LINDA THOMPSON
Conversations on Elvis (8/15), Photo/Autograph Opportunities with Platinum/Gold Package Holders
Born in Memphis, Linda found herself in the worldwide spotlight when she met her long-time companion, Elvis Presley, while she was a theater and English major at Memphis State University. Elvis' influence encouraged Linda to move to LA and pursue an acting career. She went on to guest star in dozens of TV shows, including Beverly Hills 90210, Vegas, Fantasy Island, Starsky and Hutch and Chips. Her film credits include The Bodyguard and Rabbit Test. Thompson has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award and has won an Emmy for writing some of the most recognized songs of our generation.
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Jerry schilling
A Celebration of Lisa Marie Presley (8/15)
The ultimate rock 'n' roll diplomat, negotiator and insider, Jerry Schilling is a unique individual and multi-faceted music industry veteran. Boyhood friends since 1954, Schilling's long professional association with Elvis Presley began in 1964. Elvis brought him to Los Angeles as his personal aide, and Schilling worked in several capacities while continuing his studies in liberal arts and film at UCLA. He started as Elvis' movie stand-in, learning Hollywood from the ground up, but later branched out into areas of public relations, film editing, and producing on projects that Presley executive produced.
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Glen d. hardin
Conversations on Elvis (8/15), Elvis Aloha from Hawaii 50th Anniversary Concert (8/16)
Glen D. Hardin played piano in Elvis' TCB Band from 1970-1976. He toured and recorded with Elvis and appeared in the Aloha from Hawaii Special. He also arranged many of Elvis' hits, such as "The Wonder of You," "I Just Can't Help Believin'," and "Let It Be Me." Hardin was also an in-demand session pianist and recorded with numerous artists such as Gram Parsons, Nancy Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt, Dwight Yoakam, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Dean Martin, John Denver and many more. He was also a member of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band.
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Jay osmond
Elvis Music Salute (8/13)
Jay is an original Osmond Brothers group member with an entertainment career that started at the tender age of two and a half. Jay was about eight years old when he learned to play the drums and went on to be voted one of the top 10 drummers in the country during the 1970s. One of the turning points in Jay's life, as well as his family's, was when they met Elvis and got to know him personally. He changed their look, stage presence and even their outlook on entertaining. Most recently, Jay has written a musical about growing up Osmond. The Osmonds, a New Musical toured in the UK last year and was nominated for two awards.
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JOHN SCHNEIDER
Elvis Music Salute (Aug 13)
John’s extensive acting career includes the iconic roles of Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard, Jonathan Kent on Smallville and Jim Cryer on Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots, along with recurring appearances on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Nip/Tuck, The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Dancing with the Stars. As an independent filmmaker, John continues to write, direct and star in his own movies, including Christmas Cars (2019), Stand On It (2020), Poker Run (2021), and To Die For (2022). In 1981, Schneider released a cover of the song "It's Now or Never" as his first single and the title track of his debut album of the same name.
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SPENCER SUTHERLAND
Elvis Unplugged (8/10)
Spencer Sutherland is a pop singer, songwriter, actor and massive Elvis fan. Spencer has been in Netflix's Afterlife of the Party, toured with the Jonas Brothers and recently announced his own tour across the US, with several cities selling out. Spencer also recently released multiple new singles, which already have millions of downloads worldwide; plus, he just concluded a successful nationwide tour.
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JANICE FADAL
Conversations on Elvis (Aug 15)
Janice Fadal is the daughter of theater owner and disc jockey Eddie Fadal. In 1956, Eddie became a close personal friend of Elvis. While Elvis was going through boot camp at Fort Hood in Texas, Elvis made the Fadal's home in Waco his "home away from home," where he, along with his parents, Minnie Mae, and Elvis' then-girlfriend Anita Wood, would all gather.
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ALLAN BLYE
Elvis '68 Comeback Special 55th Anniversary Enhanced Screening (8/14), Conversations on Elvis (8/15)
Allan Blye, born in Winnipeg, Canada, is a writer and producer best known for his work on projects such as Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special, Petula, and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Blye was a writer for The Andy Williams Show and voiced the character Cookie Bear. His long-time partnership with Bob Einstein led to the production of the series Super Dave and the show Bizarre.
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GENE MCAVOY
Elvis '68 Comeback Special 55th Anniversary Enhanced Screening (8/14), Conversations on Elvis (8/15)
Art director Eugene McAvoy's credits span some of the most well-known TV specials and series of the 1960s-1980s, including Elvis' '68 Comeback Special, Petula, The Andy Williams Show, Hee Haw, The Dean Martin Show, and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
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MIKE DEASY
Elvis '68 Comeback Special 55th Anniversary Enhanced Screening (8/14), Conversations on Elvis (8/15)
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Mike Deasy learned to play guitar as a child. While still in high school, he played in bands backing visiting musicians such as Ricky Nelson and The Everly Brothers. He also played in Ritchie Valens' touring band with Bruce Johnston, Larry Knechtel, Sandy Nelson and Jim Horn. He played guitar (with Tommy Tedesco and Al Casey) on Elvis Presley's 1968 TV Special, Elvis. He also performed live with musicians, including Cannonball Adderley and Little Richard, and won the Down Beat magazine jazz music readers' poll in 1968.
