FRIENDS OF ELVIS
To enlighten us and share with us the experience of having ELVIS as part of your life, The Penticton Elvis Society is proud to include as part of every festival - FRIENDS OF ELVIS - VIP personalities that knew, worked, or shared a significant part of their life with the King Of Rock & Roll.
DARWIN LAMM - Publisher Of ELVIS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
Darwin Lamm is known today as publisher of Elvis...The Magazine, but this is just one of his varied careers. Darwin grew up as an Elvis fan in the 50's, but entered the Elvis World on August 16, 1977 when he was asked by radio stations across America to produce a Radio tribute show following Elvis' death. The result was a 3-hour special titled "Elvis Remembered", and it led to over 200 hours of Elvis radio tributes. Radio production and syndication was something Darwin knew well having teamed up with Dick Clark in 1971 to launch the first radio talk show in syndication: The Bill Ballance Feminine Forum. Shortly thereafter, Darwin formed his own syndication company called Creative Radio Shows and ventured into the area of music programming. His first radio special was a 4-hour "The Beach Boys Story." In 1976, Lamm followed up with a second 4-hour radio special titled "The Beatles". Next, "The Buddy Holly Story" and others followed before moving into the country music field with weekly radio specials dedicated to country's most successful super stars. He had built a network of several hundred radio stations, and when Elvis died in 1977, the station managers were clamoring for a radio special to commemorate the King, and they sought out Lamm to produce it. The overwhelming response Lamm received from "Elvis Remembered" made him realize the impact Elvis had on so many people around the world. He followed up with "Elvis: The Country Side" in 1980, then a 6-hour show, "The 10th Anniversary Radio Tribute" in 1987. In 1988 he produced a highly successful weekly program, The Elvis Hour. Darwin Lamm entered the publishing world in 1988 with the magazine Elvis International Forum, and it quickly became recognized as THE Elvis magazine for the fans as the articles and stories invovled many of Elvis' closest friends. As the magazine evolved, the name changed to Elvis...The Magazine, now in its 21st year of publication. In addition to his new role as publisher, Darwin continued to produce radio specials through the 1990's including "Memories of Elvis" in 1990, "The Elvis 15th Anniversary Radio Tribute" in 1992 and "The Elvis 20th Anniversary Radio Tribute" in 1997. Lamm's vast library is perhaps the most comprehensive collection of wonderful "nuggets" about Elvis from interviews with various celebrities who were touched by Elvis. On radio you only heard short clips, but in the book ELVIS...He Touched Me, you get the full interviews in Darwin's new book.
D.J. FONTANA - Hall Of Fame Rock & Roll Drummer
DJ Fontana was Elvis’ drummer for 14 years. He began his incredible career as a staff drummer in 1953 on the famous LOUISIANA HAYRIDE. While working the Hayride in 1954, DJ met Elvis. They formed a common bond of friendship and admiration for each other’s immense talents. DJ, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black formed Elvis’ original band. DJ was the man behind the beat for the first 15 years of Elvis’ career.
DJ has appeared in the following:
TELEVISION:
THE DORSEY BROTHERS STAGE SHOW, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW, THE FRANK SINATRA SHOW, CONAN O’BRIEN, MILTON BERLE SHOW, THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, ELVIS ’68 COMEBACK SPECIAL, ELVIS TRIBUTE SHOW 1994, NASHVILLE NOW
MOVIES:
LOVING YOU, JAILHOUSE ROCK, GI BLUES, KING CREOLE, NASHVILLE
DJ and Scotty Moore received the Nashville Music Award for the Best Independent Album of the Year in 1998 for All the Kings Men. DJ and Scotty also were nominated for a Grammy in 1998 for Going Back to Memphis, from that CD.
DJ has also written a book The Beat Behind the King and he was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 4th, 2009.
www.djfontana.com
DJ has appeared in the following:
TELEVISION:
THE DORSEY BROTHERS STAGE SHOW, THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW, THE FRANK SINATRA SHOW, CONAN O’BRIEN, MILTON BERLE SHOW, THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, ELVIS ’68 COMEBACK SPECIAL, ELVIS TRIBUTE SHOW 1994, NASHVILLE NOW
MOVIES:
LOVING YOU, JAILHOUSE ROCK, GI BLUES, KING CREOLE, NASHVILLE
DJ and Scotty Moore received the Nashville Music Award for the Best Independent Album of the Year in 1998 for All the Kings Men. DJ and Scotty also were nominated for a Grammy in 1998 for Going Back to Memphis, from that CD.
DJ has also written a book The Beat Behind the King and he was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 4th, 2009.
www.djfontana.com
JOE ESPOSITO - Elvis' Road Manager & Best Friend
Joe Esposito is universally recognized as the most credible source on Elvis Presley`s life and career. Born in Chicago, Joe met Elvis while serving in the Army in 1959. The two became fast friends and, after their discharge in 1960, Joe became Elvis’ right hand man and then became his road manager when Elvis started touring again. He was co-best man at Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding in 1967. You can see Joe all through the MGM Documentary “Elvis, That’s the Way It Is”. For the next 17 years – until Elvis’ death in 1977 – Joe saw to every detail of Elvis’ life, both professionally and personally.
Joe was present the day Elvis passed away. He tried to perform CPR until the paramedics arrived. In the days following, Joe served as the chief spokesman for the entourage and stayed on with the estate for a year, cataloguing the massive inventory.
Joe worked as a consultant along with Jerry Schilling for the docudrama, “This is Elvis” for Warner Bros., and on a multimedia project entitled, “Always Elvis” for Jerry Weintraub and Colonel Parker, which proved to be too expensive to produce.
