Elvis Presley performs Suspicious Minds

Why Elvis never appeared on "The Dick Clark Show" or any of the teen bandstands Colonel Tom Parker never gave a lot of creedence to Dick Clark's shows, the daytime Bandstand or Saturday Night show, despite their incredible popularity. Aside they were prime access, but not prime time in major markets, the managing (ruling) Colonel took into account that you would have to multiply Clark's television audience by twenty to equal Ed Sullivan's then national audience. While Elvis would likely be willing to do Clark's show, Parker would never permit it. Network prime time variety shows were the mainstay, No late night, no morning shows.

The Colonel ruled movie roles. Elvis was offered better roles in better movies than the critic panned "Las Vegas," for example. It wasn't until Elvis rebelled (sort of) that Parker allowed him to appear with Mary Tyler Moore in "Change Of Habit." Elvis' manager was controlling and a tyrant, but as The King made more and more money for RCA Records and bookers The William Morris Agency (later, ICM), they controlled more of Elvis' career and Parker's influence dwindled until he sold out the personal management contract.

By the time Elvis made "Suspicious Minds," the session in late '69 and the release in early '70, he was his own man in terms of career path. The King of Rock and Roll.

The King Once & For All The British Invasion made things rough for the established American rock and roll performers. The styles went "mod" and even American made movies had, even if unintentional, British accents. Doo Wop street corner harmony went by the wayside. Petula Clark nudged Connie Francis out of the box. The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Stones, Turtles, Kinks, Animals et al seemed to do the same to all American rock acts. Bell bottoms replaced penny loafers, miniskirts ended the leg mystique of poodle skirts and A-lines, Sonny and Cher's bangs replaced Bill Haley's spit curl. And all was not well with Elvis. "Kentucky Rain," "Burning Love," "In The Ghetto" were top 20 hits, but not the boffo #1 hits RCA was used to pre-Beatle time.

Elvis almost became a recluse at Graceland. Rodney Zambon would change that. Once Elvis got a hold of Rod's "Suspicious Mind" and cut the tune at RCA in the fall of 1969, the Mark James produced cut zoomed to number one on the national and international charts, reminding the world once again that Elvis Presley was, is and always will be the true King of Rock & Roll. Period. Amen.

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