EpGold is happy to announce that within the next few weeks, Aaron Webster will release his sensational new book
Elvis, The New Rage: A Radio History From 1945 to 1955. EpGold is also glad to tell you that author Aaron Webster took time out of his busy schedule to sit down and talk with EpGold staff writer Christopher Tyler just this week. Below is a transcript of that interview with information on how you can add this great new work to your Elvis library.
CT: Aaron, on behalf of EpGold and Andylon Lensen I want to thank you for taking time to speak with me.
AW: Thanks Chris, it's a pleasure to be here. I thank both yourself and Andylon for this opportunity.
CT: The pleasure is all ours Aaron. Now, for those Elvis fans who do not know all that much about you, could you give us a little background information on yourself?
AW: Well, ironically enough Chris, I am from Christopher, Illinois, in what we call "Southern" Illinois. My birthday is March 27 (I'm approximately 8 weeks younger than Lisa Marie Presley, to put it that way.)
CT: So being from Illinois Aaron, what really got you hooked on Elvis? In other words, what was your first exposure to him?
AW: I remember seeing Elvis on his Aloha TV Special in 1973 and I was entranced at this man who looked like a super hero. Y'know? He was a "Singing Superman" in the star-spangled suit and cape. I might add My Uncle Gary Owens, (today a Nashville songwriter) was a Vietnam vet who stayed in Hawaii for a while after his tour of duty, and it just so happens, he was able to go to Honolulu to see Elvis do his 1973 Aloha concert. Bringing nonperishable can goods to the lobby dropbox was an adequate admission for the balcony, so Uncle Gary brought 2 cans of fruit cocktail and he got one of the 'nosebleed seats."
CT: Great family story and I know what you mean about the Elvis super hero image.
As a lot of Elvis fans know, Elvis was quite intrigued with Captain Marvel growing up and that seemed to be an inspiration with respect to his image. Ok, so you see the Aloha concert and you're starting to get into Elvis. Did you get into his movies? Did you have a particular favorite?
AW: Believe it or not, "Kissin' Cousins." I know E had films with better scripts but I like seeing him portray his own double, as a blond as Elvis originally was! I think the soundtrack was good too. "Once is Enough" is a great tune...a party song with words of wisdom.
CT: What about a favorite song?
AW: Man, that's tough. There are SO many great Elvis songs. "Trying To Get To You" ('55 and '68) is among my favorites. But my Favorite live performance would have to be "Hound Dog" from MSG: An Afternoon at the Garden. Elvis starts it sooooo slow and bluesy and says, "You don't know what I'm gonna do yet!" And when he and the band kick in the jam you can hear the wash of screams like the roar of high tide. What a rush. Elvis was truly the King of Concerts!!!
CT: There's little doubt about that. Getting an Elvis ticket was the hardest find in show business and for good reason too. Ok, so let's move on. From what I have read, I know your parents also played a part in your exposure to Elvis. Can you tell our readers a bit about that?
AW: Absolutely. My Mom and Dad were each big Elvis fans and Mom got me Elvis' Golden records on an 8-track for Christmas 'in 1975, as best as I can recall. My Dad also had a photo of he and my Uncle (Deon Owens) sitting on the front steps of Graceland in 1972. I now have that photo and I was always impressed with that opportunity they were given to sit on the steps during Elvis' lifetime.
CT: Yes, I bet that is a really nice keepsake. Elvis allowing people to visit his home and always remembering the fans has always spoken to me of his great humanity. Now let me ask you. Here you are growing up in the heartland of America with this increasing interest in Elvis. Did that ever lead you to meeting him or seeing him in concert?
AW: In fact I did, and for that I'll always be grateful. In March of 1976, my Dad heard on the radio that tickets for Elvis at
Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis were on sale. As a birthday present (five nights before my 8th birthday) Dad took me to see
The King in person on March 22, 1976.
CT: Wow, that's a great birthday present. Any particular memories of that show?
