January 08 - Birthday Update

Today would have marked the 81th. birtday of Elvis Presley. Congratulations to the man above!

You watch the 2016 Birthday Proclamation >> here.

Birthday Platinum

The "If I Can Dream" album has been awarded triple Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). 

Certification history since the original release on October 30, 2015.

2 x Platinum Certification 18 December 2015 
Platinum Certification 27 November 2015 
Gold Certification 13 November 2015 
Silver Certification 06 November 2015 

Birthday Charts

There’s no stopping everyone’s favourite chart record-breaker this week, as Adele’s 25 scores a seventh consecutive week at Number 1. Despite a serious challenge this week from Elvis Presley – who would’ve celebrated his 81st birthday today – Adele finished out in front of the King by almost 3,300 chart sales.

01 Adele - 25 - 43,446
02 Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream - 40,417
03 Justin Bieber - Purpose - 35,694
04 Jess Glynne - I Cry When I Laugh - 24,931
05 James Bay - Chaos And The Calm - 17,184

More Entries on The Various UK Album Charts for the week ending January 8, 2016:

• The DVD "The Elvis Collection" climbed from #44 to #31 on the Officla UK Music DVD chart.
• The DVD "Elvis – The King Of Rock’n’Roll – 30 Hit Performances And More" climbed from #47 to 41 on the Official UK Music DVD chart. 
• 'If I Can Dream' drops from 12 to 13 on the Album Download Chart; remains at 2 on the Album Sales Chart; drops from 45 to 83 on the Album Streaming Chart and remains at 1 on the Physical Album Chart.
• 'Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits' drops from 47 to 57 on the Album Download Chart; drops from 64 to 73 on the Album Sales Chart; drops from 60 to 82 on the Album Streaming Chart and rises from 95 to 94 on the Physical Album Chart.
• 'Artist Of The Century' drops from 44 to 72 on the Album Streaming Chart.
• ''I Am An Elvis Fan' drops from 69 to 92 on the Album Streaming Chart.
• 'The Elvis Collection' drops from 32 to 44 on the Music Video Chart.
• 'The King Of Rock 'n' Roll' drops from 29 to 47 on the Music Video Chart.
• 'If I Can Dream' remains at No. 1 on the Scottish Album Chart.
• 'Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits' drops from 58 to 80 on the Scottish Album Chart.

In Scotland the album has remained at #1 (4 weeks in total now) and in Ireland it is again #6. In the USA, the album has retaken the #2 spot on the Billboard Classical Chart however it has this week departed the Billboard Top 200 having spend 8 weeks and peaking at #21.

• The “If I Can Dream” album dropped from #31 to #29 on the Austrian Album charts.
• The “If I Can Dream” album dropped from #49 to #59 on the Belgian Album charts.
• The “If I Can Dream” album dropped from #71 to #79 on the Spanish Album charts.
• The “If I Can Dream” remained steady at #6 on the World Album charts.
• The “If I Can Dream” album dropped off the Swiss Album charts.
• The "Elvis 80" 3 CD set re-entered the Swiss Album charts at #46.
• The “If I Can Dream” album climbed from #6 to #5 on the Australian Album charts.
• The “If I Can Dream” album climbed from #33 to #25 on the New Zealand Album charts.

Graceland Auction Results

Elvis' Iconic Guitar does NOT sell at the Graceland auction: Despite news reports to the contrary, the lead item at this year's Graceland Auction did not sell and was passed in at US$270,000. Elvis' Gibson Ebony Dove guitar was expected to reach up to $500,000 but did not reach the reserve of $300,000. 
The Gibson Ebony Dove was likely one of Elvis' favorite instruments, and it had well documented stage appearances, such as the 1973 "Aloha from Hawaii" concert. Some notable items that did sell were:

• The 1958 Elvis Presley Handwritten 2-Page Letter to Alan Fortas "Hog Ears" (see story below)  Sold at $35,000
• Original KWKH Reel-to-Reel Recording of Elvis Presley's Last Song on the Louisiana Hayride - The First Time the Famous Phrase is Uttered by Horace Logan. Sold at $10,000
• Gold, Diamond and Rock Crystal Quartz Ring Gifted by Elvis Presley to Linda Thompson. (see story below) Sold at below the estimate ($15,000) for $8,750
• Elvis Presley 14K "TCB" Necklace Gifted to Bodyguard Sam Thompson. Sold for $11,875
• 1970s Elvis Presley "TCB" Nautic Prescription Sunglasses: Sold For $27,500
• Elvis Presley Gold-Toned Microphone and Cord Used on Stage in 1969 at the International Hotel. Sold For $15,000

More results here.

Texarkana Dedicates Elvis Presley Plaque

The "King of Rock'n' Roll" Elvis Presley would have turned 81 years old Friday, January 8th, 2016. Texarkana, Arkansas celebrated his birthday by dedicating a plaque in his honor at the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium 'Walk of Fame' next to city hall.
    
Dozens of people came out to honor him and reflect on their memories of the king. When this radio interview was recorded in 1955, Elvis Presley was just getting started. "He called me when he came to Texarkana. I didn't really know who he was really," said Bobbie Smith, Texarkana, Arkansas resident. Smith was just a teenager when she first met Elvis. She didn't even know he wanted to be a singer, but that didn't last long.  

Elvis invited her to watch one of his first performances from the back stage of the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium. "He got on the stage and shook his leg. Everybody thought that was fun," recalled Smith.  

Elvis performed in Texarkana in 1954 and 1955. LaFonda Clough of Texarkana, Arkansas is a lifetime Elvis fan. Her parents also attended one of the King's earlier performances.  

"My dad bought my mom a picture and they stayed and got him to autograph her picture," explained Clough. "So, her picture is autographed on the back, "Yours till sun up. Elvis Presley." Like many fans still today, Smith can't help but tap along when she hears an Elvis classic played. "He had on a white suit and I could not believe it because he was always wearing blue jeans, what regular people wore back then," said Smith. 

However, unlike most fans, Smith got a glimpse into the real Elvis. The shy boy who could make her laugh.  "He was a good ol' country boy. I don't think he changed all that much, but he probably did," said Smith. 

Presley performed at the Texarkana venue six times, including two concerts with Johnny Cash, who also has a plaque on the Walk of Fame park. 

Elvis' Star revealed in Tupelo
 
The birthday of Elvis was celebrated at his birthplace site in Tupelo, Mississippi. Besides cutting the cake the Elvis Walk of Fame star was also revealed. The star will be placed in the new Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience project in Meridian, Mississippi, which will open her doors in 2017. The ceremony in which the star will be placed in Meridian is scheduled for January 19, 2016.

(Source: FECC / Brian Quinn / Elvis Information Network / Graceland / KTBS / ElvisMatters / ACharts / The King's World)