MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elvis Week™ 2019 will mark the 42nd anniversary of Elvis’ passing and Graceland® is preparing for the gathering of Elvis fans and friends from around the world for the nine-day celebration of Elvis’ life, the music, movies and legacy of Elvis. Events include appearances by celebrities and musicians, The Auction at Graceland, Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Finals, live concerts, fan events, and more. Events will be held at the Mansion grounds, the entertainment and exhibit complex, Elvis Presley’s Memphis™, the AAA Four-Diamond Guest House at Graceland™ resort hotel and the just-opened Graceland Exhibition Center.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ legendary recording sessions at American Sound that produced songs such as “Suspicious Minds,” “In the Ghetto” and “Don’t Cry Daddy.” A special panel will discuss the sessions in 1969. Panelists include Memphis Boys Bobby Wood and Gene Chrisman, who were members of the legendary house band at the American Sound between 1967 until its closing in 1972; Mary and Ginger Holladay, who sang back-up vocals; Elvis historian Sony Music’s Ernst Jorgensen; songwriter Mark James, who wrote "Suspicious Minds"; and musicians five-time GRAMMY Award winning singer BJ Thomas and six-time GRAMMY Award winning singer Ronnie Milsap, who will also perform a full concert at the Soundstage at Graceland that evening. At American Sound Ronnie played on Elvis’ “Kentucky Rain” and sang harmony on “Don’t Cry Daddy.” There will also be an American Sound 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert on the evening of August 14 at the Soundstage at Graceland.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ return to Las Vegas, the 1969 50th Anniversary Concert – Elvis Returns to Vegas on August 16 will feature Elvis live in concert on the big screen, with performances by Elvis’ TCB Band – James Burton, Ronnie Tutt, and Glen Hardin, along with Imperials Terry Blackwood and Jim Murray, and singer Estelle Brown, a member of The Sweet Inspirations who began performing and recording with Elvis in 1969. There will also be a special Elvis in Vegas Panel on August 17 which will offer stories and memories from those who shared the stage with Elvis, starting with his 1969 return to the live performances through the 1970s. Confirmed guests include TCB Band members James Burton, Ronnie Tutt and Glen Hardin, Estelle Brown, Elvis historian Ernst Jorgensen and John Jackson of Sony/Legacy Recordings, plus original members of The Imperials Terry Blackwood and Jim Murray.
Other Elvis Week highlights include the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist competition where 17 of the best Elvis tribute artists in the world will compete for the crown of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2019; fans and collectors from around the world will have the opportunity to participate on-site and online for The Auction at Graceland featuring third-party artifacts authenticated by Graceland Authenticated; a special Fan Celebration event will celebrate what it means to be an Elvis fan; an Elvis Presley Gospel Homecoming concert including former members of J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet: Donnie Sumner, Ed Hill and Larry Strickland and other gospel groups with special Elvis connections; a Gospel Brunch with live gospel music by the Blackwood Brothers Quartet; nightly parties and a live music pavilion at the all-new Graceland Exhibition Center that will feature continuous live entertainment and a comfortable area for fans to recharge and reconnect.
New to the schedule is a concert by Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winner Cody Ray Slaughter at The Guest House Theater. Cody will also join Dean Z for Elvis Unplugged: The Early Years.
The Conversations on Elvis event will include Elvis’ personal friend former Shelby County Mayor and Sheriff who was friends with Elvis Bill Morris; Bonya Rhodes McGarrity, a Memphis native who worked at Graceland as Elvis’ secretary from 1961-1963; and Memphis native Pat West who was a college student when she began working for Elvis as a secretary at Graceland and who, through Elvis, met and married Red West of the famous “Memphis Mafia.”
The cornerstone event, the Candlelight Vigil, will begin on Thursday, August 15, at 8:30 p.m. CDT at Graceland’s front gate. Elvis music sets the tone of the evening as fans walk up the driveway to the Meditation Garden. This event lasts throughout the night as thousands of participants gather on Elvis Presley Boulevard listening to music, remembering Elvis and enjoying the memorials that are created by fans along the street. The Candlelight Vigil will be open for all to attend. No special passes or wristbands are required to participate in the Candlelight Vigil.
Legendary guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Burton will be celebrating his 80th birthday in August. A special event to close out Elvis Week that celebrates James’ life and legacy of music will be held at the Guest House Theater on August 18. This retrospective event, hosted by musician Andy Childs, will feature music and storytelling as James talks about his life and storied career of working with everyone from Elvis, Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, John Denver, Merle Haggard – to Joni Mitchell, Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello.
Elvis Week tickets and packages are on sale at the Elvis Week ticket page.
For complete line-up of all Elvis Week shows, events and activities, go to ElvisWeek.com.
