BackinMemphis

Gordon Stoker Funeral Arrangements

2013-03-27T23:50:00.001-04:00

L to R Brett, Jean, Alan and our dear sweet Gordon front

Visitation: Thursday [28th] 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Woodlawn Funeral home.

Visitation: Friday [29th] 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Woodlawn Funeral home.

Service: Christ Presbyterian Church-Old Hickory Blvd on Saturday [30th] at 2:00 with family visitation 1 hour prior.

Gordon Stoker Passed Away

2013-03-27T17:29:00.001-04:00

Got word from Patsy Andersen a few hours ago, we lost our dear sweet Gordon Stoker. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Heaven is blessed to have his beautiful soul & incredible voice. We were blessed to have him. God bless you Gordon & Thank You for all you have contributed to music.

Visiting Cowboy Jack Clement

2013-02-03T20:56:00.001-05:00

Just coming down from a thrilling tribute show honoring Cowboy Jack Clement here in Nashville last week.

I visited Cowboy this weekend at the Cowboy Arms Hotel and Recording Spa. We got to see his letter from Michelle Obama and so many other well deserved honors!

We love you Cowboy!

I'll have a full report & pics soon!

Eternally Elvis Tribute show - SOLD OUT!

2013-01-14T21:06:00.000-05:00

click to enlarge

SOLD OUT! Standing room only!

Thank You New Jersey!

Videos, photos & a full wrap up tomorrow!

Saturday, January 19th Mike Moat and the Golden Reflections will be doing an Elvis Tribute show at the Paramus Elks Hall in Paramus, NJ. Doors open at 7:30 PM and show starts at 8:20 PM.
Come join local Elvis fans from the tri-state area for a night of fun & great music!
Mike's band includes a 4 pc horn section. We hope to see many of you there!

Mention BackinMemphis for discount tickets @ 20 each!

Call: 201-637-1423 or email: mike.moat@yahoo.com

Mike Moat

A Tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement - Jan 30

2013-01-14T20:09:00.000-05:00

Honoring A Legend, A Tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement will be at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, TN - January 30, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

"Honoring A Legend, A Tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement" will celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Cowboy Jack as his friends pay homage to his rich musical accomplishments. Featuring artists including Dan Auerbach, Bobby Bare, Marshall Chapman, Rodney Crowell, Jakob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Charley Pride and John Prine. Additional artists to be announced soon! Don't miss this incredible night of music as we celebrate the one and only Cowboy Jack Clement.

We've got our tickets! Use the link below to order yours!

Buy Tickets

Hayride Voice Frank Page Funeral set for today

2013-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

Funeral arrangements have been set for legendary Shreveport radio broadcaster Frank Page, who died on Wednesday after battling complications with pneumonia. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 14, from 4 - 7 p.m. at Rose Neath Funeral Home at 330 Marshall Street in Shreveport. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 15 at the same location. Interment will be at Forest Park Cemetery. Page, who worked in radio for 50 years, is best known was the man who introduced Elvis Presley on the Louisiana Hayride back on October 16, 1954. Page was inducted into the Wall of Fame in Shreveport in 2009. He also was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame, according to members of his family. Page was 87.

Dierks Bentley's Pooch Jake has been found!

2013-01-14T08:42:00.001-05:00

Someone on Facebook found Jake & is returning him to Dierks now!

Dierks Bentley's Beloved Pooch Missing!

2013-01-13T22:11:00.001-05:00

Attention Nashville:

Keep an eye out for a white dog with a red collar!

Country artist Dierks Bentley's beloved pooch Jake is missing! Earlier tonight, he hopped a fence during a thunderstorm.

Let's pray Jake returns home safe very soon!

Rolling Stone Mag remembers John Wilkinson

2013-01-12T21:15:00.001-05:00

John Wilkinson, a guitar player who accompanied Elvis Presley for more than a thousand shows as a member of the TCB Band, died on Friday at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer, the Associated Press reports.

Wilkinson grew up in Springfield, Missouri, watching Presley perform on television. In 1955, when he was ten years old, Wilkinson snuck into the star's dressing room before a concert at Springfield's Shrine Mosque and berated the King for his musicianship. "You can't play guitar worth a damn," the boy said.

