""The Resurrection of Elvis"

The program "Elvis" was created to be broadcast on December 3, 1968 on Nbc.

Initially the idea would be to make a Christmas program, but the wonderful realization of its director Steve Binder would turn it into an innovative and special TV program. It would provide a new image for an artist who had stopped appearing on TV years ago to dedicate himself to the cinema and renounced the stage for so long. It was an important moment for Elvis Presley who wanted to break with years of tiredness and boredom. The key to how the Comeback Special Tv Nbc program was originally "Elvis". In May and June 1968, the circumstances that led to the realization of this program were marked by the enthusiasm and decision of Elvis Presley pushed by Steve Binder to break with the previous schemes and make the decision to control the reins of his artistic path.

The moment was important to fight for this program to be carried out without coercion and to do something new and different from everything that was being done... to open a door with new and fresh air. Elvis was in a moment of renewal, although he had afraid to face the public. Finally, his enthusiasm and his desire to get out of the bubble in which he had spent years, finally made him go on stage with all the strength he had and give everything with his performance.

Why was the moment important with this program "Elvis" the comeback..? At this point in Elvis Presley's career it would mark a before and after in his path, it would mean a rebirth of the artist, not a comeback... Especially for fans of Elvis Presley it would mean seeing the man who years ago had been his idol and his musical reference and this moment is also important because Elvis would be discovered by a new public that knew nothing about him and that from now on would also follow him on his musical path.

The songs that were hits years ago... From now on they would never be sung in the same way again due to the accompaniment of instruments and because their spirit was already breathing in another direction. And after all this time of having been living in a kind of bubble, Elvis Presley finally appears before his audience... more attractive, more mature, his voice even bigger... and this program would be key in his new repertoire and in his new success.

From December 1968 there is no turning back and the artist finally finds a new door that leads him to his new destiny.

The responsible
"The Comeback Special"

NBC executive Bob Finkel was eager to find a producer/director to work on "Singer Presents Elvis". The show would become known as the "ComeBack Special for NBC." Finkel had heard of the controversy over Steve Binder's special for Petula Clark's TV, and thought Binder's rebelliousness would be right for Presley. Partner Bones Howe, who would later become his collaborator on this show, who had engineered an Elvis Presley album, overheard Binder on the phone declining the offer to direct Presley. Howe urged him to change his mind and at least agree to meet the singer. Steve Binder was not impressed by this proposal, and had not really followed Elvis's career up to this point.Later, Binder impressed Presley with his honesty: Elvis asked him where he thought Presley's career was...and Binder claims to have answered, "I think he's in the bathroom." It made him reflect on what he was doing in the present, and made him see that this program would be an opportunity to change the course of his career. Steve Binder was the creator and director of the Comeback Special, he observed a duality in Elvis's personality, when he was with Colonel Parker, from when he was with his friends and classmates in rehearsals, happy and safe and with the Colonel his personality changed to a insecurity and submission that he could not understand. Binder and Howe were amazed at the attitude of the colonel and his gang to their dealings with Elvis. Elvis converted the locker rooms into bedrooms during rehearsals on NBC. What they wanted to achieve was to get to know the most intimate Elvis through these rehearsals with his companions.
From there starts the Sitdown of the Special.

"Following the Path of The King..."

"IF I CAN DREAM"

The song was not a usual Gospel, technically and musically it had nothing to do with the style of the time, nor with Gospel and Elvis would adapt it to his own way of doing it and would take away all the soul of the lyrics through his interpretation. ... Few singers have dared to cover this magnificent song after listening to him, because Elvis would listen to it several times, loved it and finally made it his own. The meaning of the song in a difficult moment in the history of America, would also give a suitable end to a program that intended to reach a different audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDEhroSN_w

50 years later this The theme remains history through this version performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS "Following the path of the King..."

