20 Years Ago, Elvis Left the Building....But Did He?

August 16, the 20th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, is celebrated around the world but especially in Memphis at his beloved Graceland. This year a bus load of fans from nearby Mineral Wells and Weatherford is taking the 12 hour trip along with their sponsors, KYXS and KJSA, radio stations between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. Forty-five Elvis fans paid $250 each for a seat on the bus.

This trip by local folks is only one of hundreds and thousands nationwide made in tribute to a memory, a memory that retreats and retreats with each passing year. There are many Elvis fans who were born long after the remarkable singer died but they are as devoted as those of us who are of his generation.

Elvis, probably the best known name in the world, has made more money dead than he ever thought about when he was alive and two decades after the body he so abused gave up the ghost, this steady stream of worshipers are drawn to anything that touches The King. Each year the pilgrimage is made from every point on the globe as thousands walk in a candle light procession in observance of that untimely death at the Graceland Mansion.

Even the popular country singer, Willie Nelson, made a song about going to Graceland. And so every year the millions go and come away refreshed that they made the trip.

We all are familiar with the story, ho the young truck driver, Elvis, wandered into Sun Records on his lunch hour and recorded two songs to give his mother for her birthday. That was 1953 and in '54 he was back to record "That's Alright Mama". This time the producer saw a white guy who had the sound of black Rythum and Blues artists he had been recording . He knew this young man was going to be something special. He was so right.

Elvis charted more songs on Billboard's Hot 100 than any other artist(149). Elvis spent more weeks at the top of the charts than any other artist (80). Elvis had the greatest number of consecutive #1 hits(10). Elvis charged into stardom as no one had ever done. He was absolutely unique and his music affected his audience in a completely different way from anyone before or since. His remarkable talent assured stardom with the right promotion. He got that and more but sadly he could not manage the blinding success that remarkable face and voice brought to him and the road he followed eventually led to destruction ......of the body but never...never that voice.

The voice is what we still hear, in the haunting Heartbreak Hotel or the rousing Jailhouse Rock or the lovely and spiritual Amazing Grace. His records, tapes, and CD's show no sign of ever falling in popularity. And when we listen, the fifties, those sparking years when we were newly married, planning our family, starting a career, come back all glittery and smelling of roses and high hopes. That's why we listen to Elvis and hang his picture on the wall, not for what he became but for what he was in the beginning, young, full of love and humility, happy.

It's the picture of that young face, the pre-drug Elvis, the boy out to please his mama, to make his daddy proud, before Las Vegas nights and Ann Margaret sequin jump suits, and dark glasses, body guards, and hands full of pills, that' s the Elvis I want to remember.

......Elvis has left the building.............