Wilkinson went on to become an accomplished guitarist, playing in folk groups such as the Kingston Trio and the New Christy Minstrels. Some 13 years after that first meeting in the dressing room, Presley asked Wilkinson to join his backup group, the TCB Band, after seeing the 23-year-old play on television. Over the next nine years, Wilkinson played rhythm guitar for Presley in 1,200 shows, remaining in the TBC Band until the singer's death in 1977.

In a statement expressing their sympathy to Wilkinson's family, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley said that "John and the beautiful music he made with Elvis will live forever in our hearts."

Guitarist John Wilkinson passes away

2013-01-11T20:15:00.001-05:00

John Richard Wilkinson, 67, a native of Springfield who became Elvis Presley’s rhythm guitar player years after meeting the King at concert at the Shrine Mosque, has died.

Wilkinson died after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by family and friends in Springfield.

According to his obituary, Wilkinson at the age of 10 sneaked into Elvis’dressing room before a show and told Elvis, “you can’t play guitar worth a damn.” Elvis was amused and impressed and predicted they would meet again.

After playing in a high school band called “The Coachmen,” Wilkinson went on to play with such groups as The Kingston Trio, The Goodtime Singers, Greenwood County Singers, and The New Christy Minstrels.

He joined Elvis’ band at Presley’s invitation in 1969, according to the obit. Wilkinson played played more than 1,200 shows as Elvis’ rhythm guitar player, right up until Presley’s death in 1977.

After that he played less music, and made a living in retail and airline services management. A serious stroke in 1989 left him unable to play the guitar. Nevertheless, for several years after that, he traveled the U.S. and Europe, appearing with the old TCB band and others, singing and paying tribute to Elvis.

He is survived by his wife, Terry. Cremation and a private graveside service will be conducted by Gorman-Scharpf. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, or the charity of donor’s choice.

Source - News Leader

Happy Birthday Elvis!

2013-01-08T23:38:00.000-05:00

Thank You EP for all my friends and family!

Here Comes Santa Claus (Gangnam Style Parody) USMC Band

2012-12-24T20:29:00.000-05:00

Dolly Parton - A Smoky Mountain Christmas

2012-12-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Dean Martin ft Scarlett Johansson - I'll be home for christmas

2012-12-24T04:00:00.000-05:00

Cheyenne Jackson's NEW Christmas song!

2012-12-23T18:20:00.001-05:00

Lisa Marie Presley interview @ Rock Cellar

2012-12-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

Though her father remains the reigning king of rock and roll, Lisa Marie Presley hasn’t forgotten her Southern folk roots.

“Nothing was planned or contrived in any way and out of it came a very organic record that was always inside of me,” Presley says of Storm and Grace, her first album in 7 years. “It’s this bluesy-folksy record I’m incredibly proud to have made.”

Produced by 12-time Grammy winner T-Bone Burnett, the Americana-tinged Storm and Grace marks a departure from the hard rock sound of Presley’s previous albums, To Whom it May Concern (2003) and Now What (2005).

Lisa Marie Presley wrapped up a ten date tour this past month with a show at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and performed to packed houses in Nashville, New Jersey, and Ontario, Canada.

And though certain topics were off limits — such as ex-husbands (Michael Jackson, Nicholas Cage) and religion (media reports suggest Presley is no longer a member of the Church of Scientology) — Presley was forthcoming about the price of fame and fortune.

Rock Cellar Magazine: The first single, You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet, from your new album is both ominous and beautiful — like you want to kick someone’s ass.

Lisa Marie Presley: It sounds maybe a little more confrontational than intended. But when I was writing that song, I had just found out what people — who I thought were my friends and well intended — actually thought about me and were saying behind my back.

It’s surprising, and it can really shake you when you wake up and realize the relationships you’ve built up over the years.   And that the people you’ve come to trust are backstabbers and not at all who you thought.

RCM: So celebrities need to be especially careful about the company that they keep?

LMP: Absolutely. The people you surround yourself with can make or break you. I have seen it so many times and been around it. That’s kind of what I was going through when I was writing the whole record. So I completely got rid of everything, left the country, started from ground zero and then wrote this record throughout that process.

You don’t always realize it at the time, but certain people’s energy can be toxic and that toxicity can really mess with your life. And when someone is in your life and their intentions are not good, it can cause a lot of disturbance in your own life.   For a while, you may think it’s just you, and sometimes it is, but sometimes it actually is the people around you.

RCM: Are you speaking of specific people in your own life?

