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Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley
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Birth Name:
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Lisa Marie Presley
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Born:
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February 1, 1968
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Origin:
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Memphis, Tennessee,United States
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Years active:
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2003-present
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Labels:
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Capitol Records
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Lisa Marie Presley (born February 1, 1968) is an American singer and songwriter, also known as the "Princess of Rock and Roll".[1][2] She is the only child of singer Elvis Presley, and daughter of Priscilla Presley.[3] She was also the wife of superstar Michael Jackson for nearly two years.
Early life
Lisa Marie Presley was born in Memphis, Tennessee, exactly nine months after her parents' wedding.[3] She lived at Graceland, Elvis' Memphis estate, until her parents separated in 1972.[4] Following their separation, and subsequent divorce, she divided her time between living at Graceland with her father and in Beverly Hills with her mother. This arrangement continued until her father died on August 16, 1977, after which she lived exclusively in Beverly Hills.
When her father died, Lisa became joint-heir to his estate with her grandfather Vernon Presley, and her great grandmother Minnie Mae Presley.[5] Following the deaths of Vernon in 1979 and Minnie Mae in 1980, Lisa became the sole heir and inherited Graceland.[5]
[edit] Music career
On April 8, 2003, Presley released her debut album, To Whom It May Concern. It reached #5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and was certified gold in June 2003. Presley wrote all the lyrics (except "The Road Between", which was co-written with Gus Black) and co-wrote some of the melodies. To promote it, she presented a concert in the UK, something that her father never did. The album's first single, "Lights Out", reached #18 on the Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 chart[6] and #16 on the UK charts.[7] Lisa collaborated with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins for a track called "Savior" which the two co-wrote together and this was included as the b-side. Legendary LA Times critic Robert Hilburn called Presley's debut album said, "The music on her new album, has a stark, uncompromising tone" and later said, "Presley's gutsy blues-edged voice has a distinctive flair."[8]
In 2003, Presley also contributed a recording of Silent Night for The NBC Holiday Collection, Sounds of the Season. Other artists singing on this collection include Coldplay, Michael Buble, Carly Simon, Bonnie Rait and Kylie Minogue.
Her second album, Now What debuted number 9 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was certified gold in November 2005. Presley co-wrote 10 songs and recorded covers of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" (the album's first single, which hit #36 on the Billboard 100 AC singles chart).[7] and The Ramones' "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow". The song "Idiot" is a jab towards different men in her life. Unlike her first album, Now What included a Parental Advisory sticker. Both albums, as of 2006, have been certified platinum. Presley covers Blue Öyster Cult's "Burnin' for You" as a b-side. P!NK makes a guest appearance on the track "Shine."
In August 2007, the single "In the Ghetto" was released. Elvis Presley originally released the single in 1969. In the new version, Lisa "duets" with her father. The video that was simultaneously released with the single reached #1 on the iTunes sales and #16 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart.[9] Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Duet of In The Ghetto recorded to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of her father's death. Lisa Marie said she decided not only to sing, but to sing with him. "I wanted to use this for something good," she tells Spinner of her posthumous `In The Ghetto' duet with Elvis Presley. "All fingers pointed towards New Orleans." She filmed the video in the hurricane-ravaged city, and all proceeds from the video and single benefited a new Presley Place Transitional Housing Campus there. [10] Lisa Marie Presley took the stage on the Oprah show that year to perform "In the Ghetto" with the Harlem Gospel Choir and vintage footage of her father, Elvis Presley.[11]
In October 2009, she joined singer Richard Hawley on stage in London for an encore. She sang vocals on a song the pair had been working on called 'Weary'.[12] Hawley wants to help Presley relaunch her music career, and the two have embarked on a songwriting partnership in which Lisa writes the lyrics and Hawley the music. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Presley said that she is currently recording a new album in London due to be released in 2011.[13][14]
[edit] Grammy Foundation
On June 6, 2004 Lisa Marie Presley was on hand as The GRAMMY Foundation in Partnership with 7-UP named Long Beach Polytechnic High School A Gold Grammy Signature School on Sunday (June 6) at Scottish Rite Cathedral in Long Beach, California. Created in 1998, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. Presley presented the custom award and a monetary grant to benefit the school's music program. On October 22, 2005 Presley presented a special award to Isaac Hayes at the Memphis Recording Academy Honors. A host of hometown stars gathered to see Presley, Justin Timberlake, Isaac Hayes and David Porter honored by the Memphis chapter of the Recording Academy. Presley and music producer Jimmy Jam presented the award to Hayes. [15]
On November 11, 2005, Lisa Marie Presley participated in a GRAMMY SoundCheck at LA's House of Blues, during which she and other industry professionals met with a group of music students to discuss career opportunities available to them within the music industry. [16]
[edit] Awards and Honors
On January 5, 2002, Presley received the Humanitarian Award from The World Literacy Crusade for her efforts to help children across America learn valuable skills for study and improve their lives. Lisa Marie Presley received her award from Isaac Hayes, Chaka Khan and Yolanda King, daughter of the late Martin Luther King Jr. [17]
On June 12, 2005, Lisa Marie Presley received recognition as the Favorite Female rock Vocalist from ASYM, the Association of Songwriters and Young Musicians. The award was presented to her by producer and collaborator Linda Perry at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Presley was accompanied by her husband Michael Lockwood and mother Priscilla Presley. Other award recipients that night were The Goo Goo Dolls. The American Society of Young Musicians (ASYM) is a national nonprofit organization of musicians, songwriters, vocalists and studio technicians. [18]
