Rita Gigante says Vincent 'The Chin' Gigante danced to Elvis

Exclusive Interview: Rita Gigante says Vincent 'The Chin' Gigante danced to Elvis in his bathrobe

Rita Gigante -- daughter of Genovese crime family boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante -- says she "loved the times when we put on Elvis. I didn't care if he was in his bathrobe and his slippers and whatever -- he'd get up and start dancing to Elvis."

The Oddfather loved “The Godfather” — and dancing to “Jailhouse Rock.”

Notorious Genovese family boss Vincent (the Chin) Gigante, when not demanding John Gotti’s death or roaming the streets in pajamas, spent a little quality time enjoying fellow icons Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley.The glimpses of her father embracing pop culture are favorite memories of his youngest daughter, Rita.“I loved the times when we put on Elvis,” says the petite Rita, whose dad earned his “Oddfather” sobriquet through a combination of mob mayhem and feigned mental illness.“I didn’t care if he was in his bathrobe and his slippers and whatever — he’d get up and start dancing to Elvis. He couldn’t sing a word — forget it. But he’d try.”

For years, Gigante never spoke of her father or her family to outsiders — and once went home with blood on her hands after bashing a high school classmate who ran her mouth about the clan.The baby of the family grew up amid secrets and silence, sworn to an unspoken oath of omerta by virtue of her dad’s position as the nation’s No. 1 mobster.The quiet went both ways — nobody told her anything either. Gigante knew nothing of her father’s murderous leading role among New York’s five crime families until high school.The dark-haired Gigante, who bears a resemblance to her infamous parent, knows the whole story now — and she’s telling it all in a new memoir, “The Godfather’s Daughter.”

EXCLUSIVE BOOK EXCERPT: "THE GODFATHER’S DAUGHTER: AN UNLIKELY STORY OF LOVE, HEALING AND REDEMPTION"

The honest, unflinching tale provides a previously unseen look at the elder Gigante, who famously dodged attempted murder charges after shooting Genovese boss Frank Costello in 1957 when Costello refused to testify against him.

 

Vincent "The Chin" Gigante hold his daughter, Rita. Shortly after her birth, he left his family behind in Old Tappan, N.J., and moved to his mother's apartment in Manhattan.

“The Chin” maintained a surprisingly high level of privacy despite 24-hour-a-day FBI surveillance. His public persona was forged by his Greenwich Village outings in a bathrobe, pajamas and slippers — a ruse that he continued to the death, even after admitting in court that it was a sham.While Rita Gigante can be unsparing in her criticisms of her mob boss father, she also wanted people to know the son of Italian immigrants in a light beyond the street lamps of Sullivan St.“I wanted people to see him as a dad,” said Rita, sitting in the living room of her suburban home. “He wasn’t just an idol, or this image that people saw in a newspaper or on TV.

Magic of Elvis lives on at O.C. festival

On stage, a man in gold-sequined coat and finely coiffed hair did an earnest rendition of "Can't Help Falling in Love." Nearby, fans posed for photos with a 12-foot-tall Elvis on stilts, flanked by an equally tall Priscilla and, below, Mini Elvis – a little person in a white, high-collared jumpsuit and jet-black pompadour.
And in another tent at the Orange County Market Place, Darlene Tompkins, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in the movie "Blue Hawaii," struggled to answer a fan's question: What is the one word you would use to describe Elvis, and why?
"Elvis was so many things – kind and smart – that just about every word could be used to describe him," she said.
"But if I had to use one word," she said, pausing, "it would have to be: inspirational."
Thirty-five years after his death, the man known as Elvis the Pelvis and simply as The King is still clearly inspiring a lot of things, as witnessed Sunday at "The Magic of Elvis" festival at the Orange County Fair & Events Center.
The day inspired dozens of versions of Elvis songs, some performed bluegrass style, others with Hula dancers, and a karaoke contest with singers male and female, white and Latino, young and old – each with a lasting love for Elvis.
Jeff Abbitt, 54, of Irvine, who performs a comedy and magic act as "Abbitt the Average," dressed up in oversized metal sunglasses and an exaggerated black hairdo to look like The King.
A big part of his act is getting people to warm up to him and trust him as he performs his juggling and comedy routine. A little Elvis costuming goes a long way.
"When I put on this outfit, people immediately point and say, 'Hey there's Elvis.' It kind of puts them at ease," Abbitt said.
Judy Ri Chard, 72, a Realtor from Las Vegas and president of the All Shook Up in Vegas fan club, came to enjoy the festivities and sell some of her vast collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia. Among the items: A Young Elvis collector's plate ($25), a Russell Stover collection of Old Elvis chocolates ($5) and an autographed photo of Presley during his stint in the U.S. Army ($10).
"There is just such a spirit about Elvis that still lives today," she said. "Many of us never got a chance to meet him, but we can feel that spirit.
"You feel it in these hundreds of people who dress like him and keep singing his songs," she added. "There are millions of people who still want to be like Elvis – but they won't be. He was one of a kind."

