Death

Every year on 16 August the "ELVIS WEEK" vigil has become the most watched online event via the Graceland cam. In death as in life Elvis will remain and remembered by his millions of fans around the world. Many around the world make the Graceland pilgrimage. Other say a prayer at the Graceland Chapel, others pop in a DVD and remember Elvis in concert, but mostly Elvis will remains in our hearts forever

August 16, 1977 was a day that, much like the day that President Kennedy was assassinated, everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news - "Elvis is Dead" Elvis Presley's funeral two days later became a media circus. With thousands of fans arriving in Memphis to pay their respects to the King at Elvis' Graceland.

August 18, 1977 Elvis funeral service at Graceland was followed by a ceremony and burial. A motorcade of 14 white Cadillacs with Elvis hearse driven by Trent Webb lined the streets from Graceland to Forrest Hill Cemetery. The officiating minister was Rev Bradley. Those attending the funeral included, Priscilla, Lisa Marie, Vernon and Minnie Mae Presley, Chet Atkins, Caroling Kennedy (who represented Rolling Stone Magazine) Ann-Margret with her husband Roger Smith, Col Tom Parker, James Brown, Charlie Hodges George Hamilton, Ginger Alden, Linda Thompson, Sammy Davis Jr. Jackie Kahane gave the eulogy and Kathy Westmoreland sang Heavenly Father. The pallbearers at Elvis' funeral were, Jerry Schilling Joe Esposito, George Klein, Lamar Fike Billy Smith, Gene Smith, Dr. Nichopoulous, "Son, Daddy will be with you soon. Daddy will be with you soon," cried Vernon Presley. Two years later 26 June 1979 Vernon Presley died of a broken heart. Elvis Eulogy | Elvis Will | Elvis Exhumed | Cause of Death | Elvis Autopsy | Elvis Coffin | Gladys Funeral

President Jimmy Carter's message to the nation was; "With Elvis Presley a part of our country died as well." Others said that the American Dream died with Elvis. There is no doubt that with Elvis' death rock n roll music died and the world would never be the same again.

Just after 2pm Tuesday, August 16, 1977 Ginger Alden found Elvis, face down, unconscious, on the floor in the bathroom at Graceland. Clad only in blue top and yellow pajama bottoms. Elvis was crouched over. His face dark and bloated. By 3.30pm Elvis had been pronounced dead after frantic ambulance ride to Baptist Memorial Hospital where an unprecedented number of specialists battled to save his life. The official verdict was death by heart failure. The hospital called Vernon Presley to tell him that his son was dead. Joe Esposito was going to announce the death, but was to overcome with grief. Half an hour later, on the steps of Graceland a grief stricken Vernon announced to the world: "My son, Elvis is dead..."

Within minutes the press headlines announced: The Memphis Press Scimitar announced:

• LONELY LIFE ENDS ON ELVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD

• The French headlines read: L'ADIEU A ELVIS!

• The British frontpage said: KING ELVIS DEAD AT 42 AND ALONE.

• The Soviet newspaper PRAVDA ran a full-page ELVIS IS DEAD. THE USA HAS GIVEN US THREE CULTURAL PHENOMENON: MICKEY MOUSE, COKE A COLA AND ELVIS PRESLEY

• The Australian Herald - ONE HOUR BATTLE FAILS. KING ELVIS DIES

• Richard Nixon asked Americans fly their flags at half-mast. In Tupelo Elvis' birthplace the mayor

  

  declared, August 16 an official day of mourning. RCA sold 400 million Elvis Presley records to distraught fans

Last known photo of Elvis taken hours before he died

Story Behind the Elvis in his Coffin Picture that appeared on the front page of the Nation Enquirer Tabloid on 6 September 1977: Iain Calder, veteran Editorial Director of National Inquirer wrote a book, The Untold Story: My 20 Years Running the National Enquirer. Calder admits they acquired the photo from Elvis' cousin Bobby Mann for $18,000. They bribed Mann to sneak a camera into Graceland and take a picture of Elvis� corpse. The shocking photo appeared on the cover of the Enquirer and led to a record-setting sale of 6.5 million copies for the issue. It has since become the most famous cover picture ever. The return on the investment reaped National Enquire over 1000% profit