All shook up: Faithful flock to Graceland to mourn anniversary of Elvis' death

Photo by Jim Weber // Buy this photo

Elvis fans from all over the world gather Monday at the gates of Graceland for a candlelight vigil marking the 34th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.

2011 Elvis Week Candlelight Vigil

Elvis Presley

Photo by Jim Weber

Elvis tribute artist Marcos Santos gives a personal serenade to Louise Smith of Southaven during a performance in the Graceland Entertainment Pavilion before a vigil marking the 34th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley on Monday.

Photo by Jim Weber

Charlotte Stone of Griffin, Ga., can't keep the tears back as the Elvis song "Can't Help Falling in Love" plays during the vigil. About 20,000 fans lined up Monday to walk past the grave of "The King" of rock and roll.

Photo by Jim Weber

Brandon Bird, 9, tries to keep cool in his self-designed jumpsuit during an event in the Graceland Entertainment Pavilion on Monday.

The people who pay their respects, some year after year, at the ornamented gates of Graceland have a love-hate relationship with numbers.

It matters little that today, the 34th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, was ushered in by average attendance at the annual candlelight vigil Monday night, where an estimated 20,000 people walked solemnly past "The King" of rock and roll's grave.

For the true blue fans, off-year anniversaries and nonrecord crowds can seem like a respite from the round-numbered years when throngs pack the street in front of the famed Memphis tourist attraction.

Even the usually steamy August temperatures took the year off, perhaps dissuaded by the slump in media interest. As the sun went down on a cool evening and the cicadas hummed along to "Are You Lonesome Tonight," a serene and easygoing atmosphere surrounded the event.

But numbers do matter to some.

Twenty is the number of times that Bill Rowe, 61, has been first in line at the vigil. It will likely be his last, he says. Doctor's orders. Diabetes has caught up with him, and while it won't stop him from coming from Dayton, Ohio, again next year (his 35th annual visit), he won't be pulling up a lawn chair at 2:30 a.m. to wait 18 hours for the ceremony to start.

Does he consider himself the No. 1 fan? He's often posed that question.

"Who's to say what makes a true fan?" he asks in return, getting choked up. "Is it the guy who's first in line for 20 years, or somebody on welfare who saves up to buy an Elvis bauble? Elvis treated all his fans with respect and equality."

Twenty-eight is the number of times Rowe saw Elvis live in concert. He points to a guy in a white shirt farther down the line.

That guy, Joe Makowski, 60, visiting from Palm Harbor, Fla., has seen 81 concerts. It took a lot of tips to the maître d's in Vegas to get front-row seats, but the upgrades got him several handshakes and four scarves. He even has one autograph.

"It seems like yesterday I was on my way to Portland when I heard that Elvis died," he said. "Some friends and I came straight to Memphis. I've been a dozen times since. I'm here because my girlfriend didn't realize what a fanatic I was. This is her first."

It was also the first vigil for Scott Wynn and Bridget Malloy of New York City. Wynn was taking snapshots on his vintage Polaroid Automatic 100 instant camera. His pictures -- of Elvis tattoos, memorial bouquets and fans -- had the muted glow of images from another era, as if the past were being captured in the present.

Of course, Presley himself is an evergreen memory from another era, despite his death on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42.

In the past year, Hungary made him an honorary citizen. A city park in Budapest, right on the Danube, now bears his name.

Elvis Week was also celebrated in Phoenix this year, where a new, permanent Elvis exhibit has been installed at the Musical Instrument Museum.

Also, a new 5-CD repackaging of his early music will be released in September.

"It's exciting that, 34 years after his death, Elvis is still being celebrated around the world," said Kevin Kern, media director of Elvis Presley Enterprises. "It's not just about the number of people here on Elvis Presley Boulevard each year, but about the millions of people around the world keeping his memory alive."

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