All the Way To Memphis

“Well, it’s a mighty long way down the dusty trail.” Having just driven across the deserts of west Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, I now appreciate that line from Ian Hunter (aka Mott the Hoople).

As I left Amarillo, my DEF alarm went off indicating I had driven another 3,600 miles. It didn’t seem that long ago that I had filled it up. But then I had just driven across three huge states to western Arizona and then back across them again. It was a lot of miles, but being from New England, I thoroughly enjoy the flat treeless terrain.

East of Amarillo, the flat terrain of the Llano Estacado remained until we got to Oklahoma City. Then gentle rolling hills start to appear, more trees appear, and more development. By the time we got to Arkansas, the high plains were gone and we were back in Anywhere Rural USA. The terrain is flat pasture/farm land. It looks like it could be Alabama, Missouri, Louisiana, South Carolina, or Virginia.

We took two days to get across Oklahoma and Arkansas boondocking at Camp Wal-Mart and a Camping World. It’s been 3 months since we left home and I was starting to get anxious to get back. But there was a key stop on the itinerary and that stop was Graceland in Memphis, TN.

I have never been a big Elvis fan, but I had heard that Graceland was a worthy stop. It proved to be true. We stayed at the Graceland RV Park right across the street from the Mansion. It’s mostly an RV parking lot with hook ups that sits behind The Heartbreak Hotel. It’s a little pricey at $35/night but you can walk to Graceland and all its attractions. Graceland is a tourist trap, but you get a really good glimpse into the extraordinary life that was Elvis Presley.

At Graceland, I learned a couple of new things about Elvis.

He was born a twin. His brother, Jesse, came out first and died in child-birth.
Elvis’s natural hair color was light brown. He dyed it black because it made him look better on screen.
Elvis started singing and performing at the age of 10.
His elementary school music teach told him she didn’t think he had any potential as a singer.

Elvis blasted onto the music scene in 1956 when he was 21 years old with his #1 hit “Heart Break Hotel”. For most artists, to have a #1 hit, a #1 album, or a Grammy nomination, would make a successful career. Here’s what Elvis had;

He had thirteen #1 hit singles between 1956-1959.
He had seven #1 albums between 1956-1961.
He sold over 1 billion records – more than any other artist in the history of recorded music.
He had fourteen Grammy nominations and won three.
He starred in thirty-one movies.

Elvis was one of our most accomplished entertainers the word has ever seen. And his career only burned bright for a short 20 years. At Graceland, there’s a gallery of all his gold and platinum records and awards. Its impressive. I stood awestruck looking at this gallery. Image having just one gold record. Then look at what Elvis had. The opposite wall, where this picture is taken, is lined with gold records like the ones you see here in this shot.

Also on display are many of his trade mark jump suits that he wore on stage. Most of his performing outfits were made by the same man – Bill Belew. Bill is called – “The Man Who Dressed the King”.

Elvis bought Graceland in 1959 when he was 23 yrs old for about $100,000. It’s decorated the way it was when he died there in 1977. The tour covers the first floor, basement, and the grounds. It’s not a large house by today’s standards. But it is interesting to see the way he decorated it, especially the Jungle Room.