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Historical event

Elvis Presley · 1977

Elvis Presley

Historical music event in the Radio Music History database.

August 18, 1977Accident⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description

Two girls from Missouri were killed and a third was critically injured when an eighteen-year-old Memphis driver drove into a crowd of more than 2,000 mourners outside the Graceland music gates at around 4 a.m. The driver was charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and two counts of second-degree murder. He ultimately served about two and a half years of a ten-year sentence.

Related events

  1. Elvis PresleyAugust 12, 1977
    Media⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Three former members of his security team, known as the Memphis Mafia, published the book Elvis: What Happened?, which described his drug use in detail for the first time; he died four days later.
  2. Elvis PresleyAugust 8, 1977
    Personal⭐⭐⭐
    In the early morning hours, Elvis Presley rented Libertyland amusement park as a special gift for his daughter Lisa Marie and a group of friends.
  3. Elvis PresleyAugust 10, 1977
    Film⭐⭐⭐
    Elvis Presley screened several films at General Cinemas in Whitehaven, including “The Spy Who Loved Me.”
  4. Elvis PresleyAugust 14, 1977
    Personal⭐⭐⭐
    He and Ginger Alden rode motorcycles together with his cousin Billy and Jo Smith.
  5. Elvis PresleyAugust 15, 1977
    Personal⭐⭐⭐⭐
    He planned to leave for a tour that was scheduled to begin in Portland. In the afternoon he watched television and in the evening went to the dentist. Fans at the gates of Graceland captured what were his last known live photographs.
  6. Elvis PresleyAugust 16, 1977
    Death⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Elvis Presley was found unresponsive in his bathroom at Graceland in Memphis by his girlfriend Ginger Alden. He was taken to Baptist Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 42.
  7. Elvis PresleyAugust 17, 1977
    Death⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock 'n' Roll”, died at the age of 42 in Memphis.
  8. Elvis PresleyAugust 17, 1977
    Memorial⭐⭐⭐⭐
    President Jimmy Carter issued a statement saying that Elvis's death had deprived the United States of part of its identity. He described Presley as unique and irreplaceable and praised his fusion of white country music with Black rhythm and blues.
  9. Elvis PresleyAugust 17, 1977
    Other⭐⭐⭐
    Florists Transworld Delivery announced that the number of flower orders delivered to Graceland in a single day had surpassed all previous records associated with any event in the company's history. Florists in the Memphis area ran out of supplies, and additional flowers had to be flown in from other cities.
  10. Elvis PresleyAugust 18, 1977
    Memorial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Elvis Presley's funeral service was held at Graceland from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Approximately 150 invited mourners were inside, while about 75,000 fans gathered outside. Elvis was then buried in a white marble crypt at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis near his mother Gladys's grave. In November, he was reburied at Graceland at his father's request.
  11. Elvis PresleyAugust 27, 1977
    Chart⭐⭐⭐
    Ten of Elvis Presley's albums reappeared on the charts. Fleetwood Mac's album “Rumours” was at No. 1 on the US album chart for the third time, and “Float On” by The Floaters reached No. 8 on the singles chart.
  12. Elvis PresleyAugust 29, 1977
    Legal⭐⭐⭐⭐
    Three men were arrested in Memphis while attempting to steal Elvis Presley's body from his mausoleum at Forest Hills Cemetery and demand a ransom for it. Police were waiting for them after receiving a tip about the planned break-in. The city of Memphis subsequently approved Vernon Presley's request to change the use of the land at Graceland and establish Presley Family Cemetery. Elvis's remains were then moved to the Meditation Garden at Graceland, where they were placed in safety.