IF I CAN DREAM

Elvis Presley was above all a dreamer, he believed that even in life one could be better, hence his great spirituality, interior design and search at all times for his great truth, his reason in life, his purpose... At all times despite from his frustration until this year 1968 for his artistic path, which obviously was not the desired one, he had come to question all his reasons and look for changes to his musical world. With the song "If i can dream" he would find a reason to be able to return to show his most intimate self to the public... A success to be able to reach this moment in which Elvis was looking for a song to be able to return to his public in a big way. Billy Goldenberg, the musical director, suggested to Elvis that he could interpret this theme as a Blues with a lot of feeling, Elvis listened again and again to the song that was originally written for the program "Elvis" ComeBack Special. On June 23, 1968 it was would record this song, Elvis Presley with all his energy, affection and absolute dedication threw himself on the floor with the microphone in front of the string section on his knees,...And nobody had ever seen anything like it,... Steve Binder and Bones Howe director and producer narrate the recording as one of the most musically impressive moments in his entire artistic career, with a voice, Elvis, his performance that they say was the most extraordinary in front of the orchestra, impressive before everyone for his dedication, his interpretation, but the greatest thing would come later. .. The producers took all the musicians out to go home and for Elvis to record his voice on the track and he asked to stay in the dark so he could concentrate better, and r he recorded his voice in the dark with such emotion that he ended up writhing on the floor in a fetal form... after the fourth take he would enter the control room, Elvis listened to it up to 15 times as if he heard the voice of his own rebirth and with this song he found the feeling that would have propelled him again in his career to continue having hope, the magic had been achieved. The author Walter Earl Brown, composer of the theme, tells us that when Elvis sang it in front of the public he felt something magical like something electric and wonderful thanks to his song...which was such a feeling that everyone was speechless, absorbed by the voice. One of the singers of TheBlossom wept with emotion and says that she told him then: "Elvis believes in this song and feels it with all his soul." Elvis was a dreamer and with this great song he would find his reason to return to his audience again.

FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS XXXVIII The Comeback Special The Records

"Following the path of the King..."

June 24, 1968 Elvis Presley at NBC Studio,... Rehearsals start at 11:00 AM UNTIL 4:00 PM

For the informal sequences made for the program with Scottyy D, JIn the afternoon Elvis returns to the Western Recorders studios, where the song "Memories" will end. The song had been composed by Mac Davis and Billy Strange included for the informal section of the program "Elvis". Bones Howe has made mixes in the recording that will later be used during the musical production of the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5gGska8Ys8

June 25, 1968 "Elvis" The ComeBack Special

Bones Howe spent the day mixing for the recordings at the show. the recordings that will be used as the soundtrack for the production number of subsequent days.

From 10:00 a.m. at 1:00 p.m. Elvis again rehearses for the informal segment, then spends two hours with the dancers and The Blossoms practicing the Gospel medley.

3:00-5:00 pm. the entire ensemble rehearses the "Guitar Man" segment... Elvis from 6:15 p.m. gives a press conference. Asked why he's finally doing a TV special now, he says, "We thought it was about time. Plus I thought I'd better do it before he got too old." The day ends for Elvis with a meeting with Steve Binder and the show's two script writers... . The next day is going to be very important for Elvis Presley..

June 28, 1968...

Although Elvis Presley had already experienced the warmth of the public again, and had performed two magnificent shows the day before...Closeup with his companions, always friends Scotty, Dj, Charlie...

There is still the definitive, real performance of the artist.. Only before the public.The stage lights will be turned on again the next day for his performance with the orchestra hidden behind the public.

The Sit down show would be the " rehearsal", the anteroom... Director Steve Binder's intention was to return to his stage, the artist who years ago would drive the public crazy..

And although Elvis was terrified... Steve made him overcome his fears...

FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS

"Following the path of the King..."

Reflection on acting in the program
Elvis The ComeBack Special

It is evident that if we analyze from now on the artist's movements on stage, we would perceive a great difference in the way Elvis moved in June 1968 compared to him, in his last public performance in 1961.

