"[13], Phillips took several acetates of the session to DJ Dewey Phillips (no relation) of Memphis radio station WHBQ's Red, Hot and Blue show. Bill himself stopped road work in the early '60s, when ill health started to take its toll. This was the same resting place as Elvis mother who had died in 1958 and later the original grave of The King himself in 1977 before both were moved to Graceland. app state football camps 2022; crocodilian species by size; music yahoo google James Burton Interview - Rick Nelson & Elvis: Elvis Drummer Jerome "Stump" Monroe EIN Interview: Ernst Jorgensen interview about 'On Stage' and Elvis' Legacy in 2010: 'What was Elvis searching for?' He decided instead to visit the family privately after the service to express his condolences. The importance of bass-player Fred Maddox on Bill Black's playing style This includes a lengthy Memphis Press-Scimitar interview from December 1956. At age 6, his uncle gave him a Duane Eddy record and forever changed his life. how did claudia gordon became deaf; why did bill black leave elvis. Fontana) because of two things, Elvis promised better pay for the band but didn't uphold his promise as he was not confident enough to go against Dutch immigrant ( real name: Andreas Cornelia van Kuijk) later known as Colonel Tom Parker. Having gone on to form the Bill Black Combo, the bassist became ill in the early 1960s. He would grow up to be a well-built man, standing around the six-foot mark. 5. Early life and career [ edit] The attention inspired Marshall Crenshaw to record Bens Im Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee) for his Downtown album. Elvis has left the building. Thanks to Bill Black'sdaughter Nancy Black Shockley andgranddaughter Carriefor correcting the names of Bill's wife and children. Elvis was on a 12, 500 dollar fee, per week. Your daddy would come down through there and get everybody to laughing and loosen them up. This song feels just as fresh today as it was close to seventy years ago.. The Beatles: Paul McCartney announces identity of Eleanor Rigby, Could UK finally escape Eurovision humiliation? Bill was the friendliest guy in the world'. I cant play it very well because Im an electric bass guy. After various attempts at songs, the group 'stumbled upon' the sound which gave them 'That's All Right (Mama)', on Tuesday, 6th July 1954. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection. Elvis Presley. Black later formed Bill Black's Combo. not seeing too much of Elvis off stage'.It just can't be that way', was the quote from Bill at the time. Black and Moore continued to work with Presley until 1958 . 1. It wasn't until Elvis sought to officially change it to the more traditional spelling that he learnt that, despite the document, state records did indeed already have him registered as Elvis Aaron. It is unfortunate that Elvis fans have never had a chance to truly hear Bill Black's version of events through a long, in-depth interview or autobiography but Paul Belard has tracked down some very interesting band interviews - along with post-Elvis newspaper articles - which do provide a good look at Bill Black's side of the story. Bill was with the group for almost three years before Elvis came on the scene. The meeting lasted something like two hours. "[3], Black's widow sold Bob Tucker and Larry Rogers the rights to use the name Bill Black's Combo. Perhaps a good indication of how things stood can be seen in the often-told tale of the recording session which produced '(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care', on Wednesday, 8th May 1957. While he had been doing his military service in Virginia in the mid-'40s, Bill had met 15-year-old Evelyn. Ive been playing it ever since. He and Reggie Young would play on Elvis' classic Memphis '69 sessions, which would play such a major part in his late 60's comeback, producing the outstanding album From Elvis In Memphis. Black himself was not well enough to make the tour. Other highlights are discovering new stories including. D.J. Elvis said, From Memphis Tennessee, One of the best bassmen in the business. If you have any interest in Elvis early sound, American early sixties music, or always wanted to know more about Bill Black then this book is an essential purchase. We never rehearse outside of record sessions. 2. He ran it under a truck while playing a date in Arkansas. It is easy to forget that, in the beginning, Elvis was only one part of a trio put together by Sam Phillips, which included Bill Black on bass and Scotty Moore on lead guitar. A born joker in both image and nature. