Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Blue Moon]

Thought I'd post this photo of Dottie & Elvis in honor of gospel singer & writer Joyce "Dottie" Rambo's passing early Sunday morning at the age of 74. Her tour bus apprently went off the road & hit an embankment. That region of Missouri was hit with tornados at the time so one wonders if bad weather was the cause, but that has yet to be determined.

She wrote a couple of thousand songs, with Elvis singing one of them, "If That Isn't Love". I recall hearing Dottie talk about how Elvis had signed a contract to do a number of her songs, but he died before recording the rest. I remember her having nothing but kind & warm things to say about Elvis. I'll bet he was there to greet her . . .

[MaryInTheMorning]

I'll bet he was there to greet her . . .

I'll bet he was too Laurie. Thank you so much for letting us know about what happened to Dottie dear angel and for posting the picture of her and Elvis for us. This is such a sad loss, and it's really a shame that Elvis never got a chance to record her other songs. His recording of "If That Isn't Love" is so beautiful and I'm sure that he would've really enjoyed recording her other songs and that they would have turned out just as beautifully too.

In honor of Dottie and Elvis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiCvH5Q4iaw

[Sarena]

Thank you, Laurie, ....I bet he was there, too, when she passed over....

I also love that song "If that isn't love"!!!

[FairyTale]

Thanks Laurie for the sad info on Dottie Rambo, I seen the Rambos in concert when I still lived in Missouri. I loved their songs, and I Love how Elvis sang If That isn't Love. I have No Doubt that Elvis was there to meet Dottie. FairyTale!

[FairyTale]

Mary Thank You for having such a Touching Video from YouTube, every time I see a Picture of Elvis' Face I can't but think how his Face looks like it was made of Silk. His Face just Looks so Soft, if I could have been able to have met Elvis thats one thing I woukld want to do is Touch that Loving Face. FairyTale!

[MaryInTheMorning]

You are very welcome dear FairyTale!! As a matter of fact, I was just looking through some of my pictures of Elvis a few minutes ago that I have on my computer, and I came across one that I actually titled "silken look" because he face looked the very same way to me too!! Here is the picture that I gave that title to.

[tonytrout]

Thought I'd post this photo of Dottie & Elvis in honor of gospel singer & writer Joyce "Dottie" Rambo's passing early Sunday morning at the age of 74. Her tour bus apprently went off the road & hit an embankment. That region of Missouri was hit with tornados at the time so one wonders if bad weather was the cause, but that has yet to be determined.

She wrote a couple of thousand songs, with Elvis singing one of them, "If That Isn't Love". I recall hearing Dottie talk about how Elvis had signed a contract to do a number of her songs, but he died before recording the rest. I remember her having nothing but kind & warm things to say about Elvis. I'll bet he was there to greet her . . .

Who had Elvis signed a deal with to do her songs? If I remember correctly, an artist doesn't have to sign a 'contract' with someone to record their songs.....all the artist does is acquire the rights/permission to record them.

And in regards to the accident: It has been confirmed that weather was, in fact, a contributing factor to the accident. Dottie was asleep when the accident happened and she was thrown from her bunk upon impact and the injuries she sustained from the impact is what caused her death.

[Blue Moon]

Who had Elvis signed a deal with to do her songs? If I remember correctly, an artist doesn't have to sign a 'contract' with someone to record their songs.....all the artist does it acquire the rights to record them.

Well Tony it has been some time since I saw the program in which Dottie spoke about Elvis' plans to sing more of her songs. No doubt I did not remember her words exactly correct. She probably said something more along the lines of "aquiring the rights". I don't remember the title of the show, but Barbara Mandrell was hosting, with Dottie as her guest, and there were various famous singers & groups coming on who had previously recorded Dottie's songs & were performing them for the show. I recall Dolly Parton & the Jordonaires were on the show, among others. Thanks for the update re Dottie's death.

[FairyTale]

[b] Yes Mari his Face Looks like Silk there to, I Miss Him So Vwery Much! FairyTale!