When Elvis Presley begins to sing on scene... in his youth, his way of moving begins to evolve due to his nerve and shyness in front of the public... Improvised and energetic dances charged with adrenaline... Followed by suggestive and exciting hip movements already produced by his enthusiasm and dedication and satisfaction before his faithful and beloved public already in the heyday,...

Maturation over time would cause calmer movements, more controlled dances during the movie era from 1962 to 1967.

A time of subtle restrictions and feeling tied down and repressed for not being able to do what he feels... Arrived at this moment in 1968 without a studied choreography,

Elvis Presley unexpectedly takes to the ring stage... with a renewed spirit, more aggressive, feline... Despite his fears, his body impulsively screams his new feeling.... "Here I am again... But I'm not the same... And I want to show everything What can I give..."He moves strongly with a claw... His actions charged with energy and sexuality,... The influence of karate will also mark his improvisation..

Although his movements are less agile than they are at the beginning, they are larger, they are incredible, their dedication, their strength,... their disposition is such that they throw themselves on the ground again with a defiant posture, active in their conquest... the result is that they captivate everyone who witnesses their performance,

The end ... with open arms in a victorious V marking the end of the performance.... He will never be the same as before,... Because he has been reborn as an artist...

"Elvis" The Comeback Special Nbc

DE TUPELO TO MEMPHIS XXXVIII

Steve Binder

Without a doubt, the person most responsible for the success of the program "Elvis" The Comeback Special. A young director, with original ideas, innovative and, above all, a creative genius. Steve Binder knew how to understand the artist, his circumstances, his sensitivity, his tiredness and knew how to find an escape route for his great talent.
He knew that Elvis was in a difficult moment, as if frozen, paralyzed by years of disgust and discouragement. He encouraged him to find himself again through his audience. His programs were fresh and different. Nothing to do with what was done then.
Steve Binder the director of the program will always be remembered despite his other successes for the making of the Comeback Special. He and Elvis became friends and understood each other during the making of it. Her trust and empathy for him during the filming of this TV show would be the key to its success.
NBC executive Bob Finkel was eager to find a producer/director to work on Singer Presents Elvis. the program that would become known as "ComeBack Special" for Nbc. Finkel had heard of the controversy over Steve Binder's Petula Clark TV special, and thought that Binder's rebelliousness would be right for Presley.
Associate Bones Howe, later to be his collaborator on this show, who had designed an Elvis Presley album, overheard Binder on the phone declining the offer to direct Presley. Howe urged him to change his mind and at least agree to meet with the singer.
Steve Binder was not impressed by this proposal, and had not really followed Elvis's career up to this point. is in the bathroom".
He made him reflect on what he was currently doing, and made him see that this program would be an opportunity to change the course of his career.

"Elvis"
The Comeback Special

On December 3, 1968, the program would be broadcast for NBC. The broadcast was a complete success for Elvis Presley and his director Steve Binder. A different program that showed the artist in different scenic spaces.
Elvis finally returns to TV after years of making movies and away from the stage.

1968

About Elvis Presley's personality.One of the most curious facts about his way of being would be how special he was in the treatment, and how susceptible he could become. An example at this time would be his relationship with Steve Binder, director of "Elvis" The Comeback Special.
1968 It is certain the influence that it came to have on Elvis's personality in this program and in his interest, which was so important to him when it came to giving him courage, faith and, above all, security to face the public again.
Steve would be a very interesting man as a professional and also as a friend at this time in which Elvis needed more personal support.
But curiously, I would never deal with him again, after the premiere of the TV show.His calls They were never answered by Elvis, and their attempts to get back to him were useless. Perhaps due to the fear that Colonel Parker had of losing control over Elvis and not letting him get back to his environment...
But it is true that Elvis himself would never connect with Steve again, he never called him again. .. your friendship then was real?? or passenger.
A curious detail of a last party meeting to which Elvis was invited by Steve to celebrate at Bones Howe's house, in an address that Elvis initially did not want to go to, and when they arrived at it,... the surprise is that no one was there, Elvis would get angry about this situation and feel offended and then he would receive the explanation of the attendees who had gone for drinks, etc. But the curious fact was the reaction of Elvis and perhaps from this curious anecdote he tells that he would no longer have contact with him.
FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS

"Following the path of the King..."

