Wow, Elvis would have been 75 this Friday, January 8. This may not be high on the list of things that locals will focus on when planning the weekend’s entertainment, but you can bet that thousands on people from around the world will be coming to Memphis for that one very special reason. Think about it – along with FedEx, Elvis is one of the major iconic economic engines for our city. Anything that draws tourist dollars to our city is good and when that thing is something as utterly cool as Elvis, so much the better. For those of us who grew up here — driving by Graceland at Christmas to see the blue lights, listening for the next top 40 hit of our hometown hero on AM radio — all the clutter than surrounds the Elvis image just melts away when we hear that familiar voice. It’s a throwback to childhood and home to hear the King.
So what are you going to do to celebrate? Well there’s a whole list of events officially sanctioned as being cool by our friends at Graceland. My favorite of the bunch this year is the Elvis Tribute Artist offerings at about 10 clubs up and down Beale Street on Saturday, January 9. Friends, there’ll be good rockin’ that night on Beale so come check it out. Raidfords will still be there next week. 
i’m going to be buying a new pair of blue suede shoes, of course!