He'd known his friend was quite ill though and thought it a matter of time until he was lost. 2. You can unsubscribe at any time. When it was asked of D.J. The early part of the book also explains how Blackies joking antics on-stage often saved an Elvis performance from a difficult crowd. Johnny Black, Bill's brother and also upright bass player, who knew Elvis at Lauderdale Courts before Bill, recalls visiting Bill at the studio and reported that Bill would be totally absorbed mixing and playing back tracks. Sam Phillips remembers that he one time warned Elvis that Bill was this way, and would be likely to get in his face from time to time, tell him he was no good or couldn't sing', But that was just Bill's way. Black himself was not well enough to make the tour. In 1997, the album 'All The King's Men', featuring Scotty and D.J. Even more shocking facts about how Col Parker ripped off the musicians. Scotty and Bill paying D.J. He very much wanted to be a part of whatever it was. First RCA sessions and such tracks as 'Heartbreak Hotel', Don't Be Cruel', My Baby Left Me', Hound Dog'.5. No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission. 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. 1. for 59 weeks and 4 No. I haven't played a Flexdisc in years. Get that on the radio and they'll run us out of town. These three men had bonded in a way Sam Phillips could only have dreamed of. We practice a little bit. His father, Vernon, did. Grand Ole Opry show, 2nd October 1954 - Elvis' only appearance there.3. For daily Elvis discussions click here to EIN's Facebook group. 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. Gary Tallent and Max Weinberg of the E Street Band Induct Bill Black Until Now! Frankly, I thought the boy would starve to death. Don't pay him no mind'. 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. Canadian tour of 157 - Elvis' only performances outside the U.S. He was winding them up for us'. [citation needed]. D.J. Finally, they were both interested in pursuing other musical projects. Once he'd done that, then Elvis would have them in the palm of his hand. "[3], Black's widow sold Bob Tucker and Larry Rogers the rights to use the name Bill Black's Combo. (August 1117, 2007). 03 Jun. 1935: Elvis is born Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, in a two-room shotgun house in East Tupelo, then a separate municipality that some called the "roughest town in north Mississippi." Though poor, Elvis's parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley, were not unlike many others in Mississippi at that time, for the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. Ace Cannon took over the group on Black's death, though the name remained the Bill Black Combo. Scotty left the band, The Blue Moon Boys (Elvis, Scotty, Bill Black and drummer D.J. The words in the song are so heavy; that song could be written for today. [3][28] Presley was criticized for not attending the funeral, but he believed that his presence would turn it into a media frenzy. One of the real joys I found about the book was seeing all the later photographs of Blackie playing with his combo or standing with friends and seeing that cheeky smile on his face. There was also a string of successful albums, like 'Moving With Bill Black's Combo'. This was during the making of the classic 'Jailhouse Rock' movie, Elvis' third. 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. wasn't at the funeral either. The commentary on Bill Black's importance and style of his bass playing even made me go back to re-visit some Elvis fifties classics once again, helping me discover something new. His son Louis would frequently visit Graceland. Elvis auditioned for him. 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. 2. Elvis Presley, Bill Black, Scotty Moore and Sam Phillips - Sun Records 1954. The song ends with Elvis' rhythm guitar and a waning bass, without any contribution from Scotty. According to Express, one of Presley's cousins discussed his particular quirk.Billy Smith was one of the few of Presley's inner circle to visit the upper floor of Graceland. This is in the strictest confidence. The Combo's sound of danceable blues became a popular accompaniment for striptease dancers. This caused a lot of bitterness at the time, including threats to quit. Haven't heard a word from you on the money situation you were going to look into after we left. How & where do I sell my Elvis collection. 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. Then that night, after the job, we went back to the hotel. [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. 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. 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 Bill Black Combo created musical history in 1964 when they became the opening act for the Beatles (at their request) on their historic 13-city tour of America after their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. . Part One The Elvis Years - is 140 pages. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. They married in 1946 and returned to Memphis. 'Bill's children acknowledged Elvis was always kind to them. Their version being recorded at the Norman Petty Studio, Clovis, New Mexico, where Vee's idol Buddy Holly cut his hits. The band hadn't been used on 1956's 'Love Me Tender'. READ MORE:Elvis' love for his drummer Ronnie Tutt shared in tributes by Priscilla and Linda. He also looked a little 'chubby'. Always seeming to be in need of a good meal. Having gone on to form the Bill Black Combo, the bassist became ill in the early 1960s. Carl McVoy, an original group member, was the cousin of Sun rocker Jerry Lee Lewis, plus Mickey Gilley and evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. [8], On July 5, 1954, the trio met at Sun studios to rehearse and record a handful of songs. This was while talking with Mae B. Axton', I really am lucky to have those two boys', cause they really are good. It was Elvis' show. "That is something that you saw in his SAP for this particular D.C. crime bill, and if Congress sends him a bill making D.C. a state, he'll always, always be sure to sign it, because he's been talking about that for the last two decades, but vetoing the bill heading to his desk now won't make D.C. a state, and so those are the things . The fact is, I may sell them out there all night long!'