[Wanda June Hill]

I don't know how it was when Elvis was recording, but I know that Starla was offered a songwriting contract with a recording company in Nashville in 1986 and it was about 3 inches thick... the company would have owned everything she wrote alone or jointly and have total control over who recorded them if anyone did and she had no say in any of it. She could express her thoughts and suggestions about what the artist might do etc: but she had no say as to who or how the material might be changed or performed on recordings. she also didn't get much off it but over time, if the record sold well, she would have received royalties for "life". A well known artist would/could have made her money. However, she refused to sign her "life away" as she put it because she wanted more control over her musical talents and writing skills...they could tell her who to write for, and with according to the contract. And she was expected to move to Nashville to be "available to work with etc:". Back when Elvis recorded I think things were a bit more relaxed if that's the right word... Songwriters could pitch their songs to singers... if they weren't under contract but that changed over time... now you have to have a lawyer pitch your material to any one-and must go through channels. If you don't have any management behind you like writing for a specific company, it's tough to get any one to pay attention or even respond. And you MUST be sure to have it copy righted before it goes anywhere- Elvis just wasn't "allowed" to have access to people with independance or apparently, brains that worked very often... Felton Jarvis tried to get him material but even he had some difficulty getting around the Col.'s "men". It's funny, Elvis did some of his best material when he recorded without the Col's "permission" . Of course that never happened again, except when he began to record at home.... trying to prevent his music from being "altered" against his wishes...as Elvis liked to sing in the same room as his band when he could-so his voice couldn't be "brought forward over his music". Elvis did his very best work when he went against the Col's wishes.... Like the 68 television special--- and that was because he had someone with some intelligence and backbone standing up with him giving him courage. (Steve Binder). And again when Elvis insisted that his show be done the way he wanted it in the Aloha Special. Although the Col. did get his way with the background views of Hawaii running behind Elvis singing the Hawaian love songs etc: when he really didn't want to do them but was told he must because of the time factor etc:.... Why couldn't they just have extended the concerts???? And who was the guy walking on the beach and what was that about? Why didn't they let Elvis walk on the beach? I know! It was because his eye was killing him and he wasn't supposed to be "under bright sunlight" etc:.... What did they call the giant stage lighting and spotlights? wjh

[Blue Moon]

Well, Wanda, it does seem like Elvis was having a harder time of getting quality song material
in the last few years of his life.
The Colonel & some of the MM were clearly keeping him more isolated.
I recall you mentioning stories of when people would come to visit Elvis; he'd be expecting them,
but the MM would tell the visitor that Elvis didn't want to see him, and Elvis would be none the wiser,
as the visitor would be too embarassed to call him about it.
Then adding to that, more songwriters were singing their own material & fewer & fewer were willing
to pay the Colonel's mandated 50% songwriting fee.

By the way, the DVD I mentioned above is called We Shall Behold Him: Tribute to Dottie Rambo.
I thought it was very well done. And Dottie does speak a few words about Elvis on it.

[tonytrout]

I don't know how it was when Elvis was recording, but I know that Starla was offered a songwriting contract with a recording company in Nashville in 1986 and it was about 3 inches thick... the company would have owned everything she wrote alone or jointly and have total control over who recorded them if anyone did and she had no say in any of it. She could express her thoughts and suggestions about what the artist might do etc: but she had no say as to who or how the material might be changed or performed on recordings. she also didn't get much off it but over time, if the record sold well, she would have received royalties for "life". A well known artist would/could have made her money. However, she refused to sign her "life away" as she put it because she wanted more control over her musical talents and writing skills...they could tell her who to write for, and with according to the contract. And she was expected to move to Nashville to be "available to work with etc:". Back when Elvis recorded I think things were a bit more relaxed if that's the right word... Songwriters could pitch their songs to singers... if they weren't under contract but that changed over time... now you have to have a lawyer pitch your material to any one-and must go through channels. If you don't have any management behind you like writing for a specific company, it's tough to get any one to pay attention or even respond. And you MUST be sure to have it copy righted before it goes anywhere- Elvis just wasn't "allowed" to have access to people with independence or apparently, brains that worked very often... Felton Jarvis tried to get him material but even he had some difficulty getting around the Col.'s "men". It's funny, Elvis did some of his best material when he recorded without the Col's "permission" . Of course that never happened again, except when he began to record at home.... trying to prevent his music from being "altered" against his wishes...as Elvis liked to sing in the same room as his band when he could-so his voice couldn't be "brought forward over his music". Elvis did his very best work when he went against the Col's wishes.... Like the 68 television special--- and that was because he had someone with some intelligence and backbone standing up with him giving him courage. (Steve Binder). And again when Elvis insisted that his show be done the way he wanted it in the Aloha Special.

