Every now and then, I thought I'd take a break from the news and share a story from my own life. This one takes us back about twenty years to a moment I'll never forget.
If you know me, you probably know I'm a huge Elvis Presley fan. And when I say huge, I mean huge.
For several years I was deeply involved in the Elvis Tribute Artist community—not as a performer, but as a fan, promoter, and supporter. Between 2002 and 2006, I made several trips to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for one reason alone: Elvis tribute shows.
Most of those trips centered around the old Memories Theatre in Pigeon Forge, although I caught a few shows at Reflections Theatre in Gatlinburg as well.
One of the performers I became friends with was William Stiles, who portrayed Elvis nightly at Memories Theatre. Will and I are still friends today, although he has long since retired from performing as Elvis.
One evening in 2006, after his show had ended, Will invited me backstage while he changed out of his Elvis jumpsuit and into his regular clothes. We were planning to grab something to eat afterward with another mutual friend.
As we stood backstage talking, Will looked across the room and casually asked, "Joe... see that guitar over there?"
It wasn't anything flashy. Just a simple acoustic guitar sitting quietly in the corner.
"Yeah," I replied.
Then he said something I'll never forget.
"That actually belonged to Elvis."
I just stared at him.
He went on to explain that Elvis had given the guitar to Charlie Hodge, one of his closest friends and longtime members of the TCB Band. After Elvis passed away in 1977, Charlie eventually became associated with Memories Theatre and brought the guitar with him.
There it was.
A guitar that Elvis Presley himself had once owned and played.
Needless to say, I didn't hesitate.
I walked over, carefully picked it up, and just held it.
For a few moments, I wasn't thinking about anything else. I was simply standing there holding a piece of music history that had once belonged to the King of Rock & Roll.
How many people can honestly say they've held something that Elvis Presley once owned?
Probably not very many.
Looking back, there's one part of the story that still makes me laugh.
I was so overwhelmed by the moment that I completely forgot to ask someone to take my picture.
Today, everyone pulls out their phone the instant something memorable happens. But in that moment, getting photographic proof never crossed my mind.
I was just enjoying the experience.
So no, I don't have a picture to prove it happened.
I only have the memory.
And honestly?
I wouldn't trade that memory for anything.
Sometimes the best moments in life aren't the ones we post on social media. They're the ones we simply experience.
Thanks for joining me for this first edition of Storytime.
— Joe Clark
Publisher, The Morehead Minute