Tour of Elvis’ Graceland

Like many visitors are doing this week down in Memphis, I will take you on a tour of Elvis’ Graceland. Elvis purchased his home in March of 1957. Bellvue Boulevard was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard on January 8, 1972 (Elvis’ 37th birthday). To quote Paul Simon’s song Graceland: “For reasons I cannot explain there’s some part of me wants to see Graceland.” For a while, I had wanted to travel to Memphis, but I never got around to it. However, three months ago, I was turning the big 4-0 and decided that was where I wanted to celebrate. And my trip to the Land of Elvis and the Home of the Blues has lingered in my head longer than any other.

Below are some pictures I took at the mansion and at the other Elvis exhibitions on the grounds of Graceland.

3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard

The Lving Room

Elvis' TV and Music Room

The Jungle Room

Elvis' Grave

The Trophy Room

Some of the many pantsuits on display.

The Pink Cadillac

Those were just a few highlights. For more on Graceland and Elvis, along with a great video tour of Graceland go here: Elvis Presley’s Graceland

Click here for Cher’s lively version of Marc Cohn’s song “Walking in Memphis.” She’s dressed like Elvis and the video has great footage of the city.

Important Music Events of 1957

1957 was a big year in music. Probably the most important event of the year was the birth of American Bandstand. On August 5th, American Bandstand began its 30-year run on TV. Dick Clark helped launched the careers of many starts and got America dancing.

In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis and Patsy Cline started their musical careers. Here’s Jerry performing Great Balls of Fire. And here’s Patsy crooning her classic I Fall To Pieces.

Also, in 1957, John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met in Liverpool, and Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel started out as the duo Tom and Jerry with their first song Hey, Schoolgirl. And on March 19 of that year, Elvis Presley purchased a mansion in Memphis and called it Graceland, the place where fans would flock to for years after his death.