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Ben Vaughn grew up in the Philadelphia area on the New Jersey side of the river. The miserable life Elvis leads Bill Blacks interview from 1962. Beautifully matching Scotty Moore's biography That's All Right, Elvis at last we have a fascinating exploration of Paul Belards Don't Be Cruel, Elvis - The Bill Black Story. That same evening, the duo wrote a letter of resignation. Haven't heard a word from you on the money situation you were going to look into after we left. He was only 39, and just weeks short of his 40th birthday. [15] Moore and Black left the Starlite Wranglers after the success of "That's All Right," jealousy within the group forcing them to split. Finally, they were both interested in pursuing other musical projects. This caused a lot of bitterness at the time, including threats to quit. According to Black's son Louis, Moore said, "Elvis used to just stand up there and not move, and Bill would jump around on the bass. The bassist was buried next to his father William Patton Black Sr at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. But for a white artist at that time it was easier . Nothings going to happen with it.. Bill Black was a talented musician, and he was a key part of the Elvis Presley sound. In 2007, Black was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Knowing that you are a man of your word and faithfully devoted to us your complete silence has me worried. Posted on . Elvis joins in with him, starts playing and singing along with him "[3] They ended up with a fast version of the song in 4/4 time. Elvis certainly capitalized on this through his choice of material and performance stylehis sexualized scandalousness was linked in large part to the fact that he was imitating, or referencing,. On this twofer, David Hood in the bass chair with Muscle Shoals Swamper, you can get away with listening to extended live slabs of Traffic On The Road. appeared in the Venus Room of the New Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas. I love his quote, There was no way of knowing success was coming to Presley. Even Sam Phillips has been quoted as saying that', Bill was one of the worst bass players in the world, technically, but man, could he slap that thing!'. The Combo was driven by a strong mix of bass, sax and keyboards. He helped an insecure, 19-year-old truck driving Mississippi kid called Elvis, change the world through music, and more than a little humor, going on to build a successful second career with his Combo and that 'Untouchable Sound'. [citation needed]. Fontana, with various star guest artists, was released. Fontana. Once he'd done that, then Elvis would have them in the palm of his hand. Combo's lasting influence on bands in Memphis and beyond. Bill was with him. It is also essential to realise that the all-important flip-side Blue Moon of Kentucky might not have happened without Bill Blacks input.. "A few days after the taping of "That's All Right" the trio was back in the studio to record a B-side for a single release. Black's main stand-up bass is today owned by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, who received the instrument as a birthday present from his wife Linda in the late 1970s. It was becoming harder and harder to see Elvis, with the growing 'mafia' that now surrounded him. Following on from that number, it's said to have been Bill who jumped up and started to mess about on 'Blue Moon Of Kentucky', the eventual B-side to their first single. 3. replied that that wasn't so', No. This was mainly due to the others in the group being wiry and angular. Here he says he'll have a', Brand, spankin' new pose of Elvis for a picture. 'Elvis: Ohama, Nebraska '74' FTD in-depth Review: Elvis / Orchestra Copenhagen 2018 Concert Review: 'The Complete 50s Movie Masters And Session Recordings' In-Depth Review: Bicycle Rider: Thoughts on The Searcher: (Book Review) Counting Down Elvis His 100 Finest Songs (Mark Duffett). John Entwistles influence on bass playing was undeniable, and his death at the age of 66 leaves a huge void in the music world. out of their 100 dollars a week. Bill's bag of tricks ranged from blacking out his front teeth, to swinging his arm out real far, slapping the strings of his bass, and dancing with or riding it! He was a member of some of the most famous groups of all time, including The Who, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who, the Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea, and Atoms For Peaces James Jamerson. Visually, a glimpse of Bill's act behind Elvis was caught during the 'Milton Berle Show', on the deck of the U.S.S. Elvis Australia was founded in 1996 www.elvis.com.au was literally born from the concept of wanting to represent 'Elvis in Australia', so www.elvis.com.au Read more. Gary Tallent and Max Weinberg of the E Street Band Induct Bill Black Bruce Thomas (born August 14, 1948) is a rock bassist from England who is best known for his work with the Attractions, a band that performed and recorded alongside Elvis Costello in 1977. Another reason is that they felt Presley was not giving them enough credit for their contributions to his music. . There are a number of reasons why Scotty Moore and Bill Black left Elvis Presleys band. They received rave reviews in Rolling Stone and People magazine and video airplay on MTV. He was an important part of the Elvis Presley band, and he helped to create the unique sound that was associated with Elvis Presleys music. He could hit the bass like nobody in the world., Bills