Lisa Marie Presley Dead at Age 54
Fans leave flowers and notes outside of Graceland in memory of Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley who Died Jan, 12, 2023 at the age of 54.
Lisa Marie lived at Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee in her early childhood. After Elvis Presley died, she inherited the house. She frequently returned to Graceland to remember her father and to greet fans on his birthday or during Elvis Death Week.
As a photojournalist in Memphis, I have had many opportunities to cover Lisa Marie and her mother Priscilla Presley, and those who loved and were connected to Elvis in his lifetime. I have put together a small photo gallery and video of the spontaneous memorial outside Graceland and some other links to stories about the passing of Lisa Marie.
Each year, during death week in August, fans travel to Memphis from around the world to remember Elvis. A candle is lit at his grave and the flame is transferred to a few fans, who process past the graves along with thousands of other fans who come to participate in the candlelight vigil. The event usually goes into the early hours of the next morning. (One of the photos in this photo gallery is Lisa Marie participating in the vigil, passing that flame to fans.)
Newspapers around the world have been interested in the story of the death of Lisa Marie Presley.
Lisa Marie will be buried at Graceland near her son Benjamin Keough, who died in 2020, and her father Elvis along with other family members in the meditation garden next to the home.
A few highlights from Elvis Week, usually attended by Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley, Below-
The video of the spontaneous memorial for Lisa Marie outside Graceland is below:
Lisa Marie was here this summer for a premiere of the new Elvis movie that came out.
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Lisa+Marie+Presely
It’s a busy time in Memphis! I will try and add to this blog post and photo gallery as I have time.
John Beifuss, my former colleague at the Commercial Appeal who is a longtime Memphis reporter wrote an excellent story about Lisa Marie. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/2023/01/13/lisa-marie-presley-dies-elvis-daughter-graceland/69804300007/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lisa-marie-presley-dies-wealth-net-worth-graceland/
https://youtu.be/1deDe9Ye_LM THIS IS A LINK TO THE LIVE STREAM OF THE CEREMONY
Jerry Lee Lewis Mississippi Home May Soon Be For Sale
Rock N Roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis’ 30 Acre Ranch May Be Up for Sale
The Mississippi home of entertainer Jerry Lee Lewis may soon be up for sale. The Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch is located at 1595 Malone Road in Nesbit, Mississippi, just south of Memphis, Tennessee. Lewis passed away Oct. 28 at the age of 87. “The Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch consists of more than 30 acres, with a stocked lake, two ponds, outbuildings, self-contained apartment, swimming pool, and the home of the late Jerry Lee Lewis. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a property with such provenance and possibilities.” according to this website: https://thejerryleelewisranch.com/?fbclid=IwAR0O73t0GvUvFO6MGgOYeRvpX71Vne7guefomRCQkw_zGdQRo2yaqiqiRS8
There has always been drama unfolding around the Rock-n-Roll legend, and even after he has passed away, the drama continues.
He lived in this home since the 70’s; his son Jerry Lee Lewis lll (Lee) grew up in this home. He lived here with sixth wife Kerrie McCarver, Lee’s mother. His daughter Phoebe Lewis lived with him at the ranch for a while before he married his 7th wife Judith Brown whom he was married to until his death. Phoebe is the daughter of Myra Lewis Williams , who was his third wife and his 13-year-old cousin at the time they got married. The controversey changed the trajectory of his career.
A link to my photo gallery of Jerry Lee Lewis through the years here below including him at the ranch with his family: https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+lll
Here are some of the stories written about how this is unfolding.
https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-county-news/the-lewis-ranch-up-for-sale/
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/jerry-lee-lewiss-landmark-ranch-being-sold-amid-estate-dispute/
https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/01/05/music-legend-jerry-lee-lewis-nesbit-ranch-sale/
Giant Pandas Leaving Memphis Zoo
It is hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the pandas came to Memphis from China.
Today, the Memphis Zoo announced that the aging pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le were both going to live out their days back home in China.
