What were you doing (if you were around of course) 40 years ago when the King died?
Forty years ago, on 16 August 1977, “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Elvis Presley died and rock lost its first superstar.
Elvis was found unconscious at his Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, and declared dead at a hospital. He was just 42.
On 17 August, tens of thousands of fans descend on Graceland to pay homage to their idol, who had been semi-retired since 1972.
On the six-lane “Elvis Presley Boulevard,” inundated with people, the cocktail of emotion, scorching heat and a stampede causes dozens of fainting fits as ambulances rush to the scene.
Many refuse to believe that Elvis had died.
The “King” is buried in the family mausoleum of pink marble, near his mother, before around 50 people including his family, close friends and several celebrities like actors John Wayne and Burt Reynolds.
Elvis is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, blues and gospel, he is one of the best-selling solo artists in the history of recorded music, with estimated record sales of around 600 million units worldwide.
Thousands have impersonated him.  Hundreds have re-recorded his songs.  But there was only one King. Long live the King.