MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) has announced an exciting lineup of events for Elvis Week 2013 to be held at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. Taking place August 10-17, Elvis Week is an annual, multi-day gathering of friends and fans from around the world celebrating the life and legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley. It has become a pop-culture phenomenon and an annual pilgrimage for music lovers from around the world. Tickets for all Elvis Week events are on sale now at ElvisWeek.com.
Following is a day by day calendar of key events to assist you in planning your coverage. Please contact david@thebeckwithcompany.com to secure credentials.
Saturday, August 10
Hard Rock Last Chance Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest – Round 2
Doors
open at 8:30 p.m. Show at 9:00 p.m. Hard Rock Cafe, 315 Beale Street.
See some of the best Elvis tribute artists in the world compete in the
“Last Chance” event.
Sunday, August 11
Hound Dog Tour: A Musical City Tour Celebrating Elvis by Backbeat
Tours
2:30 p.m. Tour departs from Backbeat Tours window at
Blues City Café, located at 140 Beale Street.
Hard Rock Last Chance Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest – Final
Round
Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Show at 9:00 p.m. Hard
Rock Cafe, 315 Beale Street. See some of the best Elvis tribute
artists in the world compete in the “Last Chance” event. Winner will
receive the last spot to compete in the Ultimate on Wednesday, August 14.
Monday, August 12
Salute to Memphis Music Featuring Memphis Jones and Brad Birkedahl
7:00
p.m. Elvis Week Main Stage, Graceland. Kick-off the Elvis Week Main
Stage events at Graceland featuring a night of Memphis music with
performances by the Memphis
Jones Band plus Brad
Birkedahl and The Burnin’ Love Band.
Tuesday, August 13
Humes Marker Dedication
10:00 a.m. Humes Middle School
(formerly Humes High School), 659 N Manassas Street. Elvis’ high school
classmates gather as they have a plaque dedicated in the king’s honor at
the site of Elvis former high school in Memphis. The dedication ceremony
will take place inside the school at the auditorium. Elvis friend George
Klein will be in attendance, along with a performance by singer Ronnie
McDowell. Humes High School is currently on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Showcase
1:00 p.m.
Elvis Week Main Stage, Graceland. Some of the semifinalists for the 2013 Ultimate
Elvis Tribute Artist Contest showcase their talents as they
prepare for the Ultimate contest.
Elvis at Stax Listening Party
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Stax
Museum of American Soul Music, 926 E. McLemore Ave. In
conjunction with the much-anticipated August 6th release of “Elvis at
Stax,” the 3-CD box set chronicling the music Elvis recorded at Stax
Studios in July and December 1973, RCA/Legacy Recordings is hosting a
listening party at Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Fans will have an
opportunity to stand in the very same spot where Elvis recorded the
music they are hearing, in addition to witnessing stories and details
behind the music and recording sessions from representatives of Sony and
special guest Norbert Putnam, who recorded with Elvis at Stax in
December 1973.
Wednesday, August 14
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Meet ’n’ Greet
10:00
a.m. - 12:00 noon. Hard
Rock Cafe, 315 Beale Street.
Conversations on Elvis
1:00 p.m. Elvis Week Main Stage,
Graceland. Hosted by Tom Brown, Vice President of Original
Productions for Turner Classic Movies (TCM), this event lets fans hear
from those who worked closest with the king – from friends, colleagues,
co-stars, musicians and more. Guests include: Mother Dolores Hart,
who starred alongside Elvis in “Loving You” and “King Creole” and left
Hollywood to enter a contemplative monastery, T.G. Sheppard,
who formed a close personal and professional relationship with Elvis
while promoting records for RCA - Elvis would later, as a token of their
friendship, give T.G. his first tour bus, and representatives from Sony
who will be talking about the new “Elvis at Stax” release joined by
bassist Norbert Putnam, who was part of the studio band for
Elvis’ December 1973 recording session at Stax.
