Signed by Elvis Presley – Signed by John Wilkinson - Signed by Tom Diskin From the estate of John Wilkinson CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP ELVIS PRESLEY AND TCB MUSICIANS The contractual relationship between Elvis Presley and his TCB musicians (see pictures), including John Wilkinson, was unlike that of any other major touring artist of the era. Elvis famously avoided long term legal agreements. Musicians were paid per show or per tour, but they were never bound by exclusivity clauses or multi year commitments. The practical organization of tours required administrative documentation, signed by Elvis and by the artist. These short tour contracts were handled through Management Three Ltd. and the William Morris Agency, and a limited number of these agreements for Wilkinson have survived. They were functional documents, covering payments, dates, logistics, insurance and attendance, but never artistic rights or exclusivity. JOHN WILKINSON (See pictures) John Richard Wilkinson was born in 1945 and became a key figure in Elvis’ live revival beginning in 1969. Wilkinson joined the TCB Band just as Elvis prepared for his legendary Las Vegas comeback at the International Hotel. His rhythm guitar provided the solid foundation that allowed Elvis’ voice and James Burton’s lead guitar to shine. Wilkinson’s playing offered both acoustic and electric support, ensuring continuity across rock, gospel and ballads. He performed more than a thousand shows with Elvis and never missed a single one, making him one of the most reliable musicians Elvis ever worked with. Wilkinson was present at every major live moment of Elvis’ final decade, including Aloha from Hawaii, the extensive U.S. tours of the 1970s and the final concert series in 1977. After Elvis’ death, he continued performing for several years until a stroke in 1989 left his left arm paralyzed. He remained active in Elvis memorial events and later wrote his autobiography My Life Before, During and After Elvis Presley. His legacy endures through live recordings, photographs, memorabilia and the reputation he built as one of Elvis’ most dedicated musicians. PROVENANCE CONTRACTS The provenance of the surviving tour contracts is exceptionally strong. In January 2004, the Belgian fan club Elvis Matters invited Wilkinson to Belgium for an Elvis birthday celebration. Later that year, on 2 and 3 October, the fan club organized the TCB Reunion concerts—the only time the full TCB Band ever stood together on stage after Elvis’ death. Wilkinson could no longer play guitar, but he sang several songs, creating a moment that became historically unique. From 2004 onward, the fan club maintained close contact with Wilkinson and his wife Terry. They visited Belgium multiple times, and fan club board members also visited the couple at their home in the United States. During one of these visits, it became clear that Wilkinson still had boxes of material from his Elvis years. Some items were gifted, others sold, and after his passing additional material was dispersed through the fan club’s president. Among these items were a number of original tour contracts. These documents come directly from Wilkinson’s personal collection and estate, forming a rare and historically significant record. All the contracts were signed by Elvis Presley and John Wilkinson. EXTRA: AMENDMENT SIGNED BY TOM DISKIN This contract is particularly special because it includes an attached amendment signed by Tom Diskin, the longtime right hand man of Colonel Tom Parker. Diskin’s signature adds an extra layer of historical significance, as he handled much of Parker’s confidential business correspondence and contractual negotiations. His direct involvement indicates that this engagement was personally overseen at the highest managerial level, making the document an especially valuable and rare piece of Elvis Presley’s professional history. CONTRACT LAS VEGAS HILTON December 1975 This contract is for the shows at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel starting December 1st, 1975 through and including December 15th, 1975, and offers $2,144 per week. In early December 1975, Elvis Presley returned to the Hilton Showroom in Las Vegas for his winter engagement, known as the “Pre Holiday Jubilee.” The series ran from December 2 to December 15, 1975, and comprised 16 sold out shows. RCA did not bring any recording equipment for these show. Nevertheless, two shows—both on December 13, 1975—were captured on reel to reel tape by producer Felton Jarvis. These recordings would later gain historical significance, as they are the only professional audio documents from this Hilton residency. During this engagement, Elvis performed with his trusted TCB Band: James Burton, John Wilkinson, Charlie Hodge, Jerry Scheff, Ronnie Tutt, Glen D. Hardin, and the Joe Guercio Orchestra. Backing vocals were provided by The Sweet Inspirations, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, Kathy Westmoreland, and Sherrill Nielsen. Although Elvis struggled with health issues during this period, he was vocally remarkably strong. The shows featured a mix of classics and newer songs such as Fairytale, And I Love You So, Softly As I Leave You, and America the Beautiful. Official CD releases from the December 1975 period (NOT included in the sale of this lot, only on photo) December 13, 1975 – Dinner Show and Midnight Show. Both Released on Dinner At Eight (FTD), a complete soundboard recording, captured by Felton Jarvis.