With the phenomenal success of “Heartbreak Hotel,” Elvis’ popularity skyrocketed so much that he found a new place to dwell. Before flying to Shreveport on March 3, 1956 with cousin Gene Smith, Elvis writes a $500 check for a deposit toward the purchase of a house for himself and […]
Ever since I was fortunate to meet with B.B. King for an interview in his tour bus in 2010, my interest in the origins of American music grew immensely–especially in the Delta Blues region. The proverbial “melting pot” accurately describes how the Mississippi Delta was fertile grounds to […]
On April 18, 1972. I was setting in Hemisfair Arena with Patti Sanders and Sandie Bailey as the preshow began for Elvis Presley’s concert in San Antonio. This was my first of half a dozen times I’d see him perform and had no idea how much that concert […]
I confess to a strange fascination for visiting infamous crime and historical sites. Today I was able to check a major bucketlist item off. Before I reveal the location and event, let me explain why. My father, Walter Dennis, was a homicide detective for the San Antonio Police […]
Elvis & B.B. King and racism-Interview with Jack Dennis, 2010 B.B. King knew “the definitive truth about Elvis Presley and racism.” ‘. ‘Let me tell you the definitive truth about Elvis Presley and racism’, The King of the Blues, B.B. King said in 2010. ‘With Elvis, there was not a […]
“Finding her body was easy. The buzzards signaled the way. Finding the killer was the hard part.” So said my dad at the kitchen table at our home on Ansley Boulevard in south San Antonio. Having a homicide detective for a father made for conversations I was aware […]
Growing up around motorcycles can teach you a thing or two about life. Our father was a motorcycle cop in the San Antonio Police Department when my mother checked me out of my third grade class on November 21, 1963. The night before, Dad had taken us to […]
Our grandfather, Bassett Arthur was a cook in the Navy Seabees primarily in the Philippines during World War II. After the war he remained a chef and cook at restaurants in Brady and Abilene, Texas. A trip to Abilene always included an opportunity to watch (and help the […]
In 1976, I spent a week in Memphis meeting and interviewing as many Elvis Presley fans, employees and family members as I could. Lucky for me, I was able to actually have a brief interview with Elvis, which was not an easy task for a 20-year-old journalist from […]
Seven foot, three inch Mike McCormick walked up to the Alamo with a smile in his eyes I had never seen before. He shook his head in disbelief–in wonderment that he was really there. His ballcap came off and he placed his hand on the front wall between […]
I posted “Tell me something about yourself that sounds made up but is 100% true.” Hundreds replied, all interesting, some incredible. Here are some of the answers. “✔” received the most attention. Kathy Alexander Power: I was electrocuted and died. Ray Morris: I had a small part in […]
A few years ago, when Johnny Jennings was just 86 years old, he gained a bit of positive notoriety when he donated some money to the local Georgia Baptist Home for Children. It wasn’t a small chunk of change. The Ringold, Ga. resident was not wealthy. Mr. Jennings […]
