Elvis Presley has landed a very special gift to mark what would have been his 78th birthday - lawmakers have declared Tuesday (08Jan13) Elvis Presley Day.

Fans from across the world flocked to the singer's Graceland home in Tennessee to celebrate the anniversary of The King's birth, but they had something else to toast as the mayors of Memphis and Shelby County dedicated the day to him.

The politicians took part in the reading of the proclamation during a special ceremony, which was attended by devotees from places as far flung as Japan, Brazil and France.

Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton, Jr. told the crowd, "Like coffee and cream, grits and gravy, peanut butter and bananas... Memphis and Elvis is a combination that was just meant to be."

Birthday celebrations for the rock icon began on Saturday (05Jan13), when the Memphis Symphony Orchestra performed a show in tribute to Elvis' Aloha from Hawaii concert, which took place 40 years ago, in 1973.

Fans were also given the chance to check out a new exhibition at the nearby Graceland tourist attraction, detailing Presley's films and gigs in Hawaii, which opened on Tuesday.