The Road to Graceland

If today is the year 1961 and I am 26 years old, I am probably screaming my heart out in some drive-in theater watching Elvis Presley sing “Can’t Help falling in Love” in Blue Hawaii.

These are my thoughts while I was walking inside Graceland Estate, Elvis’s home in Memphis, Tennessee, looking at a very charismatic and vibrant face of the young Elvis. I do remember that I saw that movie when I was around 7 or 8 years old.And no, I didn’t scream. I didn’t know how big the name Elvis was until later.

The Piano Room	Kitchen
Jungle Room	Yellow Room

Elvis’ charisma and irrefutable singing talent from his diverse music influences of gospel songs, black R&B in Memphis’ legendary Beale Street and ole country music has surpassed more than half a century of music lovers and the iconic influence of that music is felt even maybe in remote parts of the world.

I personally think though that the celebrity culture today is so overrated. I just don’t give a twit who is Lindsay Lohan’s current boyfriend/girlfriend or what size are Zac Efron shoes. I am not overtly impressed of the Elvis memorabilia inside the Graceland or the five museum exhibits (maybe except for the amazing cars). I am more impressed of how he was captured on photos and how genuine his emotions are when looking at them up close.

Wedding Photo	Elvis' Costumes
The Pink Cadillac	Elvis at the Army

He died young and his glamorous celebrity life is marred by imperfections of his personal life. I guess you just can’t have it all. But even so, he simply is a maverick, a man both not of and of his time.
Maybe the Rock and Roll fans of the 50’s are getting old and maybe the music fans today have too many choices of different kinds of music. But somehow, I have a feeling that new generations will always rediscover Elvis’ music and legacy. If one of these day, you get to be in Tennessee, should you pay $33 dollars to visit Graceland to see a glimpse of the life of the undisputed King of Rock and Roll? Aye.
Rest of the photos are on my Facebook and Friendster accounts.
Special thanks to Joy who was half-dead on her feet driving us for 3 hours each way to/fro Memphis and Lexington.