“After two decades, Memphis Zoo's current giant panda loan agreement with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens will end and Ya Ya and Le Le will make the journey back to China within the next few months. Ya Ya and Le Le have been integral parts of the Memphis community for the past 20 years and we are grateful for the time we were able to spend with them. During their time at Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le helped pioneer research and conservation projects to teach others about the importance of their species. It has been a privilege to host these incredible bears at Memphis Zoo for the past two decades and the impact their culture has had on the City of Memphis will forever be remembered” the zoo said in a statement on Facebook.
I was fortunate enough to go to China in 2003 on assignment for The Commercial Appeal, when the Memphis Zoo went to pick up the pandas. I feel very connected to them. I have photographed and filmed them very many times over the years.
“China requires foreign zoos that host pandas on loan to allow older animals to spend their final days on Chinese soil. At 24 and 22, respectively, Le Le and Ya Ya have exceeded the giant panda life expectancy in the wild by almost 10 years, according to the spokesperson.” (Reuters, link below)
I have put together some of the highlights from their stay, which included a Time Magazine cover celebrating their arrival.
All Images Subject to Copyright ©Karen Pulfer Focht
The Giant Pandas in China before coming to Memphis. Matt Thompson, who is now President and CEO of the Memphis Zoo was among zoo officials in 2003 and is seen here with the Pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le in China.
Zoo officials worked closely with China while doing their panda breeding research.
VIDEO BELOW
My photo was featured in the China Daily story which speaks to how well the Memphis Zoo cared for these pandas-
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/05/WS63b5a51ea31057c47eba7b4e.html
One of the other places you can see Giant Pandas in the US is at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C. Their new baby is shown here playing below.
VIDEO BELOW
XIAO QI JI, born to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on Aug. 21, 2020 plays in his habitat on June 23, 2021. The male panda cub was born to mother Mei Xiang and father Tian Tian. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo reopened to the public for the first time since late November at the end of May, 2021.
Reuters used my photos and did a story today- The local papers also did a story. The Links are below.
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/05/WS63b5a51ea31057c47eba7b4e.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/bye-bye-ya-ya-le-le-memphis-pandas-be-returned-china-2022-12-21/
This history of the Pandas-
Panda Conservation-
Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob at the St. Jude Marathon 2022
There is just something about a bunch of ukuleles playing together that makes people smile. Each year, our Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob entertains the runners in the St. Jude Marathon. Often they are exhausted, they laugh, cry, smile, dance and some even stop to take selfies with us. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.
Runners raise millions of dollars to fight against rare forms of childhood cancer. https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/fitness-fundraisers/memphis-marathon.html
I love the story behind St. Jude and the founding of the hospital by Danny Thomas. Praying to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, Danny asked the saint to “help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.” It is so inspiring to live in Memphis and see the fulfillment of the promise that Thomas made to St. Jude. It is always a powerful reminder to me, of how each of us has the power to change the world and be a blessing to others. https://www.stjude.org/directory/t/danny-thomas-founder.html
It was his wish that children are treated here for catastrophic childhood cancer, while families never receive a bill so that they can focus on their sick child instead of medical bills.
This video below from 2021 shows what our experience is like. A runner sees us and starts weeping. The event is always bittersweet.
Lt. Robert Bedford Honored at 103 on Veterans Day
Lt. Robert Bedford, age 103, was honored with other area veterans at the 2022 West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery Day Event Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Navy Lt. Bedford, is one of the few remaining World War II D-Day Veterans who is still alive. (Photo By Karen Pulfer Focht ©)
Robert Bedford as a younger man.
Thank you for your service Lt. Bedford and to all of our other brave veterans for fighting for our freedom and democracy.
Jerry Lee Lewis~The Last of the Million Dollar Quartet, Is Dead at 87~
© Copyright- No photos for reproduction without written permission.
One of the highlights of my photojournalism career has been covering Jerry Lee Lewis. Always a thrill, always unpredictable and always interesting. Jerry Lee made the rules and Jerry Lee always only did what he wanted to, when he wanted and for whom he wanted to.
