HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS !

Can you believe Elvis " THE KING " Presley was born in my hometown???!!!
Elvis Aaron Presly was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, to 18-year-old Vernon Elvis and 22-year-old Gladys Love Presley in the East Tupelo two-room "shotgun" house built by his father , uncle and grandfather. Jesse Garon Presley, his identical twin brother, was delivered 35 minutes before him, stillborn. As an only child, Elvis was very close to both parents and formed an unusually tight bond with his mother.  In November 1948, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.
In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. By 1956, he was an international sensation
Known all over the world by his first name, Elvis is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture

 Elvis Aaron Presley
Born: January 8, 1935- Tupelo, MS
Died: August 16, 1977 - Memphis , TN

Thousands of tourists and fans from all over the world 

come to Tupelo, Mississippi every year to 

visit this two room "shotgun" house built by 

Elvis' father, uncle and grandfather

* Beautiful watercolor by friend Debra Estep-Ohio
#Elvis #ElvisBirthplace #TupeloMississippi

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS ...from a Huge Fan In Your Hometown !

It's Elvis' Birthday Week !

Elvis fans from all over the world will be having /hosting events celebrating Elvis Presley's Birthday . I am one of those who will be celebrating ! 

The Birthplace in Tupelo held one event this past Saturday January 4th and will have another event on the actual birthday,on Wednesday, featuring various Elvis tribute artists. Festivities will start at 1pm with cake and punch! 

Everyone who knows me, knows what a huge Elvis fan I am.

They are always amused, when I frequently repeat the story of how I told my dear Hubby a few weeks after we were married that if he wanted to keep our relationship on track, there were two things that he needed to know : 

#1 I'm a star  (Hey, if I don't think it, who else will??!!!) (LOL)

#2 Elvis is still the King !  (Everyone knows that ! )

We have been married over 20 years and he faithfully remembers and repeats these facts. Sometimes, out of the blue, I will start a sentence for him to complete. While we are watching television together, I will say:

"Elvis is"... and he will dutifully chime in with "Elvis is still the King..and you are a star".  It is true that I don't particularly appreciate that monotone voice that he uses at times or that half eye roll that I seem to detect , every now and then, but that's all well and good ...as long as he KNOWS!!! LOL!!!

Elvis Aaron Presley was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953. In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with the Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time, he ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture.

                                           The King 

 It is estimated that Elvis Presley has sold over one billion record units worldwide, more than anyone in record industry history. In America alone, Elvis has had over 150 different albums and singles that have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).



                                 The Birthplace 

 
Thousands of tourists and fans from all over the world come to Tupelo, MS every year to visit this two room "shotgun" house built by Elvis' father, uncle and grandfather.

Art Print available ....
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/elvis--the-birth-place-patricia-neely-dorsey.html

* Beautiful watercolor by friend Debra Estep, Ohio.

We would love to see you in Tupelo to celebrate Elvis' birthday !  

ELVIS WEEK CELEBRATES A (Tupelo) MISSISSIPPI NATIVE SON

Each August, Elvis fans from around the world gather in Memphis for a celebration of the music, movies and legacy of Elvis Presley and mark his death, August 16, 1977. Elvis Week includes events such as the Elvis Fan Club Presidents Event, Elvis Insiders Event and Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, plus special concerts, panel discussions, dances and more. 
The main event of Elvis Week each year is the Candlelight Vigil which always begins on the evening of August 15 and lasts into the morning of August 16. Fans walk up the driveway to Meditation Garden holding a candle in quiet remembrance of Elvis. Tens of thousands of participants gather on Elvis Presley Blvd. during the evening to listen to music, remember Elvis and enjoy memorials created by fans along the street.

After graduating from Boston University , I lived and worked in Tupelo for a few years before moving to Memphis in 1988.

My first apartment was on Winchester Road and less than a mile from Elvis Presley Boulevard and Graceland.

Several of my favorite stores and the church which I attended were on Elvis Presley Boulevard. But , during the night of the Candlelight Vigil, I would always take the long way around and travel on Shelby Drive or another street well past Graceland to get where I wanted or needed to go.

Living in Memphis for many years and in the Whitehaven area for the first several years,I knew ,as well as all of the locals not to even try to get ANYWHERE on the evening of August 15, traveling on Elvis Presley Boulevard between Winchester Road and Holmes Road.

It just was not worth the effort to try to tediously navigate through the throngs

GRACELAND- Memphis, TN

Though the main event of Elvis week for most fans is the Candlelight Vigil in Memphis, many Elvis fans and visitors start their celebration of Elvis Week in Tupelo.

