DE TUPELO A MEMPHIS
"
Road to Las Vegas" 1
By 1969 the need to perform in public for Elvis Presley had turned into a dream come true, and something he had been chasing since
years ago but unfortunately he had not faced fighting until the moment.
Colonel Parker's absurd handling of his business career had missed many opportunities in the comfort of make films that could contribute little to the artistic aspirations of Elvis as the protagonist and that would least bear fruit to his popularity as a singer for the inappropriate choice of the chosen scores for the same. It was hard to be successful without being up to date on many technical, musical aspects and without properly choosing the songs that should be interpreted. And staying away from the stage of TV, made it even more difficult for him to be the artist of the
moment...
With the sessions of the American Studios it was already faced with this commercial and current change that would finally open the doors to the old and new public. What Elvis had talked about with the journalists so frequently in the last decade was about to become a reality: finally he was ready to be able to perform in concert and in front of a new audience.
The chosen place would be Las Vegas at the Hotel International that would open its doors in July 1969. It would not be Elvis's first appearance in the city. already in the year 1956 April 21, he performed in this city in the "Venus Room" of the New Frontier Hotel. It was a compromise that was somewhat disappointing, though not it was the failure to which it has often been called. It was a bad decision with the public, which was an audience of disinterested adults, his true audience was not allowed in the hall. a strange mistake in the Colonel, because at this time everything is managed successfully...
With the time this city, Las Vegas, had become his playground, since Elvis often visited her for leisure, between filming him, and for personal reasons, to see shows, for his enjoyment and would even become his wedding venue... But now in 1969 the called City of Sin was prepared for the return of the myth.
The city of leisure, games and over time a classic for artists most famous of the moment. Now for Elvis Presley More mature, more prepared, more determined at last to act, it was his time. After of the broadcast of the Comeback Special "Elvis" for Nbc, he received many job offers to perform live, but Parker evidently decided it was best to put live performance back into practice at instead of embarking on an ambitious large-scale tour since it could be a risk or a failure. And, with his penchant for getting a deal impressive from the beginning, he bet on a place that could be from the beginning emblematic for Elvis and safe with time.
Obviously, although a good step, it would not be quite what Elvis wanted, he always confessed that he wanted to do a big tour of Europe and
act for all those cities that he longed to know, and with the time, the ties would prevent this dream from becoming real...
Once he had signed the contract with the Hotel International in Las Vegas for the opening show on July 31, 1969, there were stillmuch to do to prepare for these concerts, gather a orchestra, top musicians, direction, choir, repertoire and Elvis the main attraction of the complex,... The International Hotel opened its doors in 1969 in Las Vegas, with the return of Elvis to the live performances as the main attraction. The Hotel changed its name Hilton in 1971 after only two years.
Once Elvis took the stage at this new international hotel on July 31, 1969, he redefined what live entertainment meant, he would get as an interpreter the record of 57 shows in four weeks. And between 1969 and 1976 he performed over 600 shows under the Sold banner.
FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS
"Following the path of the King..."
July 1970.
Sometimes we are prisoners of our own promises, we try to fulfill and follow our beliefs, but we get lost in our own shadows and do not let us see the light that we have and that could light our way and leave May our wishes bear fruit.
Our beliefs, our illusions, in many cases we know what we want to do and what we should do. But we let ourselves be carried away by circumstances, by fear, by impotence or by ignorance of our own worth and we do not know how to accept ourselves as we are. Elvis Presley was never aware of his value, of his real talent. He was too modest, although he knew he had a gift, with his voice, a way of reaching a special and magnetizing public... But inside he was always that insecure and innocent child who needed support, courage and although he always looked for the others, unfortunately nobody gave him that security.
Elvis always wanted to be free to choose his path, he always wanted to be able to shape his destiny, to be an actor, to be a singer... and to be able to make his music without ties, without restrictions, without compromises or falsehoods. But he allowed himself to be wrapped up in his commitments, setting aside his own truth. He once promised himself to sing only the songs that he wanted and that he truly felt and not let anything or anyone dispose of his artistic future. But while in part this might be the future reality, the truth was the focus of so many, too many vested interests around him. He allowed himself to be involved by his producer, by his manager and by the fear of not being able to continue with his future performances in freedom.
