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The King is Dead: Elvis Week in Memphis |
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A shrine to the King during Elvis week
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The Elvis phenomenon is undoubtedly unique, and his
record sales stand testament to this. Over a billion Elvis
records have been sold worldwide - that's more sales than
any other artist in the history of the world.
It is in Memphis, Tennessee, though, that the fixation
with the 'King' reaches its most astronomical heights. The
site of Elvis' home has become a place of pilgrimage, with
around eight thousand visitors congregating at Graceland
Mansion for the culmination of Elvis week. |
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Elvis Mania!
All this attention has caused many of the good people of Memphis
to profess links to the legend, some of which can only be
regarded as dubious. The occasional few have even opened up
their own Elvis memorabilia museums; 'Graceland Too'
is an example of this, run by one particularly devout Elvis
fan, Paul McLoed, the self-styled 'Elvis' No. 1 fan'. The
museum is situated between Memphis and Tupelo, Elvis' birthplace,
and is run by McLoed and his son, Elvis Aaron Presley.
History of a King
Elvis' beginnings were humble. He was born to Vernon and Gladys
Presley in a two-room house in Tupels, Mississippi on January
8th, 1935, along with a stillborn twin brother. He moved to
Memphis in 1948 and was an international sensation by 1956.
He married Prescilla Beaulieu, a Catholic schoolgirl, and
together they produced Lisa-Marie, who grew up to marry the
once king of pop, Michael Jackson. |
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Do you recognize this sad and deluded Elvis-a-likie?
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The King's musical influences included pop, country, gospel
and the black R&B he absorbed on the historic Beale Street
as a Memphis teenager. His own style was said to challenge
the social and racial barriers of the time. West Side Story
composer Leonard Bernstein saw Elvis as the progenitor
of the 60's social revolution.
Elvis said of his style of hip gyrating dance, which many
in the 50's saw as shocking an unacceptable, that it was instinctive;
"some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers,
and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do 'em all
together, I guess." So offensive were the mighty Presley
hips that in the 1950's, the TV shots of him were all 'above
the belt'.
Of course, with his groundbreaking style, Elvis was not
an instant hit with everyone. One of his early detractors,
oddly, was Frank Sinatra, who said in the 50s "His
kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac...It
fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions
in young people." By the time of Elvis' tragic and bloated
death, though, of a heart attack at the age of 42, Frank seems
to have changed his tune. In 1977 Sinatra eulogised "There
have been many accolades uttered about Elvis' talent and performances
through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly.
I shall miss him dearly as a friend. He was a warm, considerate
and generous man."
Celebrating Elvis Week in Memphis
Today, thousands of vigilant fans and regular tourists alike
swarm to Memphis for 'Elvis week', an annual pilgrimage
in the week of the anniversary of the King's death on August
16th. A Cadillac cab tour takes in the sights of the town:
Elvis' childhood home, his school, and Sun Studios,
where Elvis recorded his first hit. Through the night of August
16th is a candlelit vigil through the town.
Some would argue that Elvis devotees are taking things a little
too far - He is worshipped more than any King alive and the
cult of Elvis to some is more powerful than any religion.
Many even refuse to believe that he is dead, although his
bloated corpse and tombstone declare otherwise. Nevertheless,
the cultural impact Elvis made on the face of 20th Century
popular music and iconography is undeniable.
Visiting Graceland
A tour of Graceland Mansion includes a new section recently
open to the public with never-before-seen items like the desk
from Elvis' personal office and an extensive collection of
his stage costumes. Only here can you really begin to appreciate
Elvis' predilection for purple velvet, green shag pile and
gold-plated phones. The guide to the 60-90 minute long tour
is Elvis' daughter, Lisa-Marie, along with the King himself... |
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