Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Local Elvis tribute artist will help celebrate the King's birthday in Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. -- The city of Tupelo will celebrate Elvis Presley's 75th birthday in January with special exhibits, art displays and concerts.

Presley was born in Tupelo and moved to Memphis when he was 13. Presley died at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977, and is buried in a small garden on the grounds. His 75th birthday is Jan. 8.

The Tupelo festivities will kick off Jan. 7 when 14 metal guitars painted by students in the local public schools will be unveiled in downtown Tupelo. The 6-foot guitars will be a permanent display in downtown Tupelo.

Debbie Brangenberg, executive director of the Downtown Tupelo/Main Street Association, tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that the celebration will continue that night, with a concert by Elvis tribute artists Bill Cherry, of Collinsville, and Brandon Bennett of Ponchatoula, La.

Bennett won the tribute artist competition at the Tupelo Elvis Presley Festival in 2007, and then won the title of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist in 2008.

Cherry, who won the Tupelo competition in June, went on to win the Ultimate Tribute Artist competition a few weeks later.

On Elvis' birthday, a special exhibit will be unveiled at the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau. Details have not been announced. Linda Johnson, executive director of the CVB, says it is a special project the city is working on with Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Also, country music star Marty Stuart will open "Sparkle & Twang: Marty Stuart's American Musical Odyssey" at the Tupelo Automobile Museum. The exhibit includes photos, costumes, lyrics and instruments belonging to musical legends.

Stuart also will perform and have a book signing, but details have not been confirmed, Johnson said.

Rounding out the day's events is the birthday party for Elvis at his Tupelo birthplace, which is now a museum.