Hiring Felton Jarvis as producer for the June 1970 sessions would limit the choice of a repertoire of songs entirely to his liking. And for him to accept some that he was not entirely happy with, this would already be a step backwards..
But it was his absolute decision and he had to agree to put aside his promise and stop being true to himself by breaking the promise he made to himself two years ago when he recorded Elvis The Comeback Special.
We know that from then on in 1970, Elvis would redirect his artistic future and would control everything that would take place in future performances. He would choose his repertoires for the stage, even with commitments, and he will take his performances to the end controlling his musicians, his choristers, his orchestra director and everything that is going to happen in his performance will be the product of his state of mind and feeling.
But the promises, the dreams, the desires are sometimes anchored in the depths of our thoughts of our subconscious and can leave a mark on our spirit, make us lose security and make us stop enjoying the true present moments, the reality of time. .
Elvis Presley always left all that behind and tried to live at all times with optimism and a smile on his face. There are many opportunities to enjoy the happiness of the moment and Elvis Presley begins with joy, security and professionalism what will be his rehearsals for his return to the stage at the Las Vegas Hotel International. In these days of July 1970 he is going to show us his humor, his talent, his friendliness and his way of working, his sense of rhythm and his passion for music. And above all, already on stage, Elvis Presley will give a master class on how to act in front of his audience. From now on he will direct everything, absolutely everything. Your desires will be orders on the Stage, everything will be controlled, but there in the depths of your feelings... will be your promise, your desires... Your encouragement and your hope will still be the means to begin with that return to stage and that great tour that will bring you closer to your audience.
Elvis achieved on stage what many singers had wanted to convey to the public from him. Seeing him act was quite a spectacle, but seeing him rehearse was a master class in directing and musical nuances. With his voice he caressed the senses but with his body movements of arms and hands, everything showed the true intention and interpretation so that the musicians followed his orders in interpreting the score. Undoubtedly, leaving an air, a nuance, an accentuation... Any self-respecting conductor should bring all this to the orchestra and Elvis transmitted it to us at his concerts. Until then though he always owned his feeling and controlled his musical mission in the studio. Somehow he could be a bit restricted by the musical director or the producer who gave the direction to follow.
But as of 1970 Elvis takes the reins of his career and is not going to let anyone tell him on stage what he wants to do. And everyone who understands this is going to be out of the way of it. He is only going to want professionals, the best, those who can follow him in his interpretation and his sensitivity. And this is going to make your show magical and special. Giving it that particularity that no one will have in Concert...
But although everything could be perfect with time, Elvis Presley got tired...
DE TUPELO A MEMPHIS
Elvis Presley came out on stage, his fresh and sincere voice welled up from inside him, and his body vibrated with the shouts of the public... Sometimes nervous, with tremors his hips moved to the sound of the non-stop music and his wild movements, daring, they made their concerts more feverish.
It was his moment, the most important to show that he could sing and be free on stage, his chance to reach the top. The incredible reaction of the attendees was even more surprising, the shouts, the euphoria, made the performance increasingly difficult, and Elvis Presley poured himself body and soul with his voice.
Fame, the artist's highest desire, recognition was finally waiting behind the door. Elvis had found his way to success... Elvis, the King... But his success had a dark side, both sides of the truth, on the one hand he was the greatest artist who could be adored by his public, but On the other hand, there was the conservative society of the time that saw in him a danger to youth and wanted to put him on trial.
And Elvis gave in to the game by changing his path in another direction that would take him to another destination. His obligations made him leave the stage for military service and on the advice of his manager, Colonel Parker, he would change his direction and embark on another course. His aspirations as an artist, as a singer, his dream of being an actor, his desire to sing live in concert...
All this was for years an impossible mission to achieve due to contractual obligations that kept his artistic life in a kind of Ferris wheel. , from which he could not or did not want to get off.
Movies that had no interest for him, Songs that did not challenge his aspirations and the dissatisfaction of not being able to be free as a performer, did a lot of damage to the man, who wanted to understand his own truth, his mission. in the life. For years Elvis Presley looked for reasons in his existence and in his spirituality he found the reason that would make him reborn as an artist. He promised that he would never again sing a song that did not come from within him and from 1968 with his spiritual rebirth through the program "Elvis" the program called The Comeback Special for Nbc, at this moment he found his audience again.
FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS
"Following the Path of the King..."
