ENTERTAINMENT

Fans flock to Graceland to celebrate Elvis' 79th birthday

Adrian Sainz The Associated Press
Published Wednesday, January 8, 2014 12:50PM EST

Bonnie Avent stands with other Elvis fans to get a piece of cake to celebrate Elvis' birthdayat the Elvis Presley Birthplace Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 in Tupelo, Miss. (AP Photo/Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Thomas Wells)

Text:

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Elvis Presley fans have gathered at Graceland to honour the late rock 'n' roll icon's 79th birthday.

Television personality Wink Martindale and Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush, attended Wednesday's celebration at Graceland, Presley's longtime Memphis home. The event featured a cake cutting and the singing of "Happy Birthday" by 16-year-old Canadian David Thibault.

Presley was born in Tupelo, Miss., on Jan. 8, 1935, and moved to Memphis with his parents at age 13. He was 42 when he died Aug. 16, 1977.

Presley recorded his first song "That's All Right" at Sun Studio in 1954. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the recording and the first radio airplay of the single by disc jockey Dewey Phillips on the "Red, Hot, and Blue" show.