Just cleaning out the ol' Elvis file

 

Karate Kings magazine - for sale on Ebay

Direct from The EP Blvd Pawn Shop in Memphis and Tupelo

This comprehensive full-color magazine features over 30 photos of Elvis Presley during the years that bodyguard Dave Hebler was working to protect him. Accompanied by insightful captions, each photo gives a glimpse into the world of not only working for the king of rock ‘n’ roll, but being a close personal friend to a music legend.

The magazine is signed by Dave Hebler on the cover.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225741456426

If You Knew Elvis As They Knew Elvis

(article by Mufi Hannemann August 28th, 2013)

Aug. 16, 1977, forever will be remembered by Elvis fans everywhere as “the day the music died.” I was studying in New Zealand at the time and was bummed beyond comparison as I took a break from classes that day to mourn the loss of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Since then, all we have are memories of Elvis Presley, who had a special place in his heart for Hawaii. I certainly have my share of Elvis memories. I enjoyed every one of his films and television specials, know all the words to his songs (even the obscure ones), and sat in awe watching him perform live in Las Vegas in his prime. As president of my high school student council, I arranged to have a contribution made to the Kui Lee Cancer Fund because Elvis was asking, and I even made the pilgrimage to Graceland before Uncle Tom Moffatt (who brought Elvis to Hawaii) made his first trip there.

As fans worldwide commemorate the 36th anniversary of the King’s death this month, not too many can say “Elvis was in the house!” The Parker sisters, Beth Uale of Hawaii Kai and Sheri Pula of Southern California, share many fond memories of Elvis – like when he came rolling into their driveway in a black limousine one summer afternoon in 1974.

“I was really excited that I ran to Elvis Presley’s limo, rolled on his furry floors and I realized I was lying on dark-brown mink,” says Sheri. That was the day Elvis gave her mother Leilani an $11,000 full-length mink coat, which Sheri since has inherited. Elvis was known to share his wealth with ordinary people and gave away cars, jewelry and houses to people he trusted.

“He loved bearing gifts and making people happy,” explains Beth.

Sheri and Beth’s father is the late Ed Parker Sr., who grew up in Kalihi. Parker was known as the Father of American Kempo Karate and Elvis’ martial arts instructor/bodyguard. Says Sheri, “Dad never considered himself a bodyguard. He always said he was a ‘protective companion’ and a friend to Elvis.”

When Sheri was just 8 years old and Beth was sweet 16, Elvis visited the Parker family home in Pasadena, Calif. He played their piano, belting out gospel music.

“It was the neatest thing to hear him sing in our large living room with great big panes. I thought the windows were going to break,” recalls Sheri of Elvis’ powerful singing voice. She remembers sitting on his lap with her younger sister Yvonne. “Elvis asked if I was a good girl, and when I said yes, he gave me $10,” says Sheri, who purchased Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs with the money.

Their dad, a Kamehameha Schools classmate of Don Ho, wasn’t much of a fan of Elvis’ music, but he was a fan of “Elvis, the spiritual giant,” as he recounted in his New York top five bestselling book, Inside Elvis. The singing sensation was up all hours of the night, such that he needed his sleep during the day. That’s why he wore those dark E.P. (his initials) glasses. Because the two buddies shared the same initials, Ed inherited a couple pair of Elvis’ shades. According to Elvis, both bonded because they were “rebels” – Elvis, a rebel in the rock ‘n’ roll business; Ed, a rebel in the martial arts industry. The men spent many nights conversing about the eternities and subjects of spiritual nature.

“Dad believed that Elvis had a sixth sense, and he would always call on our father when he felt he needed extra protection,” says Beth.

The day Elvis bought Ed Parker a Cadillac Fleetwood, Elvis rode the white, gold trim and top, with gold velvet interior luxury car back to Pasadena with Ed from Las Vegas. It just so happened that they passed the church that Beth and her sister Darlene were attending at 6 a.m. the following morning.

“Dad told Elvis we attended church before we start school every day; he was intrigued and wanted to visit us. We were pulled out of class, and he gave my sister and me a big hug … when I went back to class, I couldn’t even breathe, and nobody believed me that Elvis Presley was outside our classroom until there was a knock at the door,” recalls Beth.

It was Elvis, who wanted to know if he could briefly say hi to the class. With Beth’s seminary teacher weakening at the knees, shaking like a leaf and the jaws of students dropping to the floor, Elvis addressed the group: “I want to commend you kids for doing this and getting up so early … and I believe in Jesus Christ, too. Take care and thanks for letting me interrupt your class.” Because of that experience, nobody missed early morning seminary classes for months in hope that their idol might drop by again. “The students who slept in that day regret not attending.”

And there was the Disneyland concert experience in Anaheim, when Elvis sent a limousine to fetch the Parker family.

“My recollection of the concert is it was past my bedtime so I fell asleep,” says Sheri, who was age 6 at the time.

“After the concert, we all hung out with Elvis at his penthouse, when we met a shy Lisa Marie for the first time. He gave us some of the scarves that he threw out into the audience, he kissed us, and we hung out with him as we saw dozens of screaming fans from a bird’s-eye view,” adds Beth.

