The Elvis Presley story has religious overtones. A poor boy is endowed with divine talent, then rises from obscurity to become an almost godlike figure via rock and roll. I'm a true believer, myself, and that involves pilgrimages to the two major Elvis shrines in the South: his birthplace in Tupelo and Graceland, his home in Memphis.
Many Elvis fans will flock to those sacred sites on Friday, August 16, the anniversary of his death. But we Wisconsinites needn't go that far to observe the solemn occasion. We have a sacred site of our own right in Madison, not as well known as Graceland but authentic nonetheless.
At a busy intersection on the east side of town, a small stone marker bears Elvis' image. It stands on the spot where the King of Rock and Roll performed a real miracle in the middle of the night on June 24, 1977, while on his way to a concert at the Dane County Coliseum.
Listen to the whole story in this audio essay, which originally aired on Wisconsin Public Radio's Wisconsin Life.
