Graceland

I was a bit ambivalent about whether to visit Graceland - the Elvis Presley entertainment and museum center in Memphis. However, in the spirit of understanding America and because it was close buy I decided to go.  I ended up being quite fascinated by the story of Elvis and what has transpired from his music since. I even bought a CD of his best tunes. He was born on January 8th 1935 in Tupelo a small town not far from Memphis.  He died at Graceland at the age of 42 on August 16th 1977.

He made at least 36 films and is said to be “the best selling solo artist in the history of recorded music”.

The center has multiple separate exhibits - motorcycles, automobiles (he liked Rolls Royces), his time in the US army, a history of the development of rock music, two jets owned by Elvis and then there is the Graceland house and estate that he bought for his parents at the age of 22. In the house are original furnishings as the house was at the time he died. There is a big focus on his family history and activities that he was involved in - horse riding, dune buggy riding, motorcycles, racket ball etc.

What one is less aware of is that from 1973 till be died in 1977 he had a major drug addiction problem but he was still performing. Wikipedia has a lot more information. There is an impressive family shrine were he is buried.

The Beatles came after Elvis - they were formed in 1960 and became famous in the 1970s. The Rolling Stones (who are still going to-day) were formed in 1962.  Michael Jackson, another American pop artist, who died as a result of a likely drug addiction lived from 1973 to 1977.

Elvis transformed popular music with his blend of rock and roll and country and gospel music. He also was seen to be sexually provocative and completely changed the kind of music adored by youth much to the consternation of the adult world.

A fascinating visit.