If I remember correctly, Elvis went along completely with producer/director Marty Pasetta's ideas for the "Aloha" show but he was told to lose weight and get in shape (Marty had witnessed Elvis's performance in Long Beach, CA on November 14-15, 1972) and that's when he went on a very low-calorie diet (Sonny and Lamar also went on this very same diet with him, I believe).

Although the Col. did get his way with the background views of Hawaii running behind Elvis singing the Hawaian love songs etc: when he really didn't want to do them but was told he must because of the time factor etc:.... Why couldn't they just have extended the concerts????

If you're referring specifically to the "Aloha" show itself, they (NBC) only had access to that satellite for one hour then that was all. They did, if fact, go back and re-edit the show for the U.S. viewing on April 4, 1973.

And there is no way on God's green Earth that 1.5 billion people saw the Aloha show when it was initially broadcast on January 14, 1973. No way whatsoever. Here is some info I came across. It basically destroys the complete and total 'myth' 'bout there being 1.5 billion people who watched the show. Here's what I found (yes, it's from a poster at TCB-World):


The original telecast of Aloha was not watched by 1.5 billion people. Not even close to that figure.

It went out live to Hawaii and Asia, and two cities only here in Australia. And a few other countries.

It was beamed to Europe one day later, so viewers there cannot be included in the original total of viewers who saw it live.

The total amount of viewers who watched Aloha only ... and I repeat only ... comes near 1.5 billion when you add the viewers who watched in Europe one day later, and those in the US who saw it the following April.

I cannot say this any clearer.

More people watched the moon landing live in 1969 than Aloha live in 1973.

The moon landing was a one-off live event, with no significant edited versions months later, or a repeat one day later.

More people ... eventually ... watched Aloha than the moon landing - it just took a while. But that was not the case on January 14, 1973. Talk like this only serves to keep the myth going. It would be a lovely thing for Elvis to be remembered by, but it simply is not true.

I can't speak for other countries, but the Australian viewing total for Aloha has been exaggerated over the years as well. Something like 60% of TVs here were tuned into the telecast. Now, as I said, only two cities (Sydney and Melbourne) took the show live, the other cities dipped out. So it wasn't 60% of Aussie viewers tuning in at all ... only 60% of TVs in those two cities. Perhaps other countries' totals have been exaggerated over the years as well; I don't know.


There you have it. Another myth that has been continued by EPE and the fans for over thirty-five years....BUSTED! Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii was not ever watched (collectively) by 1.5 billion people on January 14, 1973.

And who was the guy walking on the beach and what was that about? Why didn't they let Elvis walk on the beach? I know! It was because his eye was killing him and he wasn't supposed to be "under bright sunlight" etc:.... What did they call the giant stage lighting and spotlights? wjh

I've never heard or read where Elvis wasn't supposed to be under bright lights or sunlight whatsoever. If that's the case, he shouldn't have been on stage performing at all.



Off-topic for a moment: Why am I finding it very difficult to 'quote' a post? How do you properly use the 'quote' function? I'm having to 'copy & paste" the 'bold' & 'italic' symbols in each message that I want to quote. On every other board (be it an Elvis messageboard or whatever) the quote function is very easy to use.

