond” with Ann-Margret, she had the opportunity to show her a copy of the artwork. Ann was really please to see the drawing and it brought back many fond memories for her.
So while you are in Memphis be sure to take home a copy of Elvis and Ann-Margret.
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