contribution to Elvis success went beyond the bass playing. Elvis joined him. Country radio stations said Elvis sounded too Black to play, and the stations that played rhythm and blues said he sounded too much like a hillbilly. Bill Black looked for a future elsewhere, he went after his dream, and a more permanent career within music. As a joke, Elvis picked it up and volunteered to do it and that's what made it on the record - Elvis playing the bass part. Known as 'The Untouchable Sound', chart success saw them receive Billboard's 'Most Played Instrumental Group' award no less than three times in those years. The unique sound that emerged from their early sessions was the result of a close collaboration of like-minded musicians and an engineer who wanted to generate something as yet unheard. For Elvis' final 50's session, on the 10th - 11th June '58, Bill was replaced by Bob Moore, and Scotty by Hank Garland. Fontana Interview with Scotty Moore Scotty Moore Way Ahead Of The Gang (1973) The Bosses' Men Induct The King's Men- 2009, Copyright 2022 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au, https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/article-blackie.shtml. Hollywood's new leading man, 31, told . This was during the early 1960s. Elvis Presleys bass player was a man by the name of Bill Black. The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The lineup was Black (bass), Joe Lewis Hall (piano), Reggie Young (guitar), Martin Willis (saxophone), and Jerry Arnold (drums). He then moved out to Corpus Christi, but would head home to Memphis with his wife after hearing 'That's All Right', and knowing that something was breaking musically in the city. 16/06/2022 . These three, later four, men, stood together while the world at large often condemned their every move and all they stood for. [3], In 1962, Bill Black opened a recording studio called "Lyn-Lou Studios" (a shortened nickname "Linda-Lou" he had for his daughter Nancy), and a record label named "Louis" after his son,[25] on Chelsea Street in Memphis, Tennessee, with Larry Rogers (Studio 19, Nashville) as his engineer and producer. Later outfits, like the Mar-Keys and Booker T. and The MG's, would owe much to the music made by the Combo in its heyday. While I knew of the success of the 45rpm single 'Smokie, Part 2' - an R&B number 1 and Billboard #17 - it is a surprise to learn just how successful his Bill Black Combo instrumental Albums were at the time and interesting to see other future players from Elvis' legacy featuring in The Bill Black Combo such as Reggie Young, Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman. I'll have plenty of 'em, before the show, during the intermission, after the show. With all that was building and happening behind the scenes, it's really no surprise that Scotty and Bill did eventually leave Elvis, around the middle of September '57. Elvis Presleys first bass player was Bill Black. Sign up for a free 30 day trial at the link to listen to unlimited music on Amazon Music! -Copyright EIN January 2022 It was Elvis' show. Johnny Black can be seen in Alan Freed's rock exploitation movie', Rock, Rock, Rock', made in Hollywood during 1957. Yours truly Bill Black. Scotty Moore. Prior to the link up with the Wranglers, Scotty Moore and Bill Black once backed up local boy Dorsey Burnette at a club. The reason being that the acoustic instrument was big enough to house the family hound dog! Nine years older than Elvis, Bill did appear to be further down life's highway, with his hair receding at the sides, even in early photos. In 1959, the Combo signed to Joe Cuoghi's Hi label. Bill Black adding his pounding beat to Johnny Horton recording sessions One reason is that they were not being paid enough. What's the lowdown? Black's onstage personality was a sharp contrast to the introverted stage presence of Moore. It was the beginning. . 1. Scotty commented, in Scotland during October '93, that', If it hadn't been for Bill, we would have bombed so many times in the early days. Fontana was Elvis drummer from 1957 to 1968 and was a key member of the Memphis Mafia. Other notable Elvis drummers include Ronnie Tutt, who played on many of Elvis most famous recordings, and Karl Perazzo, who currently plays with the Elvis tribute band Elvis Lives. Part One The Elvis Years - is 140 pages. [23] A follow-up release, "White Silver Sands" (Hi 2021), was a Top 10 hit (#9) and, like its predecessor, topped the R&B charts for four weeks.[3][22]. More info. [3] At the age of sixteen, Black was performing "honky-tonk" music on acoustic guitar in local bars. Bill had left home before the Presley's moved into the building. Elvis takes great care to show the origins of the singer's musical stylings, putting the spotlight on the Black artists who inspired him. In 1962 Bill finally handed over leadership and took a backseat. 