Why Elvis Left the Building
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About the Author The
author, Heart Lanier Shapre’, was born in Dayton, Ohio and grew up in South
Whitley, Indiana, graduating with an AA degree in Business Administration
from Indiana University. Studies
were continued at West Los Angeles College and UCLA. She is
retired from 30 years of service with American Airlines, having held several
positions of which three were:
Stewardess, International Vacation Consultant, and Political Liaison. She
has had the privilege of writing tributes to Bob Hope, Liberace, Liberace’s
manager Seymour Heller, and Assistants Betty and Robin. The
author is an actress in film and theatre, a published lyricist, and a
screenplay writer. Membership
organizations include: Screen
Actors Guild (including Book Pals, a children’s reading program), American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists, formerly Las Vegas Songwriters Association,
BMI, and the National Thespian Society. She
has served charitable organizations such as Jerry's Kids/ Muscular Dystrophy, Opportunity
Village, as well as being a member of the IU Alumni, American Airlines Kiwi's and Vangaurds plus Who's Who in California. Her
one daughter, Teresa Kirsten Katz, lives in New York City and is a Clinical
Science Research Manager. In
addition to where she was born and raised, the author has lived in Dallas,
New York City, Los Angeles, then called to Las Vegas. Soon after, she was
invited to write the youth and life story of Elvis Aaron Presley. She is
a member of the Bel Air Presbytarian Church in Los Angeles, CA. Resume’ The ARTS My fortune cookie in 1980 read: “You have a deep appreciation for the
arts and music.” Music “An
Honest Heart” album on cdbaby.com/heartshapre’. Sales as far as Vietnam Media Radio
970.0 AM – “Starstruck”, hosted by Gary Campbell. Interviewed on tributes created for Liberace. Liberace’s manager, Seymour Heller
said of these tributes that nothing like them had ever been done and he
wanted them in his museum. Due
to limited space, they have not been posted. Authorship Film Theatre Monologues Vocal Service
clubs Affiliations Publications Nothing the heart gives away is lost.
It lives in the hearts of others. Strictly for Elvis People You’ve
been an ‘ELVIS’ person for a long, long time. You’ve maybe seen him perform, listened to his cassettes
and CD’s, seen him in movies and read a ton about him. Maybe
you see him so fantastic that he seems to be unreal? Little by little, he has nestled into
your life so that when you hear his voice of velvet, you hesitate and your
soul falls into the music, becoming one with the sound. You’d like
to know more about him, how he arrived at Stardom, where he came from, and
what was going on as he grew up, plus what was his life like when he was not
on screen or stage? This
you can know by reading WHY ELVIS LEFT THE BUILDING, narrated by a man who
helped raise Elvis at his Mother’s request. His Mother said Elvis was not normal. House Guest It is
1972 and you’re face to face with ELVIS PRESLEY in your living room.
You open your mouth to speak and no sound comes out as your thoughts
trail back to the book you’ve just finished, WHY ELVIS LEFT THE BUILDING, and
you marvel at the moment and the thought of him speaking in a Mississippi-mud
drawl. He’s dressed in an
interesting style: a hunter’s shirt that ties at the neck, but his is open
and he’s wearing a gabardine pant. Finally,
you manage a ‘hello’ and he smiles, lifting his left upper lip while his
orchid eyes reflect love from a humble person. It’s a
moment you never expected and it’s awesome as his childhood words echo
through your mind, “We ain’t never gonna make it, you will, but we won’t
‘cause we’re too poor.” Then you
look him in the eye and say, “What a miracle you are,” as his star shines so
bright, it nearly blinds you. When you read WHY ELVIS LEFT THE
BUILDING, you will find yourself learning to know him on a one-to-one basis. Rockin’ My
Soul What I am about to relate will not be
recognized or accepted by some.
However, on the other hand, the inspired ones may very well accept
this and be amazed that it could be.
Somewhere between those beliefs, it will be said that the following is
“Ripley’s Believe it or Not” material. Maybe it could be so. The inside information is that I am
rather sure I am not alone in this special blessing, as I know of two others
who felt they had a glimpse. To understand this writing, I wish to
share that the events in the following were not sought. They came freely to me. I’m told by a wise person that it is
because of my interest and concern of ELVIS for what he experienced
and took with him. Who knew
during his life what he honestly felt inside? I think no one but him. The day he died, I had just landed in
Fayetteville, NC; my sister announced the news. Something unusual took place within me. Silently I realized no one knew what
he felt inside and that bothered and upset me. That was as far as it went at the time, 1977. It took me a long time to recall a
specific Bible passage I had underlined in my high school graduation
Bible. Why, I didn’t know then,
but knew it was the thing to do.
I closed the Bible that day, not to consider or look for a long time
at what I had automatically underlined without a question. It was Revelation 1:11 saying, “… I
am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and what thou seest write in
a book.” I was very aware of ELVIS PRESLEY as
while at a college dance in 1956, when attending IU, the music all of a
sudden broke out into “Don’t Be Cruel.”
It was instant rock ‘n’ roll dancing for me and I haven’t quit. Although the opportunity to see ELVIS
never presented itself, his songs were keen in my mind. There were a number of new stars in
those days and while being interested in them, ELVIS was more of a brother
through that time. It was like,
“One day I will see one of his terrific performances.” I had it in mind that
he was forever, so there was no rush to see the dynamic singer. Maybe the ‘forever’ was because ELVIS
came from the same belief that I come from, that of being Christian. And the ‘forever’ is from John 3:16
in the King James version of the Bible:
“Whoever cometh unto me shall not perish, but have everlasting
life.” That made for a
comfortable brotherhood. It was
never questioned by me. ELVIS’S memory is now idolized by some
to the extent of making him a god.
It is a known fact that ELVIS claimed that there is only one KING and
by that he meant JESUS CHRIST. A professional makes a hard job look
easy, and one would have never known it to be any different with ELVIS,
although he once said that it was hard to live up to an image. ELVIS won the world and ELVIS is
eternal to us. His name spells
out: Eternal Love Vigil In Song Prescription
drugs were readily available to him up to the end of his life. ELVIS was afraid to abandon the prescriptions
But in his last minutes, he spoke with the LORD and expressed his weariness
of all the fanfare. What was that he sang, “Return to Sender?” ELVIS will always live in the hearts of
millions of folks worldwide. He
left us his best, although his mother, Gladys Love Presley, begged him to
become a “singin’ – piano playin’ – guitar playin’ Preacher man. He started life with the LORD and
walked on with the LORD. He was a man who was taught from the Bible and to turn the
other cheek. He was taught
Christian beliefs, and as a young man, brought up with the belief
and to return to it when old.
His obedience to the LORD was never failing, “Love ye one another as I
have loved you.” This is the
last commandment the LORD left us.
ELVIS had love for everyone. It is told ELVIS’S was heard to say in his last moments - "The LORD knows
I could not have been so successful without him." |
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WHY ELVIS LEFT THE BUILDING
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