Elvis and Ociee

Belle Books is featuring "The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash" during Elvis Week. Keep in mind, the Ociee movie and books are set between 1898-1902, long before Elvis was alive. HOWEVER, there IS a connection between my grandmother and Elvis Presley!

The adult Ociee Nash (Whitman) was an Elvis fan; mostly, she liked his gospel music. But I digress. Ociee worked at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis for many years and enjoyed going to all the shows which came to town, everything from the Ice Capades (with yours truly) to operas, Broadway musicals, and ballets.

One evening Ociee invited her neighbor to a performance, possibly to see Liberace. The ladies were chatting prior to the show and my grandmother mentioned an article in the Commercial Appeal about Elvis giving away yet another Cadillac to yet another random person.

Her friend remarked, "I wish Elvis would buy me a car."

Unbeknownst to them, Elvis was seated somewhere nearby, likely in disguise or in a private box. The next day, The King of Rock n' Roll had someone contact the auditorium to see who was sitting in the seat during the previous evening's performance.

Elvis Presley had a brand new Cadillac delivered to her home!

What has this to do with my book? Absolutely nothing! Even so, it's a cool story. So my late grandmother, Ociee Nash Whitman, and I salute Elvis during his anniversary week. We also urge folks to buy "The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash" (.99) and follow the Nash family on their move from Mississippi to Memphis more than 100 years ago! Surely Elvis would agree.

Please to to: bellebooks@bellebooks.com

Milam McGraw Propst

Website: milampropst.com