Lewis was controversial and quirky. It took patience, dedication and perseverance to do the kind of documentary photography I wanted to do on him.
I was not even alive during his heyday. Most of my coverage of him was in the second half of his life. But the idea that I was documenting history was still omnipresent.
At times, Jerry Lee had a difficult life. He dealt with a lot of personal tragedy, he had a wild reputation, and had to overcome many personal problems.
As for my experience, he was always a gentleman, on occasion a flirt. He was often anxious to go watch his favorite TV show, Gunsmoke. Judge him as you like, Jerry Lee Lewis had a deep faith in God. He was raised with his double cousin televangelist Jimmy Lee Swaggart.
As a photojournalist, you get a front-row seat to life. I always prefer to be a fly on the wall. My style is real and raw, authentic and as spontaneous as possible.
Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the Million Dollar Quartet and the last of those men living. He was a contemporary of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins. He came up under Sun Records and Sam Phillips (he produced Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Howlin' Wolf and more) .
Where ever you go, all over the world, you can hear their music playing. They are still ever-present and relevant all these years later.
What struck me most about Jerry Lee is how much he loved to play piano. He was passionate about playing, always. He never seemed to tire of it. He’d even practice in his hotel room before a show.
He loved his fans and often invited them into his dressing room after the show.
His buddy, newsman Jim Kingsley, one of the original “Memphis Mafia”, would bring me down to the ranch and tell Jerry Lee to let me take photos of him. Jim was someone who could get Jerry Lee to do whatever he asked.
I was with Jerry Lee when he was a guest on Donald Trump’s yacht. I watched the IRS carry Jerry Lee’s piano out the door of his Mississippi ranch for back taxes. I was there with him and Dennis Quaid at parties around the filming of Great Balls of Fire. I witnessed him signing his name to open a name-sake club on Beale Street. I watched him perform at The New Daisy with Dr. Nick ( best known as Elvis Presley's personal physician) standing in the wings. I was there when he and his seventh wife Judith renewed their vows. I was at the garage sale where they were selling his Rolls Royce, some of his record collection and his cowboy boots. I was at many of his birthday parties, concerts, and even a recording session.
At home, he would often retreat to his bedroom which had a security guard door and bars on the windows.
My photos of him ran in newspapers and magazines all over the world.
He put a little extra sparkle in my life. He was living history. He was one of the people who put Memphis and Memphis music on the map.
He was an original, and a living legend.
He will be missed.
Found on a recent trip to Amsterdam
Hundreds of fans lined up early outside the Hernando Funeral Home to pay their respects to The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis. Pictured are Band members Kenny Lovelace, J.M. Van Eaton, Sun Records Jerry Phillips, his children Jerry Lee Lewis the third and Lori Lewis Lancaster and family friend Kelly Chelette.
Nice Obit by Reuters who also used a couple of photos of mine from his recent anniversary party: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rock-n-roll-pioneer-jerry-lee-lewis-has-died-age-87-2022-10-28/
The Memphis Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/28/jerry-lee-lewis-dead-rock-n-roll-singer-country-music/3069727002/
Interesting story in the Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-29/jerry-lee-lewis-myra-brown-williams-marriage-13-cousin
Rolling Stone ““Look, we’ve only got one life to live. We don’t have the promise of the next breath. I know what I am. I’m a rompin, stompin, piano-playin’ sonofabitch. A mean sonofabitch. But a great sonofabitch. A good person. Never hurt nobody unless they got in my way. I got a mean streak.… I gotta lay it open sometimes.”: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jerry-lee-lewis-great-balls-of-fire-whole-lot-of-shakin-goin-on-myra-gale-brown-1234621001/
Desoto Times had an interesting interview with Myra Brown- http://m.desototimes.com/news/jerry-lee-lewis-was-canceled-after-marrying-13-year-old-cousin/article_28404220-5bb3-11ed-880a-33f0827e46a5.html
HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO OTHER PREVIOUS WORK
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+Wives
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/tag/Jerry+Lee+Lewis+lll
https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2018/1/2/jerry-lee-lewis-brings-in-new-year-2017-2018