Kathy Continues with What it was Like

We continue as Kathy explains what it was really like working with Elvis Presley.

Elvis was quite different from any of the other artists I'd ever worked with, as he was NOT temperamental in regards to his shows. He really was a perfectionist, yet his only demand was that everyone be spontaneous! He really taught me that all of the perfection in the world is truly the most boring musical experience one could have. To be free in expressing oneself musically IN THE MOMENT was what he naturally did, and inspired all those who worked with him to do, with him. He just didn't do a song the same way twice,....EVER.

Most artists I had worked with rehearsed anything they were working on to DEATH, and though perhaps it was technically "perfect"...It was ...well....all I can say is "---YAWN"!

If only more artists could just let go, as Elvis did, just let the music and the musicians around himself/herself just take them off into different directions and not panic, but laugh if it doesn't quite work out! What a fantastic experience this was, experiencing the freedom to try new things, and to witness visually and audibly a song that had been sung to death just brought to NEW LIFE by that little extra 'something special" that just happened on one occasion.....NEVER TO BE REPEATED AGAIN. This was what was so much fun for me, especially having come from such a disciplined background, where one was told "Don't EVER CHANGE A NOTE"...I want it JUST LIKE THIS! I really enjoyed the freedom Elvis allowed his musicians to have, the freedom of expression he generated and allowed to just HAPPEN. These were "magical" moments I'll most likely never experience again. The right musicians, artists, all together at the right time and place...with the greatest interpreter of song ever,---ELVIS.

Besides the thrill of the concerts, we had to deal with the sneaking in and out of hotels, being forced to have "room service" rather than attempting to get through crowds of fans in order to get a bite to eat, catching a nap as hundreds of fans screamed for hours "ELVIS! ELVIS!" outside our windows which we covered with foil, or dark drapes. We also had an average of four bomb threats a day, a few kidnapping threats and death threats a week, but other than that...FUN FUN FUN! Each day of being on the road and traveling with Elvis brought a new experience. Most were delightful, some hair-raising, but once again, It would take a BOOK to relate all of the incredible experiences I had in working with him. Just unbelievable occurrences happened on a regular, daily basis. The pace of living life on the road was literally so "fast" that I often woke in a hotel room, NOT KNOWING for a moment who I was, how I'd gotten there, and WHERE is this "there" anyway! Seven years filled with many vivid memories that I can recall every detail about, and yet, there are important events that happened "somewhere"...but for the life of me, I have no idea where they occurred!

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