Charlie Hodge was famous for being a member of Elvis Presley's "TCB" band, with the well-known duty of providing Elvis with the scarves he handed to lucky fans from the stage. His more important job, though, was managing the offered black binder/folio that was used during each of Elvis’ concerts to hold song lyric sheets and could often be spotted on stage with the King. Charlie Hodge functioned as Elvis’ stage manager and as such was responsible for maintaining the folio. The binder often appeared on stage throughout the shows. Sometimes Elvis would simply use the lyric sheets as props during the performance since reading them was difficult under the stage spotlights. As keeper of the binder, Charlie would affix his own backstage passes to the outside of the vinyl folio and these stickers can be spotted in several of the four modern prints of photos that come with the lot showing Elvis on stage with this very binder. Several of the backstage pass stickers on the binder can be clearly seen in their precise positions in accompanying photos.
The binder emanates from the collection of Elvis Presley's security guard Dick Grob (we miss you, Dick. Rest in peace!). His signed 2002 affidavit accompanies and reads in part:
One item that was always carried on stage was a black binder/folio. This was always carried by "Charlie" Hodge, one of the members of Elvis' band. 'Charlie' was responsible for handling and carrying this black binder/folio on stage and affixed his security passes to the outside of the binder/folio. This binder/folio contained lyric sheets for many of the songs that Elvis A. Presley performed on stage. Often if 'Elvis ' wanted to refresh his memory as to the lyrics, he would take a lyric sheet from the binder/folio and glance at the words...After the last concert in Indianapolis in June 1977, 'Charlie' left the binder/folio on the 'Lisa Mare,' Elvis' airplane. After Elvis death in August 1977, I retrieved the binder/folio from the 'Lisa Marie' with several other articles at the request of Vernon Presley, Elvis' father. Mr. Presley gave these articles to me personally, stating that he did not want them. This binder/folio has remained in my possession since that date.
The binder is accompanied by 15 photos of Elvis on stage with the binder--the binder can be identified by several physical characteristics including sticker placement, the shape of the inside pockets, etc. It should be mentioned that several of the stickers which had worn off from use and age have been replaced with period examples of the same backstage pass stickers. Great care was employed to find the right period stickers for this endeavor. The binder measures 14 1/2 by 9 1/2 inches, and it shows signs of heavy use, with scratches, scuffing and nicks commensurate with being used many nights on stage with Elvis. Excellent condition.