The Teenager Today – August 2019

music

Verus Ferreira covers the hottest desi and international artists for

The TeenAger TODAY. Passionate about music, he is the author of

The great Music Quiz Book and The great rock Music Quiz Book.

A freelance journalist for over 25 years, he also contributes to the

Afternoon DC and Musicunplugged.in

shutters, white Corinthian
pillars, and two white marble
lions, beckons every visitor/
Elvis fan.

You can feel Elvis’ presence
as you wander through
the mansion. His French
dynasty-inspired Billiards
Room (pool room) is decorative to
the core, with its tuck-and-draped
ceiling made of 350 yards of heavy
brocade fabric; the media room is
all lemon yellow and black with a
mirrored ceiling for good effect, with
three TVs, where the ‘King’ sat and
watched television.

The Trophy Room walls are lined
with silver and gold records, while

right; he became a

fashion icon that

everyone followed,

the bell bottom,

different colored

sequined jackets,

flared shirts, boots

and ornaments to

go with such royal

attire.

Our tour ended

with the ‘Secret

Room’. Here we got

a chance to see his

comb, the necklace

and ring he gave Priscilla, and the

microphone he used. It was a magical

moment for me, something I will

always cherish for the rest of my life.

The Elvis Presley story does

not end at Graceland. Head to

his Racquetball Building houses
the piano that was used by him
to entertain his friends. It’s the
same piano he played the day he
passed away. A passage leads you
to his father’s office where a host of
exhibits are displayed.

Elvis was a cowboy at heart. Out
on the lawns you can watch horses
graze, but none of these are Elvis’,
namely the most famous Rising Sun,
who was the last to die in 2005. After
another gallery of exhibits, you move
on to a kidney-shaped swimming
pool that overlooks the Meditation
Garden, Elvis’ favourite space at
Graceland. It’s where he lies buried
alongside his parents Gladys and
Vernon, grandmother Minnie Mae
and his twin brother Jesse.

Back on the bus and across the road,
the tour continues with the Museum
exhibits that follow Elvis’ life and
career gaining insights into his roots,
influences and artistry, his movies

and his life in the army. There’s

lots to see from his Automobile

Museum that has over 20 cars, his

1955 Pink Cadillac or the black 1973

Stutz Blackhawk III, the car he used

the night before he died. There’s

the Lisa Marie Conair 880 aircraft,

the fashionable outfits he wore on

stage, one better than the other, it

is all here. Elvis loved dressing up,

just wearing what he liked and felt

Downtown Memphis to visit Sun

Studio where his career started. You

learn all about the birthplace of rock

‘n’ roll; you can even stand on the

spot where Elvis stood, take a picture

with the microphone Elvis, Johnny

Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis used.

While many referred to him as

The King or the King of Rock ‘n’

Roll, he would calmly remark, “I am

not King. I am only an Entertainer.”

Elvis’ charisma, style and that deep

melodic voice that measured every

word, is unforgettable. So rich and

velvety. It was Elvis’ dream to sing.

He taught us that dreams can come

true.

Photos: Verus Ferreira

The Billiards Room

The piano Elvis used the

night before he died.

Elvis’ speedboat Elvis’ Cadillac Elvis’ Rolls Royce

The Meditation Garden wherelies

buried alongside his parents,

grandmother and his twin brother