One of our members, Erik the Dane, asked me to post the following (wonderful!) stories on his behalf. I am honored to do so; these stories really bring back early times before rock and roll was known as rock and roll, and also provide a nice introduction to Erik, if you haven't "met" him here yet. Thank you, Eric!
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ELVIS 80 tomorrow – 8th January 2015
`My´ ELVIS STORY – almost 60 years ago in TEXAS!
My late friend Roy Stamps was behind a Elvis concert there in Gainesville, Texas back in 1955, April 14th, Owl Park.
Park name now Locke Field.
LITTLE MORE first about Roy, at this time back in 1955!
Roy says: “When I was in high school, a new music was infecting those around me.
The term "Rock & Roll" hadn´t been coined yet.
The official name, at that time, was "Race" music.
None of the record stores in Gainesville, Texas would stock this type of music, so when I got my drivers license in 1952, I would sneak off to Denton, 30 Miles to the South, and blow my weekly allowance for a couple of 78 RPM records by Big Joe Turner or The Midnighters.
By 1953, my first year in High School, I had a decent collection and was hauling my Silvertone Hi-Fi to the youth center for sock hops.
My Sunday school teacher was a man named Joe Lenord, who owned the local radio station, KGAF, a 500 Watt daytime station that sat on the biggest hill in the county, about a mile east of town.
Joe called me one day and asked if I had enough material to do an hour radio show from four to five each afternoon.
There was no pay involved, but I could have 20% of any advertising I sold.
I figured that, at least, I wouldn't have to buy any more records.
That really started my trip into radio, music, advertising and promotion”.
BACK to the ELVIS concert!
Roy wrote about the Elvis concert, that there was 231 paying people.
300 US dollars cost Elvis and his band.
They lost 108 US dollars.
Roy told that Joe also had a little record label, Lin Records.
Joe put up the money and I did the promotion for the show...
"That's Alright Momma" had just been released, but hadn't hit the charts at that time.
The truth is that it wasn't a big hit until after he had appeared on tv a few times.
Elvis sign a 78 RPM ex. of ”Blue Moon Of Kentucky” and ”That´s Alright Momma".
It was destroyed (the record) when Roy`s house burned in 1959.
Roy told me about this day: "Elvis was a well-mannered and shy young man at the time.
He mumbled when he talked and kept the level of his voice very low... quite a difference from what he did on stage.
Elvis didn't smoke or drink, so while I was interviewing him, Scotty Moore and Bill Black took his pink Caddy six miles across the Red River into Oklahoma where they enjoyed some beer at Johnny's B-29 Club.
They came back for the concert... but I drove Elvis over to my home, where my mother fed him a home-made supper".
Elvis said he would come back and play again for free, but that never happened.
Roy even inform me, about a lady Elvis was dating at this time, he told me her name, but Roy was always `A Gentleman`, and not wanted it `on air`, because she maybe `after all these years`, still are alive today.
Roy stop in May 1956 to promote concert and in September Roy moved to Fort Worth, Dallas.
Roy also drove with the President Kennedy's motorcade through Dallas city, the fateful day, November 22, 1963.
Roy Stamps was Willie Nelson`s best friend!
Roy sadly died late 2008.
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Roy also wrote this to me:
"Erik...
The pleasure works both ways...if I claim to know "Erik the Dane", it might get me backstage at a Jimmy Webb concert.
I'm a big fan of Mr. Webb!
The gentleman who ran Glen Campbell's publishing company, Ron Green, was a good friend of mine and through Ronnie, I met Glen Campbell and Jimmy years ago.
His song, "The Highwayman" was one of Mickey Newbury, Willie Nelson and my favourites".
Erik ADD: Can add for this few – ha!, who not know me, I am Jimmy Webbs # no. 1. fan.
BUT I have all years 2004-2014 been to The Mickey Newbury Gathering, mostly Austin, Texas, but two times, we even had the Gathering up there in `famous Elvis country back in 1955`, Gainesville, Texas.
Mickey Newbury (1940-2002) was as J.W. a music legend, and I am friend of the Newbury family, include M.N.s lovely mother Miss Mamie Newbury, around 93, who offen call me ´Darling!´ - fully understand that - HA!
Have many dear friends in this `Forum´ - and music friends of mine there, have been lucky have there songs Grammy Awards nominated, or have there song included, as dear Lynn Langham has, she co.-wrote the title track on the Emmylou Harris / Rodney Crowell duet album, who won Grammy Awards for best `Americana album´ last year.
Erik – Denmark!