Happy Birthday Elvis.
Ah Memphis, the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll. What a town. From Beale Street to the waterfront there’s so much to do. But when I traveled there, only one thing was on my mind, 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. That’s right, Graceland.
I had wanted to see Graceland for a long time. I remember at a young age listening to my parents’ Aloha from Hawaii album and watching Elvis’s movies on Boston’s fuzzy UHF channel. I was thrilled to finally be touring this legendary home.
Yet, Graceland wasn’t at all what I expected. Once you pass through the musical gates you step back in time.
At Graceland you get a very real sense of the man behind the myth.
It’s hard to look beyond Elvis the icon but here you’ll discover another side of the King. Amid the private jets, the bus loads of tourists, the trophy room, the jumpsuits, the capes, the gold records, you find a simple country boy.
Despite now being an industry unto itself, Graceland was a home. And it still feels that way. Maybe it’s simply the difference between what a “mansion” was in the 1950’s and what that means now but I can’t imagine the homes of today’s biggest stars being so… homey.
You can feel Elvis’s welcoming presence. Whether in the jungle room or in the over-the-top TV room, I felt like I was in a place where I could hang out – maybe dash up to the understated kitchen and fix myself a few peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
The decor (though flashy in spots) felt lived in. And what clinched it for me was the fact that upstairs at Graceland remains off limits. You wouldn’t go traipsing through the private bedrooms at a friend’s house and the same holds true on the Graceland tour. It added to the sense that someone really lived there.
Elvis (who would have turned 75 today) continues to get bigger and bigger. Each year more than 600,000 people visit Graceland. I guess they don’t call him the King for nothing.
posted by John Geysen
Collette Vacations
Tags: Memphis, Music Cities, Pop Culture
5 Comments to “Happy Birthday Elvis.”
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What a great profile of Graceland… I’m not an Elvis fan, but I’m definitely curious to see this landmark. Thanks, Johnny Quest!
A hunk-a-hunk of burning love- happy bday to the King! I liked reading the house was well lived in…even if he did die too young.
I’ve always found something intriguing about the stories of Graceland. Your article is no exception. Someday, I’ll get there. Thanks for sharing.
GREAT entry! A big Elvis fan – this is just a great tribute to his home and legacy on his day.
thanks for the comments. I’ve been listening to the King all day.
So I’m walking in the rain, thumbin’ for a ride
On this lonely Kentucky backroad
I’ve loved you much too long; my love’s too strong
To let you go, never knowing what went wrong.
name that tune….