Elvis Presley stands as one of the greatest icons of American pop culture. Almost half a century after his first songs hit the airwaves, fans are still buying his records (over a billion sold so far) and swinging to his tunes. This month Hard Rock Cafe will pay tribute to the King by hosting the release of a new CD of Elvis' 50 greatest hits, an Elvis impersonation contest and a special menu of the singer's favorite foods.
Twenty-four years after his death, Elvis still captures the imagination of people around the world. Over a million people visit the Graceland Mansion, his Memphis, Tennessee, home every year. Elvis fans also flock to the lovely little chapel where he married Priscilla Beaulieu in Las Vegas to see his marriage photos and get a copy of his marriage license.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HARD ROCK CAFE
Mystery has also surrounded the man, with frequent sightings of him around the world since his death and suspicions that his spirit can be found in the rooms of Graceland, though only die-hard fans take these claims seriously.
The American rock 'n' roll king first achieved stardom in 1956, sweeping the US in a whirlwind of rock 'n' roll and ruled the pop music scene for two decades until he passed away in 1977.
During the peak of his music career between 1969 to 1977, Elvis performed more than 1,000 concerts. He charmed music fans not just with his music, but also his costumes, hairdo, and dance moves. His records continue to break sales records, garnering a total of more than 130 gold titles in the US.
ICRT DJ Ricky Walker, a big fan of Presley's, said Elvis was revolutionary in that he was the first person to incorporate black gospel music into American country rock-a-billy, particularly when black music could not be heard on the radio. His daring innovation kicked off the rock 'n' roll era. Elvis' influence was felt around the world, inspiring many fellow musicians such as John Lennon of the Beatles, who said that "Before Elvis, there was nothing."
Fans who want to pay homage to Elvis can find a dozen of his studio photos, albums and posters at Taipei's Hard Rock Cafe this month. They are originals imported from the US, including one poster revealing Elvis' favorite menu from home. A particular attention-getter is a guitar that the rocker used to play. Elvis' concert videos will be played too so fans can swing to his timeless songs and have a good laugh at the King's outrageous costumes.
Event Notes
For the rest of the month, the Hard Rock Cafe will offer BMG's new CD containing 50 hit songs by Elvis Presley when customers order the King's favorite meal: vegetable soup, pork chops and brown gravy and old fashion apple pie. There will also be an Elvis impersonation contest and party on July 27 at 9pm. Participants will have a chance to win a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, for a series of activities to commemorate the King. The Divas Band will be playing Elvis Presley hits to entertain the guests. To register for the contest, call 2326-8826.
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