A highlight of the celebrations will be the unveiling of one of the most valuable artifacts recently acquired by Elvis Presley Enterprises at Elvis’ Birthday Proclamation Ceremony. Fans from around the world will gather on the north lawn of Graceland Mansion on January 8, at 8:30 am CST, for the event featuring EPE officials, a birthday cake cutting, and an official proclamation of Elvis Presley Day. Fans will also be able to watch the ceremony online for free via Graceland's Livestream page.
Highlights of Elvis’ Birthday Celebration include an Elvis Birthday Bash on January 5; Conversations on Elvis on January 6; Elvis Birthday Pops Concert Featuring Terry Mike Jeffrey and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra on January 6; and A Night at American Sound Concert on January 7.
The following special guests will be participating in the Elvis Birthday activities:
- Radio and television personality Wink Martindale talked about his career and hearing 'That's All Right' on the air for the first time when it was spun July 1954 by fellow deejay, Dewey Phillips on WHBQ radio. He said, "That was the beginning of Presleymania, and I just happened to be there at night". He said the Elvis song caused such a "commotion" that he was charged with calling Gladys and Vernon Presley at home, to get them to bring Elvis to the studio, to talk on the air about the song that was driving listeners wild. Elvis was at Suzores Theatre and we found him sitting all by himself watching a Western movie. We told him about the excitement over 'That's All Right' being played on the radio and so he came down to the station. Then Dewey put him on the air and that was Elvis' first interview. "I met him that night, and he remained my friend until the day he died," Martindale said. Martindale was then presented with a 'Beale Street Walk of Fame' Brass Note.
- Dancer and stunt woman Sandra Gimpel appeared in 15 Elvis movies. She got her start in the 1961 film The Pleasure of His Company starring Fred Astaire and then danced in fifteen Elvis movies. She became one of Elvis' five main dancers noting "Elvis was such a great guy. He'd arrange lunch for everybody and we'd sit around and sing songs and he'd play the guitar or play the piano". She also used to hear Elvis practice in the MGM rehearsal hall. "I was so blessed it wasn't even funny.”
- Memphis Boys' Gene Chrisman said he didn't really enjoy Elvis' nocturnal hours. Elvis would show up about 5pm and play until about 5am the next morning. Even though the results were priceless (Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto etc) when the sessions ended two weeks later Chrisman told everyone he thought "Boy, I'm glad this is over - that was too many hours for me, boy!"
- Holladay sisters, Ginger and Mary spoke about recording with Elvis at the American Sound Memphis Sessions in 1969. Ginger Holladay who was only 17 when came to Memphis and recorded with Elvis said that, "You never forget meeting Elvis for the first time. He came in and shook everyone's hand saying "I'm Elvis Presley" it was so sweet. The American studio was downtown and rather "funky" in more ways than one. You could see rats in the ceiling, a lot of times they'd have to stop the session, and we had to wait 'til they got settled."
- Department 56 Senior Sculptor Kiri Namtvedt will do a Signing Event (1/6 & 1/7) at the new Enesco Gift Shop and Gallery at Graceland Crossing and will appear at Conversations on Elvis (1/6).
- Singer and musician Andy Childs will celebrate Elvis’ recordings at American Sound during A Night at American Sound (1/7) with some of the original musicians and backing singers from those legendary recordings.
- Plus, Patrick Dunn, SiriusXM Elvis Radio DJ Argo, and Tom Brown will host various events throughout the celebrations.
Echoes of a Legend
Mark W. Sunderland published his 172-page book 'Echoes of a Legend: Elvis Presley's Journey from Humble Roots to Hollywood Heights' in his 'Motivational Biographies' series.
Description: A star that would light up the world and alter music history forever was born in a two-room shotgun house in the center of Tupelo, Mississippi. Imagine Elvis Aaron Presley as a young man walking down the dusty streets of Tupelo, the beginning of a destiny as big and exciting as the Mississippi Delta itself. From these modest beginnings, a force that would cross boundaries, win people over, and completely alter popular culture developed.
Through the pages of this biography we are taken to the brink of a cultural revolution, sparked by Elvis Presley's captivating voice and captivating personality. The book is a journey into the soul of an artist who dared to defy expectations, shatter barriers, and become the voice of a generation desperate for change, not merely a history of chart-topping tunes and sold-out performances.
This biography reveals the unseen tales behind the rhinestone-studded jumpsuits and the passionate yells of devoted fans, beneath the glitter and glamor of the stage. It encourages you to see the adversity, the victory, and the complex fabric of a life molded by fame and adversity. Elvis's journey is a monument to the transformational power of music, the everlasting spirit of rock 'n' roll, and the ageless attraction of a cultural icon, taking him from the depths of the Great Depression to the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Come along as we explore the highs and lows of Elvis Presley's personal and professional life, delving into the ideas behind his hits, the close connections that influenced his world, his relationship, his philanthropy, and his enduring legacy that echoes down the years. It is an immersive experience that allows you to experience the heartbeat of a bygone period through the melodic pulse of Elvis Presley's songs, rather than just a biography.
Note: This appears to be another AI generated book.
(Source: Graceland / Elvis Information Network / Commercial Appeal / Amazon)