Elvis Presley’s set list scribbled on the back of an envelope is set to fetch a King’s ransom at auction. Fuelled by adrenaline, Elvis grabbed the first scrap of paper to hand to scribble down his set list before a show in Las Vegas. Today that hastily-written scrap, actually an envelope, is tipped to sell for £4,000.
The King jotted down the running order of 15 of his hit songs ahead of the 1976 concert. On the reverse he jotted down the words 'Introduce Engelbert (Humperdinck) and Roy Orbison’.
This was a reminder for him to give a shout out to the two famous singers who were in the audience at the gig at the Hilton Hotel in Vegas. Elvis’ stage director and musician Charlie Hodge afterwards found the envelope lying around backstage after the concert and kept hold of it. The piece of paper is now to be sold at auction accompanied by a letter of provenance from Hodge, who died in 2006.
Hodge wrote, 'I served as Elvis’ stage director and personal aide. I would hand Elvis his scarves and water while on stage, help him with his set lists and also sang harmony on stage with Elvis. This Las Vegas Hilton envelope was a list of songs that Elvis had written out in his own hand for one of the shows at
the Hilton... for Elvis’ last engagement there ever in December 1976. It was my job to keep track of how much time we had been on stage and this list of songs was kind of a way to keep track.'
Auctioneer Darren Julien said: 'This item comes with very solid provenance. The handwriting is perfect and undoubtedly that of Elvis. This simple document gives us a fascinating insight into how Elvis almost chose at the last moment which songs he was to sing and in what order almost hours before he went on stage. On the reverse Elvis wrote "Introduce Engelbert, Roy Orbison" who were evidently in the audience for his performance.'
The item is to be sold at Julien's auction on December 1.