Elvis Week 

If the phrases “you ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog” and “don’t step on my blue suede shoes” raise up a sense of nostalgia, then Elvis Week is here for it! 

History of Elvis Week

Looking at the background of Elvis Week wouldn’t be complete without a bit of the history of “The King” himself. Sadly, his life seemed to both begin and end with tragedy. Born in 1935 to a working class Mississippi family, Elvis Aaron Presley was originally a twin but his brother was stillborn, leaving Elvis an only child. As a boy, Elvis enjoyed music at church, won his first singing competition at age ten and got his first guitar the following year.

By the time he was 21 years old, Elvis had started to become a recording star and already made his first television appearance. His movie career followed not far behind and Elvis’ fame eventually grew beyond what any single human should have to bear. Sadly, the 1960s brought drug abuse and a lifestyle that compromised his health, causing him to die of heart failure in 1977 at the young age of 42.

The first Elvis Week took place as a grassroots event that happened naturally in 1978 when people gathered at the gates of Graceland Mansion, Elvis’ estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Although it started as an impromptu vigil on the anniversary of his death, every year since for more than four decades, throngs of people have made the pilgrimage to Graceland during this week.

How to Celebrate Elvis Week

Show some love and appreciation for the King of Rock and Roll by enjoying some of these activities and events in honor of Elvis Week:

Visit Graceland

One excellent way for dedicated fans to celebrate Elvis Week might be to make the trip to Memphis to celebrate with a host of others. The famous estate of the rock ‘n roll star hosts a number of different events and activities throughout the week that guests can participate in. Tribute artist contests, live musical performances, classic sock hop dances, fan reunions, appearances by Elvis’ personal friends and, of course, the annual candlelight vigil are all ways that visitors from around the world can get involved during this important and memorable week.

Listen To or Watch Elvis

With 57 albums and 31 feature films to his credit, there will be no shortage of opportunities for entertainment during Elvis Week. Cue up a number of different playlists on Spotify, Apple Music or another favorite platform. Or make some film purchases online that can be watched on demand, including some of these famous Elvis movies in which he performs some of his most classic songs:

• Love Me Tender (1956). Elvis’ first film, he wasn’t even the first billed, but later the title was changed (from The Reno Brothers) to reflect the popularity of his song
• Jailhouse Rock (1957). This musical romance is about a man who learns to play guitar in prison
• King Creole (1958). From the same director as Casablanca and Yankee Doodle Dandy
• Blue Hawaii (1961). Another musical comedy, this quintessential film features Elvis playing a ukelele and wearing a lei