LMP: I was just surrounded by too many people, the way celebrities often are. People who you put in charge of your life and are making decisions and representing you. What happens is everything can seem fine until you turn around one day and discover your world is this toxic mess, and these people you surrounded yourself with were the ones facilitating it.

You see all these celebrities and they’ve got their assistants and a whole crap-load of people surrounding them, but rarely do you get to see the real person or what their genuine intentions are.
"
When I see celebrities with their entourages, I sometimes want to warn them, “Be careful, those people could bury you alive one day!”   That’s why I got rid of everyone, everything, and moved to England.
"
RCM: What’s it like living in the English countryside?

LMP: I’ve gotten to where I’m very comfortable. We moved there knowing nothing; it was ground zero for us as we moved into the middle of the country. I just fell in love with this house in this teeny, tiny village with a drug store, two pubs, a church, a little convenience store, and that’s it.

We’ve started meeting people slowly, making really great friends, really sweet people, and we know all the neighbors now. We’ve slowly built a life, but I can’t tell you how much balls it took to get on an airplane and go to another country, not knowing anybody.

RCM: How long did it take for the paparazzi to find you?

LMP: We were ratted out when we first moved in, even though we were trying to come in real quiet because I didn’t want to disrupt the neighborhood. I had already feared that everyone was going to hate me when we moved there, as I was thinking, “Oh god, I’m going to bring all this paparazzi with me.”

Then all of a sudden the tabloids hit and this huge storm happened that we didn’t want, despite our efforts to be really quiet. Oddly, I managed to live there for eight months while I was writing the record, and nobody knew I was there. But once we moved there, it was different, so you never know.

RCM: How did your English neighbors respond to the paparazzi?

LMP: They’re wonderfully genuine and loyal people.
"The first few days after we moved, there were paparazzi parked outside our home and this farmer, who keeps his sheep on our land, rammed his truck into them and told them to leave. I thought, “Wow, this man who doesn’t even know me is standing up for me.” And that’s one of the reasons I fell in love with this little community."

I love the simplicity, and the countryside looks like a fairytale. I needed to discover life again as I was going through this deconstruction process. I happen to like the simpler life — cooking, walking, gardening. I also found the people weren’t jaded, and that they really love music, especially American roots music. They have this real deep appreciation for it, which is really refreshing.

There’s many acres, so the sheep also keep the grass down and it’s the most beautiful thing you could ever see. It’s been an incredible experience having these sheep on our property. Two springs ago there were like 200 baby sheep born on our property.

RCM: So what have you learned from having sheep on your land?

LMP: They’re pretty quiet until the farmer comes around and they’ll really start baah-ing and making lots of noise, because they know him. Our daughters bottle-fed one poor little sickly one after the mother passed away. Her name is Redge and she’s still there. We can tell her apart from the other sheep because her neck is kind of funny.

RCM: You’ve found that you’ve become emotionally attached to the sheep…

LMP: I try not to get too attached because they eventually become local meat. I wouldn’t let them take the little one we took home and cared for (laughs). I don’t know how the farmer does it, to be honest, because they all get to know him and that’s something fascinating to watch. Then he puts labels on them and takes them to the slaughterhouse, and I just couldn’t do that. So, I leave it to him and admire their beauty and try not to get too involved, because I know it’s all part of the food chain.

RCM: Do you feel the English countryside influenced your writing as well?

LMP: Definitely, as what came out of this experimentation process and writing these songs in England is something really organic and natural, I think.

RCM: Your voice really soars on tracks like Heartless and Sticks and Stones. What do you think has influenced your style of singing?

LMP: It’s kind of strange, but the first thing I ever recorded in my life was an Aretha Franklin song. So the first recording I ever made was a lot more soulful and different sounding than this rock thing I explored.   I think because I was born and raised around country, blues, rock, gospel and everything else under the sun, it’s all been inside me my whole life. But now I tend to be more soulful.

I think of myself as a singer-songwriter, so I really don’t listen to my voice that closely, and certainly not as much as I listen to the songs I’m writing. And because I’m a singer-songwriter, I really focus and put a lot of labor into writing the best songs I can and trying to make them universal. As for my voice, they just have to kind of work together. I certainly don’t think of myself as a brilliant singer by any standards, but I think my voice works well with my music and my songs.

RCM: Some of your new tracks, like So Long, Un-break and Soften the Blows, seem very honest and personal.

