EP 25: Elvis Week 2002 Comes to an End

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Sep 1, 2002

Priscilla Presley, looking radiant, opens the sold-out, one night only 25th Anniversary Concert at the Pyramid on August 16, 2002.

Flash cameras were allowed for this special occasion, as it just wouldn't be an Elvis concert without the flashing bulbs all around. The flashing reminded me of what Kathy Westmoreland had relayed in a recent interview, when she said, "And then the flashbulbs going off---tens of thousands of flashes a second for the entire hour, or hour and a half, deserve a chapter all by themselves. It was as if we were under a strobe light for the hours we were onstage, day after day after day." Yes it was a little like it was back in the 50s/60s and 70s except most people now have digital cameras.

The concert at the Pyramid was truly amazing as all the sound was removed except Elvis' vocal track allowing members from his original cast to perform live on stage in front and below him. We were glued to our seats as it began when a young boy from Memphis stepped out to perform from his early days and progressed to scenes of an older, more mature Elvis singing hits from the 70s. Numerous members of the Elvis concerts are on hand including, the The Jordanaires, The Imperials, The Stamps, the Sweet Inspirations, Cissy Houston, Millie Kirkham, Joe Guercio, and the TCB band, Boots Randolph, D.J. Fontana, Ronnie Tutt, and many more.

We were treated to the new video, set to a jailhouse rock type lay-out with swinging cell bars from the top of the screen to the bottom, "A Little Less Conversation" that has recently went to #1, setting yet another record for the greatest entertainer of the 25th century.

Lisa was overcome with emotion as she told the audience at the Pyramid about the song she had written for her father. You Made Me/I Love You. There was not a dry eye in the house as we read the words projected on the screen in front of us and watched pictures of a young Elvis and his daughter.

It's truly amazing how caught-up in the moment you are during the concert and really do find it hard to believe he's not really there as he smiles at you from the huge screen in front of you. It's a remarkable experience.

There were tents sit up in front of Graceland with media from arond the world the night of the vigil. An estimated 30,000 to 35,000 braved the storms and torrential downpours to walk through the gates and up the path to mediation gardens on August 15/16 2002.