Elvis’ First Recording Up For Auction

(AP) - Graceland will mark Elvis Presley's 80th birthday by auctioning off the first recording he ever made.

The New York Times reports an acetate disc of Presley singing "My Happiness" backed with "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" will be sold at his estate in Memphis on January 8. Presley paid $4 to record it. Record Collector magazine once listed the disc's value at $500,000. Only one copy exists and it's always been in the hands of private collectors.

The official story is that Presley recorded it as a gift for his mother. Presley biographers question that because his family did not own a record player and suggest he did it to get the attention of Sun Records owner Sam Phillips.