It’s officially known as Elvis Week, that hot 10-day stretch in August, when music fans from around the world descend on Whitehaven to commemorate the 1977 passing of Elvis Presley, the King of Rock-and-Roll. If you’re from around here, however, you probably call it “Death Week.” That, of course, would make this second week of January “Birth Week,” and although there’s nothing quite like the candlelight vigil on tap, there are plenty of Elvis-related things to do in Memphis this week as well. Birth Week events range from cake and coffee at Graceland and an auction of rare Presley memorabilia to a special Elvis-themed double-feature at the Orpheum.
Elvis was born 80 years ago this month, on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. This week’s celebration of the blessed event officially kicks off with a birthday cake cutting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday on Graceland’s north lawn. At 10:30 a.m., fans will be treated to complimentary cake and coffee at the Chrome Grille in Graceland Plaza. Later that evening, at 7 p.m. at Graceland’s Archive Studio, serious music collectors can bid on some very special souvenirs like Elvis’ first acetate recording featuring “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartache Begins.”
Few of Elvis’ 33 feature films contain as many iconic scenes per reel as Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas, both of which are being given the big-screen treatment at the Orpheum, Friday, January 9th, starting at 7 p.m.
Birth Week concludes with a special Elvis-themed pops performance by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, January 10th, at 7:30 p.m.