Elvis Presley continues to inspire poems, essays, artwork, and music. During his own lifetime, Elvis drew inspiration from the powerful words of others. This section celebrates those special writings.

Elvis white piano up for auction


Elvis Presley's white grand piano and a 1955 record contract are going up for auction in Memphis next month.

Presley bought the piano from the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis.

The piano, which he bought in 1957 and kept at his Graceland home, is expected to fetch more than $1m (£645,000).
A contract with RCA Records, signed by Presley, his father and manager, Colonel Tom Parker, is expected to fetch more than $150,000 (£97,000).

The 1957 Graceland purchase agreement is among other items for sale at the 14 August auction.
It has an estimated price of $35,000 (£22,600) while a four-page handwritten letter to girlfriend Anita Wood from 1958 is expected to fetch $75,000 (£48,500).

Other items being auctioned include some gold-framed sunglasses and Presley's address and phone book.
Doug Norwine, of Heritage Auctions, said the piano was "an emotionally-charged prized possession of the King himself".

Presley bought the white Knabe piano from the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis where it had been played by visiting gospel performers.
Last week, instruments said to have been used during Presley's post-mortem examination were withdrawn from a Chicago auction after their authenticity was questioned.
Rubber gloves, a toe tag and other tools had been expected to fetch $14,000 (£9,000) at auction in August.

Special Offer on Graceland Tickets for Tennessee Residents











Print this coupon & start planning your trip to Graceland!
Tennesseans - we've got a great opportunity for you and your family to tour Graceland! In celebration of Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's inauguration as the 49th Governor of Tennessee, visitors can save 50% off their ticket to Graceland on January 15, 2011.
This special offer applies to adult and children’s Platinum Tour tickets only. Visitors can purchase up to four tickets per Tennessee Driver’s License. The offer is for Tennessee residents only and applicable on January 15, 2011 only.

Elvis Presley Day Proclamation

As the world celebrates the King of Rock 'n' Roll on his birthday, Memphis and Shelby County officials have also proclaimed January 8 to be Elvis Presley Day. During today's ceremony on the front lawn outside the Graceland mansion, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell spoke about Elvis' lasting legacy and impact on pop culture.

2011 Elvis Presley Day Proclamation!

The GRAMMY Museum To Celebrate Elvis' Birthday with Special Event

The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles will be commemorating Elvis Presley's birthday with a special event titled "Celebrating Elvis - The Making of a Comeback: A Discussion with Steve Binder." The event is on Friday, January 7 from 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Steve Binder directed and produced the 1968 NBC television event "Elvis," which is now commonly referred to as the '68 Comeback Special. It was one of the biggest TV hits of the year, receiving 40% of the viewing audience, and rave reviews from the public and critics alike. In celebration of what would have been Elvis' 76th birthday, Binder will share his memories about the making of the special, show clips from the program, and discuss what it was like to work with the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Binder will also answer questions from the audience, and sign copies of his book Elvis: '68 at 40 - Retrospective.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Attendees must e-mail programs@grammymuseum.org to RSVP.