Elvis Presely has inspired boxcar loads of tribute songs. Most follow an easy formula -- that good-time rockabilly beat, and nostalgic lyrics hailing The King. Enter Gillian Welch. Her "Elvis Presley Blues" is an unflinching look at the ugly fall of an American folk hero. In this piece, Welch describes what inspired her to write her Elvis song -- and finds a surprising poignancy in the story of a man who, unlike an earlier American hero, did not die "with a hammer in his hand." As in all the pieces in David Schulman's CPB-supported Musicians in their own words series, the story is told through a mix of the performer's voice and music. There is no reporter's voice heard, allowing the feature to be seamlessly incorporated into station news, talk, or music programming. Scripts for intro and outro are attached, and may be edited at will. Gillian Welch's tour schedule includes: 10/01 Hollywood, CA The Avalon 10/03 San Francisco, CA, Golden Gate Park ? 10/08 San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore ? 10/09 San Francisco CA The Fillmore ? 10/10 Chico CA,California State University ? 10/12 Arcata CA, Kate Buchanan Room ? 10/13 Eugene OR, McDonald Theatre ? 10/15 Portland OR, Crystal Ballroom 10/16 Seattle WA, Moore Theatre ? 10/17 Olympia WA, Capitol Theatre This piece debuts on PRX.

Elvis Presely has inspired boxcar loads of tribute songs. Most follow an easy formula -- that good-time rockabilly beat, and nostalgic lyrics hailing The King. Enter Gillian Welch. Her "Elvis Presley Blues" is an unflinching look at the ugly fall of an American folk hero. In this piece, Welch describes what inspired her to write her Elvis song -- and finds a surprising poignancy in the story of a man who, unlike an earlier American hero, did not die "with a hammer in his hand." As in all the pieces in David Schulman's CPB-supported Musicians in their own words series, the story is told through a mix of the performer's voice and music. There is no reporter's voice heard, allowing the feature to be seamlessly incorporated into station news, talk, or music programming. Scripts for intro and outro are attached, and may be edited at will. Gillian Welch's tour schedule includes: 10/01 Hollywood, CA The Avalon 10/03 San Francisco, CA, Golden Gate Park ? 10/08 San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore ? 10/09 San Francisco CA The Fillmore ? 10/10 Chico CA,California State University ? 10/12 Arcata CA, Kate Buchanan Room ? 10/13 Eugene OR, McDonald Theatre ? 10/15 Portland OR, Crystal Ballroom 10/16 Seattle WA, Moore Theatre ? 10/17 Olympia WA, Capitol Theatre This piece debuts on PRX.