Elvis Presley was one of the greatest musicians in rock 'n roll history - he revolutionized the way in which people enjoyed pop music, and became an all-American icon with untold wealth throughout the 60s and 70s. He was one of the catalysts that brought rock 'n' roll, primarily thought to be a black musical style, to wider acceptance by whites, and pushed boundaries of raciness and eroticism in American live musical performance. For such a living legend, one would expect his house to be incredible and lavish - Graceland fits all of these definitions and more. Starting out at the home of Elvis Presley, it soon became one of the most important cultural landmarks in America. Graceland is a testament to the importance and legacy of Elvis Presley, and of rock music's evolution into a popular art form, with a rich history and immense character.
Graceland is located in Memphis, TN, on what is now Elvis Presley Boulevard. The mansion spans nearly 14 acres, and rests about ten miles from downtown Memphis. The purchase of Graceland by Elvis was one of necessity; he needed a nice place to enjoy solitude and rest from the adoring fans he was constantly swarmed with. By 1956, Elvis had begun a star in the Memphis region, and ended as a worldwide sensation. In that year, he released two platinum-selling albums for RCA, had nearly a dozen appearances on national television, and became a movie star with Love Me Tender, his first movie in a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures. Elvis' appeal was new and exciting, as his provocative appearance made rock 'n roll cool for whites, and the controversy about his lewd performing style merely led to greater fame. Elvis had already purchased a three-bedroom ranch home in east Memphis, but he needed to move elsewhere due to the throngs of fans who would constantly beat down his door. What's more, his neighbors were also complaining about the cavalcade of fans disturbing their own homes in the neighborhood, which left Elvis with no choice but to find somewhere bigger and more isolated to go. To that end, he purchased Graceland from the YMCA, who had acquired it from the family of publisher Stephen C. Toof (Elvis Australia, 2012).
After Elvis bought Graceland in March of 1957, he made many of the significant changes to the property that you can still see today. He added the infamous music gates, large metal gates guarding the entrance to Graceland which are adorned with musical notes, as a special touch to emphasize that which made him so famous. His parents put in vegetable gardens and a chicken coop, since they had come to live with Elvis as well and wanted to accommodate their hobbies. Other buildings and additions were added as well to further embellish the property, which were only expanded when the location became a museum in 1982 (Elvis Australia, 2012). These additions helped to provide Elvis with a sanctuary from the outside world and its pressures, a small world in which he could live and get away from it all.
Elvis turned Graceland into an opulent palace, a fitful place from which to rule the genre of rock and roll, as well as the American cultural revolution. In 1964, Elvis built a meditation garden in the courtyard of Graceland, anchored by a circular, twelve-foot-long fountain pool and a series of jets that sprayed water up constantly. This allowed Elvis a measure of quiet in his private sanctuary away from the demands of the world, and it is where he would be buried after his death. In addition to the main house, there is a small brick guard house, a shuttle bus stop, and many other utilitarian buildings meant to facilitate transportation and security (Elvis Australia, 2012). The main house is decorated in an incredibly gregarious and quirky fashion, with different rooms having their own aesthetic. The Graceland Dining Room is filled with marble and richly decorated Romanesque chairs and class cabinets. The Jungle Room is the den in which green shag carpeting, comfortable furniture and strange 1970s wood paneling and coloring dominate; the room was also capped by a built-in waterfall (Elvis Australia, 2012). He would also use this room (as well as the TV and pool rooms in the basement) to record some of his most famous albums, Moody Blue and From Elvis Presley Boulevard.
While there, Graceland became more than just a home for Elvis; it was the home base for rock and roll, and Elvis' legacy itself. Elvis' family, even his extended family, stayed there and played both houseguest and bodyguard. Every one of his relatives were very well kept, with his father having a swimming pool in his bedroom, with a jukebox next to it with Elvis' most favored records. Elvis' own quirky aesthetic and unorthodox ways of living were reflected in the rooms; the TV room in the basement held three television sets, where he would watch them simultaneously - a full bar was also contained in the room. Graceland became so tied to Elvis' personality and tastes that when Elvis toured, he would ship his furniture ahead of time so the hotel rooms would be remodeled to befit his room at Graceland, allowing him some comfortable climes.
However, Elvis would not be able to enjoy the comforts of Graceland for long. When Elvis met an untimely death in 1977, Priscilla Presley became the executor of his estate after his father Vernon passed away. As the finances for maintaining Graceland grew, Priscilla turned Graceland into a museum to generate revenue for the Presley family and provide the lavish home as an American landmark. In 1982, Graceland opened to the public and provided tours throughout the property. Since that time, Graceland has entertained millions of people who visit Graceland, with thousands coming by every year. In fact, it is second only to the White House as the most visited home in America (History.com, 2012). To many of these visitors, Graceland takes on a significance that nears the religious. Many wish to see the "King of Rock and Roll" and understand more about his life, and where he came from. The museum itself offers this tour of the King's life, as relics and artifacts of Elvis' history and career adorn the halls of Graceland. Elvis is also buried at Graceland, in a mediation garden where people often pray and sing hymns celebrating the artist (Davidson and Gitlitz, 2002).
In addition to Elvis' home, Graceland became a cultural institution, and an international phenomenon. Celebrities and notable figures from around the world would be invited to visit Elvis' mansion and property, further indicating its relevance and significance as an American cultural landmark. In 1957, fellow musicians Richard Williams and Buzz Cason came to see Graceland; this was but the first of many instances in which Graceland would be guest to public figures in rock and roll, as well as in politics. In 2006, George W. Bush invited the Prime Minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, to tour the mansion, making it the first non-political venue for a meeting between two heads of government.
Elvis Presley is revered by many as one of the most prominent cultural and musical icons of the 20th century. His humble roots turning into extravagant, overnight success, Graceland is the perfect microcosm for Elvis' life. He lived opulently and eccentrically, all attributes that are more than evident in the Graceland museum and in his life. As his career grew, Elvis' identity became inextricably linked to Graceland, to the point where he would take the place with him wherever he went. For whatever reason, this was home for Elvis Presley, and he could not be parted with it, even in death. Now that he is gone, his legacy remains in the form of Graceland, and its status as a museum allows fans of rock and roll the chance to revisit their favorite musician, and understand this vital piece of American culture and history.
Works Cited
Davidson, Linda Kay and David Gitlitz. Pilgrimage, from the Ganges to Graceland: an
Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2002. Web.
Elvis Australia. "Elvis Presley's Graceland." Elvis Australia. Apr. 18 , 2012.
History.com. "Elvis puts a down payment on Graceland." History.com, Mar 19, 2012.
Marling, Karal Ann. Graceland: Going Home with Elvis. Cambridge: Harvard University Press,
1997. Web.
