Presley's drug habit is now generally accepted as a cause of death. The Encyclopedia Britannica states, simply: "Elvis Presley died of a heart attack in 1977 brought on largely by drug abuse." The Wikipedia synopsis of the singer's biography provides this summary: "Years of substance abuse and unhealthy eating severely compromised his health."

Tens of thousands of Elvis fans from all over the world have converged on Memphis for the annual “Elvis Week” leading up to the anniversary of his death – August 16 th, 1977.