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CNN Live Today

Interview with Todd Morgan

Aired August 14, 2002 - 10:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Elvis may have left the building, but his presence is still felt by legions of fans, and as we approach the 25th anniversary of his death, the faithful are making a pilgrimage to Graceland to pay tribute to the king.
Todd Morgan is director of media relations and creative development at Graceland. He is joining us -- it looks like in the rain to talk about Elvis Week at Graceland -- things a little soggy there, Todd?

TODD MORGAN, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS, GRACELAND: Oh, it is just a little bit damp, but we expect this all to blow over, and it is not dampening any spirits around here. We are having a great time.

KAGAN: I would imagine it would take more than a rainstorm to dampen the diehard Elvis fans that show up. Now, this Elvis week happens every year, but this year is special because of the 25th anniversary of the King's death.

MORGAN: Yes, it is the biggest Elvis Week we've ever had in terms of fans coming in from all over the world, and also media coverage from everywhere. It's always big, but this one is the biggest of all, and I think it has a lot to do, with, Yes, it's the 25th anniversary, but also Elvis has been in the news a lot this year with some high-profile projects.

KAGAN: So when you say big, how many people do you expect?

MORGAN: Over the nine days of Elvis Week, with fans and tourists and media, and everyone participating, we will see between 50,000 and 70,000 people.

KAGAN: Wow. That is a lot of people. Now, I myself have made the pilgrimage to Graceland twice.

MORGAN: Good.

KAGAN: Yes, I enjoyed it very much. As late as last year I was there with some friends. And I know it is not necessarily an easy ticket to get. I guess if you haven't been there -- if you haven't made your plans for this week, you probably don't want to show up now.

MORGAN: No, actually, you can still get in. A lot of the fans don't tour because they have been through Graceland so many times. They are out at events all over the place, day and night. Concerts and social gatherings and events of all kinds. KAGAN: I will tell you a couple of things that struck me about going through Graceland. First of all, the house itself is not that big, as you would expect -- what we -- today the modern, big rock stars live in.

MORGAN: Yes, it's not grandiose or particularly lavish. It's very homey, very warm and comfortable. It's dated, in the '50s, '60s and '70s in its decor.

KAGAN: Yes, that shag carpet will do that to you, Todd.

MORGAN: Yes, but it is a very nice space. It is -- I think people are gratified when they come through, and they feel a real human connection to Elvis. It is like, Hey, I could move in and update the decor and live here myself. They get a real sense of him in the intimacy of this home.

KAGAN: Yes, absolutely. I will tell you something else that you guys do another good job at, with the headphones that you wear and the digital recorders, you do a really good job telling the Elvis story and how this young man from Tupelo, Mississippi went on to become this international rock star, and whether it's your costumes you are getting to look at, or his days in military, or the albums, you really -- Elvis really does come alive when you make that visit.

MORGAN: It's an amazing story, and we are always looking for new and better ways to tell that story and to present that story to our visitors, over 600,000 visitors a year.

KAGAN: Now, two of those visitors on Friday, I understand, are to be Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley.

MORGAN: Yes. Well, tomorrow night, we have the candlelight vigil, which the fans created years ago, and that happens here at Graceland tomorrow night, and we have a live vigilcast, our own news program, that we do over the Internet. You can learn all about it on our Web site, Elvis.com. And then Friday night, we have our 25th anniversary concert. We have brought together over 30 of the singers and musicians who worked with Elvis, and Elvis himself stars in the show. We have...

KAGAN: How does that happen?

MORGAN: Actually pretty easy. We have our favorite Elvis concert footage we edit together into a show format. We drop out all of the sound from the footage except for Elvis' vocal, and everybody else is live on stage, and it's just amazing, and a couple of songs into it, you will swear he is really there. You forget he's not with us anymore.

KAGAN: Well, you know...

MORGAN: It's a very powerful experience. We've been touring with a smaller production for several years now, but this show Friday night is a one of a kind experience.

KAGAN: You know, Todd, there are those people out there who still think he is among us.

MORGAN: Well, I can promise you that he's not.

KAGAN: He's not.

MORGAN: But it is absolutely perfectly clear that his music and his legacy will live on forever. I have no doubt about that.

KAGAN: That it will, as well as the experience at Graceland. Todd Morgan, thanks for braving the rain. We appreciate it...

MORGAN: Thank you.

KAGAN: ... on this mid-point of Elvis Week.

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