S.Res. 406 – Reading Mode

III

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 406

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 27, 2006

Mr. Frist (for himself and Mr. Alexander) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Congratulating Graceland on the occasion of its designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Whereas Graceland—

(1)

served as the home and private retreat of Elvis Aaron Presley from 1957 through 1977; and

(2)

is intimately connected to the musical and cultural heritage of Elvis Aaron Presley;

Whereas Elvis Presley is—

(1)

universally recognized as the King of Rock and Roll;

(2)

known to generations by only his first name; and

(3)

widely agreed to be one of the most famous and influential American cultural icons of the 20th century;

Whereas Elvis Presley, having drawn on musical traditions including gospel, country, and rhythm and blues, contributed to the development, popularization, and evolution of the rock and roll genre;

Whereas Elvis Presley, having been an exceptionally talented vocalist and stage performer, experienced a career marked by unprecedented professional success and achievement;

Whereas Elvis Presley received numerous honors and accolades, including—

(1)

3 Grammies;

(2)

14 Grammy nominations; and

(3)

a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences;

Whereas the Recording Industry Association of America has officially recognized Elvis Presley as the number 1 Solo Artist in United States History because he has—

(1)

achieved over 150 gold, platinum, or multi-platinum awards; and

(2)

documented album sales exceeding 120,000,000 albums;

Whereas Elvis Presley is the only artist to be inducted into 3 major music halls of fame, including—

(1)

the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986;

(2)

the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998; and

(3)

the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001;

Whereas Elvis Presley continues to maintain a preeminent position on numerous Top Artist Achievements lists, including—

(1)

Most Chart Hits;

(2)

Most Top 10 Hits;

(3)

Most Top 40 Hits;

(4)

Most Weeks at the number 1 Position;

(5)

Most Consecutive number 1 Hits;

(6)

Most Consecutive Top 10 Hits; and

(7)

Most Gold and Platinum Hits;

Whereas Elvis Presley was personally involved in the renovation and reconstruction of Graceland, and the unique design and decoration of Graceland enshrines his style, character, influence, and cultural legacy;

Whereas Graceland serves as a museum for promoting, celebrating, and maintaining the role of Elvis Presley in the history of the United States;

Whereas Graceland—

(1)

is a historic residence built in the Classical Revival style; and

(2)

was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991;

Whereas Graceland continues to serve as a pilgrimage site for millions of Elvis Presley fans from around the world;

Whereas Graceland is recognized as one of the most visited historic house museums in the United States, attracting over 600,000 visitors each year; and

Whereas Graceland will continue to impact the popular culture of the United States by educating millions of visitors for years to come: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—

(1)

recognizes Graceland as exceptionally valuable for promoting and illustrating the contributions of Elvis Presley to the music and popular culture of the United States;

(2)

acknowledges the importance of designating Graceland as a National Historic Landmark for the purposes of recognizing and preserving that unique cultural attraction; and

(3)

congratulates Graceland on the occasion of its designation as a National Historic Landmark.