LMP: At that time I was looking at life and feeling very vulnerable, and I think those feelings were captured in those songs. My songwriting has always been about purging and wrestling with demons. These songs are kind of naked and raw compared to the other records I made, where I felt I was being pushed in a more mainstream direction…which didn’t feel right at all.

Everything that I’ve experienced in my life is covered in some way in my music. Everything has its place. I think as we get older, one of the biggest things we learn is to not to take things for granted, and to find better ways of handling stuff as it comes.

RCM: How do you handle your celebrity life in the public eye as the daughter of Elvis Presley?

LMP: There’s always opinions out there regarding how my life should have gone. Everything is very public as I navigate my way through this life. The mistakes I’ve made are public, and mistakes seem to be all that people want to know about. Being Elvis’ daughter is a blessing. And though it’s had its challenges, it’s not anything I would change or take back.

And I’m grateful for the really nice fan base I have, who I think know me pretty well. The response to this album has been incredible and the reviews have been really nice. I consider it a breakthrough, in being recognized as a songwriter. Because that’s all I ever wanted to do in my life.

RCM: How do feel about doing publicity?

LMP: When I’m promoting an album I understand that I have to be out there, and it requires a certain amount of attention and media. And that’s fine. But when I’m not doing this, it’s really important to me to have things completely different from being in the spotlight. And that’s how I was raised as my mom kept me away from the celebrity part of our life for long periods of time. That’s the way you keep your sanity, I think.

RCM: Was it challenging launching a music career back in 2003 with the last name Presley?

LMP: Some people are really quick to criticize and shoot you down and say, “Oh, look at this, you’ve got it so easy.” I know that’s how people have always looked at me. But I think I’ve shown them, and paved my way as a songwriter with this album, especially. I never wanted to go the easy route, and I found my way despite the fact there was always this push for me to do things in a certain way or be a certain way.

This is my creative outlet, and it’s the only creative outlet I have. Believe me, I wish I had others, but my love for music has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. My father was the first music I ever heard, and he’s been a huge influence on my life.

RCM: Graceland’s newest exhibit, Elvis…Through His Daughter’s Eyes, was launched earlier this year. Tell us about that.

LMP: It’s basically a room dedicated to showing the side of my father that is the “father side.” Because most of the time it’s all about him being this iconic figure and the incredible history of his music and his accomplishments. In this exhibit, you’ll see the side of him that we saw, and it’s dedicated to him as a father and his relationship with me.   So it’s a room full of artifacts from when I was little, along with lots of footage from that time.

RCM: At the age of 25, you became the sole heir to your father’s estate, then worth more than 100 million dollars. Twenty years later, are you still running Graceland as a family business?

LMP: Yeah, in fact I can’t take credit for the new exhibit as it was my cousin who helps run the operations there and came to me with the idea. They had all this stuff in the archives and it was a really amazing experience for us to put all of it together and freshen things up a bit.

But it’s a constant job making sure Graceland is protected, making sure my father’s name and image are protected and always quality-controlled. My mother is still on the board and she’s very savvy and loves the business part of it. As for me, I was groomed into doing it since I was 16, helping to run Graceland. There’s an incredible team that runs it, but my mother is involved in the day-to-day.

RCM: Do you enjoy the business and operations aspect of running Graceland?

LMP: Not so much. (laughs) I’m more like my father that way.

RCM: Do your 4-year-old twins know much about who their grandpa was?

LMP: They definitely know who he is and they’re so proud. Even as babies, they’d hear Elvis on satellite radio. Earlier this year, I took them to see Viva Elvis (Cirque du Soleil) in Las Vegas and they were so excited. Anytime they hear him — whether we’re out somewhere or in the car — all they want to do is dance. They’re just thrilled to be Elvis’ granddaughters and it’s very cool.

RCM: What’s it been like raising twin girls?

LMP: It’s very interesting to see how they have this really sweet concern for one another and how they can be so protective of each other. If one gets something then they want the other one to have it too, so they’ve got this dueling thinking thing happening constantly. I’ve seen it where Finley will get very motherly towards Harper, and make sure everything’s fair and equal between them. It’s really sweet. Having said that, they’ll fight too, but that’s to be expected as they spend so much time together (laughs).

RCM: How did you balance making a new album with raising young children?

LMP: They were about seven or eight months at the time when we first set up shop in England. But it all worked together quite well. There were times when I’d feel a bit drained creatively but children always give you a good reason to wake up and make everyday good. Even when you’re tapped out sometimes, they make life so much better and give you this positive energy just when you need it. All my kids — they’re all very spirited.

