Memphis Road Trip - Segment Two (08/13/2005)
Graceland - Memphis, TN

If you enjoy visiting celebrity homes, and have a stay in Memphis, Tennessee don't miss touring Elvis's 14-acre estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Touring Graceland is one-of-a-kind experiences that will take you through the birth of Rock 'n' Roll and see, first-hand, how Elvis became the most celebrated entertainer in the world, so of course this is our first tourist destination. We took photos of memorial pond Friday evening and returned for tour on Saturday, when the museum was open.

Elvis Aaron Presley, the only living child of Vernon and Gladys Presley was born in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948. Elvis’ musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, along with southern gospel church music and the R&B influences brought on by the historic Beale Street bars and clubs. In 1954, he began his singing career with the Sun Records label in Memphis. And after only two years he was an international sensation. Elvis offered a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and helped usher in a whole new era of American music and popular culture. During his career he starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. And the sales and popularity still continues even after his 1977 Graceland death.

The weekend we chose to tour Memphis just happed to be the famed Elvis week, so we were surrounded by many Elvis fans and created a slight difficulty in finding a motel room for the second night.

Paul J. Lossner