AW: Elvis wore the tiger tooth dark vest and baby blue silk shirt, and he used a sunburst/red-tinted acoustic guitar. And although he didn't sing "American Trilogy," he did do "Heartbreak Hotel" and one of my personal favorites, "Let Me Be There." What I remember most though is when a woman jumped on stage and grabbed him and security had to pull her off. I was very impressed with that! Elvis still had that hysterical magic attraction like in the 1950s.
CT: Yes, I think it's safe to say that Elvis carried with him that magical charisma with him right on thru the end. It's amazing too, how young or old alike were personally touched by it. Following that, did you have the chance to see Elvis again?
AW: Unfortunately not. In June 1977, Dad drove me down to Memphis during summer vacation and I posed for a picture standing in front of the music gates and I wrote my name on the wall. Sadly, and suddenly, we went back to Memphis that August and watched as Elvis' funeral motorcade drove by. I was deeply saddened and my loyalty to The King brought upon a few fist fights with kids making fun of Elvis when school resumed that fall.
CT: To be perfectly frank, I think Elvis' passing is one of those things that's really hard to put into words. Just as with the assassination of President Kennedy, I think there's not a person around who doesn't know where they were the day Elvis Presley died.
AW: Chris, I'll never ever forget. I was home alone watching TV that afternoon, cartoons, whatever, and a WSIL Channel 3 newsman interrupted, y'know, "We interrupt this broadcast...Elvis Presley was found..." Man, I never felt so alone as that moment. Like in a vacuum of confusion. Mom got back from the store shortly after and I was yelling, "Elvis died! Elvis died today!" and she was like "What?" Later that night, a hastily produced Elvis retrospective was shown on NBC, but it was past my bedtime and I couldn't sleep at all. I peeked around my bedroom door so I could watch it. I saw Mom sitting there crying. She later put on the Moody Blue LP and I think I finally fell asleep to the sounds of that record. It was the next evening when Dad called and said, "Buddy, would you want to go down there tomorrow? I'll take the day off." That's how I came to be in Memphis the day of the funeral.
CT: That's really touching Aaron and I know a lot of people were personally touched in that way. Ok, let's talk about radio now and how you became involved with it.
AW: For me, it all started on a long evening road trip from Texas to Illinois in August 1982. My grandparents and I listened to a 5th Anniversary syndicated radio tribute as we drove for hours thru Arkansas. I guess that was when I first considered the idea of doing my own Elvis radio show...someday.
CT: And when and how did that someday come along?
AW: Finally, in May 1998, I was working at a local Oldies station, Q106.3, which accommodated my request to do an Elvis tribute, and I got a fifteen week Saturday morning timeslot. My program was called "The King On The Q." EPE Marketing graciously provided Platinum Tour Passes for a grand prize drawing and BMG provided 30 Elvis CDs for the lucky listeners (2 each week) winning at Elvis trivia.
CT: As I recall, you won an award for your radio broadcast, did you not?
AW: Thanks for remembering Chris and yes I did. Based on a tape submission of thirty-minutes of highlights, the 1999 edition of the show won a Silver Microphone Award. I'm very proud of that.
CT: Ok, so now let's talk more specifically about your book. How did the idea for this book concept of yours come along?
AW: In regard to inspiration for the book Elvis, The New Rage: A Radio History From 1945 to 1955 . . . . I am a curious Elvis fan, simply put. I was always fascinated with the 1950s Elvis - The Eternally Cool Elvis - and I wanted to learn about the radio shows he did live, the disc jockeys who met him, etc. I couldn't find a book on this subject already written so I delved into research for 3 years and now it's actually coming out. I hope many people, Elvis fans, C&W fans, and radio people will enjoy it. I really do.
CT: I'm sure they will Aaron. Also, as far as I know, you found so much material in your research that you feel as if there could possibly be a sequel?
AW: Yes, that is true, and if there is a market for it, I'd certainly give serious consideration to following this work up. Having a much larger manuscript than my publisher could accommodate, this book is actually just 60% of what I had originally written. Maybe someday folks will be interested in a 1956-1977 Volume Two.
CT: So, to break it down for our readers Aaron, essentially what does this book cover?
AW: Primarily, I cover a complete decade from 1945 to 1955. It was appropriate for this work which I consider the
Pre-RCA Era in which Elvis was positioned before a live microphone and singing or just talking. He knew radio exposure was a necessity for his fledgling career. Elvis did say, "I've never turned down a disc jockey 'cause they're the people who help make you in this business." And indeed he did make it in this business. (laughing)
CT: Yes, I have no trouble believing that. As with the fans, Elvis always took time to give back to those who helped him along the way. So in the book, as this is the Pre-RCA era as you say, do you touch upon Sun Records and its part in Elvis' career?
AW: There's actually a really interesting story in the book related to Sun Records. On Monday, July 19, 1954, the day Sun 209 was released, Marion Keisker took a 45 rpm copy to WREC 600, the radio station located in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Marion had devoted two decades of her life to that station, and she was now of course, the receptionist for Sun Records. She brought in the record and asked Program Director, Fred Cook to play it on the air and hopefully say something nice about this latest music product from Sun. Cook did a Monday -Friday afternoon airshift and he had Marion sit in the studio with him that afternoon and he put Sun 209 on the turntable. After just a few seconds of Presley's unabashed blurting of "Blue Moon! Blue Moo---" Fred Cook jerked up the needle, pulled the 45 off the turntable and broke it in pieces with a hard whack against the board. Marion Keisker was shocked and a little offended, and it was obvious to all those thousands of at-work listeners that this particular deejay at WREC didn't like this new record.
CT: It's obvious Fred Cook didn't like it and obvious too that he had no business being a Program Director in my opinion. But that's a very interesting story and I'm sure one not many of the Elvis fans have heard before. Your book is fabulous as it really offers a totally new take on Elvis' career. So for those who read EpGold and may wish to purchase this great new book, when and where will it be made available Aaron?
AW: The book is due out Thursday, August 1, 2002 and will be made available thru Barnes&Noble, Amazon.com, wordwideelvis.com or wordware.com. It's fully illustrated with 264 pages in paperback which helps keep the price down.
CT: That sounds great Aaron, I'm sure a lot of people are looking forward to getting their hands on it. Now, I also understand that you'll be making some radio appearances in the upcoming future to promote the book. Why don't you go ahead and tell our readers how they might listen to you if they are in the right area.
AW: So far, my radio schedule is as follows, but I expect it to pick up once the book becomes released. I can be heard on WCTC 1450 in New Brunswick, New Jersey on Aug. 1, WMOT 89.5 in Nashville, Tennessee on Aug 3, and WKCT 930 in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Aug. 16.
CT: Well I'm sure where and when they can, Elvis fans will be listening in great numbers. Now, to close, is there any one story in particular which stands out in your mind?
AW: There are so many it is really hard to pick. But one of my favorites was a nationwide CBS Radio Network concert at the Third Annual Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Celebration. That year (1955) was the only time E ever went, to my knowledge, and man, he stole the show. Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens was scheduled next to open an Opry hour of entertainers. Elvis Presley and the Blue Moon Boys, closing the Hayride hour, ate up so much time on stage that Dickens was postponed for nearly 20 minutes. Dickens finally told the emcee, "His time's up!"
The emcee then told Dickens that Elvis is a hard act to follow and Dickens got cocky and said, "I can follow anybody!" But little did he know... Even after Elvis left the stage, the crowd of 14,000 decided who was more popular that night. In fact,
it got the attention of a representative from Hill&Range and also an A&R rep from RCA that night because it was clear that the kid with the sideburns was hot as a pistol. A Connecticut music magazine photographer even snapped a PIC of Elvis at the mikes. Presley definitely made a media impact that night.
CT: I think it's safe to say he made an impact that night, every other night and forever more. Elvis was truly the best of the best and you're the best Aaron for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me. On behalf of EpGold, Andylon and our readers, I appreciate it immensely.
AW: Thank you Chris and give my regards to both the EpGold readers and Andylon. It has been wonderful sharing these stories with you and I hope everyone enjoys the book.
2002/-7/22 Aaron Webster / Christopher Tyler / EpGold.Com
Aaron Webster
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