This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2021
Offered is two pages of a royalty statement, both dated June 30, 1971 addressed to Venice Music in Hollywood from Elvis Presley Music Inc. in New York on which the old balance is reflected as paid and the new earnings are outlined on one page while the other indicates the royalty for sheet music sales of “Ready Teddy.” These two original statements come with an Elvis Presley Music Inc. check stub/receipt indicating that it covers “Royalties to 6-30-71” with the handwritten, red ink notation that the stub number 3793 was “Dep 7/24/71.” This collection of three (3) documents relating to “Ready Teddy” and the royalties between Elvis Presley Music and Venice Music provides a fascinating peek into payments for one of Elvis’ early tunes. The sheets measure 11 by 8 1/2 inches and 11 by 7 1/2 inches respectively with the check stub measuring 3 3/8 by 8 1/4 inches. The trio is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated, quoted here.
“Ready Teddy” was first sung by Little Richard in 1956, however it was Elvis that took it to new heights of popularity when he sang it during his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956. The song, written by Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco, was included in Elvis’ second album, which was simply entitled Elvis and released by RCA in October of 1956. Venice Music, a Los-Angeles based company that worked with Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco and originally published “Ready Teddy,” agreed to give Elvis Presley Music half the publishing rights (royalties) to record the song on his second album. Elvis was already popular and his star was on a meteoric rise, so it was to Venice Music’s advantage to agree to the deal.
The statement pages exhibit minor edge wear and staple holes in the upper left with slight paper loss at the top left corner. The check stub has two sets of staple holes on the left side and a crease along the bottom. The trio is in overall excellent condition.