Happy Birthday, E.!

Elvis Aron Presley would have been 75 years old today, and his former wife has no doubt that if he were alive, he’d still be singing — and maybe doing a little preaching, too.

“I think Elvis would always be a part of music, no matter what,” Priscilla Presley told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Friday from the King’s Graceland home in Memphis. “It was in his blood. I don’t know if he’d be doing rock ’n’ roll right now; I think that maybe he’d be going into gospel. Maybe even preaching a little bit. He loved to teach and loved the Bible. He always would have been dedicated to his music, that’s for sure.

-- Mike Celizic for MSNBC.com

Seventy-five is one of those round numbers that is open for people to emphasize and bring out, and the Elvis Enterprises Inc. and Graceland people are not letting their opportunities pass them by. The king's birthday party will be lasting all year this year. Since Elvis is my own American idol, it is good to see that he can still cause a stir, that at least I am not alone in my boyish enthusiasm, but I am not without some mixed feelings.

One is reminded of some of the criticism directed at Christmas, how it is too commercial, more corporate than devotional. Well, that is a sign of life and vitality, though, isn't it, especially in our modern age - money, honey. It's not like Elvis had any trouble with that principle when he was alive. In fact, there is one little Elvis goody that I have a bit of a hard-on for, though I don't think it's officially endorsed by Elvis Inc.

Alanna Nash has a new book out called "Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him". This sex-bio seems to be both serious and wicked. Janet Maslin writes in her New York Times book review, "Since Ms. Nash’s book is studiously annotated and longer than many biographies of American presidents, there is reason to think she may have done some serious work here." But Ms. Nash apparently isn't too shy about using gossipy material, presumably mining all the sexy and naughty nuggets that can be found, genuine or doubtful, or at least I hope so, since I am ready to lay down money for this. Here is a spicy nugget:

“Why the hell do you put up with her?” Billy Smith, Presley’s cousin and entourage member, tells Ms. Nash that he asked Elvis about Ginger Alden, the consort who was asleep in the next room when he died. Said the King, “I’m just getting too old and tired to train another one.”

Well, he is a rock and roll star, perhaps the first real one, and it's not like I can fault the man. If I had his power, a lot of those women would know what it means to be strapped up and whipped, for starters. If I were Elvis, some of those women might be wearing my initials tattooed on their ass. Maybe it's better that I am what I am, keeping me honest and humble, like a shy country boy.

I want to be a pretty rock'n'roll star, too!

Happy Birthday, E.!

Elvis Aron Presley would have been 75 years old today, and his former wife has no doubt that if he were alive, he’d still be singing — and maybe doing a little preaching, too.

“I think Elvis would always be a part of music, no matter what,” Priscilla Presley told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Friday from the King’s Graceland home in Memphis. “It was in his blood. I don’t know if he’d be doing rock ’n’ roll right now; I think that maybe he’d be going into gospel. Maybe even preaching a little bit. He loved to teach and loved the Bible. He always would have been dedicated to his music, that’s for sure.

-- Mike Celizic for MSNBC.com

Seventy-five is one of those round numbers that is open for people to emphasize and bring out, and the Elvis Enterprises Inc. and Graceland people are not letting their opportunities pass them by. The king's birthday party will be lasting all year this year. Since Elvis is my own American idol, it is good to see that he can still cause a stir, that at least I am not alone in my boyish enthusiasm, but I am not without some mixed feelings.

One is reminded of some of the criticism directed at Christmas, how it is too commercial, more corporate than devotional. Well, that is a sign of life and vitality, though, isn't it, especially in our modern age - money, honey. It's not like Elvis had any trouble with that principle when he was alive. In fact, there is one little Elvis goody that I have a bit of a hard-on for, though I don't think it's officially endorsed by Elvis Inc.

Alanna Nash has a new book out called "Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him". This sex-bio seems to be both serious and wicked. Janet Maslin writes in her New York Times book review, "Since Ms. Nash’s book is studiously annotated and longer than many biographies of American presidents, there is reason to think she may have done some serious work here." But Ms. Nash apparently isn't too shy about using gossipy material, presumably mining all the sexy and naughty nuggets that can be found, genuine or doubtful, or at least I hope so, since I am ready to lay down money for this. Here is a spicy nugget:

“Why the hell do you put up with her?” Billy Smith, Presley’s cousin and entourage member, tells Ms. Nash that he asked Elvis about Ginger Alden, the consort who was asleep in the next room when he died. Said the King, “I’m just getting too old and tired to train another one.”

Well, he is a rock and roll star, perhaps the first real one, and it's not like I can fault the man. If I had his power, a lot of those women would know what it means to be strapped up and whipped, for starters. If I were Elvis, some of those women might be wearing my initials tattooed on their ass. Maybe it's better that I am what I am, keeping me honest and humble, like a shy country boy.

I want to be a pretty rock'n'roll star, too!