All Shook Up: Memphis and the Cult of Elvis

Though some believe he still lives, most people accept the fact that Elvis - 'The King' - has long since passed on from this world. However, that hasn't stopped his legions of fans from embarking on the Elvis tour in their tens of thousands.

Every year, the town of Tupelo (Elvis Presley's humble place of birth) near Memphis, hosts its annual Elvis Festival: a competition for Elvis impersonators. It is thought that no other figure in history has been so heavily impersonated as Presley; people come from all ethic backgrounds and nationalities, from Indian to Icelandic, German to Japanese. Many simply concentrate on the visual element of Elvis' fashion and style, often selecting the iconic white suit, red cape, sideburns and gold rimmed sunglasses to achieve this. Others specialise in sounding like Elvis, attempting to emulate Elvis' tone to talk or sing like him. And there are those who do their best to both look and sound like the singer.

Many Elvis impersonators are so engrossed by the performer, that they believe they have been chosen by him to continue his work, and they judge themselves and each other by their authenticity and ability to channel Elvis's true essence. They believe that 'true impersonators' don't do it for monetary gain and are more interested in performing as 'missionaries', to spread the message of 'The King'. There is also a section of Elvis impersonators who don't perform to audiences at all; instead they just dress as 'The King' which they believe is spreading his word by example.

The sad demise of Elvis has been documented in many books and films. The superstar became massively obese, with a famously unhealthy diet, made up of staples such as the "Elvis Sandwich" - a fried sandwich consisting of peanut butter, bananas and sometimes bacon too. He also relied heavily on cocktails of sedatives and amphetamines, to keep him awake or help him sleep, and it was this combined with his poor diet that is thought to have accelerated his death at the relatively early age of 42.

Though it's now over three decades since Elvis died, international love for 'The King' shows little signs of waning, and hotels in Memphis continue to swell with Elvis fans who come to see where the star grew up, performed and wrote many of his songs. At the heart of this pilgrimage, is Graceland, a 13.8 acre estate and mansion that was once the home of Elvis. Situated at 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis, Tennessee, the house now serves as a museum for fans and was opened to the public in 1982.

Elvis may have moved on from this world, but his memory lives on in the hearts and homes of thousands of people around the world, and the today, the cult of Elvis is stronger than ever.

About the Author

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.