Elvis Agrees to The Foundation of His Music Empire in a document which specifically outlines "The Formation of Elvis Presley Music, Inc."
Signed in full at conclusion and initialed 3 times by Elvis and his parents, Vernon and Gladys "Mama" Presley
Perhaps the most important 48 hours in shaping Elvis Presley's iconic career occurred on November 20th & 21st, 1955.
It all started on November 20, 1955, as Elvis signs his first contract with RCA Records. Colonel Parker negotiates the sale of Elvis’ Sun contract to RCA, which includes his five Sun singles and other early Elvis songs that are unreleased Sun material. The price is an unprecedented $35,000, with a $5,000 bonus for Elvis. RCA soon re-releases the five Sun singles on the RCA label.
A mere 24 hours later, Elvis signs a contract with Hill and Range Publishing Company, which is to set up a separate firm called Elvis Presley Music, Inc. Elvis will share with Hill and Range the publishing ownership of songs bought by Hill and Range for him to record. With these two moves, Elvis establishes the foundation of his iconic career, and simultaneously secures and establishes his most coveted asset, his music publishing catalog.
Offered in this auction offering is a Four-Page Contract, 8.5" x 13" each, dated November 21, 1955. A signed rider to Presley's contract with Hill and Range Songs, Inc. While riders are often addendums of fine details to a substantially bigger agreement, this rider contains the agreed upon terms to some of the most important business aspects to Elvis' entire career. This rider agreement includes signatures from Elvis Presley, and Presley's parents, Vernon and Gladys Presley. There are three particularly significant parts of the signed rider.
The first item of particular importance is found in Paragraph 20. Apparently, Elvis Presley had already agreed to record with RCA Records, or was in the process of doing so, and thus Hill and Range Songs, Inc., a musical publisher, basically had to agree to the rider if they wanted Elvis to record songs that were Hill and Range's intellectual property.
The second especially significant part of the rider is in Paragraph 25. This paragraph of the rider shows that Hill and Range Songs agrees to "organize a corporation in the State of New York under the name of "Elvis Presley Music.".
In February of 2022 we had the honor of offering and selling the companion contract to this rider, which established Elvis' relationship with Hill and Range Publishing, with a price realized of $30,343. One could argue that this document, which lays out specific details to the formation of Elvis Presley Music, Inc., is just as important. Overall in fine condition. Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.