Happy Birthday, Elvis

Two days ago on January 8, Memphians and Elvis fans around the world celebrated what would have been the King’s 74th birthday.

Ex-wife Priscilla hosted a party at Graceland and received a proclamation jointly signed by the Memphis and Shelby County mayors designating the day as Elvis Presley Day. Several hundred guests sang Happy Birthday, and the ex-Mrs. P cut the cake which this year was a replica of Graceland down to the landscaping on the vast lawn.

Elvis bought the house and 13 acres of property in 1957 when his more modest Memphis residence became besieged with fans around the clock. He added rooms to the existing home and eventually had the perimeter wall and wrought iron gates set into place for additional security and privacy. The mansion contains 17,552 square feet.

Elvis paid slightly more than $100,000 for the real estate deal. The funds were from the proceeds of his first hit record on the RCA label, Heartbreak Hotel.

Seventy years after it was constructed, 600,000 people a year walk through the front door of Graceland

See how an Elvis fan website in Belgium celebrated the King’s birthday: http://www.elvismatters.com/