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Elvis conference moving to Memphis

" The theme of this year's conference is 'Elvis 20/20: Past and Future.' "


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>Memphis Mojo

By Norm Shaw

Elvis Presley remains "a living phenomenon," and folks in Memphis will get a first-hand look this August at how seriously some people take the king of rock 'n' roll.

The third annual International Conference on Elvis Presley is moving to the home of the king after two years in Oxford, Miss. Conference founder and director Vernon Chadwick announced June 25 that this year's Elvis study will take place at the Memphis College of Art from Aug. 10-15. The conference is open to the public, and the fee for all six days is $150. One-day admission is $40.

Chadwick also announced that Gibson Guitars, which is building a plant in Memphis, Omega Travel and the Delta Axis Contemporary Arts Center are the sponsors of the event.

Heading the list of speakers is Andrei Codrescu, commentator for National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." Codrescu will be attending all six days and keeping a diary through the event. He will present his comments on his diary in the closing address.

Others scheduled to speak are:

  • Howard Finster, legendary Southern folk artist and preacher, who will deliver a sermon titled "Art in the Last Days of Elvis."
  • Larry Geller, Presley's hairdresser and spiritual confidant.
  • Pat Broeske and Peter Harry Brown, authors of the forthcoming Down at the End of Lonely Street: The Life of Elvis Presley.
  • Bill McGlaughlin, host of "St. Paul Sunday," a Minnesota Public Radio program.
  • Robert "El Vez" Lopez, who will conduct a workshop on mariachi Elvis along with his band, the Memphis Mariachis and Beautiful Elvettes.

El Vez also will unveil his new show at a concert the opening night at the Overton Park Shell, Chadwick says. El Vez will perform as part of "All the King's Music," which will run all week at the shell. Billy Lee Riley and Sonny Burgess also are slated to perform.

"The theme of this year's conference is 'Elvis 20/20: Past and Future,'" Chadwick says. "We will be looking back at the 20 years since Elvis' death and into the next 20 years of his future. The conference is not just an exercise in nostalgia, but a look at the present and the future."

In conjunction with the conference, the Memphis College of Art will present several artists' work depicting Elvis. None will be larger than the 56-foot likeness that will be erected at the entrance to the college by billboard artist Benn Zaricor from Gainesville, Ga. Zaricor's Elvis may become part of a permanent installation.

For those who just don't get enough Elvis during the conference, there will be an Elvis Caribbean cruise Aug. 17-24 on Carnival Cruise Lines.

For more information and registration, call 901-276-9876, or visit the conference Web site at www.living-south.com.