Eye on Elvis Week: Sun Studio shines with Elvis fans

Photo by Alan Spearman // Buy this photo

Amy LaVere

Most people know Amy LaVere as a world-traveling, bass-thumping chanteuse of memorable songs and glorious voice. But today she is a Sun Studio tour guide (or as she says, a "history of rock and roll ambassador").

Although Elvis Week is well underway, Monday is a quiet one for visiting fans, a sort of pause in the action before it picks up steam on Tuesday. "We were slammed on Saturday," LaVere says, referring to the tours and visitors to the legendary studio that gave not only Elvis his start, but an array of musical talent whose spirits have not and never will leave the building.

Photo by By Jon W. Sparks, Special to The Commercial Appeal

Lydia Gilman leads a tour of Sun Studio Monday afternoon.

Today it's quieter here where Marshall Avenue angles into Union Avenue, although the first morning tour did sell out. LaVere, for one, loves Elvis Week: Not only do the days fly by, but there's a sweet vibe.

"It's interesting that the people with that apostolic fervor for Elvis -- which is a great thing -- search each other out in the room and exchange fan cards and become friends," LaVere observes. "That's really cool, seeing these people who really understand each other."

Tour guide Cora Pitt joked about how they do profiling of the Elvis Week fans. "Older ladies with Elvis T-shirts and purses," Pitt says, "plus buttons and pins and lots of makeup."

And Pitt tailors her presentation accordingly: "I've added more Elvis to my tour so they can get their fix."

At Graceland, officials were gearing up for what will be an increasingly busy week. Spokesman Kevin Kern said they expected 35,000 or more to come through for the nine days of events. Ticket sales are strong and some events have sold out, he said. "It's the end of summer travel and people are coming. It's good for us and good for Memphis -- we're both getting a summer bump."

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