Elvis Presley fans descend on Graceland for candlelight vigil

Elvis Presley fans descend on Graceland for candlelight vigil on 35th anniversary of his death

Elvis Presley fans hoisted colorful umbrellas against a hot sun and massed in folding chairs outside Graceland on Wednesday, awaiting a candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of the death of the rock ‘n’ roll icon.
Elvis admirers flocked by the thousands to Memphis from around the U.S. and from as far off as England and Japan, many waiting for hours to enter the Memphis mansion where Presley is buried on the grounds.

Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, of a heart attack after suffering from prescription drug abuse. His death at 42 marked the end of a soaring musical career that ended all too abruptly for legions of fans still mesmerized today by his singing, sex appeal and on-stage charisma.
The vigil marks the high point of Elvis Week, the annual celebration of Presley’s life and career. Organizers have said they expected 75,000 people to attend Elvis Week, with many taking part in the vigil that was beginning Wednesday evening and to last into Thursday.
This year also brings another highlight with a 35th-anniversary tribute concert planned at an area arena Thursday night. Ex-wife Priscilla Presley and daughter Lisa Marie Presley were expected to attend the concert featuring live musicians playing along with videotaped footage of Elvis singing.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cheryl Skogen and friend Susan Struss held up black umbrellas with polka dots near the front of the line as they waited to enter Graceland’s grounds. As longtime Elvis fans and neighbors in Los Angeles, they said they decided to come to Elvis Week without their husbands. They got up well before dawn Wednesday for a prime spot in the line.
There, women wore pink and black T-shirts emblazoned with Elvis’ picture. Some men dressed in black shirts, dark sunglasses and pompadours, Elvis-style.
Skogen said she first came to Graceland in 1981 — before the home became a museum and a tourist attraction — and has visited several times since. She remembers first seeing Elvis on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and being enthralled with his hip-swiveling performance at a Lack Tahoe concert.
“The first time I saw him he changed my life,” said Skogen, now 66 and retired. “I had never seen anybody dance like he did or sing like he did or look like he did. He captured my heart.”
A few spots down the line, Allen Black, 47, who sat in a blue and white chair alongside the outer wall of Graceland and talked about his memories of where he was when he first heard Elvis had died. He was 12 at the time.
“I was trying to record a song off the radio, and the news came on the radio, and I went to tell my dad,” Black said, tears welling in his eyes. “He didn’t believe me. It just stunned him.”
Black — who is from Aurora, Colo., scene of the July 20 movie theatre shooting massacre — said Elvis was a great performer but also someone who treated others well.
“For some people, it’s the music, but for a lot of people, it’s the man, the charisma, the humanitarian,” Black said. “At first, they probably got drawn in by the music, and then the more they learn about the man, and the way he treated people, it draws them in even more.”
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Fans flock to Graceland in memory of Elvis Presley