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Semifinal Round
7:00
p.m. Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main. Twenty-nine of
the best tribute artists in the world compete in the Semifinal Round of
the 2013 Ultimate
Elvis Tribute Artist Contest for a chance to advance to
the Final Round on Saturday, August 17. The top 10 Elvis tribute artists
moving on to the Final Round of the competition will be announced at the
end of the Semifinal Round. Find
out more about the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.
Thursday, August 15
Elvis Gospel Celebration
9:00 a.m. Elvis Week Main Stage,
Graceland. A gospel celebration featuring Terry Mike Jeffrey,
Andy Childs and former members of J.D. Sumner
and the Stamps Quartet – Bill Baize, Donnie Sumner, Ed Hill and Larry
Strickland singing some of their favorite Elvis gospel songs on
stage.
Elvis Presley Fan Club Presidents’ Event
1:00 p.m. Elvis
Week Main Stage, Graceland. Elvis fans will celebrate the work of Elvis
Presley fan clubs during this special event. In addition to celebrating
and recognizing the work of fan clubs, the event will feature a program
of EPE company updates and special announcements, including the latest
from EPE media, marketing, licensing, merchandise, archives and more.
The special guest speaker for the event will be Sally Wilbourn,
who started as a receptionist for Sam Phillips at Sun in 1955. Sally
will share some of her favorite stories and memories of working at Sun
in the early days. Entertainer Andy Childs will be our
special guest host for this segment.
Candlelight Vigil
8:30 p.m. Gates of Graceland. After an
opening ceremony at the gates of Graceland, fans are invited to walk up
the driveway to Elvis’ gravesite and back down carrying a candle in
quiet remembrance. Gates remain open until all who wish to participate
in the procession have done so, which typically takes until the early
morning hours of August 16, the anniversary date of Elvis’ passing.
Friday, August 16
“Aloha from Hawaii” 40th Anniversary Enhanced Screening
7:30
p.m. Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main. Entertainment history will be
celebrated at the Orpheum with a special enhanced screening of Elvis’
landmark 1973 television event. Elvis’ “Aloha from Hawaii” aired in over
40 countries across Asia and Europe and was seen by more than one
billion people across the globe. It is regarded as the most watched
broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history. The
re-mastered video is featured in high-definition and edited to create a
special experience for the audience. Included will be rarely-seen
footage and audio. As a special enhancement to the evening, there will
be a performance by former members of J.D. Sumner and the Stamps
Quartet (Bill Baize, Donnie Sumner, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland).
Saturday, August 17
Elvis Presley 5K Run Benefiting Livitup, Inc.
8:00 a.m. The Elvis
Presley 5K Run starts and finishes at the Gates of Graceland.
After the race, join Livitup, Inc. across from the mansion.
Official Elvis Insiders Event
10:00 a.m. Elvis Week Main
Stage, Graceland. This year’s Elvis Insiders event will be a celebration
of all that is Elvis with special segments that highlight various parts
of Elvis’ life and career. Attendees will enjoy sneak peeks,
behind-the-scenes looks, rarely-seen videos, feature segments filmed
just for the event, special guests and much more. It will be a special
“inside” look at both Elvis and his home, Graceland. Special guests
appearances to include former members of J.D. Sumner and the
Stamps Quartet – Bill Baize and Donnie Sumner, who will talk
about Elvis’ “Aloha from Hawaii” concert; Grammy and Dove Award winner Mylon
Le Fevre, who was 17 years old when he wrote his first song,
“Without Him,” which Elvis later recorded for his album “How Great Thou
Art”; and DJ Fontana, who will share memories/stories about
the filming of the “’68 Special” which celebrates its 45th anniversary
this year.
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Final Round
7:00 p.m.
Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 N. Main. The top 10 Elvis
tribute artists from the August 14 Semifinal Round compete for the
title. The group will be narrowed down from ten to five before the
Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2013 is named. The show will also
feature a performance by 2012 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist winner Ben
Portsmouth. Find
out more about the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.
For a complete schedule of Elvis Week events, including ticket prices, guest bios and venues, visit ElvisWeek.com. Also now available for downloading is the free Elvis Week App for iTunes and Android users to plan their Elvis Week activities.
About Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), a division of CORE Media Group, Inc., is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com.
