This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/8/2023
The offered STAGE-USED guitar pick comes from a batch of picks that were custom made for Elvis Presley during the 1970s. This particular pick was given by Charlie Hodge to a dear friend of his in the radio industry. His accompanying letter reads:
I was friends with Charlie Hodge, Joe Esposito, George Klein and Jerry Schilling. My relationship began when I was Program Director of a radio station in Chicago in 1974. I started the first all-Elvis weekend on the radio. This led to a thank you call from Elvis and an invite to Graceland. In 1976 I began a nearly 30 year run on KRTH 101 in Los Angeles, producing numerous Elvis specials. A couple of weeks after Elvis passed Charlie was in town helping Colonel Parker with licensing deals. My agent at the time was working on licensing some EP products. During the meeting with my agent Charlie gave me this Elvis guitar pick. Charlie said he was not from the last show but most likely the one before which would have been the Cincinnati show. Over the next few years I worked with Charlie as a MC for a few Elvis convention/memorabilia shows.
Elvis used this variety of pick, as well as several others over the years, on stage when he played guitar. Of the several varieties of picks he employed, the offered style is by far the most iconic. This triangular faux tortoiseshell guitar pick is embossed with the initials “E.P.” on one side. The pick measures approximately 1 3/4 inches on each side and presents with signs of use with scratches and scuffing on the lower third where it would strike the guitar. (The photo at right shows Elvis on stage using this style of pick.)