Fans flock to Graceland in memory of Elvis Presley

Fans of Elvis Presley are flocking to his Graceland estate for Thursday’s 35th anniversary of his death, and their enthusiasm for the king of rock ‘n’ roll is undiminished by the years.
Organizers of the annual Elvis Week expect this year’s edition to be the largest ever, with his widow Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie Presley participating.
“Elvis is fan-driven,” said Joe Guercio, Presley’s musical director from 1970 until the star’s sudden death on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42, “and there are not a lot of people (in show business) who are fan-driven.”
Actually nine days long, Elvis Week started in Memphis last Friday, centered around a 1,200-seat air conditioned tent across Elvis Presley Boulevard from Graceland and next to the preserved remains of the singer’s private jet.
Highlights include an all-night candlelight vigil Wednesday at Graceland’s gates, where fans this year will have the option of lighting real wax candles or switching on virtual candles on a special Elvis Week smartphone app.
On Thursday, a concert at a downtown stadium — featuring Priscilla and Lisa Marie, as well as surviving members of Presley’s band — will review the legend’s roots in blues, gospel and country music.
Folded into Elvis Week is the sixth annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest — never, ever call them impersonators — with contestants from as far afield as Australia and Japan.
“I always look like this, minus some of the make up — but the hair is always the same, sideburns and everything,” immaculately coifed Rick Huntress, an award-winning Elvis tribute artist from New England, said.
Tuesday saw hundreds of Elvis fan club presidents get the lowdown from Elvis Presley Enterprises, which closely oversees the rights to Presley’s posthumous image, on his enduring legacy in film, commercials and merchandising.
Good-humored boos filled the Elvis Week Main Stage tent when Carol Butler, vice president for international licensing, revealed a Mr Potato Head character resembling Presley in his “Aloha from Hawaii” period.
Much more of a crowd-pleaser — it was greeted with cheers — was a Canadian-made suitcase emblazoned with an airbrushed portrait of Presley. “It’s really nice,” said Butler, who listed its price at $100.
And in a cross-cultural fusion of pop culture icons, Butler lifted the wraps off a forthcoming Elvis version of Japan’s Hello Kitty doll. “We just love it,” she said. “She’s just cute in her little Elvis duds.”
In another part of Memphis, Presley artifacts went under an auctioneer’s hammer, including — of all things — an empty plastic bottle of tetracycline, an antibiotic, prescribed to Presley in 1974. It sold for $5,500.
A pair of yellow-tinted sunglasses, custom-made in Germany for the singer, sold for $22,500 while a gold Longines watch — a gift from his manager Colonel Tom Parker — realized $16,250, Heritage Auctions said.
But the auction’s marquee item, a concert poster from 1954 estimated at $30,000, failed to find a buyer.
It had been hand-made for a gig that Presley gave near Memphis just a few months after he released his first hit single “That’s All Right.”
Other memorabilia that did sell included a Colt Python double-action revolver that Presley used for target practice in the backyard of Graceland. It went for $13,750.

Elvis Presley: PRINCE FROM ANOTHER PLANET

Elvis Presley: PRINCE FROM ANOTHER PLANET, as Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden, New York City, June 10, 1972

Adding to the historic weight of PRINCE FROM ANOTHER PLANET is an evocative 5,000-word essay written by Lenny Kaye, longtime guitarist for Patti Smith.  Kaye actually covered the press conference and the concerts for his gig as music editor of Cavalier magazine in the '70s.  In addition to his roles as a musician and a producer of numerous reissues and compilations, Kaye has been annotating albums for more than four decades.
Accompanying the two CDs is a bonus DVD that presents unseen footage of the Saturday afternoon show, captured on hand-held camera by a fan, and now acquired by Legacy from that fan decades later for this package.  Rarely is unseen footage of Elvis in concert discovered, so this footage lends historical importance to the package.  The film is a revealing portrait of a physically commanding Elvis and his power­house TCB Band, background vocalists, and orchestra.
The recently discovered footage is set to make its world premiere during Elvis Week in Memphis on Friday, August 17^th, at 4:30 p.m. at a free event in the Elvis Week Entertainment Pavilion.
Along with the concert film on the DVD is another video document, the press conference that took place on Friday afternoon before the big weekend.  Attended by Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, Elvis disarms and wins over the New York press corps with his good-natured demeanor.
For example, when asked "Which kind of song do you like doing the best?" Elvis answers, "I like to mix 'em up.  In other words, I like to do a song like 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' or 'American Trilogy,' or something.  Then mix it up and do some rock and roll, some of the hard rock stuff.  I'm not the least bit ashamed of 'Hound Dog' or 'Heartbreak Hotel'..."
A closer look at the concert repertoire confirms his answer.  The set lists for the afternoon and evening shows are an eclectic mix, something for everyone.  After the bombastic "Also Sprach Zarathustra" theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, both shows are bookended at the start by "That's All Right" (from 1956), Creedence's "Proud Mary" (via Ike & Tina Turner), Hoyt Axton's "Never Been To Spain" (via Three Dog Night), and Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me."  Both shows end with "Suspicious Minds," Kristofferson's "For The Good Times," Mickey Newbury's "American Trilogy," Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away," Don Gibson's "I Can't Stop Loving You" (via Ray Charles), and of course, "Can't Help Falling In Love."
The set lists are virtually identical, though four songs from the afternoon show were not performed at the evening show: Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Until It's Time For You To Go," "Blue Suede Shoes," Lowell Fulsom's "Reconsider Baby," and Don Ho's "I'll Remember You."  And one song from the evening show was not performed at the afternoon show: Man Of La Mancha's "The Impossible Dream."
With those exceptions, the central portion of each show is very nearly the same something-for-everyone program, starting with the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and Tony Joe White's "Polk Salad Annie," then straight back to 1956-57 for "Love Me," "All Shook Up," "Heartbreak Hotel," the medley of "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" c/w "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," and "Hound Dog."
After being roundly excoriated by New York critics after his televised visits of 1956 (on Jackie Gleason's Stage Show, in January, February and March), and 1957 (Ed Sullivan's Toast Of the Town in January; and The Steve Allen Show in July), Elvis and his manager Tom Parker did not schedule another New York performance for some 15 years.  Even after Elvis triumphed on his black leather NBC-TV "comeback" special of December 1968, and returned to public concert touring fulltime in August 1969 (at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, chronicled in 2010 on RCA/Legacy's On Stage: Legacy Edition), they still waited three years to play New York.
When asked at the press conference why it took so long, Elvis answers with a straight face: "I think it was a matter of not getting the building, the proper building.  We had to wait our turn in order to get the building.  Couldn't get a good building in fifteen years.  No, all kidding aside, we had to wait our turn to get in ... into the Garden, you know.  I just hope we put on a good show for everybody. Oh, I like it. I enjoy it."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/31/4678281/elvis-presley-prince-from-another.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/31/4678281/elvis-presley-prince-from-another.html#storylink=cpy

