from staff and wire
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
Elvis Week has been in full swing in honor of the "King of Rock 'N' Roll," who died Aug. 16, 1977 in his Memphis home Graceland, at the age of 42.
A trip to the official Elvis Presley Web site, www.elvis.com, is a reminder that the King will never really die, however. At the site you can book From Jacksonville to Nassau — The Elvis Cruise, scheduled for Nov. 4-8.
Visitors also can keep up with the latest Elvis news, plan a trip to Graceland, vote on their favorite T-shirt designs, download music, and watch the remaining Elvis Week events live.
A Candlelight Vigil LiveCam is scheduled for tonight 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. The Elvis Week Finale Celebration Concert will be held Monday at 9 a.m. in the Graceland Entertainment Pavilion. Tickets are $30, and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.
Earlier this month Prince Albert of Monaco and his fiancee visited the home of the "King of Rock 'N' Roll" and sampled some barbecue during a vacation stop in Memphis.
The couple took a tour of Graceland, the 38-room mansion where Elvis Presley died and is buried.
The prince said he always wanted to visit Graceland and calls Elvis an "extraordinary figure."
He said: "Elvis touched our lives as well and the lives of so many people. We wanted to pay our respects and see what this place was all about."
Prince Albert and fiancee Charlene Wittstock were on a vacation tour of the United States.
Elvis Week brings visitors to Mississippi as well. In Tupelo more than 175 fans from around the world made the trip to Elvis Presley's birthplace for a tribute last week to The King during Fan Appreciation Day in Tupelo. Fans who visited the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum heard a series of the musician's songs over speakers.
Harry Williams traveled to Memphis and Tupelo with a tour group from England. Tuesday marked his 20th visit to Elvis' hometown, and he says he's saving his money now to make future trips.
In the meantime work is set for Elvis' Tupelo home. A Memphis, Tenn., architecture company will design new attractions at the Elvis Presley Birthplace.
Haizlip Studio also has offices in Asheville, N.C.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that the $5.5 million birthplace expansion project includes a theater with a cafe, reception area and an amphitheater.
Dick Guyton, executive director of Elvis Presley Birthplace, says Haizlip Studio joins the project design team of Design 500 Inc. and Richie Smith Associates, a landscape architectural firm.
The new multipurpose theater and event space is the first of several expansions to the birthplace. Completion of Phase One, which includes the theater, is targeted for late 2011.