2022617 why did bill black leave elvis . She'd joked with Bill and Johnny's wives that the 'pretty boy' was her boyfriend! Get yourself a wir fahrn 22,000 ($25,000) cover artwork from Traffics 1973 album Waxed in Germany. The Holifield's owned record stores and also booked concerts by artists such as Johnny Cash and Elvis. Bill was trying to come to grips with his first Fender electric bass. Even more shocking facts about how Col Parker ripped off the musicians. Elvis was canceled after two weeks and wouldn't appear in the town before July 1969. And if that isn't a great recommendation for an Elvis book, then what is? His favourite class was wood shop. in October '93, when talking about a mid-SO's trip to San Antonio, Texas'.We all went down to (Scotty's) aunt's and ate food there. The number of photographs and relevant memorabilia in the book is extremely impressive and the design very stylish- with each chapter introduced by an old-fashioned silver gelatin styled image. As I've already noted, some thought Johnny was the better of the two. Combo winning Billboard instrumental award three times.3. There was also a 1000 Christmas bonus. After Bill's death, there were a few more minor hits for the Combo, and they continued to tour and be a popular draw. Scotty also had Bill come by later in the session, which is said to have taken place on Sunday afternoon, 27th June 1954. Confident and clear as bells, Elvis' playing is soon invigorated by Bill's bass. [17], In 1955, Black went to RCA Victor along with Presley and Moore when Presley's contract was sold to that company. . His day job at the time was cleaning and blocking hats at his brothers' dry cleaning firm. River of Deceit, a forgotten rock album from the 1990s, is one of the best. As Elvis did everything to the extreme womanizing, pill-taking, gunning, eating he also dieted with little to no concern for his personal well-being. The best thing to come out of the Vegas stint was the group catching Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys doing an outrageous version of Leiber and Stollers 'Hound Dog'. It wasn't nothing dirty'. The Combo's sound of danceable blues became a popular accompaniment for striptease dancers. What you don't realize is that some of the crowds had not seen Elvis. A cool collector's item. Had he lived, it's quite possible that Bill Black too would have put in a guest appearance for old times sake on that '68 show. He was a member of Elvis band, the Blue Moon Boys, from 1954 to 1958. Later, Buddy Emmons joined the Combo on organ. How Should Artists Fund Their Career in Music? Elvis didn't attend the funeral. The band released blues instrumental "Smokie" for Hi Records (Hi 2018) in December 1959. The people had come to see', Ma boy', and the rest of them were just the support. They created a very fresh and lively sound that was destined to make a large impact on exposure. Apart from the fact that he'd just completed 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' in Hawaii, he'd told Evelyn that he wouldn't go because he didn't want to turn a private affair into a circus by being present. With all that was building and happening behind the scenes, it's really no surprise that Scotty and Bill did eventually leave Elvis, around the middle of September '57. Interview with Dick Grob, Elvis' Head Of Security: Hollywood veteran Michael Hoey talks to EIN: Interview with 'Elvis Films FAQ' author Paul Simpson: "My Fast Life" Rare Elvis Presley 1964 Interview: Allyson Adams 'The Rebel and The King' Interview: Elvis Paradise Hawaiian Interview - with Peter Noone, Sam Thompson, Elvis' bodyguard, 2011 Interview. [4] Black and Moore also played in a band with Paul Burlison, Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette on steel guitar, and a drummer. See you when I get out'. Their version being recorded at the Norman Petty Studio, Clovis, New Mexico, where Vee's idol Buddy Holly cut his hits. Whatever he might have lacked in technique in those early years, he more than made up for with enthusiasm and stage presence. Rumors of instrumental releases came and went. [3], During World War II, Black was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Lee in Virginia. After an early take, Phillips can be heard on tape saying, "Fine, man. 'The Wedding' Elvis & Priscilla EIN special Spotlight: 'Elvis In Ottawa' Spotlight & Elvis Interview: "Kissed By Elvis" Janet Fulton Interview: 'Elvis: '72 Summer Festival' Book Review: MRS presents 'ELVIS: September 1970' in-depth Review: Book Review 'Christmas with Elvis: The Official Guide': (Book Review) Elvis The Army Years Uncovered (Trina Young): 'Elvis: Fort Worth, Texas 1974' FTD in-depth Review: 'ELVIS: Las Vegas Hilton 73' FTD Review: Elvis - The First Engagements 1969-70 In-Depth Review: Book Review: 'Elvis The King of the Rings Vol 1': 'Summer Festival 1970: The Rehearsals' In-Depth Review: 'The Something For Everybody Sessions' Deluxe FTD Review: 'Elvis: St Paul To Wichita: Oct 1974' FTD In-Depth Review: 'Holiday Season In Vegas: 1975' FTD In-Depth Review: 'Elvis Presley: The Searcher' DVD Review: Book Review - 'Elvis The Gospel Singer' (Paul Belard): (Book Review) The Comeback - Elvis and the Story of the 68 Special (Simon Goddard): (Book Review) Elvis Black and White to Technicolor.