 

Elvis Presley crypt pulled from auction

The crypt in which Elvis Presley was first buried has been withdrawn from a Los Angeles auction after protests it should be kept as a shrine.

More than 10,000 fans signed a petition against the sale of the tomb at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
Julien's Auctions said it would not sell the crypt until the cemetery "finds a plan that best suits the interests of the fans while respecting and preserving the memory of Elvis".
The crypt has been empty since 1977.
Presley was temporarily interred there alongside his mother, Gladys, for two months after he died before being reburied at his Graceland home.
Fans argued on the Elvis Matters website: "Can you imagine visiting the crypt and spend a few moments of silence, while an unknown is buried there? If the crypt is still accessible for fans, that is."
With bids starting at $100,000 (£64,000) the lot was to include the crypt itself, the right to open and close the vault for a burial, a memorial inscription and the use of Forest Hill Cemetery's chapel for a service.
The sale had been due to take place on Sunday.
Fans will still be able to buy other Elvis memorabilia however - the singer's personal telephone, medallion and X-ray of a karate injury are among other items under the hammer.

 

Theatre Review: Million Dollar Quartet

 

There was a sense of sadness in the air at the opening night of Million Dollar Quartet. The pleasant, occasionally thrilling musical is a re-enactment of a magical moment in modern cultural history when, on Dec. 4, 1956, four of the early giants of rock ‘n’ roll — Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins — met and jammed together in the Memphis studio of Sam Phillips’ Sun Records.
Why sad? Because it marked the last opening of a Dancap Production. Founder Aubrey Dan — who spent years challenging (and occasionally bettering) Mirvish Productions — announced recently he is throwing in the towel. God willing, he’ll try again in a few years.
So with Beauty and the Beast still playing until July 22, Quartet until July 29 and a road show of the marvelous, witty and home-grown Jersey Boys musical on tour for the next little while, Dan’s very bright lights are about to vanish from our midst.
Now, how to approach this charming, occasionally disarming (if uneven) production? Million Dollar Quartet is undeniably tame as a work of theatre, although that is probably not what 90 per cent of those who have flocked to its productions since it opened in the U.S. would say.
Sam Phillips, a middle-aged impresario, has just sold his most promising performer, Elvis Presley, to RCA for $40,000 (which he has wisely invested in a promising start-up, Holiday Inn), and is at risk of losing the other musicians from his possibly-dying studio to larger record companies.
Obviously, this show depends profoundly on the skills, impersonations and, yes, the looks of the actors: Lee Ferris (Perkins), Derek Keeling (Cash), Eddie Clendening (Presley) and Martin Kaye (Lewis). All of them do decent jobs, but none is better than Keeling’s Cash, which captures that wonderful, deep baritone and religious sensibility. Clendening’s Presley lacks excitement and passion, and Kaye’s Lewis is missing the rage, anger and lunatic energy, not to mention his considerable height.
The musicians sing their future hits almost non-stop, assisting one another with electric guitars and a piano. And a good time is had by the performers — all decent actors and very fine musicians, thank heavens — and by most of the audience.
I hit my teens in the late ’50s — when Presley, Cash, Perkins and Lewis were flooding my large, battery-operated radio — so seeing (and enjoying) Million Dollar Quartet was a real nostalgia trip for me. How could I not rock (and roll) back and forth in my chair, reliving such seminal times of my adolescence?
Great theatre this isn’t, and lines such as Phillips’ “Rock ‘n’ roll ain’t a fad! It’s a damn revolution!” ring true, but are hardly memorable. Still, lovers of the early years of that revolution in popular music may well find Quartet a very, very enjoyable night on the town.
And Aubrey Dan — I shall miss you, as will all Toronto theatre-goers. Godspeed.
Million Dollar Quartet, Toronto Centre for the Arts. Runs until July 29.
Allan Gould is Post City Magazines’ theatre critic. He has a Ph.D. in English and theatre from York University and has written over 40 books. His writing has appeared in Toronto Life, Chatelaine, en Route, Canadian Business, Good Times and the Financial Post. He is married, with two children. Aside from his family, his major passions are theatre and film, because they enrich life with pleasure and meaning.

