Elvis in AZ at Musical Instr. Museum

Photo from MIM

Elvis Week celebrates Elvis in Arizona as part of the Arizona Centennial Celebration this year.  Elvis Presley is one of the most important musicians of the 20th Century, having sold over 1 billion records world-wide, more than any other artist.  A rotating Elvis exhibit has become one of the most popular exhibits at the MIM.  For August 10-16th, the Musical Instrument Museum showcases Elvis's connection to Arizona with memorabilia from the 1969 movie Charro! filmed at Apacheland Studio at Gold Canyon, the only movie in which Elvis did not sing on screen.  The museum will show the movie this week, have costumes from his AZ tours such as the "Red Flower" jumpsuit seen here, which weighs 50 lbs, and display Elvis' Martin D-28 acoustic guitar and case newly restored by MIM conservationists.  The DeCap dance organ will play a medley of Elvis tunes, and sheet music will be available at the lobby Steinway for talented pianists to play at will.  (I have heard amazing impromptu concerts by visitors who just sit at that marvelous piano and play.) Elvis died 35 years ago this week, Aug. 16, 1977.