Elvis Presley would have been 81 years old this Friday January 8, 2016. SiriusXM is celebrating with a party at Graceland in Memphis, TN, and the festivities will be carried on Elvis Radio LIVE from Graceland on Ch. 19, including the Elvis Presley Birthday Proclamation Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. ET, which features the annual birthday cake cutting.
Throughout 2016, Elvis Radio will also provide extensive programs focusing on the 60th Anniversary of Elvis’ breakout year in music, film and television. In January 1956, Elvis’ first gold record, "Heartbreak Hotel," was released and by April had sold one million copies. He ended the year with two million-selling albums. That same year he made his national television debut on The Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show on CBS and went on to appear on network television 11 times in 1956, including his legendary performances on The Ed Sullivan Show. He also starred in his first movie, "Love Me Tender," and signed a seven-year film contract with Paramount Pictures.
This year’s featured auction highlight is the 1969 Custom Gibson Ebony Dove guitar Elvis played at the legendary "Aloha From Hawaii" concert televised worldwide via satellite in 1973, as well dozens of other concerts from 1971 to 1975, including the documentary concert film Elvis on Tour. The guitar, with an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000, is one of the most culturally-significant and celebrated guitars in music history.
