With more than 500 estate registered fan clubs, and double those numbers that aren't official, Elvis and his legacy has grown to a size that I do not believe even the man himself could have even imagined.
At the time of Elvis' death, Graceland was valued at 4.9 million dollars, and reportedly required 480,000 dollars a year in upkeep. With Elvis no longer working to support the life style that he, his family and friends had grown accustom too, his annual income of about $1 Million a year was getting ready to drop to $500,000!
In 1979, after Vernon, Elvis' father passed, Priscilla was given some very sobering news, 'By 1993, there would be nothing left!' Lisa' trust fund, Graceland, the family, everything Elvis had worked so hard to support would be gone.
What would be left? There would be no more live concerts, no more studio albums, no new music! What were they to do? Priscilla knew.
The fans! Me and you! We were the obvious answer. We were the guarantee the Presley family was looking for.
Famous from the age of 19, Elvis had spent the majority of his life bonding with us, his fans. He loved us. We felt it. It was real and genuine, and most importantly, it was mutual. He was protective of us, often reminding his security, "They put me on that hill, Jack." and if he found out someone had not followed his "be nice" rule, all HELL would break lose! "Those are my fans! Not yours!" he would fly into a rant.
To this day, Elvis remains the most photographed and the most autographed entertainer in musical history! Why? Because he never said no. Even when in hurry, he would stop for just a few. Coming out of his house, whether it be Graceland or California, fans would wait, and times were rare that he would not stop. He was thankful for the life he'd been given, and he knew where it came from--God, me and you!
Elvis loved being Elvis! And he loved that we loved him in a way that nobody else could; a fantasy kind of relationship, immune to the troubles of the real world.
"I missed it, man, I just missed the closeness of a live audience." Elvis said upon his return to the live stage.
For the most part, Elvis enjoyed the attention, often drawing it to him. The stories of Elvis ousting himself while incognito are many! Yes. He liked the attention. And who could blame him? We all want to feel love, be loved.
"I never expected to be anybody important," Elvis Presley.
He couldn't have been more wrong!
Patricia Garber (TL)
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