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CNN Live Saturday

Interview with David Jefferson

Aired August 10, 2002 - 18:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's been a quarter of a century since Elvis Presley died but his legacy still lives on - the sounds, the movies and the swivel hip dance moves.
CNN's Charles Molineaux takes a look at how Elvis' world is spinning more than two decades after his death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Elvis Presley would now be 67 years old. And even though the King of Rock 'n Roll passed away 25 years ago, his movies and his music still play on.

This summer one of his songs was featured in a Nike commercial.

A new DVD box set of his greatest performances is being released and next month RCA Records will release "Elvis' Number One Hits."

He burst onto the music scene in 1956 with an electrifying style that drove young girls into hysteria.

ELVIS PRESLEY, MUSICIAN: I didn't know what they were hollering at. Everybody was screaming and everything. And I came off stage and my manager told me everybody was hollering because I was wiggling my legs. And so I went back out for an encore and I did a little more.

MOLINEAUX: The Elvis phenomenon all started when the young 19 year old walked into Sun Records and recorded a song for his mother. His recording contract was sold to RCA Records.

His popularity rocketed and Elvis quickly became a sensation - adored by legions of screaming young fans but scorned by their parents who complained his swivel hips and provocative sexual style were not fit for family viewing. All of the fuss got Hollywood interested.

Ed Sullivan wanted him for ratings and dished out $50,000 for three appearances. He gave the controversial singer a stamp of approval that quieted the critics.

ED SULLIVAN, ENTERTAINER: I wanted to say to Elvis Presley and the country - this is a real, decent, fine boy. And wherever you go . . .

MOLINEAUX: Elvis' best friend, Joe Esposito, told CNN's Larry King about Elvis' early impact.

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": He was the first Rock 'n Roll rebel, wasn't he? He was against the tide.

JOE ESPOSITO, FRIEND OF ELVIS PRESLEY: Oh, definitely. Everything until that time was mediocre, nice songs, which were beautiful at the time. But I think kids were looking for something.

KING: Change?

ESPOSITO: And he changed history.

MOLINEAUX: Elvis' life was a strange mix of fame, fortune and heartbreak. His mother died early in his career. His marriage ended after only five years. During the '60s his strong ambition to become a serious actor kept him busy with a movie career that ultimately produced 33 films. But he never stopped performing live.

Elvis' first show in Las Vegas before an older audience was a bust but he later returned to be one of the town's biggest acts.

In 1973 Elvis returned to Hawaii. This time not to make a movie but to do the first worldwide satellite broadcast - a show that would be seen by over one billion people.

Elvis' voice was silenced by his death in 1977 at the young age of 42. But now, even 25 years after his death, the King of Rock 'n Roll enjoys enormous popularity that remains larger than life. Charles Molineaux, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: So why is there such a special fascination with Elvis even after all of this time? The answers to that may be as varied as the types of people he appealed to.

David Jefferson is "Newsweek's" Los Angeles bureau chief and he joins us with some insight on the King. Hi, David.

DAVID JEFFERSON, LOS ANGELES BUREAU CHIEF, "NEWSWEEK": Hi, Carol. How are you doing?

LIN: I'm doing just great. I heard you just returned from Graceland. How was it?

JEFFERSON: I did - I did. It was fantastic. It was better than Dollywood.

LIN: What was it like there building up to this anniversary?

JEFFERSON: Well, it's pretty amazing. This week there are going to be 70,000 people who are descending on Memphis for the anniversary of his death, which will be on Friday.

There is going to be vigil cast. There's going to be a virtual concert where Elvis is going to be quote - unquote - "singing" on Diamond Vision screens with his backup singers and his original band performing live.

It's going to be a lot of excitement.

LIN: What is it about Elvis Presley? Is it the man, is it the myth or is it the machine that just keeps this commercial enterprise going?

JEFFERSON: Well, first of all, you have this incredible voice. We are talking about the King of Rock 'n Roll. But the fact of the matter is there is incredible machinery behind him. They have something like a $35 million annuity - the estate and RCA Records - from Elvis. And they are very much vested in keeping Elvis alive.

So, if you will notice, this summer there's been a lot of attempt to make Elvis appealing to a younger audience. There's Lelo & Stitch from Disney, which has six Elvis songs. There's "A Little Less Conversation," which is a techno dance hit all over the world.

That's what they're doing.

LIN: And there is a new single being re-released? How do you think Elvis' music is going to play in the 21st century?

JEFFERSON: Well, it's interesting - when I was at Graceland I talked to an awful lot of young kids and they were like, "Who's Elvis? I like Eminem, I like Nellie (ph)."

But, again, if the folks at Elvis, Inc. can really hook the young audience through his voice, through cartoon characters like you have in Lelo & Stitch, he may just be able to endure.

LIN: Speaking of enduring - what do you think - do you think Elvis is still alive? He's 67 years old somewhere out there.

JEFFERSON: I've got to say I unfortunately think he's dead but a lot of people really believe he's alive.

One guy I talked to at Graceland pointed out to me that his tombstone - the middle name is spelled Aaron with two As and that he used to spell it with one A all of his life. So that means Elvis can't be buried there. I don't know.

LIN: Something to chew on. All right - so this trip to Graceland - was that a business trip or was that something personal for you, David?

JEFFERSON: Well, I've got to say it was a little of both and also to get some decorating ideas.

LIN: Oh, come on.

JEFFERSON: Blue shag carpeting on the floor and the ceiling. No - seriously - he was a guy of style. We're talking '70s kitch to the max.

LIN: Yeah - actually and all of that stuff is coming back now - mid century modern.

JEFFERSON: Absolutely.

LIN: Go figure.

JEFFERSON: Absolutely.

LIN: All right - mid century modern and Elvis Presley all this week. Thanks so much, David Jefferson, for joining us today . . .

JEFFERSON: Thank you.

LIN: . . . with "Newsweek" magazine.

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