'King of Rock' Elvis Presley's boots fetch USD 45,000 in UK

A pair of white boots worn by Elvis Presley, regarded as King of Rock, during his most famous TV performance have fetched USD 45,000 at an auction here.
The boots were bought by a British collector for 29,500 pounds (USD 45,000) yesterday which went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge auctioneers in Devizes town in England.
Presley wore the size-11 boots while singing 'If I Can Dream' during a special television broadcast in 1968 on the NBC network, BBC reported.
He recorded the song two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King and the lyrics include some of the quotes from the civil rights leader.

What had amazed viewers was the moment Presley fell to his knees while singing the song as if it was a religious experience.
Presley wore a black leather outfit for most of the famous performance before changing into a white suit and shoes for the finale.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said Elvis had recorded the song "in several incredibly passionate takes".
"To show producer Steve Binder his performance was so staggering it seemed almost like a religious experience. Out on the floor with a hand mic, Elvis fell to his knees. These boots represent a tangible link to this truly iconic moment in showbusiness history," he said.

"If 'I Can Dream' was the closing number of one of the greatest moments in entertainment history and is regarded by Elvis collectors as one of the 'Holy Grails'," Aldridge said.
The boots were sold along with a handwritten letter from stage director Charlie Hodge, who appeared with Presley on the NBC show.
"These white Verde brand boots are the boots that Elvis wore on stage on his 1968 NBC TV special. He wore these in the closing number of the show 'If I Can Dream' while he was wearing a white suit. Elvis later gave me these boots," the letter reads.