The Gates of Graceland

Back in the late 80s, humorist Dave Barry wrote a surprisingly serious article entitled "Hearts That Are True," which would go on to appear in his book Dave Barry is Not Making This Up. He wrote the piece trying to uncover the mystery of exactly why Elvis was and is arguably the most popular performing artist of all time. He never really cracked the mystery -- but what Barry had to say about Elvis fans was no less interesting because of it.

Born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis's first record, That's All Right Mama, was released in 1954 -- a year after he had made his first amateur recording. He'd been a movie theater usher in high school and found work as a delivery truck driver before being "discovered" -- and his twenty-three year career would include 22 hit singles and and 33 film appearances. At one estimate, over a billion Elvis records have been sold, making Elvis the best-selling single recording artist of all time. (Estimates of the Beatles' records also put their sales over a billion, but when it comes to single acts, Elvis stands supreme.)

But if there's one thing that puts Elvis into the number-one slot, it is -- at least according to Barry -- his truly incomparable fans.

Barry interviewed a number of Elvis devotees for his article -- including those he called the "gate people," referring to the fans who had gathered around the front gates of Graceland during the 60s and 70s. Some of the gate fans were visitors to Memphis, but many of them were regulars, coming to the gates night after night after night, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Elvis or get his autograph.

The gate people were an entirely new class of fan, one that maybe hadn't existed before Elvis Presley mania. It was a devotion to the man and the music that, as Barry put it, seemed to mirror those figures who are "the focal point of a major religion."

August 16th marked the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. (Fans paid tribute at Graceland by holding candlelight vigils.) But despite the years, Elvis's fan base seems none the smaller. To find out more about the life of Elvis -- and his fans -- check out these links and references.

Elvis Fans:

Thousands of Elvis Fans Flock Graceland Vigil (Yahoo) -- More about the candlelight vigil held at Graceland.

Elvis Fans Greeted at Graceland by Pricilla, Lisa Marie (CBS) -- A surprise greeting for fans gathered at Graceland to mark the 35th anniversary.

Fan Relations -- Find a local fan club chapter through the Official Website of Elvis Presley.

Elvis Online:

Elvis Presley: Official Website of the King of Rock 'N' Roll -- Everything Elvis. Biography, news archives, videos, music downloads, wallpaper, an online membership club, extras, and more.

Graceland (From the Official Site) -- Find out more about Elvis's Graceland mansion. You can even take a 360 degree virtual tour!

Tupelo, Mississippi: The Birthplace of Elvis -- The town still celebrates their status as the birthplace of music's biggest celebrity. There's a driving tour, a yearly festival, and the Birthplace itself -- the two-room house where Elvis spent his early childhood.


Elvis @ Your Library:

Elvis music albums from the collection

Elvis films and concerts on DVD and Blu-ray from the collection

Elvis biographies -- All about the life of Elvis Presley. Includes some DVD documentaries and audiobooks.

Elvis novels -- The legend of Elvis lives on in these stories featuring the King of Rock 'N' Roll.

Dave Barry is Not Making This Up -- Read Barry's original article on Elvis fans, "Hearts That Are True."

Elvis's second appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show

-- Post by Ms. B