Crumley remembers Ford as the announcer from the Grand Ole Opry radio broadcasts: "He'd say, 'Let 'er go, boys,' and the show would start." Also at the show was June Carter, second generation member of the Carter Family Singers whose courtship with Johnny Cash -- they married in 1968 -- is recounted in the 2005 film "Walk the Line." "June was cuttin' up and acting stupid, telling jokes," Crumley said, adding that the comedienne wore oversized bloomers.
At the time, Carter was married to country singer Carl Smith and pregnant with their daughter, future recording artist Carlene Carter. Within two months of the Bastrop show, Elvis cracked the Billboard's top ten with "Baby, Let's Play House." Colonel Tom Parker replaced Neal as his manager and began slating him for TV appearances.
America, and the world, couldn't help falling in love. Crumley remembers watching Elvis -- from the waist up -- on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. Ainsworth recalls a sold-out box office when Elvis' first movie, "Love Me Tender," played at the Rose Theatre.
News RSS