RCM: You’ve made a conscious effort to keep them out of the public eye, right?

LMP: Yeah, even with my son who just turned 20 and my other daughter who just turned 23, I tried to keep them out of the spotlight until they were ready and decided what they wanted to do. I think it’s good to wait until their heads are in the right place.

I’m trying to do it the way I was raised. Like I said, my mother never paraded me around as we had a normal life away from the celebrity life. It was a good mix and that’s what I want for my children. I just want them to be the best that they can be, at whatever they’re doing, while keeping a normalcy in their lives.

RCM: You also find time and energy for charities like the Dream Factory in England. Tell us about that.

LMP: It’s a charity that a friend of mine started when his son passed away from an illness. It grants wishes to children who are ill and I go there and do their Christmas party every Christmas. So I try to get out and do as much as I can because it’s something I need to do, and feel like I should be doing.

RCM: Then there’s Presley Place — a transitional housing program for homeless families in Memphis…?

LMP: Yeah, it was really important to my father because he grew up in one of those. So we built one and it runs really well and we’re very proud of it.

RCM: How would you compare Memphis to L.A.?

LMP: There’s a heart and soul in the south that isn’t really there in L.A. I just feel that L.A. is this potpourri of people who have collected there who want to live the dream. So people come to L.A. from somewhere else looking to be something, and they always want to be in the sunshine. And for me, that’s not reality. But many people love that and they want it to be sunny 24/7.

And if that’s what you want, and you like the celebrity marriage environment, then L.A. is the place to be. I happen to like seasons. There’s good and bad about L.A., without question. At one point I felt like I was kind of saturated with the bad, which is why I left the country. But now when I come back, I actually really enjoy it because I know I can leave. Because I don’t think there’s a lot of loyalty there, unlike Memphis where people appreciate music on a much deeper level. L.A. is all about instant gratification. That’s how I would compare them.

RCM: Since moving to England, have you taken up any new hobbies or activities besides gardening?

LMP: Interesting you should ask, as I was just thinking about getting a horse because that’s definitely what my neighbors are into. So I thought, maybe if I got a horse I could ride all around because we’re in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, I was just thinking that I need to get a hobby, as my husband [musician/producer Michael Lockwood] has tons of hobbies like his guitar collection.

RCM: You don’t collect anything?

LMP: No, I really don’t. I don’t like a lot of stuff. I like to have things really clean. I’m a cat lover, but I wish I had a hobby because if I did, I would probably be a lot more occupied in my head (laughs). My kids are what I’m most involved in all the time.

I wasn’t born into a normal life, so the things that I’m interested in or attracted to aren’t always normal. This quiet and simple life that we have here in England, it’s an outstanding and beautiful place to be, and I’m sure it will have a real influence on our daughters. It’s like growing up in a fairytale.

Source: Marshall Ward; Rock Cellar

Bernard Lansky has passed away

2012-11-15T08:16:00.001-05:00

Bernard Lansky, who along with his brother Guy founded the world famous clothier Lansky Brothers, has passed away.

Samuel Lansky bought the now legendary shop for his two sons, Bernard and Guy, at 126 Beale Street in the late forties. Originally a store which sold leftover Army supplies from World War II, Bernard took advantage of the elevating Beale Street music scene and looked to provide clothing for the typical characters of Beale who wanted to dress dapper. After a few years of business, Lansky Bros. already had an impressive list of customers, including Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, and B.B. King.

Their most famous customer was Elvis Presley who became a loyal shopper when he was just a teenager.

Lansky's still operates a store inside the Peabody Hotel.

His family says Bernard Lansky died peacefully at his home early this morning. He was 85 years old.

A public funeral service will be held at Baron Hirsch Synagogue at 11:00 a.m. on Friday.

Our thoughts & prayers go out to his brother Alvin who owns Mr. Hats in Memphis and Bernard's son Hal, as well as his entire family and staff.

Source: BackinMemphis.com

Mitt Romney takes 2 Elvis states

2012-11-06T21:08:00.001-05:00

Thank You Tenn & Miss! Elvis Presley's birth state & home state vote Romney!
Let's hope America realizes we can not survive four more years

Elvis Presley himself was a republican! So his two states did him proud!

I've never had my heart broken. I've always been the heartbreaker but tonight my country broke my heart!

