The French RDM-Edition record label announced that due to popular demand, and exceptional sales, the label will do a second print-run of their latest Elvis release titled ‘From Florida To Hawaii’. The CD sold out in the first week of release.
Listen to previews or buy the CD at the >>> RDM Edition webshop and the >>> Bennies Fifties webshop.
David Briggs Died
Elvis' former piano and keyboard player David Briggs died. He had been fighting cancer for a while.
David Briggs standing on the far left.
Briggs would leave the TCB Band after the February 1977 tour when Elvis discovered that he was having a relationship with Linda Thompson. The relationship between David Briggs and Linda Thompson would last three years, although they still remained close friends. Linda credits him with starting her career as a composer.
David Briggs' work with Elvis sessions would continue after 1977 when in 1982 he produced the remix Sessions for 'The Elvis Medley'. The single would chart at #51 UK and #71 in Billboard Top 100.
There are only a few distinct session players in Nashville who can legitimately claim to be part of the cast of “Nashville Cats” who were in high demand for decades to perform on country albums, along with albums from across the American music spectrum. There are even fewer session players who can claim they were also part of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Piano and keyboard player, songwriter, producer, studio owner, and performer David Briggs was one of those rare unicorns.
He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Musicians Hall of Fame as part of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in 2019.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum posted: David Briggs could play keyboards in any style. For more than four decades, his deft touch graced countless country, R&B, rock, and pop recordings. He was eighteen years old when he played piano on Arthur Alexander’s epochal Muscle Shoals hit ‘You Better Move On.’
Recruited to Nashville by producer Owen Bradley, Briggs immediately became a studio fixture, enhancing records by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and many more.
He further shaped Music City in co-founding Quadrafonic Studio and opening his own House of David studio. He was a man of music through and through. Kyle Young, CEO
Linda Thompson posted on Instagram: We lost a great talent and a wonderful friend this morning. David Briggs was responsible for my becoming a songwriter. Many years ago he read some of my poetry and insisted that I was a lyricist. He composed music around some of my lyrics and the first cut I ever had was this beautiful song recorded by Kenny Rogers - written by David and me. I owe so much of my success to him. I was able to speak those reaffirming words to him last night in our conversation while he was in hospice.
For those of you who may not know, David was Elvis‘s keyboard player for many years and that’s how I met him. What a blessing it was to be able to reminisce about our good times together and our lasting friendship before he passed away only a few hours after we spoke. Our last words to each other were “I love you.” If you have someone you’ve been meaning to reach out to, do it now, please. You never know how much it might mean to them… And to yourself.
God bless your soul, and rest in peace, David…
ViaVision announced the July 16, 2025 debut release of 'Paradise Hawaiian Style', housed in a slipcase.
Publicity stated: Elvis Presley returns to Hawaii for the last time in the musical extravaganza 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style', also starring iconic Hammer horror favorite Suzanna Leigh and Die Hard’s James Shigeta.
Elvis takes to the skies over the island paradise of Kauai. He’s a partner in a helicopter charter service. Romance, naturally, is in the air for the King… but his business may be grounded. A threatened suspension of his pilot’s license means he may have to kiss his assets goodbye.
Directed by Michael D. Moore – the prolific second unit director behind many blockbuster hits including 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'Cool Runnings'.
Special Feature: Theatrical Trailer.
Note: Special features and artwork are subject to change.
(Source: Anthony Stuchbury / RDM Edition / Steve Hoffman Forum / Elvis Information Network / Saving Country Music)