Dear Elvis Fans,

We are in the process of collecting artifact donations for the on-line museum. These donations will be tax deductible as this organization is a non-profit entity dedicated to the preservation and study of the life and music of Elvis Presley. We are seeking donations relating to every era of Elvis Presley's life and related items that chronicle the history of rock and roll and will be displayed on this page.
We are looking for the following items:

Photos
Recordings (Record collections, Tape, Reel to reel, 8-track, Compact Disc., Etc...)
Programs
Ticket stubs
Autographs
Memorabilia
Books
Videos
Sheet Music
Posters
Personal Correspondence
Concert scarves
Personal items owned by Elvis
Newspapers, magazines, etc....
Concert Footage or audiotape (Possibly filmed with your home movie camera, etc.)
Sun Records (Any artist)

FOR THOSE OF YOU AT THE SHOWS THAT KEEP ASKING TO HEAR THE SONG ABOUT SEARCHING FOR ELVIS'S DECORATOR, CLICK HERE TO HEAR IT.

CLICK HERE To See A Video Clip Of Elvis Muffing The Words At A Live Concert
courtesy steakandcheese.com

This is a very abbreviated list, obviously, as Elvis was a marketing and cultural phenomenon with a wealth of collectible items available. Thank you for your donations and help in locating items and locating people that may have items to donate. We have already received several fantastic donations including a guitar strap autographed by Carl Perkins, (the composer of Blue Suede Shoes and a friend of Elvis beginning when they both were recording for Sun) an original Elvis Presley 45 RPM Sun record #217 featuring Baby Let's Play House/I'm Left Your Right, She's Gone and a wonderful Elvis McCormick Porcelain Decanter still in the original box! Thank you for your help and continued support!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SUN RECORD COLLECTION PAGE

This Museum Is Still Under Construction

Please Check Back Often To See New Additions

To see the first professional music contract that Elvis signed with Scotty Moore
as his designated manager CLICK HERE

Click On The Thumbnail To View The Large Image
Of the Following Museum Image Artifacts.

Some Early Pics of Elvis and His Parents and his Army Days

	An original, un-opened box containing three Elvis seasonings.			This 2002 United States Quarter celebrates the state of Tennessee while commemorating the 25^{th Anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing into the Promised Land. This wonderful item was generously donated by Jackie Cronin.}
	The Buckles of America Company in Rocklin, California manufactured this ELVIS LIVES belt buckle. The relief is extremely high and very detailed.			This TV GUIDE commemorates his 20^th year of passing Aug. 16-22, 1997. This is number one of four issued that same week. Elvis was featured numerous times on the cover of TV GUIDE in 1956, 1960 and 1973.
	As indicated, this photo was snapped while Elvis and his drummer, D.J. Fontana were taking a break during an RCA recording session. Grace Maxon was fortunate enough to obtain Mr. Fontana’s autograph in Des Moines, Iowa at the Convention Center sometime in 1997. The signature is clear and bold, written with a Sharpie. The September 12^th, 1967 recording session actually began the 11^th and carried over into the early morning, which was typical of Elvis’ sessions. The songs recorded on this particular night were Hi-Heel Sneakers, You Don’t Know Me, We Call On Him and You’ll Never Walk Alone, which featured Elvis playing the piano. Floyd Cramer was the session piano player on the other songs and Boots Randolph was playing saxophone.
	This photo was autographed in 1997 when the Legendary Jordanaires were performing in Des Moines, Iowa.

	The ELVIS PRESLEY MUSEUM auction book. This is a listing of the items sold by BUTTERFIELD & BUTTERFIELD in 1994. Jimmy Velvet, a recording artist and close friend of Elvis, assembled the collection. Velvet first opened a small museum in Memphis before Graceland was opened and also accepted many items donated by the famed Memphis Mafia. His collection grew to the point where it was second only to Graceland’s archives. The catalogue contains fantastic illustrations and photographs throughout its one hundred and fourteen pages.
	This Pepsi can was issued in 1997 to Commemorate Elvis being departed for twenty years and to trumpet the opening of ELVIS PRESLEY’S MEMPHIS on Beale Street. The Pepsi truck made regular deliveries to Graceland as it was one of Elvis’ favorite beverages.			This 8-ounce Coca-Cola bottle was released in 1996 to celebrate the 15^th Anniversary of Graceland being open to the public. The bottle is un-opened and shall remain as such.
	A porcelain whiskey container made and distributed by the McCormick Distilling Co. in 1977. This is number one in a series of three different poses and costumes. The item is in the original box.			An un-opened Platinum CD set issued in 1997. This RCA release contains four CDs.