Anybody got any ideas?

[Wanda June Hill]

That's right about the number of people... but nothing new really when one considers the fact that almost every thing is "hype" these days when it comes to wanting to continue making money off something or some one- it's that way even with the government and big business too. Times have changed since the "good old days" from the past- or were we all gullible then too...

As for being in the bight lights...it was bad for his eyes-i especially for blue eyes-t's bad for any performer under strobes and spot lights... bright light causes cataracts-especially sun light. I didn't know that until last year when told I had cataracts and would have to have surgery and to wear dark protective glasses when outside or under bright lighting. I've always been an outdoor person, and didn't wear shades all the time either. Elvis had glaucoma and was told that he should wear shades but of course he would not stop performing and he would not wear shades on stage- but he WAS told that... he had severe head aches as a result of those spot lights hitting him in the eyes. It was almost impossible for anyone to manage not to do it since he moved so much on stage-even though they tried to rehearse lighting he wasn't always doing the exact same moves since being prone to "change things" in the middle of a show.
The Col. tried to plan the satillite show just as he tried to plan the tv special in 68 but Binder got around him. Elvis on the other hand for the Aloha show insisted on having his original set up, orchestra, band and singers set up behind him like always... and that's how it was done.
One thing about how he handled things was he didn't jump up and down and cause a scene...he merely said his piece and stuck to it when it involved his group of musicians and what he wanted... And yes, he did diet and he did work out and he did try to look his best...that he was also trying to cut back on sleeping pills and everything else though he said he did take diet pills when losing weight for that show. He also had the glaucoma problem and had to have his eye drained. Probably due to the diet pills- that stuff and stimulants are bad for contributing to that condition if one has that tendency to start with... or the stuff is used too much. We'll never know for sure, will we? Anyway, one thing I have learned recently, always protect your eyes from the sun, especially now that our atmosphere is "thinner" and more rays are hitting the earth. Even children are beginning to have cataracts! and that's a bad thing. Sure they have surgery to fix that- but it entails taking off the lens of the eye and replacing it with a new one...artificial usually but not always. And though most do fine, there is always that chance one will have problems. And with real lens they can come back- but with artifical ones they will not. Better to wear the shades! Not just any kind-but those with the proper protection lens.
Wow, I talk too much! Sorry.
Thanks for posting that information Tony, it's always good to let people know how things get "done" and eleborated upon in today's markets.
You know, even Elvis believed that the entire world was watching those shows at the same time...I don't know if he was ever informed or figured it out-though he was a bit miffed that the US didn't get to see it for such a long time. That made me wonder too until I realized it was "$$$$" that made those decisions... they wanted to sell the show etc:...
Elvis looked great on that show... he walked out there looking like he was "unreal" he was so "perfect" in appearance and that was one of the best outfits ever worn by him. He felt so "honored" to get to do that and I hope no one ever did explain the real story to him...especially I hope he never was told how little money actually went to that chairty "endeavor".
But there had to be some "reason" to make it all "worthwhile"...
wjh

[Rainbow Light]

Hey Wanda!

Thanks for all your insights, thoughts and feedback and you could never "talk too much", always great to hear from you!

I'm curious to know what you know regarding

I hope he never was told how little money actually went to that chairty "endeavor".

though?? If you would prefer to drop me a pm regarding this, would be fine and please pardon my ignorance on this matter, had not heard this before!

Thanks in advance!,

Sue

[tonytrout]

Elvis looked great on that show... he walked out there looking like he was "unreal" he was so "perfect" in appearance and that was one of the best outfits ever worn by him. He felt so "honored" to get to do that and I hope no one ever did explain the real story to him...especially I hope he never was told how little money actually went to that chairty "endeavor".
But there had to be some "reason" to make it all "worthwhile"...
wjh

Wanda,

I thought that every cent of the tickets and merchandising went towards the Kui Lee Cancer Fund?