Joe wrote a book in 1994, “Good Rockin Tonight”, for Simon and Schuster, appeared on numerous television shows, radio programs and public appearances including, “Entertainment Tonight”, “Larry King Live”, Nightline with Ted Koppel”, and “Good Morning America”, just to name a few.
He released a new book in August 1998, “Elvis, Intimate and Rare”. It’s a collection of Joe’s personal photos that he took during the 17 ½ years he spent with Elvis, and also some that were given to him by his friends. It shows Elvis just being himself on movie locations and on vacations with his family and friends.
Whatever Joe does he is inextricably linked to the memory of Elvis, and is constantly in demand as a public speaker and authenticator of Elvis Memorabilia.
Joe was present the day Elvis passed away. He tried to perform CPR until the paramedics arrived. In the days following, Joe served as the chief spokesman for the entourage and stayed on with the estate for a year, cataloguing the massive inventory.
Joe worked as a consultant along with Jerry Schilling for the docudrama, “This is Elvis” for Warner Bros., and on a multimedia project entitled, “Always Elvis” for Jerry Weintraub and Colonel Parker, which proved to be too expensive to produce.
Joe wrote a book in 1994, “Good Rockin Tonight”, for Simon and Schuster, appeared on numerous television shows, radio programs and public appearances including, “Entertainment Tonight”, “Larry King Live”, Nightline with Ted Koppel”, and “Good Morning America”, just to name a few.
He released a new book in August 1998, “Elvis, Intimate and Rare”. It’s a collection of Joe’s personal photos that he took during the 17 ½ years he spent with Elvis, and also some that were given to him by his friends. It shows Elvis just being himself on movie locations and on vacations with his family and friends.
Whatever Joe does he is inextricably linked to the memory of Elvis, and is constantly in demand as a public speaker and authenticator of Elvis Memorabilia.
RED ROBINSON - Legendary Rock & Roll DJ
Red Robinson’s roots go back to the beginning of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Red was spinning the hits on Vancouver’s CJOR while still in high school in 1954. He was the first DJ to play rock ‘n’ roll music on a regular basis in Canada. In 1957, Red jumped to Vancouver’s Top 40 giant CKWX, where he met Buddy Holly and Elvis, and was MC for Elvis’ appearance.
In 1964, Red introduced the Beatles on the same stage where Elvis appeared seven years earlier.
Red entered the advertising business in 1969, when he founded Trend Advertising (later Palmer Jarvis Advertising). Trend’s first client was McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada. Red was the first agent and first to appear in a McDonald’s television commercial.
Red hosted mornings on CKWX until 1983, and went “network” with Reunion, a cross-Canada oldies show that ran from 1985-1993.
As part of EXPO 86, Red presented the Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring 40 acts including Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Righteous Brothers.
Red was elected into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame 1994, the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 2007, Red moved to the FM dial and 104.9 FunFM – Vancouver’s Greatest Hits.
www.redrobinson.com
In 1964, Red introduced the Beatles on the same stage where Elvis appeared seven years earlier.
Red entered the advertising business in 1969, when he founded Trend Advertising (later Palmer Jarvis Advertising). Trend’s first client was McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada. Red was the first agent and first to appear in a McDonald’s television commercial.
Red hosted mornings on CKWX until 1983, and went “network” with Reunion, a cross-Canada oldies show that ran from 1985-1993.
As part of EXPO 86, Red presented the Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll, featuring 40 acts including Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Righteous Brothers.
Red was elected into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame 1994, the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.
In 2007, Red moved to the FM dial and 104.9 FunFM – Vancouver’s Greatest Hits.
www.redrobinson.com
DARLENE TOMPKINS - Co-Star in "BLUE HAWAII"
Darlene was born in Chicago, Illinois into a “show biz family”. Her family performed in plays and vaudeville, and she had an early goal to be a Hollywood actress. At the age of twelve she was mauled by a dog which left her very self-conscious. To help overcome her shyness, she was entered into a beauty contest by her mother. Her subsequent beauty pageant victories attracted some attention and she appeared in commercials.
Her first acting role was in Beyond the Time Barrier (1960). She then co-starred opposite Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii (1961). She had a role in My Six Loves (1963) and played parts in several television shows.
Her career was interrupted by a marriage and the birth of two sons. She tried to resume acting again when the marriage ended in the mid-1970s, but by then she was in her thirties and had difficulty landing roles. She has since worked as a stand-in and stuntwoman.
Today, Darlene is retired and enjoys playing Bridge, one of her hobbies. When recently spoken with Darlene, her memory of Elvis was: “He was kind, funny, thoughtful and very much a gentleman”. When asked if she enjoyed making the film Blue Hawaii, she answered: “Yes, the Islands were beautiful and everyone was so nice”.
Her first acting role was in Beyond the Time Barrier (1960). She then co-starred opposite Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii (1961). She had a role in My Six Loves (1963) and played parts in several television shows.
Her career was interrupted by a marriage and the birth of two sons. She tried to resume acting again when the marriage ended in the mid-1970s, but by then she was in her thirties and had difficulty landing roles. She has since worked as a stand-in and stuntwoman.
Today, Darlene is retired and enjoys playing Bridge, one of her hobbies. When recently spoken with Darlene, her memory of Elvis was: “He was kind, funny, thoughtful and very much a gentleman”. When asked if she enjoyed making the film Blue Hawaii, she answered: “Yes, the Islands were beautiful and everyone was so nice”.