Bill Belew

The importance of costume design in the performance of Elvis Presley. June 1968. A good program is the set of all the artistic aspects, production, direction, music, stage, musicians and of course the costumes that were specially designed for Elvis.
Bill Belew who from that moment would design the costumes on stage and also personal of Elvis Presley. He was inspired by the figure of Napoleon to make his models.
The high collars that were inspired by Napoleon's wardrobe and that he chose because they could frame and draw attention to Presley's face as well as give him elegance and slenderness,The jackets, the scarves around his neck, the black Cordovan leather suit that he liked so much to Elvis since he put it on... made like a glove to facilitate all the movements on stage and highlight the figure of the artist, who at this moment is physically fabulous and who has magnetized the public with his image.Custom-made gold lamé velvet jacket for the Elvis Presley TV show. This jacket was custom made for Elvis and is the only designed item that Bill Belew made for the NBC TV special, that Elvis didn't want to wear because he hated the gold Lamé suit that Nudie had made in the 1950s.
Once Bill explained that Elvis would wear black pants with it and that it would only be on screen for about 15 seconds, Elvis relented and put it on. From this program Belew designed clothes for Elvis to wear both on and off stage. And later Belew not only designed jumpsuits for Elvis , the famous jumpsuits. He also designed elaborate belts, as well as three-piece suits and much more.

"Following the Path of the King..."

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Reflections on the artist 1968

The secret of a good artist logically always lies in his interpretation, capturing his soul in a song and making it transmit... Mainly this would be the first reason why Elvis Presley would reach his audience.
But Elvis Presley is recognized still to be the King of Rock and it is unfair since regardless of his mastery in this style admired by everyone... Over time Elvis evolved not only artistically, in his voice, in his way of acting.
He also sought a a new style, a new repertoire that at the time, starting in 1967, would provide the key to once again reach a different public and of the moment. All of this would obviously not be the case without having had the good fortune to know how to choose new scores, new musicians and the set of a masterful repertoire that from then on would lead him back to success.
Elvis was always for himself, his best ally musically and personally his own enemy due to his concerns, his insecurity, his insecurity. decision. But the change, the path that he embarks on from 1968, from the broadcast of the program for Nbc "Elvis" The ComeBack Special, would be a kind of rebirth as an artist after years away from the scene, from the public,...
Once again an opportunity with which a new Path will be undertaken, towards its new destination,...
Road to Las Vegas

FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS

"Following the path of the King..."

During the Sit down show of The Comeback Special in June 1968
the collaboration of another member of the Memphis Mafia, Charlie Hodge, was also requested.

CHARLIE HODGE
Charlie had been a singer since his youth and met Elvis in 1955 when he was performing in public. He began his career at age 17 in a gospel quartet, The Path Finders and then he joined The Foggy Rivers Boys.
Later he would meet Elvis again in 1958 at Fort Hood when they were doing their military service, from then on their friendship would be important and would join Elvis's entourage until the end of his days.
Charlie was a very special friend not only because of their common interest in music, but also because of his humor, his loyalty and his affection for years. Charlie helped Elvis to experiment with his voice, search for another type of register and encouraged him to try new repertoires.
He also collaborated vocally with him, for example, on the songs I will behome again,... you´ll be gone...
He became known by the public for singing the harmony for elvi s, handing out water and Presley scarves onstage, but he had many other tasks, such as presenting the list of songs that Elvis was going to play and sometimes holding the microphone when Elvis played the piano or guitar. And he became his shadow as collaborator on stage, with Elvis, Charlie can be seen at all times... always by his side or behind him.
It is important at these moments of the show in the ring to have the support and friendship of Charlie, in many moments it can be seen in both the complicity , the jokes , the rapport in the harmonies ...

