This is the first part of a two part series detailing the expectations
of a first-time visitor to Tupelo Elvis Festival. The second part will be made
available Monday, June 9, and it will feature the first-timer’s experiences at
the festival.
When a town in Mississippi’s most famous person is Elvis
Presley, it only makes sense to celebrate that. Known as one of the most
influential artists ever, the Elvis spirit still resides in his hometown,
Tupelo. To honor that spirit, once a year, an event is held to celebrate the
life and legacy of Elvis, The Tupelo Elvis Festival.
Okay, so it’s confession time. This will be my first year to
attend the Tupelo Elvis Festival. Most people would say that I don’t fall into
the stereotypical Elvis Presley fan. I wasn’t born until 12 years after the
King passed away. I remember being in second grade and listening to Elvis
Presley’s “King Creole” soundtrack while all my classmates and peers were
jamming ‘NSYNC and Britney Spears.
Coming into my first Tupelo Elvis Festival experience, I’m
not entirely sure what to expect. Growing up, I saw the Elvis imitators on
television programs, Halloween and on street corners performing for
change. As a young fan, I smiled at the
mention of my favorite artist, but there was always a certain level of
degradation in the exaggerated satire.
However, I’ve learned that the performers at Elvis Fest are
not imitators but Elvis Tribute Artists (ETAs). These people have a sense of
pride in the way they honor the legacy of The King. This will be my first experience with ETAs
and I’m excited to see the different interpretations of Elvis’ memory. The
great thing about music is that one song can affect so many different people in
so many different ways. No piece of art will ever move someone the same way, so
when you're able to gather a glimpse of someone else’s translation/perception
it offers a new appreciation.
The idea of being generations younger than the people who
grew up listening to him is sometimes intimidating. They have fond memories of
watching his ’68 Comeback Special live on television and even remember the
specifics of what they were doing when they found out he passed away. To
me, my memories pale in comparison when they include saving up my allowance to
buy “Elvis’ Golden Records” on cassette and then a few years later buying his
CDs.
While the intimidation looms, it’s also a reason to
celebrate. This is an opportunity for me to hear stories about people meeting
Elvis, seeing him in concert and talk about his music and how we believe it has
influenced history. Not to mention, DJ Fontana and Sonny Burgess performing/in
attendance is an opportunity to hear from those who knew him on a personal
level.
The greatest thing, in my mind, about the Tupelo Elvis
Festival is not that it just celebrates the life of Elvis Presley, but it
honors his influence. It is impossible to find an artist in the last half
century that wasn’t in some way directly or indirectly influenced by Elvis. By
bringing in artists such as Sister Hazel and Joe Nichols, the festival is
acknowledging the breadth of his influence.
Living in Tupelo, it becomes very hard not to become
immersed into the “Elvis Culture.” The fingerprints of the universally heralded
“King of Rock ‘N’ Roll” literally touch the entire town. His story of
overcoming the odds has become a trademark on the town’s spirit and his musical
legacy still inspires artists when they visit. However, often it becomes
commonplace when you see the sites every day, but the opportunity to celebrate
the life and legacy of Elvis in his hometown through such an event is an
incredible reminder of the importance of this incredible musician.
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