 

Elvis tribute artist entertains in Holland

Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley holograms being readied

just because your favorite rock stars are dead doesn't mean you have to miss out on seeing them in concert. In the wake of the Tupac Shakur hologram 'performance' that caused a sensation at the recent Coachella festival, estates of other deceased music stars are exploring the possibilities of similar events, possibly on a grander scale.
According to Billboard, fans could very well be treated to concert performances and even tours of 'virtual' rockers such as Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and Jim Morrison. Even the estate of Marilyn Monroe, the actress who was known to turn in a musical performance or two in her time, is investigating the hologram option.
Jimi Hendrix's sister Janie, who is president/CEO of Experience Hendrix, confirmed that she has been working with the London-based company Musion Systems to create a virtual version of her late brother. However, she stressed that "for us, of course, it's about keeping Jimi authentically correct. There are no absolutes at this point."
More of an absolute could be coming from the Doors camp. According to the band's manager, Jeff Jampol, he's been working on a idea to present a 'virtual' Jim Morrison concert (one featuring the band) for nearly eight years. "We're trying to get to a point where 3D characters will walk around," he said. "Hopefully, 'Jim Morrison' will be able to walk right up to you, look you in the eye, sing right at you and then turn around and walk away."
As for The King, he might be entering the building sooner than you think. Digital Domain Media Group, the company responsible for creating the Tupac hologram, has inked a deal with Core Media Group to produce a variety of 'virtual' Elvis holograms for events that could range from concerts to tours and even residencies.
What do you think of deceased rockers being brought back as holograms? Are there any music stars you would pay to see in 'virtual' form?

Elvis Presley crypt put up for auction

Elvis Presley crypt has been put up for auction, it has been reported.

Beverly Hills auctioneer Darren Julien has opened up the late star's tomb to bids from fans.

The tomb, located at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee, is set to be auctioned off on June 23 as part of a 'Music Icons' collection.

After his death in 1977, Presley was laid to rest in the tomb for two months until his remains were moved to his Graceland home.

According to TMZ, a winning bidder will gain ownership of the crypt, a memorialisation inscription, opening and closing of the vault for burial, and use of the chapel for committal service.

Julien's Auctions has in the past sold Michael Jackson's famous 'Thriller' jacket, as well as a jacket worn by John Lennon.

The Beatles, Elvis, Cliff Richard

The legendary band beat Elvis Presley and Sir Cliff Richard to the number one placing, while Madonna and Michael Jackson completed the top five.

© Rex Features

© Esquire / Matt Irwin

The specially commissioned Top 60 of the past 60 years from The Official Charts Company was broadcast by Tony Blackburn on BBC Radio 2 yesterday (June 4).

Rihanna was the most recent artist to make the top ten, beating the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Kylie Minogue to the tenth position.

Sir Elton John, Queen, ABBA and David Bowie completed the top ten, while Take That as a collective are higher than Robbie Williams at 15 and 22 respectively.

Lower down the chart, Britney Spears, Lady GaGa and Black Eyed Peas feature at 26, 28 and 32.

BBC Radio 2's Head of Music Jeff Smith said: "This list is intriguing; Adele is missing and we've all forgotten just how huge artists such as Shakin' Stevens, Boney M and UB40 were in the UK in the '70s and '80s."

Elvis Presley concert confirmed by Tupac

Elvis Presley is set to tour once again, the maker of the Tupac Shakur hologram has announced.

Digital Domain Media Group - who created the Tupac illusion at this year's Coachella Festival - has confirmed an exclusive deal with Core Media to produce a series of Presley holograms.
The company has announced plans to create the images for a range of projects including film, television and a collection of live performances, reports Billboard.

Digital Domain's partnership with Core Media - which owns the rights over Presley's likeness - means the company has the go-ahead to replicate his image.

"His lifelong fans will be thrilled all over again, and new audiences will discover the electric experience of Elvis the performer," said Jack Soden, president and CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises.

"The high level of quality entertainment that both Core Media Group and Digital Domain deliver gives us great confidence that these projects will help continue the growth of Elvis's rich legacy all over the world."