Classic Pop Icons

An iconic red suede jacket worn by Elvis Presley in the 1950s is one of 578 items featured in an online Rock ‘N’ Roll auction from GOTTA HAVE IT® Collectibles .

The auction features original 45s, movie posters, rare photographs, handwritten lyric sheets, signed memorabilia, and jewellery and clothing worn by some of the greats of popular music, including Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, James Brown and many more.

Here’s some of the most interesting items on offer.

Elvis Presley - red suede jacket

This jacket was purchased at the famous Lansky Brothers store in Memphis. There are numerous candid photos of him wearing it, and it was also worn for official RCA publicity shots. Elvis is seen wearing it on the covers of the single releases Playing for Keeps/Too Much, Jailhouse Rock/Treat Me Nice and I Got Stung/One Night.

The jacket comes with a letter of provenance from hairdresser Homer Gilleland.

Minimum Bid: $10,000
Estimate: $20,000-30,000

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Elvis Presley - black leather boots from “Loving You”

These boots were worn by Elvis in his second film “Loving You”, which was made by Paramount Pictures in 1957.The boots were worn throughout the movie and Elvis’ name is stamped in them, as well as the Paramount men’s wardrobe department stamp.Minimum Bid: $5,000.00 Estimate: $6,000-8,000

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Michael Jackson - stage worn shirt and pants

This light blue beaded shirt and white pants with rhinestones were worn by Michael Jackson on stage during the 1984 “Victory Tour,” which was the largest and final North American concert tour ever performed by The Jacksons.

The outfit was worn on opening night of the Dodger Stadium performances in Los Angeles, California on November 30, 1984.

This is just one of many Michael Jackson lots in the rock ‘n’ roll auction.

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Minimum Bid: $30,000
Estimate: $35,000-40,000

Michael Jackson - “Billie Jean” handwritten lyrics

“Billie Jean” is one of the greatest songs of the 1980s and certainly one of Michael Jackson’s finest performances. Here we have six pages of handwritten lyrics by Michael Jackson.

Minimum Bid: $30,000
Estimate: $35,000-40,000

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The Beatles - “Hard Days Night” signed album

“Hard Days Night” album covers signed by all four Beatles are hard to come by. This one is in good condition. The price does strike me as a little extreme though.

Minimum Bid: $30,000
Estimate: $40,000-50,000

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Bob Dylan - “My Back Page” handwritten lyrics

These are Bob Dylan’s handwritten working lyrics to “My Back Page” and “Ballad in Plain D.” Both songs appeared on Dylan’s 1964 album “Another Side of Bob Dylan.” The first three verses of “Ballad in Plain D” appear on the reverse of the sheet.

Minimum Bid: $50,000
Estimate: $50,000-75,000

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Guitar greats signed guitar

This is one of the coolest items in the auction, if not the most valuable. Ten guitar greats have signed this Epiphone guitar, including Chuck Berry, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bo Diddley, Les Paul, Otis Rush and Steve Winwood.

Minimum Bid: $2,000
Estimate: $2,100-2,300

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The online auction runs until Wednesday March 10, 9pm EST.

Click here to view the complete catalogue

On March 3rd, 1960, Elvis Presley visited UK soil for the first and only time. The 25-year-old King of Rock “N” Roll stopped off at Prestwick Airport in Scotland on the way back from his two-year military service in Germany. Now fans are celebrating the 50th anniversary with a charity ‘Elvis Extravaganza.’

Danny Anderson, director of Zisys Events, which is organising the golden anniversary day, told the Evening Times:

“Elvis is one of the most influential musicians to have lived. Prestwick Airport played a small yet significant part in his life. I felt it appropriate that Ayrshire formally celebrates this anniversary.”

The 16-hour celebration will kick off on Wednesday morning with ‘Elvis’ landing at the airport in full military uniform. There will be a number of performers paying tribute to Elvis throughout the day, including local Ayr boys, the MacDonald Brothers, students from Strathclyde University, and one of the UK’s top ‘young’ Elvis impersonators, Lee Jackson.

