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Saturday, 18 March, 2000, 11:01 GMT

Marking The King's UK visit

Prestwick International Airport goes down in entertainment history as being the only place in Britain visited by rock legend Elvis Presley.

It was March 1960 and The King was being flown from Germany - where he had undergone military service - back to the US.

Forty years on, that brief, but special, visit will be marked when the airport's managing director Tom Wilson is presented with a commemorative plaque.

Those Elvis Greats
Hound Dog
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Love Me Tender
Heartbreak Hotel
Suspicious Minds
You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling
Steamroller Blues

The ceremony takes place on Saturday when the original Elvis band passes through the airport on their way to Dublin following a show in Scotland.

The Presley enigma lives on - despite the star's death in August 1977 aged 42.

On what would have been his 65th birthday in February this year, thousands descended on his former home at Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee, to pay their respects.

Graceland bar

Others marked the occasion at Prestwick Airport.

Edinburgh resident Linda Sayers, who is treasurer of the Memphis Mafia Club, was among those who turned up to the unlikely venue.

She got hooked on the legend when she married her Elvis-mad husband Paul.

Ms Sayers's own club has around 200 members, with 1,000 on its mailing list.

The airport has been used to play host to Elvis fans and has even opened a bar called Graceland.

Elvis began his singing career in 1954 and it was not long before he was an international sensation and the architect of a new era in American music and culture.

He drew inspiration from the musical influences of the time - pop and country, gospel and R&B.

Elvis was known not only for his songs and live concerts, but also his films - all 33 of them.

And globally, he has sold more than one billion records - more than any other artist - and they keep on selling.

Related to this story:
Elvis: Always on their minds (08 Jan 00 | Entertainment)
Elvis sale fetches millions (10 Oct 99 | Americas)
Keeping the King's flame alive (17 Aug 99 | Entertainment)
Sid rocks Elvis empire (12 Mar 99 | UK)
Elvis virtually live in concert (25 Jan 99 | Entertainment)
Fan gets Elvis response after 40 years (16 Jan 99 | Entertainment)

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