Alex Rothacker and his trick poodle Pappy.
Read More2023 Ameripolitan Awards
Visual Highlights from the 2023 Ameripolitan Music Awards
THE AMERIPOLITAN AWARDS ARE HOSTED BY DALE WATSON AND CELINE LEE
Each year, a mix of quirky and eccentric musical artists come together for a reunion and celebration with like-minded people in Memphis, Tennessee. Performers are honored and supported while having fun and sharing their music at the Ameripolitan Music Awards which are hosted by American Country singer and songwriter Dale Watson and his wife, singer Celine Lee. This year’s awards were held at the Guest House at Graceland Feb. 17-19th, 2023.
The event has been on hold for the past few years due to the pandemic but is once again in full swing.
You can find a list of the winners here.
Lucky for Memphians, the event is held right here in Bluff City and it offers hours of endless fun. Their four-day-long party rotates between Hernando’s Hide-A-Way and the beautiful Guest House at Graceland while celebrating Honky Tonk, Western Swing, Rockabilly, and Outlaw genres of music.
Spiffy dancers in their best attire, swing their way across the floor, inspired by some of the nation’s top artists. Vendors come from around the country selling boots, fringe jackets, belt buckles, and clothes, sometimes gently worn, authentic, top-notch vintage outfits. Sunday evening, after brunch and a few rounds of Chicken Sh*t Bingo at Hernando’s, the crowd moves back to the Guest House for the Awards.
All of this takes place just up the street from the home of Elvis Presley, Graceland.
Memphis has become a popular tourist destination, especially for those with a passion for music. With a rich musical history, Condé Nast Traveler named Memphis one of the 23 Best Places to Go in 2023 list and the 3 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023 list.
Alex Greene from the Memphis Flyer did a story to preview the event. https://www.memphisflyer.com/full-schedule-for-ameripolitan-music-awards-released
Folk Alliance International Conference 2023 Highlights
Folk Alliance International First City of Honor: Memphis, Tennessee
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Lisa Marie Presley Dead at Age 54
Fans leave flowers and notes outside of Graceland in memory of Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley who Died Jan, 12, 2023 at the age of 54.
Lisa Marie lived at Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee in her early childhood. After Elvis Presley died, she inherited the house. She frequently returned to Graceland to remember her father and to greet fans on his birthday or during Elvis Death Week.
As a photojournalist in Memphis, I have had many opportunities to cover Lisa Marie and her mother Priscilla Presley, and those who loved and were connected to Elvis in his lifetime. I have put together a small photo gallery and video of the spontaneous memorial outside Graceland and some other links to stories about the passing of Lisa Marie.
Each year, during death week in August, fans travel to Memphis from around the world to remember Elvis. A candle is lit at his grave and the flame is transferred to a few fans, who process past the graves along with thousands of other fans who come to participate in the candlelight vigil. The event usually goes into the early hours of the next morning. (One of the photos in this photo gallery is Lisa Marie participating in the vigil, passing that flame to fans.)
Newspapers around the world have been interested in the story of the death of Lisa Marie Presley.
Lisa Marie will be buried at Graceland near her son Benjamin Keough, who died in 2020, and her father Elvis along with other family members in the meditation garden next to the home.
A few highlights from Elvis Week, usually attended by Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley, Below-
The video of the spontaneous memorial for Lisa Marie outside Graceland is below:
Lisa Marie was here this summer for a premiere of the new Elvis movie that came out.
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Lisa+Marie+Presely
It’s a busy time in Memphis! I will try and add to this blog post and photo gallery as I have time.
John Beifuss, my former colleague at the Commercial Appeal who is a longtime Memphis reporter wrote an excellent story about Lisa Marie. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/2023/01/13/lisa-marie-presley-dies-elvis-daughter-graceland/69804300007/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lisa-marie-presley-dies-wealth-net-worth-graceland/
https://youtu.be/1deDe9Ye_LM THIS IS A LINK TO THE LIVE STREAM OF THE CEREMONY
Jerry Lee Lewis~The Last of the Million Dollar Quartet, Is Dead at 87~
© Copyright- No photos for reproduction without written permission.
One of the highlights of my photojournalism career has been covering Jerry Lee Lewis. Always a thrill, always unpredictable and always interesting. Jerry Lee made the rules and Jerry Lee always only did what he wanted to, when he wanted and for whom he wanted to.
Lewis was controversial and quirky. It took patience, dedication and perseverance to do the kind of documentary photography I wanted to do on him.
I was not even alive during his heyday. Most of my coverage of him was in the second half of his life. But the idea that I was documenting history was still omnipresent.
At times, Jerry Lee had a difficult life. He dealt with a lot of personal tragedy, he had a wild reputation, and had to overcome many personal problems.
As for my experience, he was always a gentleman, on occasion a flirt. He was often anxious to go watch his favorite TV show, Gunsmoke. Judge him as you like, Jerry Lee Lewis had a deep faith in God. He was raised with his double cousin televangelist Jimmy Lee Swaggart.
As a photojournalist, you get a front-row seat to life. I always prefer to be a fly on the wall. My style is real and raw, authentic and as spontaneous as possible.
Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the Million Dollar Quartet and the last of those men living. He was a contemporary of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins. He came up under Sun Records and Sam Phillips (he produced Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf and more) .
Where ever you go, all over the world, you can hear their music playing. They are still ever-present and relevant all these years later.
What struck me most about Jerry Lee is how much he loved to play piano. He was passionate about playing, always. He never seemed to tire of it. He’d even practice in his hotel room before a show.
He loved his fans and often invited them into his dressing room after the show.
His buddy, newsman Jim Kingsley, one of the original “Memphis Mafia”, would bring me down to the ranch and tell Jerry Lee to let me take photos of him. Jim was someone who could get Jerry Lee to do whatever he asked.
I was with Jerry Lee when he was a guest on Donald Trump’s yacht. I watched the IRS carry Jerry Lee’s piano out the door of his Mississippi ranch for back taxes. I was there with him and Dennis Quaid at parties around the filming of Great Balls of Fire. I witnessed him signing his name to open a name-sake club on Beale Street. I watched him perform at The New Daisy with Dr. Nick ( best known as Elvis Presley's personal physician) standing in the wings. I was there when he and his seventh wife Judith renewed their vows. I was at the garage sale where they were selling his Rolls Royce, some of his record collection and his cowboy boots. I was at many of his birthday parties, concerts, and even a recording session.
At home, he would often retreat to his bedroom which had a security guard door and bars on the windows.
My photos of him ran in newspapers and magazines all over the world.
He put a little extra sparkle in my life. He was living history. He was one of the people who put Memphis and Memphis music on the map.
He was an original, and a living legend.
He will be missed.
Found on a recent trip to Amsterdam
Hundreds of fans lined up early outside the Hernando Funeral Home to pay their respects to The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis. Pictured are Band members Kenny Lovelace, J.M. Van Eaton, Sun Records Jerry Phillips, his children Jerry Lee Lewis the third and Lori Lewis Lancaster and family friend Kelly Chelette.
Nice Obit by Reuters who also used a couple of photos of mine from his recent anniversary party: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rock-n-roll-pioneer-jerry-lee-lewis-has-died-age-87-2022-10-28/
The Memphis Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/28/jerry-lee-lewis-dead-rock-n-roll-singer-country-music/3069727002/
Interesting story in the Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-29/jerry-lee-lewis-myra-brown-williams-marriage-13-cousin
Rolling Stone ““Look, we’ve only got one life to live. We don’t have the promise of the next breath. I know what I am. I’m a rompin, stompin, piano-playin’ sonofabitch. A mean sonofabitch. But a great sonofabitch. A good person. Never hurt nobody unless they got in my way. I got a mean streak.… I gotta lay it open sometimes.”: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jerry-lee-lewis-great-balls-of-fire-whole-lot-of-shakin-goin-on-myra-gale-brown-1234621001/
Desoto Times had an interesting interview with Myra Brown- http://m.desototimes.com/news/jerry-lee-lewis-was-canceled-after-marrying-13-year-old-cousin/article_28404220-5bb3-11ed-880a-33f0827e46a5.html
HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO OTHER PREVIOUS WORK
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+Wives
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+lll
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2018/1/2/jerry-lee-lewis-brings-in-new-year-2017-2018
An Evening with Elizabeth King: The Sacred Soul Queen of Memphis
ON THE SEASONED SIDE OF LIFE: Performance Highlights of Gospel Singer Elizabeth King at Crosstown, Memphis
Surrounded by amazing Memphis musicians, 78-year-old gospel singer Elizabeth King pours out her heart and soul while performing at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, Tennessee Aug. 27, 2022. She was accompanied by her daughters. King is experiencing a career resurgence after taking time out to raise 15 children. She has recently recorded on Bible & Tire Recording Company.
King tells the story of how she was “Touched by God” and how he changed her life forever.
New Baz Luhrmann Elvis Movie Tops Box Office
“The King is No. 1 at the domestic box office.
After a heated box office battle, “Elvis” emerged victorious over “Top Gun: Maverick” to claim the top spot on North American box office charts.” Variety
https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/box-office-top-gun-maverick-elvis-winner-1235304037/
ENJOY SOME PHOTO AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM GRACELAND IN MEMPHIS
What does Lisa Marie think about the new Elvis movie?
How does Austin Butler feel about playing Elvis?
In early June of 2022 sneak preview was held in the theater at Guest House at Graceland with producer Baz Luhrmann and the actors in the movie. The actors each spoke about being in the movie before the screening.
Graceland Through the Years
The Wedding Chapel at Graceland
I was fortunate enough to meet and photograph Sam Phillips, the man who discovered and recorded Elvis at Sun Studio. Phillips was a real visionary.
Christmas at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee.
A short video of Christmas at Graceland, In Memphis, Tennessee
Did you know you can sleep where Elvis slept? The Memphis apartment he lived in can be rented out for the night.
This was Elvis’s favorite horse on the carousel at Liberty Land in Memphis, Tennessee. It is now at the Children’s Museum in Memphis.