Elvis Fans flock to Graceland with masks, Honor 43rd Death Anniversary

Elvis Presley lives in the hearts of adoring fans who made sure to pay their respects on his 43rd death anniversary … even if it meant he would and must wear masks.

A candlelight vigil was held for The King on Saturday night at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee – where hundreds of people flocked to sunset, just to catch a glimpse of the man’s tombstone and flowers, notes and leaving photos of her idol behind. It was one of the last events for Elvis Week around there – but this year precautionary measures were in place.

The vigil was kind of a ticketed event – only 720 people got access to the venue for a close-up view, and the people running the venue only let parties in who wore face masks and traveled in groups of 6 or less. In fact, everyone had to slowly shake for good distance … so it was certainly less packed than meetings like this in the past.

There were also policemen stationed outside the building with barricades in place blocking the surrounding roads – so that people who did not have maps could not even get to the house to look away. Overall, it sounds like a success (COVID wise).

Fortunately, Elvis fans didn’t care either – in fact, people from all over the country (and the world) came for the huge event … marking the year that Elvis had been longer than he was on this Earth. He was just 42 when he died in 1977.

On Sunday – the day he actually died – Elvis Week is set to begin with a virtual gospel event on the Graceland soundstage, and later tonight … a drive-in Elvis movie in the parking lot (which our intentions will also be limited). Definitely a bummer, but better than nothing.

Elvis died after suffering a heart attack. He was discovered on the bathroom floor, where he had used the dresser moments earlier. His legacy is cemented in pop culture as a pioneer of modern rock ‘n’ roll music like the blues.

Speaking of which, he has been criticized in the years since his death for culturally appropriate music made popular by Black artists, and he has passed it off as his own style. Yet the boy was incredibly talented … and goes down as an icon from his time, paving the way for other big-time actions to follow. John Lennon once said, “For Elvis, there was nothing.”

He left his wife behind, Priscilla, and only child Lisa-Marie … plus many grandparents, many of whom were famous in their own right. Some have tragically over as well as.