Elvis came one last time to Hawaii in 1977, when he rented a house in Kailua and Beth’s dad took her to visit with him. Sheri and Beth say Elvis clearly loved the people of Hawaii. He felt more at home in the Islands, according to them, because local fans, by and large, were “respectful” of his privacy. In fact, their father often said that Elvis was “Polynesian at heart.” That’s why he enjoyed the company of Ed Parker and his ‘ohana. They knew him for who he was and not for what he had. They respected him for more than being a rock star, and knew him as a compassionate and gentle soul.

To the Parker sisters, Elvis will live forever in their thoughts and hearts.

https://midweekkauai.com/lifestyle/if-you-knew-elvis-as-they-knew-elvis/

A big year for Elvis fans

 The official trailer for the upcoming Elvis movie has been released. (follow the link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzNTHEXlw3o

Also, a new book by Elvis bodyguard and kenpo legend Mr. Dave Hebler.

Elvis and Mr. Parker t-shirt

I know is says "ELVIS" but I think most of us would want it because of Mr. Parker. 

I mean, how many Mr. Parker t-shirts are out there? Not many.

 https://shopsvip4s.ml/ProductDetail.aspx?iid=41691423&pr=28.88

Legend has it....

Legend has it that one night in Las Vegas, Elvis was in the penthouse suite of the Hilton when Alice Cooper, Liza Minnelli and Linda Lovelace came up to party with him. At one point in the evening Alice Cooper was holding a .32 snub nose revolver to his head and that's when Elvis did a flying kick knocking the gun away, tripping Alice Cooper and pinning him to the ground by the neck. 

"That's how you stop a man with a gun" Elvis said.

Bronze statue of Elvis in Honolulu

On January 14th, 1973, Elvis made history at the Honolulu International Center, now the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, as the first solo entertainer to broadcast live via satellite. More than 1 billion people in 40 countries tuned in to the Aloha from Hawaii concert. Remarkably, audience members paid no set ticket fee. Instead, they donated whatever they could, with proceeds going to a local cancer fund honoring one of Hawaii's own stars, Kui Lee.

Today, near the parking lot of the Blaisdell Center, stands a life-size bronze statue of Presley complete with a studded jumpsuit, a microphone and an acoustic guitar sporting the IKKA patch. 

Visitors usually find the statue draped in a fresh flower lei.  

Tiger Man dojo restored

Elvis' karate career

 (Elvis laughing with Mr. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and Mr. Dave Hebler after hitting Mr. Wallace in the head with his trophy.)

Elvis had studied the martial arts for many years before he began studying kenpo after a chance meeting with Mr. Parker.

Elvis was first exposed to karate in 1958 after he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. His first instructor was a German shotokan stylist named Juergen Seydel who taught Elvis at his off-base housing in Nauheim. Elvis developed a passion for karate which continued throughout his life.

When he returned to Memphis, Elvis earned his first degree black belt in 1960 under Chito-ryu stylist Hank Slemansky. Later, he trained in a Memphis dojo under Master Kang Rhee, who bestowed upon him a seventh degree black belt in March of 1973 and his eighth in September of 1974. Elvis would open his own center, the Tennessee Karate Institute in the Crosstown area of Memphis in 1974.

More Elvis memorabilia

Faith - Spirit - Discipline

 

A gift from Mr. Parker to Elvis

Elvis' old dojo now a barber shop

Well, it wasn't exactly "Elvis' dojo" but he did make this dojo in Nashville somewhat famous after he did a demonstration there.

Elvis was going to make a documentary about the martial arts and this film of him doing some techniques was going to be part of that documentary. Sadly however the documentary was never completed.

Fast forward many years later and that martial arts dojo is now a barber shop.

www.hawkinsbarbershop.com

So if you are in the Nashville area and you want to step on holy ground, and of course if you need a haircut, give them a call. They are open Tuesday thru Saturday and reservations are recommended.

1101 Riverwood dr.

1-615-414-5755

Elvis in Pasadena dojo

(from the Guitar Man Facebook page)

At Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate school in Pasadena, California sometime in 1973 - Ed Parker is on Elvis right. Also in the photo are Linda Thompson, Patti Perry, Jerry Schilling and Dave Hebler

Elvis and guitar with IKKA sticker

Elvis "Tiger" Presley fan art

Joe Petruccio, a licensed Elvis artist through Elvis Presley Enterprises has released a new Elvis painting. Joe shared his latest creation via his Facebook profile on April 12th, 2013.

from elvispresleyfansofnashville.com

More Elvis

 

 

www.elvis-express.com

Memphis, July 4th, 1974

Mr. Parker and Elvis

Elvis and Tom Kelly

Notice logo on certificate same as logo on wall

 

I am going to assume that the following photos I posted were also taken on the same day in Memphis based on the shirt that Elvis appears to be wearing under his gi.

http://kenponotes.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-very-famous-photo-of-mr-parker-with.html

http://kenponotes.blogspot.com/2015/10/kenpo-karate-point-of-origin-part-1-of-3.html

Mr. Parker had Elvis' back



Elvis Inside Kung Fu magazine