Elton John said Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” was one of the two records that completely changed his life. The other was by another 1950s rock ‘n’ roll singer. John also revealed what he thought about Elvis’ looks. He had a similar reaction to Elvis that he had to Marilyn Monroe.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ was 1 of the 1st songs Elton John’s mom bought that he loved
During a 1973 interview with Rolling Stone, John was asked if his musical career began with his band Bluesology. “Actually it all started when I became old enough to listen to records, because my mother and father collected records and the first records I ever heard were Kay Starr and Billy May and Tennessee Ernie Ford and Les Paul and Mary Ford and Guy Mitchell,” he said. I grew up in that era. I was three or four when I first started listening to records like that.
Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ was 1 of the 1st songs Elton John’s mom bought that he loved
During a 1973 interview with Rolling Stone, John was asked if his musical career began with his band Bluesology. “Actually it all started when I became old enough to listen to records, because my mother and father collected records and the first records I ever heard were Kay Starr and Billy May and Tennessee Ernie Ford and Les Paul and Mary Ford and Guy Mitchell,” he said. I grew up in that era. I was three or four when I first started listening to records like that.
- 11/14/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley‘s “Hound Dog” is one of the most important songs in the history of rock ‘n’ roll but it doesn’t exactly have deep lyrics. Frank Sinatra insulted “Hound Dog” onstage while its writers looked on from the audience. Sinatra’s feelings about the tune didn’t stop him from recording another tune from the same songwriting duo. Surprisingly, the songwriters weren’t big fans of Elvis’ “Hound Dog” either.
Frank Sinatra insulted Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ and other tracks by the same writers
The songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller wrote tunes Elvis recorded, “Hound Dog” being the most famous example. In their 2009 book Hound Dog: The Lieber and Stoller Autobiography, Stoller discussed something Sinatra said onstage. “‘We’d like to do a new song for you,'” he said. “‘I don’t know it very well, but I’ll do the best I can.
“‘It...
Frank Sinatra insulted Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ and other tracks by the same writers
The songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller wrote tunes Elvis recorded, “Hound Dog” being the most famous example. In their 2009 book Hound Dog: The Lieber and Stoller Autobiography, Stoller discussed something Sinatra said onstage. “‘We’d like to do a new song for you,'” he said. “‘I don’t know it very well, but I’ll do the best I can.
“‘It...
- 11/9/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Bonanza remains the second-longest-running American western TV series of all time. The show’s unique storylines and characters made it a success, but the memorable theme song also played a part in the series’ popularity. The Bonanza theme song that introduced each episode changed before and during the show’s run, with one version including lyrics written and sung by one of its stars, Lorne Greene.
‘Bonanza’ is a standout show of its era Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright in ‘Bonanza’ | Fred Sabine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Bonanza centered on the trials and tribulations of the Cartwright family, led by patriarch Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene), who lived on the Ponderosa ranch with his three sons: the educated engineer Adam (Pernell Roberts), the gentle giant Eric “Hoss” Cartwright (Dan Blocker), and the quick to anger “Little Joe” (Michael Landon). The NBC show’s exploration of their relationships and...
‘Bonanza’ is a standout show of its era Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright in ‘Bonanza’ | Fred Sabine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Bonanza centered on the trials and tribulations of the Cartwright family, led by patriarch Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene), who lived on the Ponderosa ranch with his three sons: the educated engineer Adam (Pernell Roberts), the gentle giant Eric “Hoss” Cartwright (Dan Blocker), and the quick to anger “Little Joe” (Michael Landon). The NBC show’s exploration of their relationships and...
- 3/8/2023
- by Sam Hines
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Lausanne (Switzerland), Dec 22 (Ians) Men have been given the go-ahead to compete in Olympic artistic swimming for the first time in history at the 2024 Paris Games, World Aquatics said on Thursday.
As per World Aquatics, the Ioc approved male participation in the artistic swimming team event, with a maximum of two male competitors per team.
While artistic swimming has been on the Olympic programme since 1984, until now it has always been a female-only sport. However, all of that is set to change at Paris 2024 where 10 teams are expected to compete for the gold medal at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.
The addition of male athletes to the artistic swimming competition represents another step in the Ioc’s mission to provide gender parity at the Games, with Paris 2024 featuring as many female athletes as male for the first time in history.
The USA’s Billy May, the first male World Champion in artistic swimming,...
As per World Aquatics, the Ioc approved male participation in the artistic swimming team event, with a maximum of two male competitors per team.
While artistic swimming has been on the Olympic programme since 1984, until now it has always been a female-only sport. However, all of that is set to change at Paris 2024 where 10 teams are expected to compete for the gold medal at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.
