Elvis Presley’s blue suede shoes expected to fetch up to £120,000 at auction | Ents & Arts News
A pair of Elvis Presley’s blue suede shoes are to go up for auction.
The American singer wore the size 10.5 footwear on and off stage in the 1950s, including during a performance on the Steve Allen TV show.
He acquired the pair after recording the hit Blue Suede Shoes, which was written by fellow singer Carl Perkins, for his debut album in 1956.
Presley later gave the shoes away the night before his induction into the US army in 1958.
Elvis performing in 1956. Pic: AP / Shreveporttimes.com
The footwear is tipped to fetch between £100,000 and £120,000 when it goes under the hammer on Friday at auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire.
The pair has been authenticated by Jimmy Velvet, Presley’s close friend of 22 years, who has been described by the auction house as “the world’s leading Elvis authority”.
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Presley gave the shoes to his close friend Alan Fortas, who later described how he got them in a letter.
He wrote: “The night before Elvis’ army induction in Memphis, Elvis had an all-night party at Graceland. Afterwards we went to the Rainbow roller rink.
“When we all got home Elvis called some of us upstairs and was giving away some of his clothes he didn’t think he would be wearing or wanted when he came back from the army.
“That night Elvis gave me these blue suede shoes size 10.5. I’ve owned these all these years.”
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the shoes as “iconic as they can be”.
He added: “They are just an exceptional piece of showbusiness, music and popular culture memorabilia.”
