He's playing bass with the Johnny Burnette Rock 'N' Roll Trio, where he replaced Dorsey. Following Elvis' early, solo, visits to the Memphis Recording Service, to cut two personal acetates, Sam had Scotty arrange for the young singer to come over to his home for a try-out session. "[12], The next day, the group recorded four more songs, including Blue Moon of Kentucky," by the bluegrass musician Bill Monroe, which he had written and recorded as a slow waltz. One reason is that they were not being paid enough. By 1956, the friendship was already pulling apart, with Bill, Scotty and D.J. They'd heard the records, but they had not seen him. Indeed, Ruby and Gladys are said to have been on friendly terms (I have found no reference to Ruby's husband and the children's father). List Of Elvis Drummers Frankly, I thought the boy would starve to death. Tillman Franks, bassist and Johnny Hortons manager, praised Bill in making Elvis a success: Bill Black, the way he hit his bass fiddle, he sounded like a band all by himself. If Axl handled his ego with the same passion and intelligence that his solo acts performed, they would have had the careers of the Stones and Slash, Duff, Gilby, and Izzy. These would include Liverpool teenagers John Lennon and Paul McCartney. "It makes me feel good when I make people happy, listening and dancing to my music". 3. The line-up for the reformed group included Reggie and Scotty on electric guitars, Michael Leech on bass, Bobby Wood on piano, Ace Cannon on saxophone, Bobby Emmons on organ, D.J. He could hit the bass like nobody in the world., Bills contribution to Elvis success went beyond the bass playing. . . Both it and American are now long gone. Those who claimed that grunge bass lacked finesse were way ahead of their time. Despite this, Bill usually appears to have slits for eyes and a face split in half by a huge grin. Black continued his onstage "clown" persona and developed comedy routines with Presley. (Theres a delightful photograph of Henrik with Bill Blacks daughter on page 14). Another comment from Scotty Moore tells how well Bill got on with everyone; 'He never met a stranger'. Black worked at the Firestone plant. "But we've only played 14 personal appearances this year," said Black. They married a year later, in 1946. Fontana and his astounding double-bass that anchors Heartbreak Hotel. The Bill Black Combo was formed soon after the parting with Elvis. 4. Johnny Black too worked at Firestone. As can be imagined, this caused quite a bit of hardship cashwise when there were families to feed. 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. 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. Fontana, how he and Scotty got on with Bill, during a trip to Scotland in October 1993, since it was well known that Elvis didn't get on with him, D.J. On Thursday, 21st October, he died during an operation to try and remove part or all of the growth. This song feels just as fresh today as it was close to seventy years ago.. At one time Carl too recorded as a singer for Sun, cutting the single 'You Are My Sunshine' / 'Tootsie' (Sun International 3526). Get yourself a wir fahrn 22,000 ($25,000) cover artwork from Traffics 1973 album Waxed in Germany. 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. Elvis Presley lived most of his life and career in the limelight. Bill replied, in his typical blunt style', Well, he didn't impress me too damned much!' [8], On July 5, 1954, the trio met at Sun studios to rehearse and record a handful of songs. Regarding That's All Right Belard neatly explains, "Listening to "That's All Right" with the speakers turned up, one can revel in the gloriously rich colors this trio creates. 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. Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 08:46, List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart, "Official Legal Title of Crudup's (and Elvis's) "That's All Right", "Elvis Presley's Sun Recordings: SUN Studios, Memphis Tennessee: Elvis Articles:: 'For Elvis Fans Only' Official Elvis Presley Fan Club", "RCS Label Shot for RCA Victor (N.J.) 6357", "RCS Label Shot for RCA Victor (N.J.) 6380", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Black&oldid=1141091970, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 08:46. Like Elvis', and many other families of the period in the south, his family wasn't a rich one. According to Louis Black, Elvis said, "If there's, anything that y'all need, you just let me know and it's yours.. [5], In July 1954, Sam Phillips, of Sun Records, asked Black and Moore to play backup for the as-yet-unknown Elvis Presley. Elvis was on a 12, 500 dollar fee, per week. Much of Bill Black's career was spent as Elvis Presley's charismatic bass player, but Black also led a successful career as a bandleader, landing charting in the Hot 100 nearly twenty times. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio. In December 1956, Bill said', When we get together with Elvis and the Jordanaires we have a lot of fun. Sources credit Black with initiating the song, with Presley and Moore joining in. and expenses, there was not much left. Elvis grew up in a segregated version of America, spending time at black music clubs, reportedly inspired by blues, gospel and rhythm and blues. Elvis Presley, Bill Black, Scotty Moore and Sam Phillips - Sun Records 1954. When Elvis was at Humes High School, he was on the boxing team. And I'll have about four or five million of them. nc high school coaching jobs; why did bill black leave elvis. 1. Another reason is that they felt Presley was not giving them enough credit for their contributions to his music. Early life and career [ edit] The show was carried by 190 CBS stations across the south, between 8pm.- 11pm., and there's no way to measure the huge boost this gave the boys and their style of music. But less than 10 years later and Bill was dead. In 2007, Black was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. In May of 1955, Elvis gave both Scotty and Bill due credit. Scotty hung in there, doing some recording and session work with people like Jerry Lee Lewis. Haven't heard a word from you on the money situation you were going to look into after we left. The single version, like most of his Sun work, features fine bass work from Bill. Hancock, at the Naval Station, San Diego, on Tuesday, 3rd April 1956. The rise to 250 dollars coincided with concerts at San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles, between Saturday, 26th and Tuesday, 29th October 1957, and shows in Hawaii, on Sunday and Monday, 10th - 11th November, that same year. The Holifield's owned record stores and also booked concerts by artists such as Johnny Cash and Elvis. Bob Neal, still the manager at the time, had enough power to nix that idea. Louisiana Hayride appearances - establishing the new sound.4. [citation needed]. Part Two The Bill Black Combo, plus his recording studio and publishing. Elvis sat in as a guest around October 1954, playing with them about ten times (some sources say just once). It was Elvis' show. Gladys and later Elvis was also buried there, prior to their being moved to Graceland on Sunday, 2nd October 1977. 'Blackie' with Joe Coughi, owner of Poplar Tunes record store and 'Hi Records' studio. 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. Elvis and Priscilla later visited Evelyn and the girls at their home. 1. for 59 weeks and 4 No. Elvis takes great care to show the origins of the singer's musical stylings, putting the spotlight on the Black artists who inspired him. Go here to Memphis Mansion website to purchase. Bill was the friendliest guy in the world'. Review by Piers Beagley. 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,. Indeed, Scotty and D.J. I'll have plenty of 'em, before the show, during the intermission, after the show. Written by Reggie Young and Bobby Emmons. No one would steal Elvis' thunder again', Blackie's' routines were history. [14], Black and Moore became Presley's backup group and were paid 25% of his earnings. There are a number of reasons why Scotty Moore and Bill Black left Elvis Presleys band. Ironically, twelve years later, Elvis Presley himself would be pronounced dead at the same hospital. 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. Actor Blake Gibbons portrayed Black in the short-lived 1990 TV series Elvis, starring Michael St. Gerard. Fontana. [2][3] His father played popular songs on the banjo and fiddle to entertain the family. 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. According to his son, Black said his goal was always to give his audience "a few moments of entertainment and maybe a little bit of humor that'll tickle 'em for a while. Dedicated by the two men to their fallen friend Bill Black, it included one track with the Combo', Goin' Back To Memphis'. Again this was over money. Scotty also had Bill come by later in the session, which is said to have taken place on Sunday afternoon, 27th June 1954. centennial high school guidance counselor. Directly across the street from American Sound, Bill at one time ran Lynn-Lou, a small recording studio. Elvis Presley, Bill Black, Scotty Moore and Sam Phillips - Sun Records 1954. Part One The Elvis Years - is 140 pages. Sidenote: From the Sept 9 1956 Ed Sullivan Show Elvis was paid $6029, Col Parker took $4166 while Scotty Moore and Bill Black only got paid $165 each! Long live Bill Black - what a character.. Formatted as a large A4 size book, this is an extremely impressive volume. Moore said, "Bill is the one who came up with "Blue Moon of Kentucky." 