Elvis and the artistic direction of the 68' Comeback Special.

The fact that Elvis was a man of overwhelming beauty is known to all. All the people around him and all those who were lucky enough to know him have always said that Elvis was an exceptionally handsome man.

Members of the Memphis Mafia and many people who knew him, tell us how, when Elvis was about to enter the room where they were, they could already perceive his presence and his magnetism, before he entered the room.

With his impressive beauty and his vocal style brought to perfection, during the making of the 68'Comeback Special, the task of the show's artistic director, Eugene "Gene" McAvoy, was to design a showcase that would serve as a visual frame for a stunningly handsome Elvis to offer to his audience.

From the opening scene in which we can see Elvis framed by the silhouettes of 89 guitarists, located behind him, on a structure in the form of a scaffold, where the colors red and black are the protagonists, to the final scene with Elvis standing dressed in white, before his name, of enormous size, written with red lights.

Mr. McAvoy provided sets that complemented the star, the myth, this man who was creating history. McAvoy would go on to design for television specials and received an Emmy Award nomination in 1976. Stunning images that Elvis made history and that will always remain in our retinas.

"Following the path of the King"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgZGOAEBt8c

Songs to Remember

"Memories"

Songs that Elvis recorded in June 1968. The theme "Memories" was recorded on June 23, 1968 on Western Recorders for the NBC program. Composed by Mack Davis and Billy Strange, although he was the first, the one who actually wrote it in one night in Billy Strange's garage, he was asked for this song as a reminder of the past years and remembering all this... to make sense of the TV script, which was made for the program giving a look back at the steps of years lived by Elvis.

It had to be done in a rush and in one day they did a demo for Elvis to hear. Evidently Elvis was delighted with this song, in his interpretation you can really hear his turning back, his memory and his longing, a song with great pleasure. It is the only moment of the program where Elvis sits down to sing in the audience, this would be an unforgettable moment of "Comeback".

Seeing Elvis sing this song and interpret it live with the public a few days later was one of the magical moments of the broadcast of the show and also in the recordings he made in the studio on June 23...

A wonderful song that Elvis loved and sang on several occasions, curiously covered by Nancy Sinatra in 1969. Elvis recorded it live in concert since the appearances in Las Vegas and later ... The recording of the ComeBack Special would appear on "Memories : The 68 Comeback Special" and "Tiger Man". and the master stereo version on "Today Tomorrow and Forever", alternate takes on The 1968 TV on the 2006 FTd album" Let yourself go". Of course many more... and the ones he performed in concerts... etc.

A song that will be remembered forever in the voice of Elvis Presley

"Following the path of the King..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZzo9MxWfy8