The addition of male athletes to the artistic swimming competition represents another step in the Ioc’s mission to provide gender parity at the Games, with Paris 2024 featuring as many female athletes as male for the first time in history.
The USA’s Billy May, the first male World Champion in artistic swimming,...
- 12/22/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
It's ring-a-ding time, with producer-star Frank Sinatra and his cooperative director Gordon Douglas doing a variation on the hipster detective saga. The two Tony Rome pictures are lively and fun and chock-ful of borderline offensive content, like smash-zooms into women's rear ends. Tony Rome & Lady in Cement Blu-ray Twilight Time 1967, 1968 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 110 and 93 min. / Street Date September 8, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95 Starring Frank Sinatra, Richard Conte; Tony Rome: Jill St. John, Sue Lyon, Gena Rowlands, Simon Oakland, Lloyd Bochner, Robert J. Wilke, Virginia Vincent, Joan Shawlee, Lloyd Gough, Rocky Graziano, Elisabeth Fraser, Shecky Greene, Jeanne Cooper, Joe E. Ross, Tiffany Bolling, Deanna Lund. Lady in Cement: Raquel Welch, Dan Blocker, Martin Gabel, Lainie Kazan, Paul Mungar, Richard Deacon, Joe E. Lewis, Bunny Yeager. Cinematography Joseph Biroc Original Music Billy May, Hugo Montenegro; song by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra Written by Richard L. Breen...
- 8/30/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
New York -- Composer and lyricist Richard Adler, who won Tony Awards for co-writing songs for such hit Broadway musicals as "The Pajama Game" and "Damn Yankees" and who staged and produced President John F. Kennedy's birthday celebration featuring a breathy Marilyn Monroe, has died. He was 90.
Adler died Thursday at his home in Southampton, N.Y., his widow, Susan A. Ivory, said.
Some of Adler's biggest songs are "You Gotta Have Heart," "Hey, There," "Hernando's Hideaway," "Whatever Lola Wants," "Steam Heat," "Rags to Riches," and "Everybody Loves a Lover."
Adler staged and produced several shows for U.S. presidents, including the unforgettable 1962 extravaganza for Kennedy at Madison Square Garden where Monroe sang "Happy Birthday."
He and Jerry Ross wrote the music and lyrics to "The Pajama Game," a frothy comedy about labor-management relations at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory, which won the best musical Tony in 1955.
In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press,...
Adler died Thursday at his home in Southampton, N.Y., his widow, Susan A. Ivory, said.
Some of Adler's biggest songs are "You Gotta Have Heart," "Hey, There," "Hernando's Hideaway," "Whatever Lola Wants," "Steam Heat," "Rags to Riches," and "Everybody Loves a Lover."
Adler staged and produced several shows for U.S. presidents, including the unforgettable 1962 extravaganza for Kennedy at Madison Square Garden where Monroe sang "Happy Birthday."
He and Jerry Ross wrote the music and lyrics to "The Pajama Game," a frothy comedy about labor-management relations at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory, which won the best musical Tony in 1955.
In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press,...
- 6/22/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Jane by Design Sneak Peeks: Jane Gets Caught in the Middle of Jeremy and Eli
The introduction of Eli into the world of Jane by Design and Donovan Decker was bound to cause a major ripple effect. Gray's nephew being named the replacement for India immediately put his credentials in the spotlight, as nobody really knew who he was, where he came from, or what experience that he had in the fashion world aside from who his aunt is. He may be able to talk a big game about the love he has for design, but does he have the goods to back it up?
According to Jeremy, at least, he doesn't, but then again, maybe Jeremy's not the most impartial of parties to go by. Not only did Eli take the job of his former flame, he managed to come through the door flirting with Jane and since...
The introduction of Eli into the world of Jane by Design and Donovan Decker was bound to cause a major ripple effect. Gray's nephew being named the replacement for India immediately put his credentials in the spotlight, as nobody really knew who he was, where he came from, or what experience that he had in the fashion world aside from who his aunt is. He may be able to talk a big game about the love he has for design, but does he have the goods to back it up?
According to Jeremy, at least, he doesn't, but then again, maybe Jeremy's not the most impartial of parties to go by. Not only did Eli take the job of his former flame, he managed to come through the door flirting with Jane and since...
- 6/7/2012
- by Shilo Adams
- TVovermind.com
Spoiler alert! If you haven’t watched Scandal’s season finale, stop reading now. If you have, dig in.
• Do we care as much about Quinn as we’re supposed to? Maybe it’s because I feel like everyone has seen enough TV procedurals to remember, even when you’re in shock after finding your lover dying on the floor, that You Don’T Remove The Scissors From His Neck because he will bleed out even quicker. But Quinn did, and after some notable splatter, Gideon died. Naturally, she called Olivia first. Quinn wanted to call the police, but Olivia...
