ELVIS AT 75…BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
by eddie on Jan.07, 2010, under E
I have to admit that, as an Elvis Tribute Artist I view the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, on Friday, January 8th, with mixed emotions. In the same way it is difficult to imagine Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy or John Lennon as a senior citizen…Elvis is forever frozen in our minds as young and vibrant.
Despite the physical and emotional difficulties in his final years; fans choose to remember The King in the 50’s, 60’s and conquering Vegas in the early 70’s. On the one hand, fans were robbed of the possibilities of what might have been. On the other hand, for guys like me, an entirely new career doing tribute shows became an overnight reality. I can’t speak for other ETAs and the myriad reasons they have for becoming a Tribute Artist. I can tell you that I never take to the stage, in that jumpsuit, without remembering that at least some of the attention I receive is borrowed glory. I’m always cognizant of the fact that I’m helping to fill a void left by his passing. The memories I evoke are the main reason I have an audience. Other personalities have taken the same first name, but let’s face it…there’s ONLY ONE ELVIS!
The attention is not all mine!
Some of the birthday related tie-ins include: RCA/Legacy’s four disc “Elvis 75-Good Rockin’ Tonight” which includes one hundred of Elvis’ greatest hits. Also, there is Elvis: The Complete Masters, containing over seven hundred songs offered by The Franklin Mint. “Viva Elvis” by Cirque du Soleil debuted in Las Vegas in December of ‘09. Birthday Headquarters however will certainly be his home Graceland in Memphis. Friday at Graceland Plaza, just across from the iconic mansion, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley will kick off a year-long celebration of The King’s 75th Birthday. Also, a week of events, hosted by the estate, will include: a day tour of Tupelo, Elvis’ childhood hometown, panel talks with close friends and associates, a gospel concert of Elvis songs and a performance of Elvis tunes by The Memphis Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday, January 9th Beale Street will offer an Elvis Birthday Bash. A night of drink specials, live music and partying at clubs up and down the famed Memphis street.
The idea of an elderly Elvis runs contrary to our very image of The King. Elvis, having created a whole new category of performer, had no competition. He was bigger than all his combined contemporaries and was left to reinvent himself from one decade to the next. In a way, Elvis was his own first ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST!