Unrecorded Elvis 'Roses' Song Surfaces; Search Is on for New 'King' to Record It

LAS VEGAS, NV. (Elvis-A-Rama Museum/ www.elvisarama.com) - When a song written by Elvis Presley, which was never released by the King, surfaced last month at auction on eBay, Chris Davidson - an owner and founder of the world's largest Elvis museum experience outside of Graceland, with $6 million worth of memorabilia - knew he had to have it.

Davidson, 40, who opened the Elvis-A-Rama Experience in Las Vegas more than five years ago, has announced a world wide search for someone to fill Elvis's blue suede shoes. "We're looking for the world's best Elvis impersonator to record the song," said Davidson. "We hope to consummate an agreement with a production company for a multi-episode reality TV show."
"If I'd Only Bought Her Roses" is the only song co-written by Elvis and Paul Terry King, an association that dates back to the late 60s, at American Sound Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis recorded his last number one hit, "Suspicious Minds," there in 1969.

"Roses," registered in 1973 with BMI, appears to have been inspired by the lost love that both artists were experiencing in their personal lives at the time. Elvis was freshly wounded from his divorce from child-bride Priscilla Beaulieu, an event made official in October 1973. The song was never recorded.

According to sources, Elvis considered it "too personal and painful," at the time. The song is a bittersweet ballad of lost love and regret.
"We would like to have the song recorded at one of Elvis's old haunts, either historic Sun Records Studios or the old RCA Radio Recorder's Studio. We intend to put much effort behind the song to make it a national hit and the project has already elicited national media interest," said Davidson.

The song is unique in that Elvis is credited for very few songs as a composer/songwriter. It is our intention for the song to be released on the 50th Anniversary of Elvis's first Gold Record, Heartbreak Hotel, which was released in January 1956.

The Elvis-A-Rama Museum is in the process of creating an international contest for the impersonators with tryouts likely to be held in Sydney, Frankfurt, Tokyo, London, New York, Los Angeles and Memphis as prime locations.
Final selection will take place in Las Vegas, where the winner will appear in an engagement at the Elvis-A-Rama Experience. Impersonators will be judged in three categories: vocal talent, appearance, and stage presence. "Roses" is currently jointly owned by Elvis-A-Rama and Elvis Presley Enterprises. A majority interes (85%) in EPE was recently purchased by Robert Sillerman of (CKX), Inc. For further information and photography please visit https://www.elvisarama.com