Elvis Connections
Connections and Collections
Important People
Each of these people played an important part in Elvis' career. Any Elvis collector would be wise to study these individuals and collect any item which might contain some connection to their relationship with The King.
Colonel Tom Parker
Elvis most famous manager. If you have any document or a photo or other memorabilia of The Colonel, it is an Elvis collectable.
Hank Snow
Elvis' second manager, before Colonel Tom. Hank was a great Country music star. Elvis recorded some of Hank's hits. Anything from 1955 and before that is a Hank memento, is very much Elvis related.
Sam Phillips
The great genius of recording engineers and label owners, Sam Phillips, owned Sun Records in Memphis, TN. Any photo or document with Sam's signature would be an Elvis collectable. Any Sun label record would have some kinship with Elvis, since Elvis was a fan of Sun Records artists even before he joined the label.
Elvis' records on Sun are very highly prized and priced.Dewey Phillips
The first deejay (WHBQ Memphis) to play an Elvis record. Search for any item with a Dewey Phillips connection.
Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller
The great songwriters who penned many Elvis hits, including, Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Loving You and King Creole. They wrote for many other artists including the Coasters.
Bob Neal
Elvis' first manager, before Hank Snow and The Colonel. None of Elvis' managers was born in the United States.
Priscilla Presley
An autographed something or other from Elvis' beautiful wife would certainly be collectable.
Lisa Marie
Elvis' daughter probably has signed a lot of receipts or marriage certificates or something for the collector.
Red West
Longtime friend of Elvis. He has autographed some of his books about The King.
Stephen Henry Shoales
He was the man who brought Elvis to RCA Records from Sun. He paid $35,000 for Sun Records plus about $5,000 for royalties owed to Elvis. Stephen produced Heartbreak Hotel ( with Chet Atkins ) and the recording of Jailhouse Rock.
Bill Porter
A brilliant recording engineer with whom I once recorded. Bill Porter produced and engineered many Elvis sessions in the studio. There are documents signed by Bill that would have historical meaning in the world of Elvis collecting.
James Burton
Guitarist who worked onstage with Elvis in most of his special concerts as well as being part of his Las Vegas shows.
Scotty Moore
Elvis' first guiarist on his Sun sessions and Scotty worked most of Elvis' early TV appearances.
Bill Black
Elvis' original bass player. Bill had a combo and he had some hit instrumentals.
Norman Taurog
Hollywood director who often worked with Elvis on his films.
Sammy Shore
Comic who was Elvis' opening act for many years in Las Vegas.
Any story or photo from the people listed above would be considered part of an Elvis collection. Each of these people had some connection with Elvis and his music and movies. It is probably a good idea for any Elvis collector to begin searching at eBay and elsewhere for items of interest with these names.
Rubberneckin' sleeve and record. Even though some of the sleeves are not from his big hits, they have value as collectables because they are more rare. Quite colorful, I might add.
Every Elvis sleeve that was manufactured in his lifetime has value to collectors. The earlier they were released the more value they might have depending on their condition. Keep them out of direct sunlight and they will last for many years.
Links
Hollywood Screams (Horror Movies)
E-mail for this site may be sent to this e-mail address.
Elvis Items
Several of the Elvis sleeves were black and white pictures. Even though this has color in the printing the photo is black and white. Most of his singles had a picture sleeve when they were released but not all records were in photo sleeves.
Places
Graceland
Elvis' home. Open for fans to visit and tour.
Humes High School
The building is still in Memphis.
Sun Records
Memphis recording studio where Elvis first became a recording artist.
Paramount Studios
One of the few studios in Hollywood at 5555 AV. Do not expect to be allowed inside without an invitation or unless you are a part of a tour group. It is where Elvis made many of his movies, including, Blue Hawaii, Loving You, King Creole, GI Blues and Roustabout.
Las Vegas Hilton
Where Elvis broke all attendance records for his shows.
KWKH Shreveport, LA
Did you know Elvis was a regular radio performer early in his career on a program called Louisiana Hayride? It was on KWKH. That is an AM station.
Fort Chaffee, AR
Elvis was inducted into the Army and got a haircut in Fort Chaffee. AR.
6363 Sunset Boulevard
The address for RCA Records in the 1960s and 1970s in Hollywood, CA. It was where Elvis often recorded. The building is there now, but RCA is not there.
Neal S. Blaisdell Arena
The most watched TV program of its time was broadcast from what is now the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, HI. It was then the International Convention Center Arena. Aloha From Hawaii was the show which took place on January 14, 1973.
Madison Square Garden
Elvis did a live album at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1525 McGavock Street
That is the address where Elvis recorded Heartbreak Hotel, his first million seller. It is in Nashville, TN. Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins played at the session.
Tupelo, MS
Elvis' birthplace and the hardware store where he purchased his first guitar are viewable in Tupelo, MS.
Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas
This once was the Aladdin Hotel where Elvis and Priscilla married in 1967.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios has tours of their lot. Elvis' last acting film was made there, Change of Habit.
Sikeston Armory
An unknown 20 year old singer appeared there (Sikeston, MO) in 1955. His name was Elvis Presley.
The White House
Elvis met with President Nixon at The White House in Washington, DC in 1970.
Ryman Auditorium
Elvis appeared on The Grand Ole Opry in Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN on October 2, 1954. After his appearance he was told by Jim Denny, the Opry Manager, he should give up as a singer. Today the Opry still broadcasts, but the income from all the Opry performers is less per year than Elvis makes from the grave. We can be thankful Elvis knew not to take bad advice. The Opry has moved away from the Ryman but that building is still available for shows in Nashville.
Elvis Collectibles
Whatever might still exist of the above places would be significant just as a photo or with some documentation. Many of Elvis' friends from high school and his movie co-stars and workers on the sets might have interesting items or stories for your collection.