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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 16
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Elvis lives, if only in this Grayson man
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before transforming himself into “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” for his two sold-out performances commemorating the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing at Johnny’s Hideaway on Thursday night, Grayson resident Mark Phillips reflected on his hip-swiveling 16-year night shift gig.
“I kinda got into it by accident,” Phillips, 44, conceded to Buzz. “I’m a regional manager with a meat company. Back in 1993, we were having a Vegas-themed trade show. I was asked to do Elvis so I rented a jumpsuit for $300.”
These days, Phillips owns a $2,500 custom-tailored “Aloha, Elvis” outfit created from the King’s original costume templates. (It’s $300 more for the accompanying cape and belt.)
Phillips’ tribute shows encompass all of Elvis’ musical eras in music, from his first “Sun Studios Memphis” recordings to his 1960s movie music and his later hit, “Suspicious Minds.”
“It’s a little strange,” he says. “When I’m in that outfit, people just go crazy. They get into it. When you hear that screaming and get people a huggin’ and a kissin’ on you, it’s real easy to get into that Elvis mood.”
Thirty years ago Thursday, Phillips recalls being a 14-year-old playing “a cheap guitar” along to the radio when an announcer came on-air to report Presley’s death.
“It was one of those moments that just stopped everyone in their tracks,” he remembers. “But when that line is out the door at the Hideaway, it reminds you that people still care about his music.”
Justice is served
Former Atlanta Braves slugger David Justice enjoyed some ice cream with store co-owner Andrew Gillman at the new Carvel Ice Cream and Cinnabon shop downtown across from the Georgia Aquarium near Olympic Centennial Park. Friday night, before the Braves game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Turner Field, Justice, 41, along with former all-star Dale Murphy, will be inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.
McClellan on Merv
As talk show and game show creator Merv Griffin is laid to rest Friday in Beverly Hills, senior WSB reporter Don McClellan e-mailed us his remembrances of the former big band vocalist.
McClellan says he first met Griffin here in 1961 when he was booked as a headliner for the station’s very first “Salute 2 America” parade.
“As part of the celebration, WSB staged a two-day show at the old Municipal Auditorium across from Hurt Park,” McClellan said. “The young Griffin was the headliner supported by several local professional entertainers.”
McClellan recalls being pressed into service, along with other WSB television employees as the show’s back-up dancers.
“Former professional dancer and ‘Today in Georgia’ host Ruth Kent taught us some simple group steps, then, each in turn, would move out front for our spotlight routine. Because of my long legs, Ruth taught me to flip my round straw hat, and kick it back into place.
“As we came off stage, Griffin remarked, ‘They’re pretty good hoofers, but I doubt they could make it on Broadway.’ We were bursting with pride that a man of his talents thought we were professional dancers. After Griffin learned who we really were, he hung me with the nickname of Bo Jangles. Merv was real people.”
Singing, eating and fund-raising
After another busy summer on the road with Lyle Lovett as a featured vocalist in his Large Band, it was entirely appropriate to welcome Francine Reed home with an outing to Watershed in Decatur for fried chicken night.
As an added garnish, the eatery’s James Beard-award winning chef and longtime Reed fan Scott Peacock was able to join us the other night.
After months of “barbecue done wrong, baby!” at various stops across America, Reed was ready to tuck into Peacock’s pimiento cheese, corn meal-dusted fried okra, shrimp and grits and a heaping plate of that golden fried chicken.
On Aug. 28, Reed’s vocals (along with a CD cover photo of the back of her head, snapped with her Large Band co-workers from behind the stage) will be featured on Lovett’s new studio recording, “It’s Not Big, It’s Large” via Lost Highway.
A two-disc set with live performances and a behind-the-scenes DVD also will be offered.
Before we lose her again to another multimonth run of “Teatro Zinzanni” dinner theatre in San Francisco next week, Reed will headline, along with the Sundogs, the fourth annual Kate’s Club Cabaret event at the The Foundry at Puritan Mill Friday night.
It benefits the Atlanta-based charity that assists children and teens after the death of a parent or sibling (Info: katesclub.org).
With an autographed copy of Peacock’s “The Gift of Southern Cooking” (and various to-go containers) tucked under her arm, Reed exited Watershed, exclaiming: “Where’s Grandma? I need to smack her!”
Celebrity birthdays
Actress Maureen O’Hara is 87. Actor Robert DeNiro is 64. Actor Robert Joy (“CSI: NY”) is 56. Singer Belinda Carlisle is 49. Actor Sean Penn is 47. Drummer Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes is 42. Rapper Posdnuos of Del La Soul is 38. Donnie Wahlberg, formerly of NKOTB, is 38.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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