BACKSTAGE WITH BOBBY VEE AND THE VEES

Jim: Ya’ know, one of my personal favorites that you recorded over the years was PLEASE DON’T ASK ABOUT BARBARA. It has a tune that really sticks with you.

Bobby Vee: Why, thank you! We get a lot of requests for that song. I’ll make sure we include it on tonight’s show.

Jim: I’m surprised that song didn’t hit the top of the charts. It’s a beautiful ballad.

Bobby Vee: It has kind of an interesting story behind it. It never was featured on American bandstand because Dick Clark had separated from his wife; Barbara about the time the record was released. It didn’t get the benefit of that national television exposure.

Jim: Man, what a coincidence! The recording business is funny, isn’t it? I mean….. there is such an element of timing and luck that comes into play.

Bobby Vee: That’s for sure.

CONVERSING WITH THE CRICKETS

Pictured from left to right, Sonny Curtis, Jim Weaver, Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin and Bobby Vee.

I asked Sonny Curtis of The Crickets what it was like to perform on tour with Slim Whitman in the mid-fifties. Sonny replied, “I was 18 or 19 at the time and Slim was a very kind man. He knew I as nervous at times and he’d pat me on the back and give a word of encouragement before we went on stage. I was playing lead guitar, replacing a steel player. It was kind of a short tour…… a great experience for a young fella’.” Sonny also remembered most of the stops on the tour.

Jim: Did you travel with Buddy Holly to the first recording session with Decca?

Sonny: Yes.

Jim: I’ll bet that was a long ride from Lubbock. (To Nashville)

Sonny: Whew! It sure was.

Jim: Do you have any recollection of Buddy making a leather wallet for Elvis?

Sonny: Yeh, he made one. I saw it. It had Elvis’ name on it and it was decorated with pink flowers. We stopped at Sun Studio in Memphis after the recording session in Nashville to give it to him, but Elvis wasn’t there at the time. We left it there with some girl to give to Elvis. I don’t know if he ever got it or not……

Jim: It would be interesting to know if the wallet still exists.

Sonny: Can you imagine what that would be worth today? Buddy Holly and Elvis? Man…

Jim: I can’t even imagine.

Sonny: Glen D. Hardin is a friend of mine, (Elvis’ piano player in the 1970’s tour era) and he said Elvis never mentioned getting it, so he probably didn’t.

Jim: Someone might have snagged it for a souvenir.

Sonny: Or they might have just thrown it away. Who knew at that time Elvis was gonna’ be that big?

Jim: I guess you’re right.

Sonny: Elvis was a nice guy.

Jim: What did you think about your song (Walk Right Back, a smash hit for the Everly Brothers) being featured on the Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Sonny: Man, that was a kick! I didn’t even know about it until a friend called and told me .I had no idea they were going to play it. That was neat. (Walk Right Back was the number one downloaded song on the Internet during the week after the Super Bowl)

Jim: I have an original copy of the 45-RPM record you recorded under the name of “Ivan” called Real Wild Child.

Jerry Ivan Allison: (Drummer for The Crickets) Wow! That’s really a tough record to find. It didn’t sell too many copies.

Sonny Curtis: Where is Sarah?

Jim: She had to go, so I walked her out to her Jeep. Can you believe it? She thought she was going to walk out in the cold to her car alone in… a dark parking lot!

Sonny: Yeh, I know what you mean. Take good care of her. Hey, let’s get a pen and autograph that guitar you wanted us to sign before we head up for the last number!

The Crickets agreed to get together for an interview at one of their homes this summer near Nashville, TN. Needless to say this was another dream come true for a longtime Rock N’ Roll history buff like myself! The whole night was magical!