Commemorating the 35th anniversary of Presley's death.
MEMPHIS: Fans of Elvis Presley cheered as his daughter and ex-wife appeared publicly at Graceland to personally thank them for their loyalty, 35 years after the music legend's death.
Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley spoke for little more than a minute on Wednesday at the start of an all-night candlelight vigil in memory of the king of rock 'n' roll, who died suddenly on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42.
But it was enough to thrill the mainly older but passionately dedicated crowd that returns every year to Presley's beloved home in Memphis to celebrate his life and music.
“I know this is something Elvis would never ever have believed would have taken place here,” said Priscilla, in a white suit, looking out over a sea of candles across all six lanes of Elvis Presley Boulevard.
“You know this: he loved his fans, and this is proof that you love him... We thank you very, very much for all that you do to keep his legacy going on and on and on,” she said.
Lisa Marie, 44, who opted for a dark outfit, said: “”I've always avoided this because I thought it would be too emotional but I really felt it was important to come down here tonight and be with you.
“We love you. I love you very, very much and I am honored to see you here and we're grateful that you are in our lives and we're really happy to be part of this tonight with you.”
The music-themed gates of Graceland, where Elvis is buried with his parents amid statues of Jesus Christ in a small “meditation garden” next to a swimming pool, stayed open all night to a steady stream of candle-bearing well-wishers.
Graceland spokesman Kevin Kern said the turnout - on a hot and dry summer evening - was expected to match or exceed the record 75,000 who turned up for the vigil for the 30th anniversary of Presley's death in 2007.
“There are lot of folks who don't come until after the vigil starts,” Kern said. “We have folks who trickle in throughout the night and it continues well into the next morning.”In what has become a yearly ritual of near-religious proportions, Wednesday's vigil included a brief moment of silence, plus several of Presley's more spiritual recordings, played over loudspeakers.