• Do we care as much about Quinn as we’re supposed to? Maybe it’s because I feel like everyone has seen enough TV procedurals to remember, even when you’re in shock after finding your lover dying on the floor, that You Don’T Remove The Scissors From His Neck because he will bleed out even quicker. But Quinn did, and after some notable splatter, Gideon died. Naturally, she called Olivia first. Quinn wanted to call the police, but Olivia...
- 5/18/2012
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW.com - PopWatch
[Todd Rohal is one of the more unsung American independent (with a small "i") filmmakers. His Sundance entry, The Catechism Cataclysm, is hitting Fantasia today, so here is Todd's review pulled out from our archives.]Father Billy may be one of the least competent priests ever to wear the collar. Not because he's malicious. Not because he doesn't care. No, it's just that being a decent priest requires you to be an adult and Billy is simply an enormous man-child, completely ill-equipped to serve the needs of his parishioners. His Bible Studies consist of funny urban legends. His preparation time spent searching for silly YouTube videos. His ring tone a heavy metal riff. Whatever the incredibly simplistic and naive Billy may be suited for the priesthood,...
- 7/25/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Father Billy may be one of the least competent priests ever to wear the collar. Not because he's malicious. Not because he doesn't care. No, it's just that being a decent priest requires you to be an adult and Billy is simply an enormous man-child, completely ill-equipped to serve the needs of his parishioners. His Bible Studies consist of funny urban legends. His preparation time spent searching for silly YouTube videos. His ring tone a heavy metal riff. Whatever the incredibly simplistic and naive Billy may be suited for the priesthood, realistically, is not it.And so he's sent on vacation. An enforced break of sorts to clear his head and sort out his priorities and try to work out why he wants to be a...
- 5/1/2011
- Screen Anarchy
There's a reason certain arcade games never really leave the public consciousness. The twitchy panic of "Asteroids," the interminable march of the pixellated aliens of "Space Invaders" and the surge of revenge from eating a ghost in "Pac-Man" still make all those titles incredibly powerful experiences, long after the heyday of the arcade era.
"Donkey Kong" rates up there as well and the game enjoyed resurgent awareness after Seth Gordon's acclaimed 2007 documentary "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" chronicled the high-score rivalry of Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell. That film inspired Dr. Hank Chien to try his scalpel-wielding hands at the Nintendo masterpiece. Chien went on to jump right over both Wiebe and Mitchell like so many rolling barrels and is now the current "Dk" champion. Filmmaker and actress Alexis Neophytides met Chien just as he was gearing up for his Dk journey and recorded him for a year,...
"Donkey Kong" rates up there as well and the game enjoyed resurgent awareness after Seth Gordon's acclaimed 2007 documentary "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" chronicled the high-score rivalry of Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell. That film inspired Dr. Hank Chien to try his scalpel-wielding hands at the Nintendo masterpiece. Chien went on to jump right over both Wiebe and Mitchell like so many rolling barrels and is now the current "Dk" champion. Filmmaker and actress Alexis Neophytides met Chien just as he was gearing up for his Dk journey and recorded him for a year,...
- 4/8/2011
- by Evan Narcisse
- ifc.com
[With Todd Rohal's The Catechism Cataclysm now screening at SXSW we revisit Todd Brown's earlier review.]Father Billy may be one of the least competent priests ever to wear the collar. Not because he's malicious. Not because he doesn't care. No, it's just that being a decent priest requires you to be an adult and Billy is simply an enormous man-child, completely ill-equipped to serve the needs of his parishioners. His Bible Studies consist of funny urban legends. His preparation time spent searching for silly YouTube videos. His ring tone a heavy metal riff. Whatever the incredibly simplistic and naive Billy may be suited for the priesthood, realistically, is not it.And so he's sent on vacation. An enforced break of sorts to clear his head and...
- 3/12/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Miley and her mom enjoy manicures and lunch and seem happier than ever, how do you think Billy feels about this?
Early reports about the Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus split claimed Miley Cyrus had taken her father’s side over her mother’s alleged infidelity, but it sure hasn’t looked that way. Miley and Tish attended the American Music Awards together and were also together for Miley’s birthday at Trousdale and now, just Nov. 27, were spotted getting a manicure and lunch together! Looks like Billy may not be feeling so much love from Miley!
Miley has become a key figure in her parents divorce as her wealth and holdings will likely be assigned to just one parent. Reports surfaced earlier this month that claimed Tish had been having an affair with Bret Michaels, though both deny it.
What do you think HollywoodLifers? Has Miley chosen Tish’s...