Louis Nunley Obit & funeral arrangements

2012-10-29T10:14:00.001-04:00

Louis D. Nunley Sr.
(1931 - 2012)
Louis D. Nunley, Sr., a 60-year veteran of the music industry in Nashville, member of The Anita Kerr Quartet and The Jordanaires, and an architect, along with many other talented colleagues, of "The Nashville Sound", died October 26, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents Ada Alberta Eaker and Alvin Nunley, Sr., sister, Verna Nunley McKee, and brother, Alvin Nunley, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann Fluty Nunley, sons Louis D. Nunley, Jr, and Lee Thanning Nunley, sister, Jean Nunley Dennison, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews. Louis was born October 15, 1931, in Sikeston, Missouri, and was raised in Anderson, Indiana. In 1948, he moved to Nashville to attend David Lipscomb University, where he made his first commercial recordings in 1949, and was graduated in 1952, with a major in Mathematics. In the early years of the recording industry in Nashville, there were two active vocal groups: The Jordanaires and The Anita Kerr Quartet. Since group background vocals are a basic element of "The Nashville Sound", both groups worked unbelievably busy schedules. Consequently they are, collectively and individually, among the most recorded voices in the history of music. In 1956, The Anita Kerr Quartet won the popular "Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Show". That began a relationship with Godfrey that continued until he retired from his daily CBS radio and television shows. The quartet subsequently won two Grammy Awards in 1965: one "Best Recording By A Vocal Group" for “We Dig Mancini”, and "Best Religious Recording" for “Southland Favorites” with George Beverly Shea. Louis collaborated with The Jordanaires frequently for over forty-five years, joining them full-time in 1999 as baritone, also assuming the role of arranger for the group in 2000. The Jordanaires won a “Best Southern Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album” Grammy Award in 2002 for “We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album”. Meanwhile, Louis stayed busy independently providing background vocals from the early 50’s until health problems forced his retirement in 2010. Over the years Louis recorded with hundreds of artists, from legends of the past such as Red Foley, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, and Roy Orbison to veteran performers such as Brenda Lee, George Jones, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, and on to a new generation of artists such as Mandy Barnett and Glee's Kristin Chenoweth. In addition to recordings, Louis was active in commercials, movie and television soundtracks, and appeared on the vast majority of major network television specials originating in Nashville, including The CMA Awards Shows and The Music City News Awards Shows, as well as being a regular on the "Statler Brothers Show", among countless others. He was also an outstanding arranger, for both vocals and instruments. Louis was a member, and served as a national board member and local President, of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He was also a member of the American Federation of Musicians and the Country Music Association. Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home. The Celebration of Life Service will be officiated by Amanda Chappell Armstrong, at 1:00 p.m., in Woodlawn’s Dignity Hall with visitation held two hours prior to the service. Interment to follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Louis Nunley of The Jordanaires passes away

2012-10-27T17:15:00.001-04:00

Louis Nunley was the baritone singer of the legendary Jordanaires from 1999–present. Nunley passed away yesterday at 5:30 PM. Ray Walker says funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Our condolences go out to the Nunley family as well as The surviving Jordanaires.

BB Cunningham - Wooly Bully LIVE

2012-10-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

Thank You BB for the music!

Jerry Lee Lewis devastated by band member's murder

2012-10-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

Music legend Jerry Lee Lewis is mourning the loss of his bass player, who was murdered early Sunday morning in Southeast Memphis. B.B. Cunningham was shot to death while working as a security guard at the Cherry Crest Apartments.

Lewis’ longtime manager, J.W. Whitten, says Lewis is devastated and says he lost a friend and companion in the music industry. Cunningham began playing for The Jerry Lee Lewis Band in 1997. Cunningham, who was also a singer and keyboardist, began his music career performing on his fathers record label, ‘Cover Records,’ in Memphis. He found fame in 1967 when he wrote and recorded the hit song, ‘Let It All Hang Out,’ with the Hombres. Jon Hornyak, the executive director of The Recording Academy in Memphis, played in bands with Cunningham and spent time with him in the studio. He says it’s hard for the music community to see a beloved figure go out that way, “Part of it is musicians get older and there are not enough gigs to make a living just as a musician, so you have to go out and augment your income in some way, and unfortunately at that place, at that point in time it was not the right place to be.”

22-year-old Dock Britt was arrested late Sunday night and charged with First Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder. Right now, he’s only facing murder charges for B.B. Cunningham’s death. He is not charged with the murder of the 16-year-old who also died that night. Cunningham is survived by a wife and son.

