Elvis Presley poses with his Gibson J-200 guitar in an MGM studio publicity photo from the 1950s. (AP Photo/MGM, File )
Our stay in Memphis for Elvis Week 2013 was truly an unforgettable experience. While the sheer number of events made it virtually impossible to attend them all, as first-time visitors to this blockbuster of all annual celebrations, we were able to take in more than enough to see what brings Elvis fans back year after year. Here, we’ll offer a glimpse of the many wonderful things we saw and introduce you to some of the fascinating people we met.
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What is Elvis Week?
Every August, fans, musicians and tribute artists of all ages and backgrounds gather in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate the memory of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – Elvis Presley. This year’s festival officially ran August 10th to the 17th to coincide with the anniversary of the day Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977.
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Day 1 – It’s 9:00pm and welcome to Memphis
Neon signs on Beale St., Memphis
Having arrived in Memphis on the night of Saturday, August 10th, we were unfortunately too late to attend the special “Fan Appreciation Day” held in Elvis’ hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. Yet, looking back at the schedule for that event, which included old photos of a very young Elvis, it is perplexing to imagine how such an apparently meek child could go on to become such a powerhouse in the entertainment business.
Here’s a flashback.
Tupelo, Mississippi, Wednesday, October 3, 1945
Today is Children’s Day at the annual Mississippi-Alabama Fair & Dairy Show at the fairgrounds. Elvis’ 5th grade teacher enters Elvis in the talent show after hearing him sing the morning prayer. Standing on a chair, without any music, Elvis performs “Old Shep”. By His own recollection of the day, he won 5th place.
In Elvis’ own words:
“I wore glasses, no music and I won – I think it was 5th place. I got a whipping the same day. My mother whipped me for something. Destroyed my ego completely.” – Elvis Presley
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Despite our late arrival in Memphis, it was hard to feel anything but thrilled just to be there.
Elvis at 1972 Madison Square Garden press conference (Source: link)
Even ordering room service was exciting. In fact, for the first time ever, I did not even have to look at the hotel menu. After having just watched a series of Elvis video clips from the 1970’s, I got right on the phone and said…
“I’ll have one order of…Polk Salad!!”
Needless to say, I didn’t get any. However, over the course of the next week, what we did get was a vivid reminder of why Elvis is known simply as “the King”. We may have not have eaten “a mess of polk salad”, but we got to hear many interpretations of that 1968 hit song “Polk Salad Annie” written and first performed by Tony Joe White and later recorded by Elvis. While this is often the song of choice for some of the more mature Elvis Tribute Artists (or ETAs), there’s nothing quite like hearing the line “Gators got your granny!” belted out in the high-pitched voices of the younger ones!
Here’s one of them:
Hank Poole – 8 year old Elvis Tribute Artist from West Virginia has just the right moves!
Hank Poole – 8yr old Elvis Tribute Artist at the Graceland Crossing Stage (Elvis Week 2013)
To the left is one of the many talented young performers we got to see throughout the course of the week. Each day brought more memorable faces from all parts of the globe and representing every age and background. Some were there to perform, but all were there to enjoy the music and share their love and admiration for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll!
(Continues below.)
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Day 2: “We need a taxi, and step on it!!”
Elvis standing through the open sunroof of a ’69 Mercedes 600 limousine he purchased in April, 1970 (Source: link)
One thing that you quickly learn during Elvis Week is that wherever you are at any given moment, there is probably another event that is just about to start on the opposite side of town! In our case, it pretty much went like this:
“What time is it?”
“What!?! So and so is about to perform and we don’t want to miss it! Where’s the taxi?!”
Fortunately, the taxi drivers in Memphis were cool about it and always got us wherever we wanted to go. Best of all, we were never pulled over nor asked the infamous question:
“Ma’am, would you like to go to 201 Poplar?”
THAT question, we found out in Memphis, is synonymous with jail!
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2:00pm – First stop Clarion Hotel for “MJ’s Elvis Rockin’ Oldies”
Robert Washington Elvis Tribute Artist (Source: link)
Our first stop on Sunday, August 11th was the Clarion Hotel Memphis on Brooks Road. A program of events in the lobby revealed a fantastic lineup of ETA’s scheduled to perform back to back each day. Known as “MJ’s Elvis Rockin’ Oldies”, this series was organized by Mary Jo Beck of Mississippi.
By the time we arrived, one well-known performer in the ETA world: Robert Washington of Maine , was just about to take the stage. We had previously seen Robert perform in Lake George, NY where he wowed the audience not only as Elvis, but also in his tribute to the “Godfather of Soul”, James Brown.
This time, when Mr. Washington walked up to the microphone, he apologized to the audience saying that traveling and the change in climate had temporarily left him a bit hoarse. In spite of the circumstances, he pulled himself together and delivered the songs, hoarse voice or not. By the end, all we could say was…”What a pro!”
(To see the full lineup at the Clarion Hotel Memphis, click on the pink box to the right to enlarge the image.)
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4:00pm – Next stop: The Legendary Sun Studio
Play the video here to take the tour
By the way, here (on the right) is something pretty cool that you can easily find on the Internet. It’s a cellphone case inspired by Elvis’ recording microphone at Sun Studio. Every time you talk on the phone, it’ll look just like you’re singing into the microphone!!
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9:00pm – Final Preliminary Round for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest
As we wrapped up this second day, there was one question on everyone’s mind…
Who would represent Memphis at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest?
We got the answer later that evening at the “Last Chance Elvis Tribute Artist Contest” at the Hard Rock Café on Beale Street.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Performers at the Last Chance Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, Hard Rock Cafe Memphis (2013 Winner Jeff Lewis shown on the left)
And the winner is…
Jeff Lewis of Nashville, Tennessee!! Congratulations, Jeff!!
Jeff Lewis of Nashville – Winner of the Hard Rock Cafe Memphis’ 2013 Last Chance Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, with DeAnna Brown and Holly Smith (Photo by Michael Donahue, Source: link)
Part 2 of this story continues: Here
The name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley appear courtesy of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. See official website: http://www.elvis.com
