USA: 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S DEATH, FANS CONTINUE TO MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO HIS HOME GRACELAND, IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

Record ID: 392982

  • Title: USA: 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S DEATH, FANS CONTINUE TO MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO HIS HOME GRACELAND, IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.
  • Date: 14th August 2002
  • Summary: MV: ELVIS IMPERSONATOR RANDALL HOUSER SINGING "TUTTI FRUTTI". SCU: ELVIS IMPERSONATOR JOHN JUSTIN SINGING "HEARTBREAK HOTEL" SCU: ELVIS IMPERSONATOR ROY SMALLEY SINGING "ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?" SCU: . ELVIS IMPERSONATOR AARON KING SINGING "AMAZING GRACE". SCU: UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG ELVIS IMPERSONATOR SINGING "HEARTBREAK HOTEL"
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVAB3Z8KDN9JT4W0NUQZ95YPX6FW
  • Story Text: Although Elvis officially "left the building" 25 years ago, his popularity lives on as thousands of fans have made the pilgrimage to Memphis, Tennessee, to visit Graceland, center of Elvis mania.
    Elvis Aaron Presley died on August 16, 1977 but he lives on in the hearts of the millions of fans than come to Memphis from around the world to pay tribute to "The King."
    Elvis week, the days leading up to the anniversary, is a busy time at Graceland any year, but this year visitors to the famed mansion could reach an estimated 100,000.
    Some fans look like him, some even sound a like him, but the love the fans feel for Elvis is sincere.
    Many people can be seen wiping away tears as they pass by his grave site. Others describe feeling his presence while touring his home. " Its a strange awe when you walk in the front door of the mansion, It's like he's watching you" said Russell Stevens, a long-time Elvis fan.
    Betty Stokes, a 72-year old fan from New York said "Its just a feeling, I just need to be here." The Graceland tour is a real and emotional experience for many. But not everyone is taking "Elvis week" quite so seriously, for the many Elvis impersonators, this anniversary week is an opportunity to jump-start their Elvis act, be discovered and maybe even land a gig in Las Vegas.
    Elvis comes in all shapes, sizes and nationalities, here.
    Long sideburns, jet black hair and polyester shirts are the norm.
    Elvis topped Forbes magazine's list of the most lucrative dead celebrities with yearly earnings of $37 million, beating out "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schulz who pulled in $28 million and Beatle John Lennon who made $20 million.
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