A crisp sunny morning welcomed us as we stretched outside the RV on a small piece of grass. I was thinking about Elvis, my childhood, and my upcoming visit to Graceland. A few Elvis song were running through my head. I challenged myself to remember as many of The King’s songs as I could. I was only able to recall about 17 or 18 out of the hundreds and hundreds he recorded. I remember when I first heard ‘Don’t be Cruel’ I was on standby waiting to record the song from the little radio in my room. Somewhere, I am sure I can find the recording.

I realized that Elvis first appearance on Television, which was still a developing medium in 1956, was before Graceland was any figment of any imaginations. His appearance revealed his incredible talent and propelled him for instant success.

“….. the first time I appeared on stage, it scared me to death” said Elvis

“…. I really did not know what all the yelling was about. I did not realize that my body was moving. It’s a natural thing for me… “ continued Elvis.

“… so to the manager backstage I said, what’d I do? What’d I do?

And he said, what ever it is, go back and do it again”

Elvis went back on stage and by April that year he got his first gold record, Heartbreak Hotel.

Graceland, once a farmland and now …. 3764 Elvis Presley Blvd, about 9 miles form downtown Memphis, rests this magnificent mansion on almost 14 acres of land.  I learnt that Elvis bought this farmhouse and the surrounding land in 1957 land as a main residence for himself and his parents.

Below you can listen to my feature on Graceland and Elvis.

Graceland 1977

I was very excited and emotional to begin the tour of the complex and the mansion. I remember an emotional trip to Graceland that my almost adopted son and dear friend Yoni Feldman has with his dad to Graceland.

We took the short ride across the street from the exhibition complex to the mansion. Everything in the mansion was preserved they it was left in 1977.

Graceland c. 1960

I felt the unique energy of the mansion as soon as we walked in. As I looked at the grand staircase that led to the second floor, I could almost hear and see Elvis dressed up and with his jewelry coming down the stairs. The living room has an adjoining music room with Elvis’ baby grand piano. I walked through the large kitchen and imagined the wonderful events and the good times that were shared in this house.

Most impressive room is the Jungle Room which was part of the initial renovation of the mansion and features an indoor waterfall. Ultimately the Jungle Room was converted into a recording studio where Elvis recorded his last two albums. The last two albums were “Moody Blues” and “From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis Tennessee.

I went down to the basement where I found a huge pool table and adjoining to it, the media and TV room. In that room, Elvis often watched three television sets at once, and was within close reach to his bar. Elvis logo TCB which stands for ‘taking care of business in a flash,’ is decorating the TV room, which also has a movie projector used by Elvis to screen his movies to friends and relatives.

There were not too many visitors to Graceland during the time I was there due to seasonality and Covid. I felt like an intruding guest at the Elvis Mansion

I took my time visiting each room again and tried to imagine when was the last time someone played pool? Who was that? What was the last program watched on the TVs in in the Media room? What did they cook in the kitchen and whom it was served? Who used the racquetball court last before the entire private home of Elvis become a museum and a historic landmark?

The grounds also included a barn where the horses were kept. I went outside and walked, imagining the horses, the riders and the golf carts passing by. I felt like time had frozen on the mansion and I just came to visit it 45 years later.

Graceland itself cost $500,000 a year in upkeep and expenses had dwindled Elvis’ and Priscilla’s daughter Lisa Marie’s inheritance to only $1 million. Taxes were due on the property; those and other expenses due came to over $500,000. Graceland was opened to the public on June 7, 1982. After only a month of opening Graceland’s doors the estate made back all the money it had invested.