[edit] Activism
On September 26, 2002, Lisa Marie Presley addressed a Congressional hearing voicing her deep concern over the legal psychotropic drugging of millions of American children, stating: "I have spoken to children who have been forced to take a cocaine-like stimulant to control their behavior; I have shared their sense of sheer desperation. Children have been wrenched from their family's care simply because their parents favored an alternative, drug-free approach to addressing educational and behavioral problems. The psychotropic drugging of millions of children has to stop." Ms. Presley, addressing the Committee as the International Spokesperson for Children's Rights, for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), addressed this lack of information provided parents: "I want to emphasize looking for drug free answers. Only by looking for alternatives to drugs will parents discover for themselves the numerous simple, workable and drug-free answers to the problems of attention, behavior and learning. A child could suffer from allergies, lead poisoning, eyesight or hearing problems, or be simply in need of tutoring, or something even more basic than that—phonics. Instead of supporting what is drug pushing, our governments, schools and doctors must ensure that all—not carefully selected—information is made available to parents in order for them to make an informed choice about their child's educational and medical needs."[19]
Singers Pat Benetar and Lisa Marie Presley performed at the VH1 Divas Duets, a concert to benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2003 in Las Vegas. Together they sang Benetar's hit, "Heartbreaker" which Lisa Marie frequently performed at her own concerts on tours afterward. [20]
In December of 2004 President Bush Signs Landmark Legislation Prohibiting Forced Psychiatric Drugging of Schoolchildren and Presley applauded Congress for passing precedent-setting legislation that bans school personnel forcing parents to drug their children for classroom or behavioral problems. [21]
On September 6, 2006, Mayor Michael R Bloomberg Proclaimed MAC Viva Glam Day in New York City with Spokespeople Lisa Marie Presley, Eve and Dita Von Teese. [22] Every cent raised from the sale of the MAC Viva Glam lipstick went to the MAC Aids Fund.
[edit] Charity Work and Humanitarian Efforts
In October of 1997, Lisa Marie, along with friend and fellow Memphian Isaac Hayes, opened the Literacy, Education and Ability Program (LEAP). LEAP is a free program for children and people of all ages in Memphis, Tennessee. LEAP provides effective educational services and materials that help people learn how to learn and study effectively and thereby have the ability to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.
The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation* (EPCF) was formed by Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. in 1984 to continue Elvis' own tradition of generosity and community service and to honor his memory. The EPCF is overseen by Lisa Marie Presley, chairperson, and the management team of Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. In 2001, Presley Place opened to its first residents. Presley Place provides homeless families up to one year of rent-free housing, child day care, career and financial counseling, family management guidance and other tools to help them break the cycle of poverty and regain self-esteem and independence. Also funded by the EPCF is the Elvis Presley Music Room, where the youngsters of Presley Place and other may enjoy access to musical instruments and instruction and participate in special related programs. The EPCF created the Elvis Presley Endowed Scholarship Fund at the College of Communication & Fine Arts at the University of Memphis to assist students majoring in areas of the arts. "All of us with the EPCF and Elvis Presley Enterprises are extremely proud of this amazing facility," stated Presley. "The work that MIFA does truly has an impact on peoples' lives and we look forward to this collaboration."
The Presley Charitable Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic organization dedicated to improving people's lives with real solutions. Created by Lisa Marie Presley in August 2007, the first endeavor of The Presley Charitable Foundation will be Presley Place-New Orleans; a transitional housing facility for homeless families. The foundation provides the following services: rent-free housing, child day care, career and financial counseling, family management guidance and other tools to help them break the cycle of poverty helping residents to regain their self-esteem and independence.[23]
Lisa Marie Presley joined Oprah Winfrey and her Angel Network and was active in the relief efforts after hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas. Lisa Marie Presley gave a helping hand in Memphis, Tennessee. "I'm here," she said, "because I definitely needed to do something, and it just so happens this is where I'm from. I'm going to do everything I can. People need help—this is a huge catastrophe and everyone needs to stand up." Her first stop was a food bank, where, with the help of FedEx® and Kroger®, Lisa Marie loaded a truck with groceries. Then it was time for a pit stop at Target® for toiletries and clothes. "I thought I was going to grab a couple things at the store," Lisa Marie says, "and I ended up filling up a truck. I went a little crazy." Lisa Marie's final destination was the Grand Casino Convention Center in Mississippi to distribute the supplies to people who had lost everything. One evacuee said, "I really appreciate everything Ms. Presley is doing for us. We have nothing, so we're very grateful for everything she's doing." [24]
Lisa Marie Presley became a patron of The Dream Factory in 2011. Presley was one of the celebrity guests at the Snowball held at the Prince Regent in Chigwell in aid of Hainault-based charity The Dream Factory. Actors Ray Winstone and Sid Owen, who are both patrons of the charity, and Amanda Redman were also among guests at the star-studded event, which raised £59,000 towards granting the wishes of terminally-ill children and those with life-threatening illnesses or disabilities. Organizer Avril Mills said: “We have granted 83 dreams in under three years, so the money is going to go towards a lot more dreams. It costs between £500 and £5,000 for a dream. “Lisa Marie Presley was very nice and she now wants to become a patron of the charity. We talked about the charity and she brought a big framed picture of Elvis, which she got flown over for The Dream Factory from Graceland, and that raised £7,000.” [25]