Elvis signing autographs for fans during his Prestwick Airport stopover

Prestwick Airport Managing Director, Iain Cochrane, said:

“It’s now or never! You’d have to have a wooden heart not to be hugely proud that Prestwick Airport is the only place in Britain where he ever set foot. Fifty years ago he flew in for an hour and this Wednesday we’re delighted to revive our links with the rock and roll legend.

“This is an excellent opportunity to mark a unique milestone as well as helping to promote Ayrshire and bring together the travelling public, local people and fan clubs worldwide. We certainly are all shook up!”

I’m sure the event is intended to be fun. Let’s hope it doesn’t unintentionally turn into an unflattering mockery of the man.

Parking will cost £1 on the day and all profits will go to the children’s charity Clic Sergent.

Elvis was returning to US soil feeling some trepidation after being in the army for two years. He needn’t have worried. Within a month, he had recorded the hit album “Elvis is Back” and the worldwide number one singles “It’s Now or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

Rock ‘N’ Roll pioneer Fats Domino is 82 today. Fats was born on February 1928 in New Orleans.

Fats Domino last hit the headlines in a big way when his home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005. There were serious concerns for Fat’s health for a time, but thankfully he was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Fats moved to Harvey, Louisiana, while his house was being gutted and repaired.

In 2007, a number of great artists tackled Fats Domino hits for the charity album “Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino.” Proceeds went to New Orleans public school music programs and to rebuilding Domino’s Hurricane Katrina-ravaged home. Among the contributing artists were Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Randy Newman, Elton John, Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson.

In the last few years, Fats has received a series of honours, including Offbeat magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

In November 2008, the PBS documentary “Fats Domino: Walking Back To New Orleans” premiered at Tipitina’s in New Orleans in the presence of Fats. The documentary contains 30 minutes of concert footage from May 2007 at Tipitina’s, as well as interviews with friends and fellow musicians.

Fats Domino’s rolling piano and masterfully laidback, yet powerful vocals, have been delighting music fans since 1949. Here’s a couple of songs that never fail to get the feet tapping:

Fats Domino - Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Fats Domino - I’m Walkin’

UK fans who tuned into the recent “Only Fools and Horses” prequel, “Rock ‘N’ Chips”, will have seen Fat’s “I Want to Walk You Home” used to great effect throughout the show, including over the final credits. Here’s that fine song.

Fats Domino - I Want to Walk You Home

Happy Birthday Fats Domino.

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Rockabilly pioneer Dale Hawkins died on Saturday (Feb 13th) at the age of 73 after several years battling colon cancer.

Dale Hawkins was born Delmar Allen Hawkins on August 22, 1936, on a plantation in Gold Mine, La. His father was a country musician and his mother was a teacher and day worker. He earned his place in rock history for co-writing and recording the 1957 hit “Suzie Q.” The song was recorded at radio station KWKH in Shreveport, La in 1957. The memorable guitar riff on “Suzie Q” was played by 15-year-old James Burton, who went on to play guitar for Ricky Nelson and to lead Elvis Presley’s TBC band in the 1970s.

“Susie Q” has the distinction of being the first single by a white artist ever distributed by Chess Records. It reached the top 30 and was later covered by several artists, including the Rolling Stones on their 1965 album, 12 x 5, and perhaps most memorably by Creedence Clearwater Revival, who had a top 20 hit with it in 1968.

Dake Hawkins turned to producing in the 1960s and had top ten success with Bruce Channel (”Hey! Baby”) and the Five Americans (”Western Union”).

In 1999, Dale Hawkins released “Wildcat Tamer,” which was his first album of new material in 30 years. The album was very well received by critics, including Greil Marcus who gave it a four star rating in Rolling Stone.

Hawkins’ funeral will take place on Thursday, February 18 in Little Rock, AR.

Dale Hawkins - “Susie Q”

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