More Elvis

An estimated 75,000 fans from around the world passed through the gates at Graceland throughout the night and early morning hours to pay their respects to The King on the 30th anniversary of his death.

In addition to the events I previously described, there’s a major, sold-out concert tonight at the FedEx Forum. The TCB (takin’ care of business) band will headline. The band is composed of all members of Elvis’ band including the Sweet Temptations back-up singers. Through the wonders of technology, they actually present an Elvis concert. From live performance video, they’ve stripped away all the instrumental and back-up vocalist tracks and left only the Elvis vocals. A huge on-stage screen displays the vintage concert and, with the live band on stage, you magically are witnessing what feels like a real Elvis concert. This act tours internationally and draws huge crowds. Since many of his current-day fans weren’t even born when Elvis died, this is the closest they’ll ever get. And for the die-hards, it’s another piece of El heaven.

One of tonight’s highlights will be a duet sung by Lisa Marie (live on stage) and her dad (on videotape). It’s like the Natalie Cole/Nat King Cole music video from some years ago.

On the downside, the excessive heat continues and, regrettably, there have now been eight heat-related deaths. Number eight was a 61-year-old woman from New Jersey who was here for Elvis Week. She was camping in a tent at the RV park behind the Heartbreak Hotel near Graceland. Her body was discovered in the tent. Number seven was a 32-year-old man who was found outside his apartment with a body temperature of 111.

Local meteorologists say that there’s a chance Sunday/Monday that we might catch some rain heading out of the heavy rains in Texas. We can only hope.