Keeping Up With Elvis
by Linda Holm
Strictly Elvis No. 41 ( September 1971)
Before a small gathering of close friends and his manager Col. Tom Parker in his dressing room in Las Vegas, Elvis Presley accepted a large ebony and gold plaque from Chris Crosby, the son of Bing Crosby. On the plaque was engraved: "To Elvis Presley, in recognition of your artistic creativity and your influence in the field of recorded music upon a generation of performers and listeners whose lives and musical horizons have been enriched and expanded by your unique contributions. "
J.A.T. Publishing © August 28, 1971
This great honor has only been bestowed four times in the past by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) and previous winners (before Elvis) have been Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Irving Berlin. The award is titled "The Bing Crosby Award, " and William Cole, a national officer of NARAS also made the presentation with Chris. Bing was on a vacation in Scotland and otherwise would have made the presentation to Elvis himself.
The
award is given to those artists who have made
outstanding creative/artistic contributions of long-lasting duration in the
field of phonograph recordings.
The National Board of Trustees of NARAS votes on the recipient of the award.
NARAS is
well known for its Grammy-Awards (televised each
year).
Elvis
was deeply moved and greatly pleased by the
award and the great meaning and significance it
carried. He will hang the plaque among his other awards
and statues in the den at Graceland.
Meanwhile,
after his engagement at the Las Vegas
Hilton International has been completed, he'll
fly back to Beverly Hills for a few days; then will
return to Graceland in Memphis for the holidays.
He surprised Priscilla with a brand new $11, 000 de'Tomaso Pantera, a gorgeous deluxe Fordpowered Italian sports can, although he gave her a Tan Mercedes last Christmas. Now she has two beautiful cars.
Strictly
Elvis © August
28, 1971
Priscilla
has been busy taking lessons in Spanish
to add to the other two languages, French and
German, that she already knows. Guess what! At
Elvis' urging, she's also been taking classes in Karate
in West Los Angeles from one of Elvis' former
instructors.
And
Elvis surprised his right-hand man, Joe Esposito and Joe's wife, Joanie, with
a beautiful new
$70, 000 home in Cheviot Hills, a section near 20th
Century Fox Studios. Joe previously occupied an
apartment near Beverly Glen Blvd. in West Los Angeles.
Christmas-giving
comes early as far as Elvis is
concerned. His generosity lasts all year !