Johnny B Gone
As soon that the fan world learned that ‘Johny B Goode’ was replaced by ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ on the opening credits of ‘Elvis On Tour’, hundreds of reactions where written on various message boards. Lots of fans are blaming Warner or EPE (who don’t even own the On Tour footage) for not doing a good job on this release. ElvisMatters contacted Tom Lucas, VP Marketing manager of Warner USA, and asked for an explanation. The moment Warner decided to release a restored version for ‘Elvis On Tour’, they contacted all the composers and publishers for the songs that are included in the movie. In case of ‘Johny B Goode’, they never received any reaction from composer Chuck Burry or his publisher. Warner tried to contact them for a very long time, but never received any reply or contract. It is not the case that Warner did not want to pay enough money to include the song, they simply did not receive an offer to pay for it. Warner had two options left: forget the whole project and put it back in the vault, or release it with another intro.
Award For Marty Lacker & Carl Perkins
It was announced today that among the honorees to receive a Beale Street Blues Note, the equivalent of a Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star, is former Memphis Music Industry leader, Marty Lacker.
Lacker started his entertainment career in radio in 1957 and a few years later his former high schoolmate, Elvis Presley, asked Marty to work for him. Marty was with and close to Elvis for 20 years and served as his right hand man for a number of years as well as being his Co-Best Man at his wedding.
However, it was not really his association with Elvis that has brought this honor to him but his years after leaving Presley's payroll to become a vital part of the Memphis and National Music Industry. In 1967 Lacker started Pepper Records at which time he discovered Rita Coolidge and produced her first couple of hits for her. While at Pepper he also produced some young R&B groups with the help and songs of his close friends Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
Shortly after, Lacker was solely responsible for Elvis to return to Memphis to record for the first time in 14 years when Lacker convinced Elvis to record with Chips Moman and his American Studios Rhythm section resulting in "Suspicious Minds" and "In The Ghetto' as well as other hits. It was a few months after that Moman asked Lacker to run American Studios for him which he did for a couple of years before opening his own company Mempro Inc.
Lacker also co-founded the Memphis Chapter Of NARAS (Grammys), as well as founded the original Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission,(1972) and was it's first Chairman. He also was Chairman of Memphis Music,Inc., the official organization of the entire Memphis Music Industry.
It is for those accomplishments and others that Lacker was named today, July 29, 2010 as one of the honorees to have his name embedded on a Blues Note in the sidewalk of world famous Beale Street in Memphis.
During the week when we remember the heyday of rockabilly and the early days of rock & roll, legendary performer Carl Perkins will receive a note in the Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame. From "Blue Suede Shoes" to collaborations with various Beatles, Perkins’ career illustrated the can do spirit of his West Tennessee roots. He also performed with the Million Dollar Quartet at Sun Studio, which included Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash.
Awards For Elvis
EPE announced that during Conversations on Elvis, Session Two on Saturday, August 14 at 1:00 p.m., representatives from Sony will make a special RIAA Presentation.
(Source EPG, ElvisMatters, Elvis Unlimited)