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. They married in 1946 and returned to Memphis. [15] Moore and Black left the Starlite Wranglers after the success of "That's All Right," jealousy within the group forcing them to split. 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. 16/06/2022 . Costume designer Bill Belew conceived the iconic ensemble -- as well as a gold lame jacket and a white two-piece suit that Elvis wore in the special -- and went on to create the flamboyant . Combo's lasting influence on bands in Memphis and beyond. Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! Elvis liked what he heard and we all know where that led. Read More. Bassman Bill Black finally gets the biography he deserves with Paul Belard's 260 page book. Having gone on to form the Bill Black Combo, the bassist became ill in the early 1960s. By then Colonel Tom Parker was also in charge and making various deals. replied that that wasn't so', No. Hits included 'Smokie Part 2' (HI 2018), written by Bill, and 'White Silver Sands' (Matthews) (HI 2021), in 1959 and '60. 1 albums ('56-'59). But its a great sound and as long as the part Im doing is simple, I can manage it., DON'T MISSElvis Presleys three non-negotiable rules for new girlfriends WATCH[VIDEO]Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii co-star Angela Lansbury on 'caring' King[BLUE HAWAII]Elvis ex Mindi Miller's first date with The King: Remarkable energy[MINDI MILLER]. I somehow think not. Each one of them has an individual style of their own'. In 1963, Bob Tucker joined the Bill Black Combo as a road manager and guitar/bass player. Sidenote: I never realised Starlight Wranglers lead-singer Doug Poindexter had quit the music business as early as 1954. It made for a strange mix. After Bill's death, there were a few more minor hits for the Combo, and they continued to tour and be a popular draw. For someone who played such a large part in the early years of the Elvis legend, helping provide the music and establishing the hillbilly cat, it's more than a little surprising how few and spread about are the details of Bill Black. 4. As the story goes, he (Bill Black) couldn't get the bass part right on the electric bass so he got frustrated and walked out. That's all it was. Black learned to play music at the age of 14 on an instrument made by his fathera cigar box with a board nailed to it and strings attached. Bill was with the group for almost three years before Elvis came on the scene. Jerry Scheffs Memo From Turner could be the greatest concert recording ever by a major rock artist, or it could be the worst. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children 'may not have a close relationship with the King' following the couple's eviction from Frogmore Cottage, a source has claimed. It was the beginning. D.J. Colonel Tom also told Bill to cut back on the clowning around on stage. [3], Albums with themes included Bill Black's Combo Plays Tunes by Chuck Berry, Bill Black's Combo Goes Big Band, Bill Black's Combo Goes West, and Bill Black's Combo Plays the Blues. The people had come to see', Ma boy', and the rest of them were just the support. 1. This was Wink Martindale's going away party. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Posted on . He returned home to have his then-wife tell him that Bill had passed on a few days before. The Combo's sound of danceable blues became a popular accompaniment for striptease dancers. Scotty and Bill paying D.J. Keith Alverson Interview - 'Strictly Elvis: 1973-74-75': Mindi Miller, Elvis' girlfriend, interview with EIN: (Interview) Bill "Superfoot" Wallace talks to EIN: Go here to EIN's exclusive interview with Wayne Jackson -. 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! All of this was sometimes done while he was wearing an oversized pair of bloomers! The miserable life Elvis leads Bill Blacks interview from 1962. It would be very fitting if the trio ofRonnie Wood,Nicky Hopkins, and Ian McLagan all contributed a single cut to the collection. 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. Eight of the recordings by Bill Black's Combo placed in the Top 40 between 1959 and 1962. Meanwhile, Bill later made a complete transition to the electric bass and never looked back. We extend our deepest sympathies to his friends and family at this difficult time, and we hope that his music will live on through his legacy. Other joys include a unique foreward by bassist Suzi Quatro we are the engine that drive the car- tributes to Blackie from other bass players and plenty of comments from Scotty Moore. Interestingly, today Bills double bass is owned by Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney, who played the instrument on his latest solo album McCartney III. Contact the author to order: pbelard@hotmail.com, Elvis Firearm & Weapon Collector An