You can find these poems and more in my books .....

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia -A Life In Poems
My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems

BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: 

http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd 
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem



CLICK HERE FOR ELVIS WEEK ACTIVITIES IN MEMPHIS
http://www.elvis.com/elvisweek

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS !

Today, Elvis fans from all over the world will be celebrating the birthday of Elvis Presley .
Can you believe Elvis " THE KING " Presley was born in my hometown???!!!
Elvis Aaron Presly was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8,1935, to 18-year-old Vernon Elvis and 22-year-old Gladys Love Presley in the East Tupelo two-room "shotgun" house built by his father , uncle and grandfather. Jesse Garon Presley, his identical twin brother, was delivered 35 minutes before him, stillborn. As an only child, Elvis was very close to both parents and formed an unusually tight bond with his mother.  In November 1948, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee.

Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.
In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. By 1956, he was an international sensation
Known all over the world by his first name, Elvis is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture

Scheduled Celebrations:
TUPELO-1 p.m. - Birthday cake at the Birthplace
2 p.m. - Tupelo Unity Choir premieres video at the Elvis Birthplace
2:15 - Tupelo Unity Choir performs at the Elvis Birthplace
5:30 - Lighting Ceremony at Elvis Statue in Fairpark District Tupelo celebrates Elvis' birthday with several events in town

MEMPHIS-Elvis fans from around the world will travel to Graceland in January to celebrate the king's birthday and the opening of a new exhibit in honor of the 40th anniversary of his landmark “Aloha From Hawaii” concert. Numerous events are scheduled, concluding with the Elvis Presley Day Ceremony, which includes a birthday cake cutting and proclamation by both Memphis and Shelby County officials. The new Graceland exhibit “Elvis’ Hawaii: Concerts, Movies and More!” celebrating the 40th will also be unveiled.

Elvis Benefit Concert- 1957- Tupelo, MS

September 27, 1957 in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis performed a benefit concert.
After expenses, all proceeds, which amounted to over $14,000, went toward the construction of a youth center in Tupelo.

ELVIS RETURNS TO TUPELO

It was 56 years ago...In 1956 that Elvis came back to his hometown of Tupelo and put on a show! It was here that the famous Marshutz photo was taken...and here where the statue stands today to commemorate the man and his triumphant return.

September 26, 1956 - Elvis returned to Tupelo to perform two shows at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. Elvis Presley Day was proclaimed . Elvis' parents joined him on his return to the town of his birth as a big star. He performed two shows at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, the same fair at which he had performed at age 10. This time there are a hundred National Guardsmen surrounding the stage to control the crowds of excited fans.  14 year old Wynette Pugh (Tammy Wynette) watched from the front row.

Elvis Concert 1956
Fairgrounds (Now Fairpark)
Downtown
Tupelo, MS 

'The Hand'
Elvis performing in Tupelo Mississippi,
September 26, 1956.  Photo by Roger Marshutz

Photo by Thomas Wells

The fairgrounds today: Now Fairpark  

The fairgrounds today: Now Fairpark  

 

Elvis Statue Unveiled August 9th - Elvis Week 2012 - Tupelo, Mississippi

Tupelo’s second Elvis statue was unveiled Thursday night in Fairpark. The bronze sculpture replicates a 1956 photo by Roger Marshutz of Elvis performing at a homecoming concert in the Fairpark area.  
William N. Beckwith, native of Mississippi was the sculptor.

Here are some facts about the statue.

• The statue is a little larger than life size. It’s 7 feet tall and is on a 4-foot-tall base.

• The base is made out of aggregate concrete, which was the popular style used in the 1950s. It has eight sides because Elvis’ favorite number was eight.

• Elvis faces the birthplace. His hand is stretched out so visitors can reach up and touch his fingertips like they would when he was performing.

• The placement of the statue is geared toward visitor photo opps. Tupelo City Hall is in the background from one angle and Tupelo Hardware is in the background from the other angle. The signage was changed on City Hall to add “Tupelo” as part of the project.

• Bill Beckwith, a Mississippi native,  made the sculpture in his Taylor studio.

• The interactive display features Elvis’ set list during the 1956 and 1957 concert in Tupelo.

• Visitors can use their smartphones to access video from the concert via an interactive display. They display also links to Tupelo’s promotional video, “Tupelove.” They also are invited to download GPS coordinates for the Elvis driving tour.

• Philips Day-Brite donated the lights for the statue.

Photo by Joyce Burns

Photo by Joyce Burns

Photo by Thomas Wells

Photo by Thomas Wells