The Monday After: A passion for Presley

It is understandable that when Mary Lou Carpinelli of North Canton learned of the recent death of Lisa Marie Presley she grieved the passing almost as if she was a friend or family member.

Carpinelli, you see, is a lifelong fan of the singer-songwriter's famous father, Elvis Presley, and for decades a collector of "all things Elvis."

"It was shocking to hear," said Carpinelli, who noted that she had seen the televised appearance of Elvis’ only child at the Golden Globe Awards only two days before her death on Jan. 12.

"She didn't look good when she was on that show," Carpinelli recalled. "She looked pale and unsteady. It was so sad."

Carpinelli remembered how the actor who portrayed Elvis Presley in the recent movie "Elvis" – Austin Butler – won the Golden Globe for Best Actor at the ceremony. Butler thanked the Presley family for "opening up their home" to him for research before the film. "Lisa Marie, I love you," the actor said in his acceptance speech.

"I went to see the movie and it was wonderful," said Carpinelli. "He did such a great job. He was great. I was at peace when I was at that movie."

Developed Elvis interest early

Carpinelli is an appropriate person to judge the quality of Butler's portrayal of the legendary singer, so much a star that he was known to his fans simply by his first name. She has been one of Elvis' most avid followers from the time she was a teenager.

"I got interested in him in high school," Carpinelli, now 83, recalled. "Once I saw him and heard him, that was it for me."

Carpinelli, then Mary Lou Scozzarella, first saw Elvis in concert in Cleveland. Later during her teenage years, she attended two Elvis concerts in Akron.

"He was very good," she said. "His voice. The way he looked. Everything about him. He was great. To me he was the greatest. Especially at that time, when I was young."

As a young fan, Carpinelli listened to Elvis music on the radio or purchased single vinyl records and albums. Later, she duplicated Presley's music in cassette form, then followed that by obtaining CDs of Elvis recordings.

"I still listen to Elvis music," she said. "Maybe once a month I'll get something out and listen."

Began collecting Elvis memorabilia

Carpinelli recalls that during the height of her passion for the popular singer she sent a fan letter to Elvis and got a reply. What returned to her was a form letter from the singer's office workers, but it became a prized possession nevertheless.

And it became a starting point for collecting Elvis memorabilia.

"It just grew from there," she said. "I'm still collecting. If I see anything I get it."

Included in the collection are photographs, souvenir cards, figurines, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, books, and a host of other artifacts, both displayed and stored in "three big boxes" in a closet.

Friends and family members, knowing of her interest in the singer's music, frequently follow an Elvis theme when purchasing gifts for special occasions. Her sons, Bill Fry and Joseph Carpinelli, for years have given her Elvis items for her birthday or as Christmas presents.

"My sister, Janie, she lives in Florida, she sends me a lot of things," Carpinelli previously said in a Repository article about her collection. "And, I have friends who know I love Elvis."

Thus she receives a continuing supply of cherished Elvis ornaments to hang on her Christmas trees.

Passion continues at tribute concerts

Carpinelli said that she also has a variety of shirts that sport pictures of Elvis, as well as many scarves obtained when she attends the concerts of Elvis impersonators. She continues to attend many such musical events.

"When I go to see an impersonator I wear a different Elvis shirt," she said. "And I have a lot of Elvis scarves. Whenever I go to an Elvis impersonator they hang a scarf on me."

A favorite performer to bring the memory of Elvis to life is Mike Albert. She has seen and heard him sing Elvis Presley music, and has had her picture taken with him.

It was a handful of years ago when she saw Albert perform in Florida at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

"He was performing there and my sister, Janie, surprised me with tickets," she recalled, who noted that she also has plans to attend an upcoming "Ultimate Elvis Tribute" concert by Albert at the Lions Lincoln Theatre in Massillon.

"I've been following him, and he's going to be at the Lincoln Theatre in May."

Mourns loss of Elvis's child

Carpinelli's passion for Elvis Presley does not preclude her from enjoying the music of other singers, especially country stars.

During the days decades ago when she was attending concerts at Ponderosa Park, a bygone outdoor venue in Salem, she saw many stars, including Loretta Lynn, Louise Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, Billy "Crash" Craddock and Garth Brooks.

Still, Elvis Presley always has been the singer who fans the flame of her passion for music. So, the passing of Presley's only child understandably saddened her.

"I've followed Lisa Marie. Her career. Her marriages," she said, noting that she has in her collection a photograph of Elvis holding his daughter when she was very young.

That daughter still was "young" when she died only days before her Feb. 1 birthday.

"It was sad when she died. She was only 54."

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: The Monday After: A passion for Presley