It's all Elvis, all weekend. Put on your blue suede shoes, grab your good luck charm and surrender your wooden heart.
By SHANNON BREEN
Published May 21, 2004
Since his alleged death in 1977, Elvis Presley has been spotted everywhere from remote islands to embedded in slices of Swiss cheese.
And even though one might have difficulty making a distinction between the real Elvis and impersonators fashioning rhinestone jumpsuits and pompadour wigs, his devotees continue to pay homage.
Organizers are expecting nearly 2,000 fans at this weekend's second annual Elvis Festival sponsored by the city of Tampa's Parks and Recreation Department.
Spearheaded by Nilo Menendez, the department's arts and special events manager, the festival is unique in that it is sponsored by a municipality. Organizers hope to double last year's attendance.
"We needed another festival in the downtown Tampa area. We're just trying to find something different that would attract people to downtown," said Menendez, an Elvis enthusiast.
Presley breezed through the Tampa Bay area, most notably at the beginning of his career and near the end.
He first came to Tampa when he was 21, a month before he made musical history with his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. He performed at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory on Aug. 5, 1956, and at the Florida Theater in St. Petersburg two days later.
In 1961 Presley visited Weeki Wachee Springs during a break from filming the movie Follow That Dream, which was shot in Citrus and Levy counties.
In 1977 Presley was back, performing at Tampa's Curtis Hixon Hall and St. Petersburg's Bayfront Center. He died a few months later.
Presley was born to a poor Mississippi family during the Depression era. When he was a teenager, he moved to Memphis where he absorbed Southern pop music in the form of blues, country, bluegrass and gospel.
His 1950s recordings established the basic language of rock 'n' roll and his explosive and sexual stage presence set standards for the music's visual image.
Presley released a string of five singles that immediately sold well in the Memphis area and by 1955 were catching on with audiences throughout the South. He went on to achieve enormous success with releases such as Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel.
Tampa's festival, one of about four events sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises, kicks off at 7 p.m. today with the Viva Las Vegas Casino Nite at the TECO Atrium, 702 N Franklin St. Tickets are $50 and include prizes, appetizers and a one-hour Las Vegas-style concert.
A free street festival will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday along the Franklin Street Mall. Expect plenty of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, karaoke, classic cars, games, contest and a sock hop. Face painters will decorate fans with mutton chop sideburns.
Brent Howell and his four-piece band, the Cadillacs, will perform.
Other Saturday events:
5K Hound Dog Dash at 10 a.m. ($10);
Shake Rattle & Roll Pet Stroll and Elvis Look-alike Contest at 11 a.m. ($10);
'68 Come Back Special Concert at 1 p.m. ($11.25 for children ages 2 through 12, $16.25 for adults).
The festival wraps up Sunday with A Hunk a Hunk of Burning Love Vow Renewal and Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, 102 E Cass St. Tickets are $20.
Proceeds from the weekend's event will benefit Friends of Tampa Recreation Inc.
The Elvis Festival pass costs $75 and includes admission to all events. For information, call 274-8981 or go to www.tampatheatre.org
