Graceland celebrates the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s birthday this year with five days of events in Memphis, January 7-11. Born in 1935 in humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley achieved legendary status, leaving a legacy that continues to resonate today.
Some of the highlights include:
- January 8th - 'Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony' - Graceland Mansion. Free to attend.
- An exclusive sneak-peek of Baz Luhrmann’s 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert', exclusively for fans celebrating Elvis’ birthday in Memphis!
- 'Elvis 1956' Concert: 1956 was a landmark year for Elvis, it was the year he became a superstar and the lightning rod for the controversy of early Rock and Roll. Appearances by Jerry Schilling, Billy Blackwood and The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, and others.
- 'The Jungle Room Sessions': Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ iconic 1976 recording sessions at Graceland with an intimate evening of music. This special tribute honors the soulful sounds captured in the legendary Jungle Room.
- 'Conversations On Elvis': Hosted by Tom Brown, guests include Jerry Schilling, TCB's Jerry Scheff, Elvis’ Imperials Terry Blackwood and Jim Murray, Larry Strickland, and Tony Brown (TCB pianist) plus Jonathan Redmond, editor of 'EPiC' to take you behind-the-scenes.
- 'Elvis: Made In Memphis' Concert: From Sun Studio to Stax and American Sound, and all the way down to the Jungle Room at Graceland, this unforgettable evening will bring Elvis’ Memphis musical legacy to life with everything from heartfelt ballads to powerful concert anthems.
- 'In The Jungle Room With Jerry Schilling': Step into the legendary Jungle Room for an unforgettable evening with Jerry Schilling an intimate conversation hosted by Tom Brown. Even with a US$800 price-tag per ticket the event "sold out".
Fans who cannot make it to Memphis for the celebrations can watch the Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony online for free via Graceland’s Vimeo page on January 8, at 8:30 am CST.
For more information and tickets for Elvis’ Birthday celebration visit the >>> Graceland website.
A Hell Of course An Update
Jim Sykes Died
If any of you have listened to Elvis on SiriusXm, I'm sure you've heard the booming voice of disc jockey, Big Jim Sykes. Unfortunately he passed away this morning.
Big Jim was known for the warmth and enthusiasm he brought to every broadcast. Through his work, he helped keep Elvis’s legacy alive for generations of listeners and created a sense of community for fans everywhere.
It's a huge loss for the community. Jim was personally an Elvis fan and an incredible connection between Elvis and the rest of us. He will be missed.
(Source: Graceland / Nigel Patterson / Elvis Book Discussion Group on Facebook / Argo / Reddit)