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TANYA LEMANI GEORGE
Elvis '68 Comeback Special 55th Anniversary Enhanced Screening (8/14), Conversations on Elvis (8/15)
Tanya Lemani came to America at a young age, and not speaking a word of English. She was first discovered dancing ballet and was hired to be in a show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. When she arrived, she found it was not ballet but a Belly Dance show. Lemani headlined her own show in Las Vegas which allowed her to pursue her dream as an actress as she costarred and had many guest appearances on top television shows, including Elvis: '68 Comeback Special.
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JESSE KRAMER
Elvis The Next Generation (8/11)
The 26-year-old singer/songwriter from Indianapolis strives to kick-start the rebirth of rock 'n' roll for the modern world. In 2014 Jesse moved from Indianapolis to Nashville to get serious about pursuing his ambitions as a songwriter. In 2018 his determination and hard work began to pay off when he was discovered and personally invited by the Executive Producers of FOX-TV Networks to perform on season 2 of their music competition series The Four: Battle for Stardom. In 2019 Jesse released his first five-song EP of original music he wrote, recorded and self-produced.
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The blackwood brothers quartet
Elvis Week Gospel Brunch (8/17), Graceland Backyard Reception (8/17)
Billy Blackwood has spent most of his life in music. Billy's dad, James, was an original member of the Blackwood Brothers Quartet. The Blackwood Brothers began in Mississippi in the 1930s and have taken gospel music around the world. They, of course, were an early influence on Elvis Presley. Billy started traveling with the Blackwood Brothers as a teenager, making the career switch to secular music in the mid-seventies as part of Voice, an opening act with the Elvis Presley show.
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John paul keith
Aloha Luau Dinner (8/15)
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, singer, songwriter, and guitarist John Paul Keith is a 17-year veteran of the Memphis music scene. During that time, he's released five critically acclaimed solo albums, including his latest, 2021's The Rhythm of the City. In December 2019, John Paul was the host and musical director of the Elvis: A Christmas Peace Concert at the Soundstage at Graceland, performing Elvis Presley's favorite holiday and spiritual music, and in January 2020, he paid tribute to Sun Records with a special concert at the Guest House at Graceland for Elvis' 85th birthday.
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terry mike jeffrey
Elvis Presley All Request Show (8/17)
Terry Mike Jeffrey is a singer, Emmy-nominated songwriter, entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, musical director, arranger and actor. He was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and was singing on stage by age 3. Throughout childhood, he'd mastered the guitar, piano, sax and drums. Terry Mike has received critical praise from the New York Times, Variety, LA Times, and Music Row Magazine. He has had Network TV appearances on NBC's Today Show, CBS This Morning, CNN's Showbiz Today and Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
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brad birkedahl
Memphis Music Brunch (8/13)
Guitarist and vocalist Brad Birkedahl has entertained audiences around the world. He has been a Memphis Beale Street featured performer since moving to Memphis from Tacoma, Washington in 1998 as co-founder of the rockabilly trio, The Dempseys. The band performed locally and internationally for 13 years before disbanding in 2010. Brad continues to perform as a solo artist with The Brad Birkedahl Band. His musical influences include the great rockabilly artists from Memphis' Sun Records; Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, and the soulful instrumentals of STAX recording studio, surf hits and more.
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JOHN JACKSON
Elvis 101 (8/14)
John Jackson is an NYC-based music historian, producer, musician and creative A&R executive. He is the founder and CEO of Jacksonic Sound & Vision, a production and artist services company specializing in catalog artists and estates. John is a noted expert in the life and career of Elvis Presley, and from 2008-2021, he oversaw the Elvis music catalog serving as SVP, Head of A&R for Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings.
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HEITOR
Elvis The Next Generation (8/11)
Heitor is a touring musician from Sao Paulo, Brazil who specializes in the retro styles of American guitarists Scotty Moore, Hank Garland, and James Burton, who were Elvis Presley's lead guitar players throughout various times of his career. Heitor is a huge Elvis fan and was first exposed to Elvis' legacy through his mom, an Elvis fan since childhood, and to various musical instruments through his father, a musician who performed with many famous Brazilian artists throughout his career.
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PEEDY CHAVIS
Elvis The Next Generation (8/11)
Peedy Chavis, hailing from Lawrenceville, Georgia, has been an Elvis fan since the young age three. His mother introduced him to Elvis' music, and he has been paying tribute to Elvis for as long as he can remember. Chavis even dressed up as Elvis for Halloween 10 years in a row. Chavis competed in season 21 of The Voice (2021) and performed Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel" during the blind auditions. His electric performance landed Chavis a spot on The Voice coach John Legend's team.
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TENNESSEE MASS CHOIR
Elvis '68 Comeback Special 55th Anniversary Enhanced Screening (8/14), Elvis Week Gospel Brunch (8/17)
The Tennessee Mass Choir, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing a diverse ministry opportunity culture through music, cultural arts, and community partnerships. With high-energy vocals performed by a powerfully gifted, versatile and spirited group of individuals, The Tennessee Mass Choir has been recognized as one of the finest, most respected and talented Mass Choirs in the entire country.
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TARA KAY
Rockin the Jukebox (8/12)
Tara Kay, a renowned Reba McEntire Tribute Artist, has performed throughout the US and Canada. Her show is dubbed The Stylings of Reba. She performed in New York for Reba's Management Company, Starstruck Entertainment for an impersonator event in conjunction with the launching of Reba's album All The Women I Am. Furthermore, Tara Kay was chosen to participate in the "Invitation Only" CMT special for Reba McEntire to be an on-camera audience member. Tara Kay is a feisty redheaded singing sensation wowing audiences with all the country charm of the Oklahoma diva she has imitated since 2004.
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