As the rest of the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, today we'll do as we always do here in Fluville on August 16th, and pay tribute to the passing of the King. Elvis Presley died 32 years ago today, and his legacy has been enshrined by the almighty Elvis Presley Enterprises, making his former home, Graceland, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the USA.
There are also some smaller fan based attractions like Graceland Too, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, pictured above and run by tireless fan, Paul McLeod, who has turned his home into a museum and shrine to the King-- covering nearly every square inch of his home with memorabilia; the more campy 24 Hour Church of Elvis, in Portland, Oregon; and a nameless place, sweetly remembered in today's musical selection: "Elvis Museum," by Brooklyn's Maynard and the Musties.
Joe Maynard recalls the inspiration for the song:
"When I was 12 or so and spent the summer at my Dad's house in Lebanon, Tennessee, about 20 miles east of Nashville, he got a country club membership so we could go swimming. The bike ride was about 3 or 4 miles past the edge of town where it just started to turn into farms. About a 1/2 mile from the gate to the country club was this Elvis museum. They had a regular farm house, but as the song says, to the side was an airstream trailor and a billboard of sorts over the top. Everyone in the South waves at each other, and after a couple trips we just decided to check it out. I think she charged us 50 cents a piece, or a dollar. I don't remember much of what was inside, to tell you the truth... I just made up what I thought was in there for the song (sorry if it spoils it for anyone!)"
Long live the King.
Download:
"Elvis Museum" mp3
by Maynard and the Musties, 2009.
available on So Many Funerals
Ryan Adams plays piano and lapsteel
top photo: Graceland Too, Holly Springs, Mississippi, 1997.
© Ted Barron
long live the king. Is this museum in a little hut close to Dollywood? If so, I think i was there myself a few years back. I remember being surprised to see a large pair of Elvis' underpants. And his toothbrush. Which was gold plated or maybe it was real gold... did you see that one.
ReplyDeleteMan.
32 years ago.
That night I was talking to Billy Idol and KEITH MOON at a Jam concert at the VOrtex in London. the starter band was Teenage Jesus and the Jerks.
"Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me"
ReplyDeleteI have a good first handed account of his amorous pursuits, Vegas era.
Went there almost by accident. Bullshit is the guy's metier, but his impression of "Jailhouse Rock" was worth the price of admission.
ReplyDeleteThe quote of John Lennon: "Before Elvis, there was nothing." says it all about that great artist of all times.
ReplyDeleteHere I've tried to collect all notable tributes paid to Elvis Presley by peers: http://www.tributespaid.com/quotes-on/elvis-presley