Actors dress up event
‘Sun Records’ watch party takes trip back to 1950s
Dressed in black pants and a pink, black and white shirt, Darrian Kenney, 19, was among the guests dressed in 1950s-looking outfits at a watch party for CMT’s “Sun Records” TV series, held Feb. 23 at Fox & Hound Sports Tavern. He was wearing basically the same outfit he wore as the stand-in for Drake Milligan, who plays “Elvis” in the series.
The only thing missing from his outfit were the pink socks he wore with his white shoes. “I had pink socks, but I had to give them to my friend,” Darrian said. “He wanted some pink socks to wear to church tonight. So, I just said, ‘Here, man. Take them.”
Asked what he put on his hair to slick it back, Darrian said, “Murray’s hair gel, Royal Crown pomade, Dax pomade and Murray’s beeswax.”
Marlon Mogy, who wore a shirt from Lansky Brothers, was ready to watch himself on screen in the first episode. “I don’t like to brag about myself, but I am a little excited,” he said. Marlon said he was going to be in the audience smoking a cigarette and watching Elvis on stage.
Stacy Patton-Taylor, who was in a 1950s-looking dress, gloves and hat, said she plays five parts, including an Elvis fan, a concertgoer and a socialite. Stacy, who teaches eighth-grade history at Cordova Middle School, said she’s a big Memphis fan. Her father, artist Ernie Patton, painted many scenes of Memphis, she said: “At a really young age I learned to love this city.”
The official Tennessee watch party for the show was held the same night at Malco Paradiso. The party was sponsored by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau and Malco.
Among the 300 guests at the party, which included a buffet dinner, were Lee Lewis, son of Jerry Lee Lewis; Jerry Phillips, son of Sun Records founder Sam Phillips, Sen. Mark Norris, and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and Mayor Jim Strickland, who presented a joint proclamation declaring Feb. 23 “Sun Records Day.”
‘A Red Tie Affair’
“A Red Tie Affair” was the theme of the 2017 Mid-South Heart Ball, held Feb. 25 at The Peabody.
About 650 attended the American Heart Association Mid-South chapter fundraiser, which included dinner, live and silent auctions and entertainment by Burning Las Vegas.
John Daniel, a heart transplant recipient, was the “Open Your Heart” honoree. “Open Your Heart” is our “mission moment of the night,” said Lori Pope, the chapter’s communications director. “It’s an opportunity for a survivor to share the story of how their life was impacted by the research funded by the American Heart Association.”
Guests made donations following Daniel’s presentation.
Including “Open Your Heart,” more than $90,000 was raised the night of the event, Lori said. Altogether, just under $500,000 was raised during the chapter’s yearlong campaign, she said.
Darrell Doane and Paulo Teixeira were Heart Ball chairs. Mike McLaren was Open Your Heart chair.
Brew Movement
About 400 attended The Brew Movement Against Multiple Sclerosis, held Feb.24 at Memphis Pink Palace Museum.
More than 20 brewers, including home and craft breweries and some out-of-town breweries, were included this year, said Joseph Barnes, founder, organizer and president of the event, which celebrated its eighth anniversary this year.
Asked what gave him the idea for the party, Joseph said, “Someone I deeply care about was diagnosed with MS in 2007. It took a couple of years to get this rolling.”
Joseph didn’t yet know how much was raised this year, but, he said, “My goal is to break 20 grand this time.”
Penny Kings Duo and Tori Tollison performed.
‘Meatfest’
If you’re invited to a cookout dubbed “Meatfest,” you might think lots of barbecue and all the trimmings.
“Barbecue is one thing,” said E.J. Gonda. “This is meat.”
E.J. cooked ribs, and David Barsotti, who hosted the event with his wife, Lauren, cooked the pig, chicken wings and beef tenders.
There were desserts, including Melissa Pope‘s dark chocolate mocha cake, which took four hours to make.
The party always is held the Sunday before Lent begins. David and Lauren traditionally give up meat for Lent, so that’s why you don’t see much fish at their party. This year, Ben Hollis prepared calamari in an Asian marinade.
Reach Donahue at michael.donahue@commercialappeal.com.