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Elvis Presley's Death

For many Memphians of a certain age, August 16, 1977 was really “The Day the Music Died.” Elvis Aaron Presley died at his mansion, Graceland. 

A native of Tupelo, Elvis moved to Memphis as a teenager. After high school, he walked into Sun Studios to make a record for his mother, Gladys.

Sam Phillips heard him and realized that he had found a white singer with a black feel. Hits like “That's All Right Mama” and “Hound Dog” left the music world all shook up. And it's still shaking.

Although Elvis died in 1977, his recordings still sell in the millions, even in the 21st century. His movies are still shown on television, and new books about Elvis continue to be published.

Graceland is the second-most visited home in the country, after the White House. Thousands of people from around the world are in town this week to remember Elvis, his life, and his music.

To learn more about Elvis, visit the Pink Palace exhibit Elivs at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer

To learn more about all of our region's history, visit the Pink Palace Family of Museums, their Facebook page, or http://www.memphismuseums.org.

My mother introduced me to WKNO-FM and public radio long before I can remember. I suppose the first thing I really recall about WKNO-FM is that every afternoon, when my mother picked me up from school, the radio was tuned-in to The World, then All Things Considered, probably beginning around age 8. The way these reporters and hosts took you from the comfort of your mom's van to wherever in the world they were reporting from absolutely fascinated me. From then on, I was officially hooked.
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