Source: Melissa Moon - WREG

Dock Britt's mom denies her son killed BB Cunningham

2012-10-15T20:29:00.000-04:00

Dock Britt is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder for the death of 70-year-old musician B.B. Cunningham.Detectives said they found the bodies of Cunningham and 16-year-old Henry White in the courtyard of the Cherry Crest Apartments. According to police, Britt was one of two men who shot at a female security guard at an apartment complex near Cherry Road and Kimball Avenue.They say Britt ran across the street and in to the Cherry Gate apartment complex.Los Hombres lead singer and Jerry Lee Lewis band member B.B. Cunningham, who was also working as a security guard at the time, went after the two shooters.

Britt with his grandmother

Police said they are still awaiting the results to determine which bullet killed the teen. Britt's mother denies her son killed anyone. She would not do a full interview with Action News 5. "I'm already going through enough. And I'd appreciate if you guys just back off. I can tell you that he is innocent is all," she said. Britt is due back in court in one week. He is locked up in the Shelby County Jail without bond.

B.B. Cunningham's widow spent the day making funeral arrangements. Investigators are still searching for a second suspect. If you have any information please call Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH.

BIM: We found these disturbing photos and more on line showing two sides of the suspect - one who loved his family, the other headed down the wrong path in life. You're seeing these photos for the first time exclusively here on BackinMemphis.

Copyright 2012 WMC-TV - Back in Memphis

George Klein remembers BB Cunningham

2012-10-15T20:10:00.001-04:00

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (FOX13) - Satirically penned by Memphis songwriter and producer B.B. Cunningham, 1967's "Let It All Hang Out" not only rhythmically noted the pleasures of regaling in your favorite vices can often bring, it served as a personal anthem for a man who lived life to its fullest as a musician, songwriter and producer.

Family, admirers and long time friends, such as legendary, Memphis disc jockey, George Klein, who often called on Cunningham's talents during the 40 years of his annually hosted Charity Christmas Concert, reflected on a man whose shooting death Sunday morning in Southeast Memphis left more than a musical void. "I you called him, you'd say, Hey, we got a charity affair here B.B..Could you get the Hombres together and bring it one more time? He said, sure. There was no check my calendar," recalls Klein.

Memphis Police announced the arrest on Monday of Dock Cedric Britt, accused of shooting Cunningham and wounding security guard Theresa Sanders. A police affidavit says the 70-year-old Cunningham was on security duty next door to the Cherry Crest Apartments and went to investigate when he heard a shot.

When police arrived Cunningham and a 16-year-old boy were both dead from gunshots wounds. A second suspect was still at large as of Monday afternoon. No bond was set for Britt. On Sunday Cunningham's granddaughter mourned his loss. Though his signature song "Let It All Hang Out" was the chart-topper of his career as a vocal artist, his work as a producer and songwriter was prolific. So, too were the friendships B.B. Cunningham made in the Memphis music community. "B.B. Cunningham was a great, great talent and Memphis will miss him," says Klein.

My Fox Memphis

More details on the shooting death of BB Cunningham

2012-10-15T16:22:00.000-04:00

Dock Britt has been arrested and charged with First Degree Murder.On Sunday, October 14, 2012 at approximately 2:12 a.m., officers received a Shooting call to 1460 Cherry Road.Upon arriving on the scene, officers located two victims that had suffered from an apparent gunshot wound. Victim#1, 70-year-old Blake Cunningham and 16-year-old Henry White were both pronounced deceased on the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Cunningham was working in a nearby apartment complex as a uniformed security guard when two unknown suspects fired shots at a second security guard which was also working at the nearby apartment complex. After the shots were fired, Cunningham pursued the suspects across the street into the rear of the Cherry Crest Apartments. Additional shots were heard moments later by the second security guard.

After checking the area, both Cunningham and White were found dead lying in the courtyard. The second suspect, which fled the scene after the shooting, was later identified as 22-year-old Dock Britt. Britt was arrested and charged with Criminal Attempt Felony to wit First Degree Murder and First Degree Murder. At this time, this investigation is ongoing. Dock Cedric Britt, accused of shooting to death Blake Cunningham and wounding security guard Theresa Sanders, appeared before a judge today. No bond set, Britt is due back in court October 22nd with an attorney.

MY FOX MEMPHIS

BIM: Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.