At Lunch with Priscilla Presley: HBO’s Elvis Presley: The Searcher

At lunch at the Rainbow Room recently, Priscilla Presley joined a panel of Elvis experts, journalists and filmmakers to illuminate "The King's" rags to riches career. Certainly an American original, Elvis Presley was a dreamboat to teens when he first began to sing, swiveling his hips on the Ed Sullivan Show. Of course they famously photographed him from the waist up for television’s primetime viewing. But on stage, that was something else. Music aficionados knew his sources, gospel, country, and rhythm and blues, idioms of the South. While many thought his moves brazen, no one contested his musicianship. Priscilla Presley, keeper of the flame who has worked well to maintain his legacy in the public eye, wants everyone to know he was a “Searcher,” the theme of the new two-part HBO documentary about him, that she hopes will force a reappraisal of his art.

Director/ producer Thom Zimny, music producer David Porter, and Jon Landau spoke about the decision to keep the music going through the documentary, while interviewees, the late Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Scotty Moore and Red West weigh in about Elvis’ importance and influence on them. Their voices—no talking heads-- form a narration to go with the extensive archival footage and photographs. Not surprising, the questions Priscilla likes least to answer have to do with their private life together, their romance, marriage, daughter, and divorce. As recounted in My Story, the autobiography of Ann-Margret, who dated Elvis for a time, his reputation is squeaky clean: an all-American boy, a gentleman, sweet and kind to all, always waiting for “the right time.” And when you speak to Priscilla, she asks you a question: when was the last time you visited Graceland?

Regina Weinreich

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