Elvis Presley would have been 75 years old tomorrow, if he hadn’t happened to die in 1977. So there’s a whole lotta Elvis goin’ on around town this weekend.
In addition to the annual tribute show at PlayhouseSquare’s State Theatre featuring several Elvis imitators and real-life Elvis drummer — and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee — D.J. Fontana, taking place Sunday, the Rock Hall is devoting Friday and Saturday to paying homage to one of rock’n’roll’s most prominent and influential artists.
Events kick off at noon Friday with a cake-cutting and an opportunity for fans to sign a birthday card that will be sent to Elvis’ Graceland mansion/museum. At 2 p.m., chief curator Jim Henke will meet with visitors at the Elvis exhibit in the main exhibition hall to talk about the significance behind the items in the exhibit.
Footage of Elvis’ 1986 induction as part of the Rock Hall debut class, and the inductions of his band members — Fontana (2009), bassist Bill Black (2009), guitarist James Burton (2001) and guitarist Scotty Moore (2000) — will screen continuously both days.
And Saturday afternoon starting at 11:45, footage from Elvis’ 1973 Aloha From Hawaii TV special will be shown in the 4th-floor Foster Theater. And the first 1,000 paid visitors each day will get a three-song Elvis sampler. Go to rockhall.com for more info. —Anastasia Pantsios
This article appears in Jan 6-12, 2010.