Elvis 75 Years - Celebrate At Graceland!

Elvis 75 Years - Celebrate At Graceland!



Elvis Presley’s 75th Birthday Celebration, on January 7-10, promises to be the largest ever, with thousands of fans traveling to Memphis from around the world to join Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley in celebrating this landmark year.
A variety of birthday week events will help kick-off the year-long 75th birthday celebration, with additional events occurring throughout 2010 that will celebrate the life and legacy of Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Below is a calendar of events scheduled for Graceland celebrating Elvis’ birthday on January 8th followed by highlights of key events scheduled for throughout 2010.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm CT - Official Elvis Insiders Fan Club Reception & Graceland Tour

An event exclusively for members of the Elvis Insiders fan club. Special guests include Annie Helm, Gavin Koon and Robin Koon, who co-starred with Elvis in Follow That Dream, and Terry Blackwood and Joe Moscheo of Elvis' Imperials. Special Elvis exhibits from the Graceland Archives will be on display inside the mansion just for the Elvis Birthday Celebration.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8
9:30 am CT - Elvis Presley Day Ceremony

A special ceremony on the North Lawn of Graceland, featuring Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley Enterprises officials, a birthday cake-cutting and a proclamation of Elvis Presley Day by Memphis and Shelby County officials. Free admission.


7:00 pm CT - NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies Tribute to Elvis

The NBA salutes the life and legacy of Elvis Presley when the Memphis Grizzlies host the Utah Jazz at 7:00 p.m. at FedExForum. The Memphis Grizzlies will defend their home court while honoring Elvis as they wear their “blue suede shoes” in an arena filled with the sounds of Elvis music, original Elvis performance clips and live entertainment.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9
8:00 pm CT - Memphis Symphony Orchestra Elvis Birthday Pops

The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 North Main Street in downtown Memphis. Elvis returns to the Cannon Center to celebrate his landmark 75th birthday in style with Terry Mike Jeffery and special guests James Burton and Glen D. Hardin of the TCB Band, which toured with Elvis and played during many of his Las Vegas engagements.

9:00 pm CT - Elvis Presley’s 75th Birthday Bash on Beale Street

Join Elvis fans from around the world as they celebrate Elvis' birthday on Beale Street, the birthplace of the blues and where Elvis first soaked up the signature Memphis sound. Entertainment venues along Beale Street will include Elvis-themed entertainment, drink specials and more.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10
8:00 am CT - Southern Gospel Celebration with Elvis' Imperials

Enjoy classic gospel songs performed by Elvis’ Imperials, the group that backed Elvis on vocals in concert and in studio recording sessions, as they entertain fans at Graceland Plaza.

SPECIAL NOTES
Some of the highlights for Elvis’ 75th Anniversary Birthday Year include:
On January 8, 2010, Elvis’ birthday, a special exhibit will open at Graceland in Memphis that will chronicle Elvis’ life. Starting with his birth in 1935, it follows through high school graduation and his last few days before stepping into the spotlight and becoming an international singing sensation. The exhibit, titled “From Tupelo to Memphis,” gives fans a glimpse at rarely seen artifacts, such as photos of Elvis from his childhood, report cards and one of Elvis’ first pay stubs from his days as a delivery truck driver before making his first recording at Sun Studio on July 5, 1954.
Also opening on Elvis’ birthday is a special exhibit featuring Elvis’ iconic stage costumes from 1969-1977. This charts the evolution of the design of Elvis' stage-wear, popularized during his Las Vegas engagements and concert tours. Inspired by Elvis' great interest in karate, simple wool gabardine suits were engineered with tunic-style tops and long, karate-style belts knotted to one side with the ends dangling from the hip. More than 20 of these costumes, now considered works of art, will be on display in this special exhibit that is included in the VIP Tour at Graceland.
- Rock 'n' Roll favorites come alive in Elvis: The Complete Masters Collection from The Franklin Mint. This brand new collection features all 711 Elvis recordings released during his lifetime. Each song has been digitally re-mastered for optimal quality and arranged into 36 unique volumes. You’ll get everything from Elvis’ first record "That’s All Right," to his first #1 hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," his biggest hit, "Don’t Be Cruel," and even the last Elvis recording before he went off to serve his country in the Army, "I Got Stung." It’s all here in the Complete Masters Collection. Visit www.FranklinMintElvis.com for additional details on this complete collection of every recording ever released by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley.
From RCA / Legacy Recordings, ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT is the first definitive 4-CD overview of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s recording career and commemorates Elvis' 75th Birthday. Now in stores, ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT presents 100 digitally restored songs, a broad collection of hit singles, deep album tracks, live performances, and rarities. The tracks appear in strict chronological order of recording dates over the course of the 4-CD set. On January 5, 2010, RCA/Legacy will release a 26-track single CD titled ELVIS 75, featuring selections from the box set.
On March 1st of 2010, a new exhibit titled “Elvis Presley Fashion King” at Graceland in Memphis will allow visitors to open the door to Elvis Presley’s personal closet by exploring fashion trends set by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll with his unique style and custom-made clothing. See the evolution of Elvis’ outfits, from an artist’s sketch to the final product, and how these custom creations were made. This unique exhibit, located at Graceland Crossing, will showcase everything from Elvis’ handmade shirts and suits to his iconic stage wear and flashy jewelry.
Elvis Week 2010 will be celebrated August 10 – 16 at Graceland in Memphis. Each August, Elvis fans of all ages from around the world gather in Memphis for Elvis Week – a commemoration of the music, magic and memories associated with the legacy of Elvis Presley. Long-time fans and those who are new to it enjoy a full week of music, dance, sports, social and charitable events – all in an atmosphere of international friendship and camaraderie.
The year-long 75th anniversary celebration of Elvis’ birthday will also see the roll out of a variety of new officially licensed merchandise. Mattel celebrates this milestone in music with the Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock Doll from the Barbie Pink Label Collection. In addition, The Bradford Exchange celebrates with a bronze Elvis figurine and Zippo heats things up with a series of collectible Elvis 75 lighters.

Source: ElvisUnlimited, 11-12-2009