The Blossoms

The Blossoms vocal group accompanied Elvis Presley on this TV show for Nbc. The members that would make up The Blossoms would be made up of various singers throughout their career: Darlene Love, Fanita James, Jean King, Gloria Jones, Nanette Williams and Annette WilliamsThe group was created at the Fremont High School in Los Angeles in 1954 under the name of TheDreamers.
It was originally made up of sisters Nanette Williams and Annette Williams, Fanita James, and Gloria Jones. That same year they made the group's first single recordings with the label Flair Records. In 1957, Nanette Williams was replaced by Darlene Wright, who soon after would take the name Darlene Love.
From this time on they did much studio work for themselves and others. Fanita James and Darlene Love were members of producer Phil Spector's studio band Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans.
DarleneLove recorded some solo songs under the production of Phil Spector, and also as a member of The Crystals. In 1961 they entered the pop charts for the first time, with the single "Son-In-Law". After this the group became a trio formed by Darlene Love, Jean King and Fanita James.
In 1965 they did the backing vocals for the shining tv show In 1967 they entered the R&B charts with the song "Good, Good Lovin'". The group varied its line-up a few more times, and went through different record companies; until in 1972 they recorded their last album "Shockwave".
This group was probably not fully recognized for being in the shadow of other artists but independently it was also successful in the '60s.
They made a backup career for dozens of artists, from Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Paul Anka and Buck Owens to Elvis Presley, a very versatile group which allowed them to be a choral group or for example a finger wop surf group, etc.
From 1967 to 1972, The Blossoms recorded ten albums on various labels, most notably covers of the Righteous Brothers' hits "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" and "Soul and Inspiration" in 1969.
After the "Elvis" show, they also collaborated on the recordings for the film "Change of Habit" and later they were offered to work with him in concert for his performances but due to their commitments they had to reject it for which the Sweet Inspirations were finally hired with Elvis Presley.
The Blossoms also toured with Tom Jones from the early '70s to the mid-'80s. Love left the group in the '80s, first performing in Las Vegas and later singing on Jeff Barry's soundtrack for the movie The Idolmaker while working as an understudy. for Dionne Warwick in 1982. She did The Darlene Love MusicSpecial on cable television, performing Old Crystals Bob B. Soxx, and Darlene Love songs backed by her sister Edna and Gloria Jones. In 1985 she appeared in Ellie Greenwich's musical The Leader of the Pack, for which she was released a cast album. As the 1980s wound down, Love had a budding film career (Hairspray and LethalWeapon) and a Columbia album released in 1988. Wonderful voices to accompany Elvis on this great show...

"Following the path of the King." ."

Reflexiones sobre el significado de los ambientes recreados en el Comeback Special.

The story that the Comeback Special tells us, from the script that is presented to the environments that are created on the occasion of the artist's history.

The story of a singer who develops his path to success, with the circumstances that he will find on his way , reaching the top.

The program was divided into several environments: The program begins with the song Trouble, the artist's first challenge intention.

This first environment, with which the show begins, begins with an image of the singer Elvis Presley's face challenging the public with his voice, his attitude and his presence... an innovative beginning at the time, Elvis's face in a fresh tone with heartbreaking voice...

The atmosphere of the decoration develops with the extras in the background, Rock prison style, when you go along a path that leads from one side to the other.

Another atmosphere: seated in a ring... .the first unplugged in history, a gathering of friends rehearsing and playing guitars, surrounded by the public, improvisations and a spontaneous script by Elvis playing jokes with his colleagues and friends.

The humility, the spontaneity of the artist who rehearses with his colleagues who accompany him in his musical environment.

Another of the environments: The artist who sings live, the entrance of Elvis with his guitar singing his ever-known songs to the public, ... the character of yesteryear is here again, more mature and stronger than before.

Another atmosphere that is created is a moment in which the musician Elvis wanders through new places, encountering characters, the gospel that speaks of his base , from his beginnings as a musician, the soul of the artist where he finds himself, his true feelings...

Through his rise he meets many characters who create obstacles, interests, it is the environment recreated in the brothel , where he meets a girl who seems to interest him; could mean pure love or the ideal, but also more characters that could mean the baggage of the artists, where they want to cajole him, the sacrifices, the interests, the jealousy, the easy way,... the envy,... the temptations, the deceitful people who want to deceive and achieve their own interests.

The artist is the one who finally chooses the path to follow, the environment recreates the show and finally everything gets complicated and the environment ultimately recreates the farce of the show, the vested interests and the people who may be influencing the singer's path...

From one side to the other, he ascends to the highest,... where he thinks again about his roots, the music, the people.... thinking of a world where one can live calmly,... in peace and in brotherhood.

"Following the path of the King..."

FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS XXXVIII

The Comeback Special The Maker...

About Comeback '68 and the innovation it brought to television shows at the time.

With Colonel Parker removed from the artistic decisions about the show and the trust Elvis had placed in him, Comeback director Steve Binder was given great artistic freedom in planning the filming of the show.

