Elvis Presley: Thousands Gather For Graceland Vigil
Elvis Presley was honored by thousands of fans on the 36 anniversary of his death. More than 40,000 guests attended the candlelight vigil.
Every year fans travel to Graceland for Elvis Week. They celebrate his life and mourn his passing. The candlelight vigil is the highlight of the week-long celebration.
Guests brought photos, wreaths, flowers, and memorabilia. Elvis’s garden grave was surrounded by gifts from the fans. Many wept as music filled the air.
Elvis Presley died of a heart attack on August 16, 1977. Years of drug and alcohol abuse contributed to his untimely death.
As reported by Billboard.com, the yearly vigil started out as an intimate gathering.Through the years, more and more fans traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for the event.
The Graceland vigil is now attended by thousands of guests from around the world.
Last year more than 75,000 fans attended the week-long celebration. For the first time, Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley attended the vigil.
Next year, fans will enjoy a year-long celebration of Elvis’ first studio recording. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. announced the event, which will start with the New Year’s Eve Hard Rock Café Guitar Drop, on Beale Street.
As reported by Yahoo, the 10-foot guitar will be covered in original artwork, celebrating 60 years of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
The event will continue with a celebration of Elvis’ birth on January 8. Graceland will host the event, providing a cake “fit for a king.”
The three-day birthday celebration will include an Elvis Presley Day Proclamation Ceremony, and a performance by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
On July 5, Sun Studio will host a celebration of Elvis’ recording of That’s All Right. The recording was Elvis’ first, and is considered the “birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
Two musical tours are also included in the year-long celebration. ELVIS PRESLEY — ON STAGE will tour the United Kingdom for 23 days between April and May. The show will include live music, morphed with recorded footage of Elvis.
The Elvis® Fans Holy Land Tour will take place from February 23 to March 4 in Israel. The performance will include Elvis’ music and will include tours of the Sea of Galilee, the Western Wall, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River.
Elvis Presley’s life was cut far too short. However, his fans continue to celebrate his contribution to this history of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
[Image via Flickr]
