Fans at Graceland mark 34th anniversary of Elvis’ death

Thousands of Elvis Presley fans gathered on Monday at Graceland, the singer's longtime Memphis home, to mark the 34th anniversary of his death.

The Associated Press reports that silent mourners, "heads bowed and candles in hand," filed past the grave of the rock 'n' roll icon and paid their respects, while some wiped away tears.

The event stretched into Tuesday morning. Presley died on August 16, 1977.

Police and an Elvis Presley Enterprises spokesperson told the AP that somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people attended the event, which is held annually as part of "Elvis Week." 75,000 people are expected next year, when the 35th anniversary of the King's death comes around.

The AP found people from Japan, England, Germany and other countries among those lined up Monday. Some were wearing Elvis outfits, while others opted for just his trademark sunglasses or sideburns. From the AP:

Patrick Lucas sported sideburns and a pompadour as he walked to the vigil with the rest of the Elvis Presley Fans of Alabama, a club he joined on the Internet. Hunter, 22, came from Ehlange-sur-Mess, Luxembourg, for the vigil.

"I try to be like him, in the ways that he was nice to people and how he treated people," Lucas said. "He was a giving person."

Paula Penna, from Campinas, Brazil, was attending her sixth vigil with several members of her family. She cried and hugged her husband, sister and aunt during the event.

Also in memory of Elvis, The Washington Post has republished the first article the newspaper ever ran about him. In May of 1956, reporter Jack Stone filed a story about a "tall, shyly earnest, shambling, 21-year-old native of Tupelo, Mississippi." Stone wrote:

In personal appearances and on TV, Elvis caught and held the teenagers with his supercharged voice and non-stop gyrations. With half-closed eyes, he releases lyrics like reluctant machine-gun bullets. He wriggles, bounces, ducks and thrusts his head about like a tracking beagle — all to the accompaniment of moaning idolizers.

At the end of the article, the young Presley told Stone that he'd "like to be a movie actor" adding: “if’n Ah can hol’ still long enough for the camera.”