American Odyssey: Graceland

CEBU, Philippines - After traveling over three hours from Nashville to Memphis, we checked in at the Holiday Inn Express for a good night’s sleep, but  not before having  dinner at Marlowe’s where they serve perhaps the best baby back ribs and barbecue in Tennessee.  The place is an Elvis-inspired resto operated by Sandy Pichon who also authored the book “Raised on Elvis” Sandy said Elvis used to eat in  the resto.  We were at the pick up point at exactly 8:30 am for the 9am guided tour of the Graceland Mansion, the house of Elvis Presley.  Graceland  has a land area of 14 acres and was built in 1939 by a Memphis doctor who named it after his aunt, Grace.  Elvis paid $ 100,000 for the mansion in  1957.  We started the tour going around Elvis’s house and had a close look at his famous  Jungle Room,  Music room raquetball building, shooting range, gym, and a huge room that display his gold and platinum awards and his dozens of jumpsuits.  We were however prohibited  to go upstairs where his beroom is located.  Then we proceeded to the Meditation Garden where Elvis , his father Vernon, mom Gladys, Aunt Millie and twin brother Jesse are buried. Of course, I said  a little prayer.

Automobile  Museum

From the mansion we moved to his automobile museum that displayed over 30 vehicles.  Most famous was his pink Cadillac.  I also noticed a Chevy Bel Air, 3 Rolls Royces, Stutz Blackhawks, a 1975 Dino Ferrari, 1956 El Dorado Convertible, a Lincoln Continental and Mercedes Benz.  Elvis also owned several motorcycles including Harleys and BMWs. Our last stop was Elvis’s custom jets.  The Lisa Marie (named after his daughter) included a living room, private bedroom, suede chairs and 24-karat gold-flecked sinks.  His other plane was a smaller  Lockeheed Jetstar named Hound Dog II.  After the fantastic tour it was shopping for memorablia offered at 12 specialty stores.  I wanted to buy an authentic jumpsuit (same tailors that supplies Elvis’s garments).  “Pero hapit ko malipong when I was told that it costs $2,100.00 ( Php 90, 200)”.  The tour made us hungry but there were three restos at Graceland Plaza and these are Rock a Billys, Chrome  and Shake Split and Dip.  By the way,  we wanted to stay at “ Heartbreak Hotel” but it was full.  Before we left I wrote my name at the gate of Graceland.  After lunch at the world famous  Beale St.,  we visited Sun Studio where Elvis recorded his first hits.  Others who also recorded there  include Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison.  Then it was time to go back to Nashville.

Country Music  Hall of Fame

The following day we were up early for another tour, the Country Music  Hall of Fame  and Museum.  I was again  like a child drooling at the actual possessions of country music icons like the blue suede shoes of Carl Perkins, dresses of Brenda Lee and Dolly Parton, boots  of Kenny Rodgers, black shirt of Johnny Cash, piano  of Jerry Lee Lewis and guitar of Glen Campbell.   We were awed at the gold records  of Patsy Cline, Everly Brothers, Carrie Underwood and Hank Williams.  Our final stop was  RCA Studio B where some of greatest country singers including Jim Reeves, Perry Como, Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Chet Atkins, Ann Margret, Dolly Parton and Amy Grant, recorded their songs. Elvis recorded over 200 songs here including “It’s Now Or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight”.  Next column ELVISYA IN NEW YORK CITY.