Graceland and West!

As the great Paul Simon wrote and sang:

"The Mississippi Delta, was shining

Like a National Guitar.

I am following the river

Down the highway

Through the cradle of the Civil War.

I'm going to Graceland, Graceland

in Memphis, Tennessee.

I'm going to Graceland.

Poorboys and Pilgrims with families

We are going to Graceland. . ."

OK so we toured Elvis' home, Graceland, in Memphis.

I honestly didn't know what to expect. I was never a huge Elvis fan to begin with. He came on the world music scene when I was a little too young to get it, and in the 60s, when I became aware and interested in music, the Beatles overtook the fifties genre of Rock and Roll. And of course in the seventies, he was doing most of his entertaining in Vegas and became sadly addicted to prescription drugs, dying much too young.

We got up and checked out of our room at the Heartbreak Hotel early in order to be the first group to go through the mansion. The people who sold us the tickets tried to talk us into a "package" which includes touring two, yes two, airplanes that sit on the grounds. One is the "Lisa Marie", a Boeing 707, and the other is "The King" a large twin engine corporate jet. We declined, our reasoning being that the "Mansion" was enough.

We boarded a shuttle bus along with dozens of "seniors on a spree" to make the short journey across the street.

The house sits up on a hill, it's large, but not overly enormous. Honestly, not ostentatious from the outside, a large colonial style. It was purchased in 1957, when Elvis was 22, for something like $125,000.

The interior is decorated in the early seventies look. Not the best decade for style. Lots of mirrors, dark colors, shag carpet, glitz. Every modern convenience of the day, such as stereo systems, TVs, a huge pool table, a jungle room. Elvis had his parents living with him and they had a whole wing to themselves.

There are lots of photos of Pricilla, and Lisa Marie. There is a very large display of his clothes, including the elaborate costumes he wore in his Vegas days.

My favorite section of Graceland was the very extensive display of his early career and record of how he got his start in the music business. Old films of a very young man on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Steve Allen Show. Then there is a very long hallway with his gold and platinum records, numbering well into the two hundreds. And that is just in the States. Also on display are his Emmy awards and countless plaques and testimonials.

I was struck by how much of a philanthropist Elvis was and how generous he was with family and friends, giving them money, cars and homes as needed.

Was it worth it? Yes, I'm happy to have seen Graceland. It's a slice of American music history.

After that, we hit the road across Tennessee, into Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Whew!

Next stop: Santa Fe NM.