The Historic Acquisition of Elvis Presley's Sun Contract by RCA Victor: A Game-Changer in Music History

In November 1955, Elvis Presley, a rising star in the music industry, made a significant move in his career by signing a deal with RCA Victor. This decision came after he was voted the year's most promising male artist at the Country Disc Jockey Convention. Despite offers from three major labels that reached up to $25,000, Presley's manager, Colonel Parker, and his business partner, Phillips, negotiated an unprecedented deal with RCA Victor for $40,000 to acquire Presley's existing contract with Sun Records. At just 20 years old, Presley was still considered a minor, which necessitated his father's signature on the contract. To manage the new material that Presley would record, Parker collaborated with Jean and Julian Aberbach, the owners of Hill & Range Publishing, to establish two entities: Elvis Presley Music and Gladys Music. This arrangement allowed songwriters to receive a reduced royalty rate in exchange for having their songs performed by the iconic Elvis Presley, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of his career and the music industry as a whole. #mooflife #mof #MomentOfLife #ElvisPresley #RcaVictor #MusicHistory #1955 #CountryMusic