There were two wings in Elvis Presley's life. One of these was the 1912 Knabe grand piano, which Presley purchased in 1957 for $818.85. He had this instrument painted white and kept it in the music room at Gracelands. This piano featured in two stories we returned toaugustusInseptember2017.
Elvis Presley's white Knabe grand piano from 1912
Presley also purchased a 1928 Kimball grand piano. This had been the home piano at Dixon-Myers Hall in Memphis. Presley bought the instrument for his mother Gladys, but she thought it was too large and cumbersome for her home. Gladys Presley died in 1958,Inthe piano was stored.
But in 1968, Pricilla Presley decided to save the Kimball and have it completely covered in gold leaf. For starters, the piano had a walnut finish. Pricilla then presented the instrument to Elvis as a first wedding anniversary gift.
The white Knabe was now sent to storage and the newly refurbished gold Kimball took a place of honor in Gracelands.
The discarded Knabe had several later owners. But in 2017, it was sold on eBay for $375,190 to an unknown buyer. This turned out to be the property of Graceland, and the piano is now back on display in its "spiritual home".
After Elvis' death in 1977, RussCampbell, an Ohio businessman and collector, reportedly purchased the 24-karat gold-leaf Kimball grand piano for $2 million. He then generously leased the whole thing to Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame for about twenty years, for just $1 a year.
Hard rock international
But in 2015 the piano appeared at JulienIcons and Idols: Rock 'n' Roll Auction. It sold for $610,000. The buyer was Hard Rock International and the piano would be their 80,000th. piece of memorabilia. The company owns the world's most valuable collection of such objects and exhibits them in locations around the world.
The piano in his new home in Florida. Photo: Seminole Hard Rock Tampa
Elvis' gold piano will be on display along with 500 other important and evocative items from the music world at the new Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa, Florida. The property is undergoing a $700 million expansion program and will feature a stunning gold and glass entrance, specially designed to incorporate this iconic instrument.
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa expansion includes a new 14-story hotel tower with 562 rooms and suites, three ultra-luxury pools and expanded gaming space. A festive opening with piano is planned for October 3, 2019.
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Today, Hard Rock International is one of the most globally recognized companies in the world and has venues in over 74 countries; Cafes, Casinos and Hotels. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, memorable dining experiences, Hard Rock Live performance venues and more.
Hard Rock International acquired the piano in 2015; it was the company's 80,000th piece of memorabilia. Burton, who led Presley's TCB Band (Taking Care of Business) from 1969 until the King's death in 1977 attended the unveiling.
The original Knabe piano was placed in storage in 1968, was sold in 1976 and changed hands several times. It was last refurbished by the C.B. Coltharp Piano Service, who had maintained it at Graceland and referenced photos and record jacket snapshots to restore the piano to its authentic, original 1957 appearance.
Now, Elvis Presley's grand piano will be among some of the most significant music memorabilia in the nation. “This piano was sold for over $2 million dollars and has been featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, movies and TV shows, so it is truly a legendary piece,” said Allen.
There were two grand pianos in Elvis Presley's life. One was the 1912 Knabe grand piano that Presley purchased for $818.85 in 1957. He had this instrument painted white and kept it in the music room at Gracelands. This piano featured in two stories we ran back in August and September 2017.
As a result, Lisa Marie does not own the artist's royalties on sales of recordings made before March 1973, however the Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) does own his artist's royalties on sales of recordings made after that date, which still earns them a hefty sum.
Elvis did play guitar, bass guitar, and piano, though none of above to a really high standard and most of his performances were voice only. Did Elvis ever play an instrument on any of his recordings? Of course he did. He was actually a better guitarist than he was given credit for and decent on piano as well.
Elvis' Gold Cadillac went on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1977, and you can still see it there today. If you want to see more of Elvis' cars, you must experience Presley Motors, the new automobile museum at Elvis Presley's Memphis at Graceland.
Elvis made his last recording doing a vocal overdub on "He'll Have To Go" which was done on October 31st, 1976, at his home at Graceland in the "Jungle Room". His last performance was in private also in Graceland and was a rendition of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain," done at his piano, just hours before his death.
The King reputedly owned well over a hundred cars in his lifetime, though the exact number will probably never be known. Many of his cars survive today and can be seen at the Elvis Presley Car Museum at Graceland in Memphis, TN.
Copies with the jacket still in original opened shrinkwrap with two stickers (“Blue Album” and “Contains the Hits”) are worth about $10. Factory sealed copies with the two stickers (“Blue Album” and “Contains the Hits”) are worth about $20–30. Is Elvis's Moody Blue album worth anything? It depends.
Milton Smith played some of Elvis' favorite hymns during his funeral at the singer's Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite the circ*mstances, that funeral gig remains the high point of Smith's long career in music.
We all plugged whatever was around, and we played and sang." Like the guitar, Elvis learned the piano early, and played it by ear. Elvis often played piano during rehearsals, and occasionally on stage. He especially loved to gather around a piano for gospel jam sessions.
Yet, according to a letter from then-Fender representative Eddie Miller, Elvis sent the guitar back to Fender saying it was too heavy. You, however, can judge for yourself if you have the money. The "Buy It Now" tab will set you back $295,000 on the site.
In 2013 Sillerman sold EPE to a company called the Authentic Brands Group, giving them the rights to licensing and merchandising Elvis's name and likeness.
A cultural revolution was in the making. Phillips released five Presley singles over the next year. But, needing capital, he sold Presley's contract to RCA for $35,000 in November 1955 (which he said he never regretted). At the time, it was the highest price ever paid for a pop artist.
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