Today the show may seem very much in the style of the 1960s, especially because of those numbers with choreographies that were sometimes unnecessarily ornate, flashy sets and a lot of artificiality. But at that time the program was a real daring in many ways and presented many innovative and very new facets. It had nothing to do with what was done in those years, such as the Dean Martin show.

It wasn't your typical special with hosts, a headliner, and several guest artist friends parading across the stage one after the other, full of humorous skits, jokes, and waffling. There would only be Elvis and no one else but him, interpreting his songs, showing all his feelings and his incredible way of living music and delivering it to his audience. A succession of musical scenes, without the typical common thread of a presenter.

NBC was not at all clear. An entire program dedicated to a single artist and without a presenter to give the program coherence. It was certainly a very novel and very unconventional move.

But Steve Binder wanted to do it that way, to shock the audience and renew Elvis's image. He wanted people to see something he hadn't seen before. And so he did and gave us the opportunity to see Elvis in all his splendor, to contemplate the myth singing the music he loved and with which he had grown up, that music that had elevated him to his status as a legend and that continued to impress the world. Elvis himself, when Binder asked him what he expected from that special, replied: "I just want to show people what I'm capable of doing."

ANECDOTES FROM THE COMEBACK SPECIAL PROGRAM

June 24 and 25, 1968.

In this wonderful TV special, Elvis Presley would also be the interpreter of the first UNPLUGGLED in musical history.

To clarify the term unpluggled means unplugged, that is to say that at the time the concert was held and singing live with acoustic or electric guitars, none of them were plugged in. the cable, the sound would be live without adding anything else, just the microphone for the environment and voice.

Alan Fortas, Lance LeGault and Charlie Hodge with whom Elvis felt absolutely safe and as if it were in his own home....

This proposal for the concert as a gathering of friends was from the director Steve Binder who got to know the most intimate Elvis when he sang in the dressing rooms with his friends and was added as a concert in the ring with an audience. An absolute success that would make us enjoy the most spontaneous Elvis, with nerves, but fun, with anecdotes from his past, with laughter and above all with all the heart of the artist.

His concert would be the precursor of the following unplugged ones that would begin to be performed in 1969. made popular by other singers of the time..."Elvis", starring Elvis Presley, is a United States television special that aired on December 3, 1968 on the NBC television network.

The special is commonly known as the '68 Comeback Special, due to later developments in Elvis Presley's career.

It was directed by Steve Binder and produced by Binder and Bones Howe.

You can hear all this and much more on our program

FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS XXXVIII tHe Making of

REFLECTIONS on the artist Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was an artist who was constantly looking for evolution in his singing and at this time in 1968, he was experimenting again to get a new sound. Jerry Reed's influence is evident American country music singer, guitarist, session musician, composer and actor received the Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance in 1972.

Ever since he met him on the recording of one of his Guitar Mann songs, his advice in the vocal interpretation, give it a more aggressive, more torn tone, more strength and personality... this influence would continue at this time in the person of Elvis who continued experimenting with his voice in another line.

It is evident that the strength and the interpretation that begins to experience, his experience of so many years and above all the vocal maturity of Elvis at 33 years old would logically give a different tone to the songs that he would have already performed years ago. Obviously the tearing of the voice from having followed the same line and without care could cause problems in the vocal cords.

Over time Elvis would vary this way of singing again, which evidently over time and with his constant search would give another different tone and maturity in his voice.

Elvis's voice was already thickening and logically his interpretation from the year 68 and 69 would never return. to be the same,... and from this moment the forging of the artist who would become the greatest vocal influence of all time was already reaching its peak.

