“My father was working for the Coca-Cola Company in New York City at the time both Eddie Fisher, whose show was sponsored by Coke, and Elvis appeared on the scene. Eddie was approved by my parents but not Elvis. I did allow myself to be bribed with free tickets to the Coke-sponsored E.F. TV show. However, one day, when I was walking home from school, I tried to imitate Elvis. I dislocated my knee cap and was carted off to the nearest emergency room. Later that day, I saw ‘that look’ on my mother’s face.

“Years later, when my sister and I visited Memphis, we had little time for sightseeing. We rejected the too distant Graceland as also too expensive. We ended up touring St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and The National Civil Rights Museum, lodged in the old Lorraine Motel where MLK had been shot. They are both true gems. And we did tour Sun Records Studio, where so many singers got their start, including Elvis: Really Early Elvis, the gospel singer.”