Elvis in Texas


Book Description

Exciting never before seen photos, interviews, and memorabilia of Elvis' tours of Texas.




Elvis Plays Texas


Book Description

In the novel Elvis Plays Texas, which is my Thesis project to meet the requirements for a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing/Fiction, a little town in far, far West Texas and its people are having a very difficult time and facing what promises to be a bleak future- a long, long drought has exhausted their water supply, oil has peaked and turned down, "fracking" threatens their way of life, friends and family and neighbors are loading up and leaving town. Then, Elvis Presley shows up. It's the 40th anniversary of the day he died, August 16, 1977, and he, spiritually though appearing in every way to be flesh and blood, is visiting those who've continued believing in him and to whom he had been particularly important during their younger lives. My own long history in that part of the country has played its considerable role in informing the setting, the tone, the atmosphere. These are the kinds of characters- strange birds all- I grew up with. The country is the southwestern desert, hot, dry, empty, big sky- the kind of neighborhood that lends itself to oddities like Elvis throwing a benefit concert to help them out of the economic ditch.




Elvis Plays Texas


Book Description

In the novel Elvis Plays Texas, which is my Thesis project to meet the requirements for a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing/Fiction, a little town in far, far West Texas and its people are having a very difficult time and facing what promises to be a bleak future- a long, long drought has exhausted their water supply, oil has peaked and turned down, "fracking" threatens their way of life, friends and family and neighbors are loading up and leaving town. Then, Elvis Presley shows up. It's the 40th anniversary of the day he died, August 16, 1977, and he, spiritually though appearing in every way to be flesh and blood, is visiting those who've continued believing in him and to whom he had been particularly important during their younger lives. My own long history in that part of the country has played its considerable role in informing the setting, the tone, the atmosphere. These are the kinds of characters- strange birds all- I grew up with. The country is the southwestern desert, hot, dry, empty, big sky- the kind of neighborhood that lends itself to oddities like Elvis throwing a benefit concert to help them out of the economic ditch.




Live from Aggieland


Book Description

Believe it or not, Aggieland has witnessed a parade of musical icons over the years, each with an intriguing story attached. Picture a young Elvis Presley entertaining the Corps of Cadets at G. Rollie White Coliseum. Flash forward to the “Committee for Johnny Cash,” originated by students after the country singer’s post-Bonfire concert was canceled by the A&M administration amid controversy; despite official disapproval, the students brought him to perform off-campus. Revisit the sunbaked Texas World Speedway in the summer of 1974 and Willie Nelson’s rowdy Fourth of July Picnic, complete with sex, drugs, and a grassfire that torched the car of a young Robert Earl Keen (who would later strike up a long-lasting friendship with fellow A&M student Lyle Lovett). Rewind to Garth Brooks landing at A&M to end an enormous 1998 world tour with three sold-out shows in the newly completed Reed Arena. And many other musical legends have produced memorable moments in the area, including Nat King Cole, R.E.M., and the Ramones. Live from Aggieland explores these stories, including photography and first-hand accounts of the shows and events. The book demonstrates how popular music has enhanced the cultural perspective of Bryan–College Station and has provided students, graduates, and residents with lasting musical memories.




Elvis Day by Day


Book Description

From Elvis's definitive chronicler and Ernst Jorgensen, the premier archivist and reissue producer of Elvis's recordings, comes a unique portrait of Presley's life and music. 300+ photos.




Elvis Presley


Book Description

This book concentrates on Elvis' career in texas, from late 1954 until his final appearance in Texas in 1977.




Elvis in His Own Words


Book Description

Gives the reader personal insight into the music and world of Elvis. Fully illustrated throughout.




Dark Star


Book Description

This biography reveals the rock music legend’s dramatic life story, from his Texas youth and rise to stardom to his personal tragedies and untimely death. A true legend of American popular music, Roy Orbison perfected the soulful rock ballad, recording such perennial hits as “Only the Lonely” and “Crying.” In Dark Star, biographer Ellis Amburn reveals the stories behind his achingly beautiful sound. Amburn explores Orbison’s rockabilly roots, his first deal with Sun Records, and his numerous Billboard Top 40 hits. Amburn then delves into the personal tragedies, including the sudden deaths of his wife and two of his children, that led to his obscurity. His return to stardom is also covered in detail, including his work with the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys and his posthumous hit single “You got It.”




Handbook of Texas Music


Book Description

The musical voice of Texas presents itself as vast and diverse as the Lone Star State’s landscape. According to Casey Monahan, “To travel Texas with music as your guide is a year-round opportunity to experience first-hand this amazing cultural force….Texas music offers a vibrant and enjoyable experience through which to understand and enjoy Texas culture.” Building on the work of The Handbook of Texas Music that was published in 2003 and in partnership with the Texas Music Office and the Center for Texas Music History (Texas State University-San Marcos), The Handbook of Texas Music, Second Edition, offers completely updated entries and features new and expanded coverage of the musicians, ensembles, dance halls, festivals, businesses, orchestras, organizations, and genres that have helped define the state’s musical legacy. · More than 850 articles, including almost 400 new entries· 255 images, including more than 170 new photos, sheet music art, and posters that lavishly illustrate the text· Appendix with a stage name listing for musicians Supported by an outstanding team of music advisors from across the state, The Handbook of Texas Music, Second Edition, furnishes new articles on the music festivals, museums, and halls of fame in Texas, as well as the many honky-tonks, concert halls, and clubs big and small, that invite readers to explore their own musical journeys. Scholarship on many of the state’s pioneering groups and the recording industry and professionals who helped produce and promote their music provides fresh insight into the history of Texas music and its influence far beyond the state’s borders. Celebrate the musical tapestry of Texas from A to Z!




1960s Austin Gangsters


Book Description

Timmy Overton of Austin and Jerry Ray James of Odessa were football stars who traded athletics for lives of crime. The original rebels without causes, nihilists with Cadillacs and Elvis hair, the Overton gang and their associates formed a ragtag white trash mafia that bedazzled Austin law enforcement for most of the 1960s. Tied into a loose network of crooked lawyers, pimps and used car dealers who became known as the "traveling criminals," they burglarized banks and ran smuggling and prostitution rings all over Texas. Author Jesse Sublett presents a detailed account of these Austin miscreants, who rose to folk hero status despite their violent criminal acts.