Early reports about the Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus split claimed Miley Cyrus had taken her father’s side over her mother’s alleged infidelity, but it sure hasn’t looked that way. Miley and Tish attended the American Music Awards together and were also together for Miley’s birthday at Trousdale and now, just Nov. 27, were spotted getting a manicure and lunch together! Looks like Billy may not be feeling so much love from Miley!
Miley has become a key figure in her parents divorce as her wealth and holdings will likely be assigned to just one parent. Reports surfaced earlier this month that claimed Tish had been having an affair with Bret Michaels, though both deny it.
What do you think HollywoodLifers? Has Miley chosen Tish’s...
- 11/28/2010
- by cspargo
- HollywoodLife
Wouldn’t you freak out if this happened to your daughter?
A family friend of Billy Joel tells HollywoodLife.com that the singer is having a lot of difficulty handling daughter Alexa Ray Joel’s recent drug overdose. ”Alexa Ray and her dad spend a lot of time together, they are very close,” the friend tells us. “He is freaking out.”
It’s also possible Billy may blame himself for putting so much pressure on his daughter. Another pal tells us: “Alexa Ray has had a horrible few years. She’s been put in the middle of her mother and stepfather’s nasty divorce, and her father’s split as well. She’s only 23. It’s really hard on someone at that age. She’s always been torn and made to choose sides. It’s very sad.”
“Regardless of what Christie [Brinkley] says, she was close with Peter Cook, and her...
A family friend of Billy Joel tells HollywoodLife.com that the singer is having a lot of difficulty handling daughter Alexa Ray Joel’s recent drug overdose. ”Alexa Ray and her dad spend a lot of time together, they are very close,” the friend tells us. “He is freaking out.”
It’s also possible Billy may blame himself for putting so much pressure on his daughter. Another pal tells us: “Alexa Ray has had a horrible few years. She’s been put in the middle of her mother and stepfather’s nasty divorce, and her father’s split as well. She’s only 23. It’s really hard on someone at that age. She’s always been torn and made to choose sides. It’s very sad.”
“Regardless of what Christie [Brinkley] says, she was close with Peter Cook, and her...
- 12/5/2009
- by Andy Swift
- HollywoodLife
Using technology borrowed from lighthouses, a student designs glasses that could aid both competitive athletes and urban bike riders.
Student concepts usually fall well short of either marketability or feasibility. But Billy May, who just graduated from college last year, created a concept which clears both hurdles: A set of eyeglasses that increases the wearer's peripheral vision, thanks to technology used in lighthouses.
May created the glasses as a fantasy product for Nike, though the company was unaffiliated with their development. That said, if we were product developers at Nike, we'd be in hot pursuit of this one. The glasses extend the wearer's peripheral vision by 25% on each side--and that would be a massive help to urban cyclists, and almost any other competitive athlete: Cyclists, swimmers, runners, and horse jockeys all depend heavily on peripheral vision, to gauge their competitors.
They work using Fresnel lenses, which were first invented for use in lighthouses,...
Student concepts usually fall well short of either marketability or feasibility. But Billy May, who just graduated from college last year, created a concept which clears both hurdles: A set of eyeglasses that increases the wearer's peripheral vision, thanks to technology used in lighthouses.
May created the glasses as a fantasy product for Nike, though the company was unaffiliated with their development. That said, if we were product developers at Nike, we'd be in hot pursuit of this one. The glasses extend the wearer's peripheral vision by 25% on each side--and that would be a massive help to urban cyclists, and almost any other competitive athlete: Cyclists, swimmers, runners, and horse jockeys all depend heavily on peripheral vision, to gauge their competitors.
They work using Fresnel lenses, which were first invented for use in lighthouses,...
- 7/7/2009
- by Cliff Kuang
- Fast Company
Pitchman Billy May's autopsy results were announced today by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. The doctor said that there were "no signs of internal or external head trauma."
Dr. Vernard Adams stated at a press conference on Monday that Mays most likely died from complications arising from heart disease, but the final cause of death will not be known until all of the toxicology results are available.
The autopsy did reveal that the pitchman suffered from hypertensive heart disease with Adams going on to say, "It's not uncommon to have a sudden death with this kind of disease."
After Mays died, there was originally some speculation that he had suffered a head trauma after his flight from Philadelphia experienced a rough landing in Tampa when the front tire of the plane blew out.
Dr. Vernard Adams stated at a press conference on Monday that Mays most likely died from complications arising from heart disease, but the final cause of death will not be known until all of the toxicology results are available.
The autopsy did reveal that the pitchman suffered from hypertensive heart disease with Adams going on to say, "It's not uncommon to have a sudden death with this kind of disease."
After Mays died, there was originally some speculation that he had suffered a head trauma after his flight from Philadelphia experienced a rough landing in Tampa when the front tire of the plane blew out.
- 6/29/2009
- icelebz.com
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