The King Still Stuns 'Em
by Jim Kane
The Ann Arbor News
April 25, 1977

Elvis Presley doesn't have to sing.
He could just stand up on the stage and move his hips a little or just look sexy

And his fans would go wild!
And they did when he sang, moved or just stood there because "the king has arrived."

This was the happening at Crisler Arena Sunday night

BY THE TIME Presley performed, which was about 10 p.m., following the intermission, the anticipation for him had reached a fever pitch. This was partly due to the extremely talented performers who proceeded him. They warmed, heated and broiled up the audience in preparation for the major event. They included a brass band, called Marty Horrell and the Hilton Hot Horns, a gospel group called J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, three swinging women called "The Sweet Inspirations," and a very funny Canadian comedian, Jack Kahane.

The arena darkens. The music builds, then swells to the brassy strains of the theme from the movie "2001 A Space Odyssey." The stage is bathed in pink and blue lights and screams pulverize the eardrums.
Elvis has arrived!

He comes on grinning, like he just finished cutting another golden record, prances around the stage, nodding to his royal subjects, inspecting his masses of worshippers.

At 42, Presley still cuts a stunning figure on the stage, despite the fact he gained some weight through the years. His voice is now richer and fuller that it was when he cut his first golden record, "Heartbreak Hotel" back in 1958

AS THE BAND behind him blasted away and a group of singers banked to his left backed him up vocally, Presley dazzled the audience with his gold-embroidered white jump suit and big gold belt buckle.

More dazzling were the rocks he wore on his fingers which seemed to blind the audience as the flashbulbs exploded around him

"Old Swivel Hips" showed he could still swivel with the best of them and dance around the stage while belting out such favorites as "It's Now Or Never," Don't Be Cruel," "Falling in Love With You," and "Hound Dog." During the latter tune, a fan threw a stuffed dog into the stage.

He tempered some of his rock numbers with some bluesy, and country and western-flavored songs. Presley showed he could also belt out a hefty version of "My Way," and "Unchained Melody." the latter piece he played on the piano, showing another side of his great showmanship

WHEN PRESLEY first appeared on stage, he was wearing a silk scarf around. It didn't stay there long as he threw it to one of his adorning fans. It was one of the many he threw out to the audience during the concert. This extension of Presley's body soon became "the Battle for the Scarf," as hordes of screaming, crazed women rushed down the aisles to get one od the scarfs.
SCARFS

Although some of the ushers tried to stop the charging fans, they were soon outnumbered and quickly brushed aside. It was reported that one overzealous fan stuck an unlucky usher with a pin. The usher didn't move fast enough for the fanatic scarf seeker.

During his closing number, some of the fans threw roses out to Presley as he walked around the stage grabbing at a sea of eager hands.

Two guards then quickly whisked him off stage while the screaming continued.

The fight went up and a voice said. "Elvis Presley has left the building."

There was silence, then the rush to get out. In the back of the arena, two women sat dazed.

Courtesy of Ron Theisen