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Last week, instruments said to have been used during Presley's post-mortem examination were withdrawn from a Chicago auction after their authenticity was questioned.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.

Join the Elvis Insiders for Great Discounts, Exclusive Content and Collectible Merchandise

Now is the time for you to join Elvis fans around the world in the ultimate Elvis fan group!

In addition to making friends and developing relationships, Elvis Insiders truly get to know Elvis better than anyone. As an Elvis Insiders Online Member, you can post messages and chat with Elvis fans from around the world in our exclusive online community, and get access to news updates about all things Elvis. Membership is free!

Want more of the king? For $19.99, the Basic Elvis Insiders membership also includes a 10% discount at Graceland, Heartbreak Hotel, and on ShopElvis.com; a personalized membership card and collectible lapel pin. You'll also get the best seats in the house at EPE events with ticket pre-sale opportunities, and have access to exclusive contests where you can win Elvis prizes!

If you are a collector, you'll want to take advantage of The Elvis Insiders PLUS membership for $39.99, which includes all of the above plus:

- a spacious, heavy-duty tote bag made of 100% organic cotton and emblazoned with the 2011 Official Elvis Insiders logo
- a collection of three 5" X 7" rare, black and white Elvis photos printed on heavy photo paper
- an Elvis Insiders trading card from the Press Pass Elvis Milestones Collection
- an Insiders logo window decal
- official membership certificate
- a collectible lapel pin featuring the 2011 Insiders logo.

Click here to purchase the Elvis Insiders PLUS membership!

Celebrate New Year's Eve with Elvis Presley Wine

There's nothing like the King of Rock 'n' Roll to get a party started! Celebrate the New Year with delicious wines from Elvis Presley Wine Cellars that are sure to rock your palette. For red wine lovers, there's Jailhouse Rock Merlot and the King of Rock 'n' Roll Cabernet Sauvignon. For those who prefer white wine, there's the Blue Suede Chardonnay and Blue Hawaii Riesling. Each wine comes in a specially designed bottle with unique Elvis artwork.
Visit Elvis Presley Wine Cellars for more information. Cheers!

50% Off Discount From ElvisWatches.com Ends Tomorrow

ElvisWatches.com, designers of official Elvis watches and crystal jewelry, is offering 50% off ALL products through Christmas Eve, December 24. That includes the much awaited launch of the black TCB watch dog tags. Normally priced at $40.00, fans will be able to purchase them for just $20.00.

Click here to enter your e-mail address and receive your discount code!

Graceland Holiday Hours

A reminder to visitors - Graceland will close at 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24. The last shuttle leaves at 2:00 p.m.
Graceland will be closed on December 25, Christmas Day.

Graceland will re-open on Sunday, December 26. Hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
We wish you and your family a very happy holiday!

Interview with Viva ELVIS Music Director

Elvis Presley's music has been inspiring listeners for generations and now a new audience is experiencing the wonder of the King of Rock 'n' Roll through the release of "Viva ELVIS - The Album." The companion studio album to Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil is a 21st century celebration of Elvis featuring the voice of the king in a whole new context.

Erich Van Tourneau is the producer and music arranger for the album, as well as the music director for the Viva ELVIS Las Vegas show. In a recent interview with PopEater.com, Erich spoke about the inspiration behind the songs on "Viva ELVIS - The Album."

"King Creole, for instance, the title really guided me because of the term 'Creole.' I did a lot of research on the Creole culture, which is really coming from Haiti" says Van Tourneau. "Elvis Presley was a real music lover and was open to a lot of different genres of music, so my goal was to bring all his roots in the picture."

Read more of this interview on PopEater.com.
"Viva ELVIS - The Album" is now available worldwide. Get your copy today!

Million Dollar Quartet to Begin National Tour in 2011

The Tony Award-nominated musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will take its jam session on the road next year! A tour of the musical will launch in October 2011 at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is based on the real-life 1956 recording by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins at Sun Studio in Memphis.
The production earned a Best Musical Tony nomination, as well as Best Book of a Musical and Best Featured Actor for Levi Kreis, who plays Jerry Lee Lewis. It is currently on stage in Chicago and on Broadway in New York.

Special Offer on Elvis App!






From now until Sunday, January 2, 2011 you can download the Official Elvis Challenge iPhone App from USAopoly for only 99 cents!
The offer is available on iTunes or USAopoly's Elvis site.
This exciting game brings the King of Rock 'n' Roll to life, challenging players' knowledge of everything Elvis. Go from Tupelo to Hollywood with multiple game options, 2500 questions, a photo gallery, catch phrases, stunning graphics, and much more.

Players can choose different skill levels, and can play solo or engage in competition with other fans.
The Official Elvis Challenge iPhone App will be compatible with all iPhones and iPod touch devices running iPhone OS 3.0 or above.

Watch the Premiere of the "Burning Love" Video from Viva ELVIS!

E! Online has gives its readers the first look at the incredible new “Burning Love” video from "Viva ELVIS – The Album." The video features archival footage of Elvis’ iconic Las Vegas performance, interspersed with clips of the band from Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil.
Watch the E! online EXCLUSIVE premiere of the new music video for “Burning Love” from Viva ELVIS - The Album.

Elvis Makes List of Most Downloaded Christmas Songs

Elvis Makes List of Most Downloaded Christmas Songs
It appears the King of Rock 'n' Roll is also the king of Christmas music! A recent survey of the most downloaded Christmas tracks shows Elvis Presley has three songs in the top ten. "Blue Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" and "White Christmas" are all featured on the list. Find Elvis Christmas music now on ShopElvis.com!

Watch Viva ELVIS on The History Channel's Modern Marvels!

Watch Viva ELVIS on The History Channel's Modern Marvels!
Want to go behind the scenes at Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil? Now's your chance! Tune in to "Modern Marvels" on The History Channel on Friday, December 10 at 9:00 p.m. EST. In their "Secret Underground" episode, the Modern Marvels team will take a look at the America hidden from public view, including behind the scenes footage at Viva ELVIS and KÀ by Cirque du Soleil. Be sure to set your Tivo or DVR!