ELVIS fans around the world are preparing to mark what would have been the King’s 70th birthday today (January 8).
In Blackpool, fans will meet for a three day convention aimed at finding the best Elvis impersonator in Europe. Meanwhile, Graceland, Elvis home in Memphis, will be the focus for US events with four days of celebrations planned – including a performance by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Elvis themed bingo at the Heartbreak Hotel.
A host of other large events are planned across the globe.
And there could be a major cause for celebration tomorrow as Elvis ‘Jailhouse Rock’ is looking strong to be this week’s number one in the UK – 47 years after its original release and 28 years after Elvis death. If it does top the charts it will be the 999th in UK pop history and Elvis 19th.
That might not be the end of chart action for the King in the coming weeks. His record label SonyBMG are releasing Elvis’ previous 18 number one singles – one a week – marking his 70th anniversary and hoping to set an unassailable claim for the most number ones by any artists ever in Britain.