Posted on 08/16/2006 5:40:33 PM PDT by MplsSteve
Fans of the King from around the world are in Memphis, Tenn., honoring the 29th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.
Presley died of heart disease and prescription drug abuse at his Graceland mansion on Aug. 16th, 1977. The singer's fans traditionally file past his grave site at Graceland on the eve of the anniversary. A spokesman says as many as 10,000 fans could visit the mansion for this year's vigil.
President Bush and his wife, who brought Elvis fan and Japanese leader Junichiro Koizumi to Memphis in June for a tour of Graceland, sent their regards.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Has anyone here been to Graceland? I was in Memphis in '97, the 20th anniversary of his death.
That is, if you believe he's actually dead. But I digress...
I didn't plan on being in Memphis at that time of the year. It just happened that way. Seriously, it did. I mean it.
Because of the crowds, the girlfriend and I didn't go inside - but stood outside the gates and took pictures. earlier in the week, we visited his birth-house in Tupelo and there's a picture of me on my hands and knees, praying and paying homage in front of an Elvis costume at Mud Island Museum.
Comment or opinions on Elvis, Graceland, etc - anyone?
I have a thread to put up, and then I'll be back to tell you my personal Elvis died on this date story.
............and his last words were........"Corn?.. I don't remember corn."
I have never had one of these.
725 calories
Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 slices light bread
1 banana, mashed
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
Mix soft peanut butter and mashed banana together. Toast bread lightly. Spread peanut butter and mashed banana on toast. Place into melted margarine; brown on both sides.
---
But I did walk by the entrance to Graceland once ..
29 years ago Anniversary Bump
Dying from drugs on the toilet...
Priceless.
LOL! I've never heard that one before! Classic!
I damn near died drinking FRench Revolutions in Memphis myself for my 18th birthday.
I've been to Graceland. When you first go inside, you look around at all of the out of date furnishings. However, the house is frozen in time at August 16, 1977. The Jungle Room is pretty cool though.
The day he died, I was working at the Shelby County Tax Assessor's office. Had been there a month. When the news started getting around to the world, the phones just lit up. Everyone wanted to know everything we had on Graceland in regaurds to taxes and ownership history. It was quite an afternoon. Never have seen anything like it before or since. I drove past Graceland after work to see a once-in-a-lifetime event. Take it from me that a turtle would have given a car a good race. Trafic was cccrrrrraaaawwwwwwlllllliiiiinnnnnngggggg.
Next year should be something. It'll be the 30th anniversary and things are already in work for that. I'm not an Elvis "fan" but I do appreciate his music. It's a lot better than 90% of what's out there now.
He definitely shook things up in his prime.
Yup, Brand names of celebrities can yield big bucks for the family.
29 years ago, today, I was working at a small AM/FM radio station in Champaign County, Illinois. As best as I can remember, it was about ten til four in the afternoon when the red light went off in the studio. This meant a news bulletin or a weather alert. Clear skies that day, so I assumed a news blast.
My news guy comes into the studio and drops the AP wire copy in front of me during a commercial break.
BULLETIN:ELVIS PRESLEY IS DEAD>>>>>
Out of commercial break, I read the bulletin. "More at the top of the hour", I said.
A couple of more spots, a tune, repeated the bulletin....then to network news.
In the mean time, the switchboard was lit, smoking and walking across the room.
I was attacked on the phone by callers, all women, mostly middle aged. I was accused of playing a publicity stunt. I was called names by little old ladies that were my fans.
I was called everything you can imagine, except white.
I did the station break and sent it to the network news.
Suddenly, after the lead story on the AP network news.....the phones stopped ringing.
I came out of the news with an Elvis tune, right after I said: "Told Ya".
Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just hovered 'round his tomb
But there's a pretty little thing
Waiting for the King
Down in the Jungle Room
--Marc Cohn, 'Walking In Memphis'
Dead Milkmen
" Going To Graceland "
Goin' to Graceland
We're goin' today!
I'm so happy I just can't wait!
Gonna see the place where Elvis Presley died
When we get to Graceland
We'll have to ride a bus
We'd better watch our language
Or the guards will beat us up
We'll get to make some cheap jokes
And buy cheaper souvenirs
If this were Disneyworld
I'd buy a pair of Elvis ears
They say it costs eight-fifty
Just to see his house
Where they keep all his records
And his fifteen foot long couch
It might seem like a rip-off
But I'm goin' anyway
We're goin' to Graceland today
Goin' to Graceland
It's gonna be great!
I'm so happy I just can't wait!
Gonna see the bucket that Elvis Presley kicked
Goin' to Graceland
It's gonna be fun
We'll get to see all Elvis's guns
Gonna tell us all about his favourite TV shows
Goin' to Graceland
We'll stand in line
We'll get to have a wild time
Gonna get to buy Love Me Tender Shampoo
When my time comes
That's how I wanna go -
Stoned and fat and wealthy
And sitting on the bowl
Lots of people say
That it's sad The King is gone
Well Elvis might be dead
But his cash flow lives on
I'll be so excited
When I see the Jungle Room
Where Elvis made some records
Including Moody Blue
Graceland is callin'
And I just can't stay away
We're goin' to Graceland today
Goin' to Graceland
We're gonna cut loose
There's plenty of tourists for us to use
Gonna act real stupid and try to pick up girls
Goin' to Graceland
We're gonna go wild
We'll go to his grave and try to smile
Gonna buy velvet paintings and Elvis Presley forks
Goin' to Graceland
We're goin' to Graceland [x3]
Goin' to Graceland
We're going to Hell
We're gonna sing Heartbreak Hotel
Gonna see the uniform that Elvis Presley wore
What are we waitin' for?
Let's leave right now
We're goin' to Graceland
And I don't care how
E Pluribus Elvis
That's what I say
We're goin' to Graceland today
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That is too beautiful
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