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Original hand-written lyrics to the Elvis Presley classic "Heartbreak Hotel," signed by lyricists, estimated at $200,000-$220,000.

‘Heartbreak Hotel’ original lyrics headline at GWS Auctions, Aug. 26

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AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – The original working lyrics for Heartbreak Hotel carry an estimate of $200,000-$220,000 at GWS Auctions’ sale titled Artifacts of Hollywood & Music on Saturday, August 26. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. This small piece of music history, signed by songwriters Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, is dated October 1955, three months before Elvis Presley recorded the song.

Mae Boren Axton, a high school teacher with a background in musical promotion, played a crucial part in the early career of Elvis. The two first met in 1955 when he was working with Sun Records, and she was working in PR for Colonel Parker.

After she taped a radio interview with Elvis in July 1955 in Jacksonville, she found him a place on a bill headlined by Hank Snow, and in October 1955 showed him the song Heartbreak Hotel, which she had written with Tommy Durden, a Jacksonville singer-songwriter.

Elvis loved it and recorded it in January 1956 as his first single for new label RCA Victor. The rest is history.

These lyrics, which come with a letter of authenticity from James Spence Authentication, include various edits and corrections, settling on the words that would become those of the classic hit song.
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Original hand-written lyrics to the Elvis Presley classic ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ signed by its lyricists, estimated at $200,000-$220,000.
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Original hand-written lyrics to the Elvis Presley classic ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ signed by its lyricists, estimated at $200,000-$220,000.
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Bruce Lee-owned nunchaku made by martial arts equipment maker George Lee, estimated at $90,000-$95,000 at GWS Auctions.
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