Photos: Vigil in Graceland marks 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death

Posted Aug 16, 2012

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Thousands of devotees converged on Graceland to mark the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death and got a surprise welcome from the King’s former wife and daughter, the first time Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley have appeared together at the annual gathering. The two women appeared on an elevated stage in front of the crowd Wednesday night, the eve of the Aug. 16 date when the rock and roll icon died at home in 1977 from a heart attack after battling prescription drug abuse.

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Elvis Presley fans take part in a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Priscilla Presley, left, Elvis Presley's ex-wife, and Lisa Marie Presley, right, the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, speak to fans gathered at a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Candles are reflected in a photo of Elvis Presley at a memorial set up by a fan at a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Jonnas Kobelt, of Tuscon, Ariz., listens to an Elvis Presley song as she stands outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis fan Maria Mendes (middle) lines up with thousand of fans from all over the world as they wait to see the gravesite of Elvis Presley Wednesday Aug. 15, 2012 at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. during a candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of his death. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Mark Weber)
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A memorial to Elvis Presley is displayed outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Priscilla Presley, left, and Lisa Marie Presley speak to fans gathered at a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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A man places a flower at Elvis Presley's grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Ann Marie McClain, of Horn Lake, Miss., wears a vest covered with Elvis Presley buttons as she takes part in a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fans take part in a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fans walk past his grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Holly Tucker of Nashville, Tenn., attends a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Denise Recatto, right, of Baton Rouge, La., joins in a song with other Elvis Presley fans as they take part in a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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A man places a flower at Elvis Presley's grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Fans pass by Elvis Presley's grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Fans walk to Elvis Presley's grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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These items were part of the Ultimate Elvis Auction II held Wednesday Aug. 14, 2012, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn. The "Tiger Man" sunglasses sold for $16,000. (AP Photo/Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal)
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Fans pass by Elvis Presley's grave during a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Priscilla Presley, left, Elvis Presley's ex-wife, and Lisa Marie Presley, right, Elvis Presley's and Priscilla Presley's daughter, speak to fans gathered at a candlelight vigil at Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans from around the world are at Graceland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley impersonator Dennis Nickells, from Vernon, N.Y., performs for drivers on Elvis Presley Boulevard in front of Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Presley fans from around the world are at Graceland to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of his death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fans Cheryl Skogen, left, and Susan Struss, both from Los Angeles, wait in line outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans are lined up to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fan Ann Lawlor, of Croydon, England, waits in line outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans are lined up to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fan Mary Ann Seiber, from Knoxville, Tenn., waits in line outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans are lined up to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley chairs hold spots for people waiting outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Fans are lined up to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fan Margaret Rabalais, left, of New Orleans, holds her spot at the head of the line outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. The fans are lined up to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of Presley's death. Rabalais has been waiting in line since 10 p.m. Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fan Adrian Cornelius, of Coleman, Ala., waits in line at the graffiti-covered wall in front of Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Presley fans from around the world are at Graceland to take part in the annual candlelight vigil marking the 35th anniversary of his death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Elvis Presley fans wait outside Graceland, Presley's Memphis, Tenn. home, to take part in the annual candlelight vigil on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Presley fans from around the world have come to Graceland to remember the 35th anniversary of his death. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)