Elvis Presley died on this date in 1977. Or, to put it another way: he’s now been dead almost as long as he was alive and for more than twice as long as he’d been famous.
LA Times (“Elvis Presley celebrated on 35th anniversary of his death“):
Thirty-five years after his death, Elvis still lives.
Elvis Presley fans can check in on the candlelight vigil going on in Memphis, Tenn., to mark the anniversary of the singer’s death on Presley’s official website, http://www.elvis.com. According to the site, more than 75,000 people have turned out for the vigil at his Graceland mansion to mark his death on Aug. 16, 1977.
His daughter, Lisa Marie, and his ex-wife, Priscilla, will host a 35th anniversary concert at the city’s FedEx Forum tonight starting at 8:10 p.m. Pacific time. The event will blend film footage of Elvis Presley in concert and his recorded vocals backed by live music by the Memphis Symphony as well as many of the musicians who backed him on tour, including guitarist James Burton, pianist Glen D. Hardin, drummer D.J. Fontana and the Sweet Inspirations vocal group.
Elsewhere, among the plethora of events being staged to mark the anniversary of his death at age 42, the American Cinematheque will host a Q&A and book signing at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood by songwriter and publisher Mike Stoller, half of the songwriting-publishing-production team of Leiber & Stoller, who crafted many songs Presley recorded. The session will be followed by a screening of the performer’s 1957 film “Jailhouse Rock,” which featured Stoller in a cameo appearance playing piano for Presley.
Aside from Jesus Christ, I can’t think of another figure whose death sparks this much recognition. Perhaps John Kennedy; but he was murdered on national television.
For that matter, has any ex-wife ever capitalized as much on six years of marriage? She and Elvis divorced four years before his death and she’s still basking in the glow 35 years after the man died.