FROM TUPELO TO MEMPHIS

"Following the path of the King..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsG4O6ZC5jM

About the Sit down show during the recordings of the Comeback Special Elvis

June 27, 1968.
Steve Binder realized that Elvis was more natural, authentic, when he was with his friends from La Mafia, in the dressing rooms of the study. And he decided to try something new.
One of the spaces of the program would be performed in a ring and Elvis Presley with his friends and musicians known from years ago would sing, tell anecdotes and laugh with absolute naturalness.
One of the members of the Memphis Mafia and a personal friend of Elvis was called to accompany him in in the ring during rehearsals and performances for the NBC TV program The Comeback Special in the Sit down show in support of his performance would be Alan Fortas.
He was the nephew of the late Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas. And in this part of the performance with Elvis on stage, Alan plays jokes and accompaniment to support Elvis in this special moment of the program, Due to a family circumstance related to his uncle Judge Fortas, who had a scandal at this stage, Alan would have his back turned on stage but his laughs and his presence and above all his unconditional support for Elvis ...
he is special as a companion like the rest of the group, Charlie Hodge, Scotty Moore and Dj Fontana.

"Following the path of the King,,,"

The Rebirth of Elvis Presley

To what extent fear can be decisive in our daily actions, in our decisions, in our value, in our path to follow.
We know that there is a valuable mineral inside us, brutalized by time, caged by the circumstances that little by little we have created ourselves, a bubble abroad that has determined our present existence and that even surrounded by people who help us, is still restricted to our being abroad.
Fear can sometimes kill courage to such an extent that it can undermine our security and block our movement... Over time the confinement can be so great that the opportunities that destiny offers us cannot be seen, and Fortunately, there are catalysts to be able to come out at the right time to overcome these circumstances...
The damage that had been done for so long had already reached its ceiling... and the artist was in a cage about to explode without knowing how to get out.
In June 1968 Elvis Presley who had been the King of Rock, who had tamed his fans at his feet and who after so long having been forced to follow another path that was not the one he wanted, felt in a tower of ivory with no way out... but at last someone opens his door and man, the caged animal ...the SOUL... is going to come out with all his strength and aggressiveness to show the world that he is not dead, that only he was asleep and he's going to fly see with all the strength he has to show that ELVIS PRESLEY is still the greatest....
Reborn with another vision in his life, and in his interpretation he is willing to reach his audience again, who will finally get to know him againt true.
June 1968 The Rebirth of the King.

"ELVIS " THE COMEBACK SPECIAL

"Elvis"

The Comeback Special

1968 The resurgence of Magic on stage

""The Resurrection of Elvis"

The responsible
"The Comeback Special"

"IF I CAN DREAM"

IF I CAN DREAM

Steve Binder

"Elvis"
The Comeback Special

About Elvis Presley's Personality

1968

"Elvis" The Comeback Special

Bill Belew

Lorem ipsum dolor sit

Elvis and the artistic direction of the 68' Comeback Special.

The Blossoms

Reflexiones sobre el significado de los ambientes recreados en el Comeback Special.

About Comeback '68 and the innovation it brought to television shows at the time.

REFLECTIONS on the artist Elvis Presley

The Rebirth of Elvis Presley

Billy Goldemberg
Director musical

Anecdotes during the recordings of the ComeBack Special "Elvis" for NBC June 1968

"ELVIS " THE COMEBACK SPECIAL

"Elvis"

The Comeback Special

1968 The resurgence of Magic on stage

""The Resurrection of Elvis"

The responsible"The Comeback Special"

"IF I CAN DREAM"

IF I CAN DREAM

Steve Binder

"Elvis" The Comeback Special

About Elvis Presley's Personality

1968

"Elvis" The Comeback Special

Bill Belew

Lorem ipsum dolor sit

Elvis and the artistic direction of the 68' Comeback Special.

The Blossoms

Reflexiones sobre el significado de los ambientes recreados en el Comeback Special.

About Comeback '68 and the innovation it brought to television shows at the time.

REFLECTIONS on the artist Elvis Presley

The Rebirth of Elvis Presley

Billy Goldemberg Director musical

Anecdotes during the recordings of the ComeBack Special "Elvis" for NBC June 1968

The responsible
"The Comeback Special"

"Elvis"
The Comeback Special

Billy Goldemberg
Director musical