The Guest House at Graceland resort hotel will offer nightly live entertainment, many free Elvis Week activities and free shuttles to Graceland. There is limited availability on select nights during Elvis Week. Visit GracelandGuesthouse.com for availability and room reservations.
All guests, times, prices and details are subject to change. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
Daily Schedule
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Meet ‘n’ Greet
10:00 am – 11:30 am. Guest House Ballroom, The Guest House at Graceland.
An Afternoon with Cody Ray Slaughter
2:00 pm. Guest House Theater, The Guest House at Graceland.
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Semifinal Round
7:00 pm. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis
Ultimate Elvis Week After- Party Hosted by Jeff Lewis
Immediately following show until 12:00 am. Graceland Exhibition Center.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
37th Annual Elvis 5k benefitting Livitup
8:00 am. Race begins and finishes at the gates of Graceland.
Elvis Unplugged: On Tour - Starring Dean Z & Friends
2:00 pm. Guest House Theater, The Guest House at Graceland.
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Final Round
7:00 pm. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis
Ultimate Elvis Week After- Party Hosted by Jeff Lewis
Immediately following show until 12:00 am. Graceland Exhibition Center
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
Elvis Unplugged: The Early Years - Starring Dean Z & Friends
2:00 pm. Guest House Theater, The Guest House at Graceland.
The Ultimate Return
7:00 pm. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis
Ultimate Elvis Week After- Party Hosted by Jeff Lewis
Immediately following show until 12:00 am. Graceland Exhibition Center.
MONDAY, AUGUST 12
Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center Fan Reception
10:00 am. Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center at Regional One Health, 877 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis.
Elvis: The Rocker Starring Dean Z
7:00 pm. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13
American Sound Studio Panel
10:00 am. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
The Auction at Graceland
11:00 am. Guest House Theater, The Guest House at Graceland.
Ronnie Milsap Concert
7:00 pm. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14
Fan Celebration Event
10:00 am. Guest House Ballroom, The Guest House at Graceland.
Memphis Jones and the King featuring Jay Dupuis
1:00 pm. Guest House Theater, The Guest House at Graceland.
American Sound 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert
7:00 pm. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
Elvis Week Bash
9:00 pm – 11:30 pm. Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15
Conversations on Elvis Panel
10:00 am. Graceland Soundstage, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
Candlelight Vigil
8:30 pm. Gates of Graceland.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
Graceland Excursions: Tupelo, Mississippi
Departs from The Guest House at Graceland at 8:30 am, returns to The Guest House at Graceland by 3:30 pm.
Elvis Gospel Brunch
9:30 am – 11:00 am. Guest House Ballroom, The Guest House at Graceland.
1969 50th Anniversary Concert – Elvis Returns to Vegas
7:00 pm. Graceland Soundstage, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
Viva Las Vegas after-party at Elvis Presley's Memphis
Immediately following show until 11:00 pm. Elvis Presley's Memphis.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
Elvis in Vegas Panel
10:00 am. The Soundstage at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
Elvis Presley Gospel Homecoming
7:00 pm. Graceland Soundstage, Elvis Presley’s Memphis.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
James Burton: Celebrating 80 Years of His Life and Music
11:00 am. The Guest House Theater
About Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland, in Memphis, is music’s most important and beloved landmark, with hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world visiting the historic home each year. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) manages the operations of Graceland and its related properties, including Elvis Presley's Memphis, Graceland's new entertainment and exhibition complex over 200,000 square feet in size; the new 80,000 square feet Graceland Exhibition Center featuring rotating exhibits; the AAA Four Diamond Guest House at Graceland 450-room resort hotel; and the Graceland Archives, featuring thousands of artifacts from Elvis’ home and career. EPE also produces and licenses Elvis-themed live events, tours, and attractions worldwide. Graceland Holdings LLC, led by managing partner Joel Weinshanker, is the majority owner of EPE. Graceland is the only attraction worldwide to ever receive six USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards: in 2019 it was voted “Best Tennessee Attraction and Iconic Landmark, in 2018, it was voted “Best Tennessee Attraction” and “Best Holiday Historic Home Tour,” in 2015 voted the world’s “Best Musical Attraction” and “Best Historic Southern Attraction,” and in 2013 voted the #1 “Iconic American Attraction.” In 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards named Graceland one of the top 25 landmarks in the world and Rolling Stone named it one of 10 Great American Music Landmarks. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.graceland.com.
Stay connected to Elvis Presley’s Graceland:
Website: http://www.graceland.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElvisPresleysGraceland
@VisitGraceland on Twitter and Instagram
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialGraceland
Livestream events: https://livestream.com/ElvisPresleyGraceland/events/3333050
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SiriusXM’s Elvis Radio, Channel 19: http://www.siriusxm.com/Elvisradio
