Humorist Dave Barry once wrote, "Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis."
Barry was being funny, as always -- but was he right?
As America marks the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death today, the singer is still very much with us. Perhaps you've seen the new commemorative DVDs of Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas, or the custom-made Elvis bikes that Harley-Davidson is offering, or the Elvis banana-and-peanut-butter cups Reese's is selling. Perhaps you bought some of these things with your prepaid Elvis Visa.
One of the most personal items just may be a new video of Lisa Marie Presley singing "In the Ghetto," accompanied by her late father. It will be posted tomorrow on the AOL Internet site Spinner.com, a company spokesman said Tuesday.
Lisa Marie Presley's voice was added to the original version of her father's hit song from 1969. The video duet also features images of her late father.
Spinner.com will post the video along with the transcript of an interview with Lisa Marie Presley, AOL spokesman Kurt Patat said.
In the interview, she says, "We had two hours to lay down my vocals. The next morning, I heard the rough ... and ... I've never cried when I've done anything ... ever ... but I just lost it when I heard it."
Proceeds from the new song and video will be used to help build temporary housing for the homeless in New Orleans, she said. The project is to be similar to Presley Place, a 12-unit apartment building for the homeless built in Memphis, Tenn., by Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. in 2001.
Elvis Presley Enterprises handles the licensing of the singer's name, image, movies, merchandising and Presley's mansion, Graceland, in Memphis. In 2005, Lisa Marie Presley sold her majority ownership in the company for more than $100 million to Robert F.X. Sillerman, the billionaire media mogul. Sillerman, whose company CKX Inc. also owns the television show American Idol, wants to turn Elvis into an even bigger brand by making huge improvements to the Graceland complex and also by exerting greater control over the Elvis image.
"His influence is increasing, not decreasing," Sillerman says of Presley.
Among Sillerman's plans for Graceland are an 80,000-square-foot visitors center, plus additional hotels and nightlife offerings that he hopes will keep tourists on the grounds longer than the usual day-trip. "We're not touching the mansion," Sillerman says. "That is sacrosanct."