. Other tracks have him screaming and shouting in the background. A fabulous photo of Elvis, Scotty Moore and Bill Black having lunch with 'Pop' According to Evelyn Black, in those early days, both Bill and Scotty done much to teach the nervous young singer his stage-craft, the way he would stand at the mike, and also some of the ways to move. Its a remake of Bob Dylans folk tune Too Late, performed in reggae style. Contact the author to order: pbelard@hotmail.com, Elvis Firearm & Weapon Collector An Hollywood's new leading man, 31, told . Get yourself a wir fahrn 22,000 ($25,000) cover artwork from Traffics 1973 album Waxed in Germany. For Elvis, his future now lay in Germany. Bill Black looked for a future elsewhere, he went after his dream, and a more permanent career within music. While Young was in the army, his position was filled by Hank Hankins, Chips Moman and Tommy Cogbill. He plucked like crazy at the strings of his 'dog house', and sang the lyrics in a high falsetto voice, bringing both amusement and inspiration to those present. [17], In 1955, Black went to RCA Victor along with Presley and Moore when Presley's contract was sold to that company. He was chatting to Linda and said, That old bass is just sitting in the barn. In 1962 Bill finally handed over leadership and took a backseat. Memphis Mansions Henrik Knudsen fortuitously befriended Bill Black's family and was entrusted with the familys treasured scrapbook. growing bilberry in australia. He was tagged the 'Atomic Powered Singer', and backed by his group and the Freddy Martin Orchestra (he worked with such other big names as Judy Garland). The 79-year-olds late wife Linda McCartney bought him the bass as a present during the 1970s. After Bill's death, there were a few more minor hits for the Combo, and they continued to tour and be a popular draw. This was Wink Martindale's going away party. "Would He Still Be King?". Scotty recalled that Bill saved the session: Bill is the one who came up with Blue Moon of Kentucky. "It makes me feel good when I make people happy, listening and dancing to my music". They married a year later, in 1946. Written by Reggie Young and Bobby Emmons. Colonel Tom also told Bill to cut back on the clowning around on stage. More info. Another comment from Scotty Moore tells how well Bill got on with everyone; 'He never met a stranger'. Nonetheless, he insisted that the band continue without him. Bob Tucker worked for the University of Memphis as Professor of Music Business while leading the combo. "I don't think anyone should criticize him until they try to put themselves in his shoes and figure out what they would do. (These three were million sellers)Don't Be Cruel - #11 - 1960.Blue Tango - #16 - 1960.Hearts Of Stone - #20 - 1961.Ole Buttermilk Sky - #25 - 1961. He started playing his guitar and sang along with him". He was the oldest of nine children. But feelings were running deeper it seems. She'd joked with Bill and Johnny's wives that the 'pretty boy' was her boyfriend! At one point the Colonel is claimed to have wanted to drop Scotty and Bill, and bring in Hank Snow's backing group for Elvis. Austin Butler spoke about having a health scare after he wrapped filming Elvis as he walked the red carpet at Sunday's 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. He gets so worked up during 'Blue Suede Shoes' that, at one point, he looks like he's just about to ride his instrument off into the sunset! Bill Black especially seemed to get more fed up during the making of the movie. But that wasn't destined to be the way history would remember them. cook's country adam ried wife . I, for one, was more than a little amazed at the number of places I had to look to collect this information, which I hoped to put together in a form which would help in some way towards righting a wrong, and giving a somewhat clearer picture of just how important Bill was in the Elvis Presley story and beyond it. Bill kept his bass at the Moore house since by then the Black's already had two children and little room for the huge instrument. [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. Johnny Black can be seen in Alan Freed's rock exploitation movie', Rock, Rock, Rock', made in Hollywood during 1957. Fontana, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and Elvis Presley - Las Vegas 1956. Hancock, at the Naval Station, San Diego, on Tuesday, 3rd April 1956. That's all it was. This was in an effort to treat a brain tumor that had been found. [10] When the other two musicians joined in, Phillips taped the song. Again this was over money. Johnny Black too worked at Firestone. 4. . Moore and Black had been promised an opportunity to jam with Elvis after the session, on Presley's studio time. 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. "I never resented that he had all the glory" Bill says, "But it's better this way". When Elvis Presley first shot to fame in 1956 he had a trio called The Blue Moon Boys with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. While the thousands of miles might have been destroying the bass, the recording sessions, radio work, and concerts had seen the friendship between the three men grow in leaps and bounds, confidence building with each new experience. -Copyright EIN January 2022 But less than 10 years later and Bill was dead. 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. In 1954 it fast became a battered-looking object, resembling, according to author Peter Guralnick, something', held together with baling wire'. "But we've only played 14 personal appearances this year," said Black. You hear a competent unit before a largely unresponsive audience of older gamblers. It even added its sound to The Beatles 'reunion' track', Real Love', in 1995. The Combo was driven by a strong mix of bass, sax and keyboards. appeared in the Venus Room of the New Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas. Elvis Presley's songs are unforgettable - they have stood the test of time, especially his singles of the 1950s, a decade in which he had a song at No. You can push him only so far, tho. We're taking a little break and he starts beating on the bass and singing "Blue Moon of Kentucky," mocking Bill Monroe, singing the high falsetto voice. Elvis takes great care to show the origins of the singer's musical stylings, putting the spotlight on the Black artists who inspired him. Bill was trying to come to grips with his first Fender electric bass. Elvis would chat with him, tell him about his father, Bill. Elvis was canceled after two weeks and wouldn't appear in the town before July 1969. At the time Doug Poindexter was the featured vocalist. William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 October 21, 1965)[1] was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. He was going to put us in jail. 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! There are a number of reasons why Scotty Moore and Bill Black left Elvis Presley's band. Jerry Scheffs Memo From Turner could be the greatest concert recording ever by a major rock artist, or it could be the worst. He could hit the bass like nobody in the world., Bills contribution to Elvis success went beyond the bass playing. Black worked at the Firestone plant. Elvis: How did Elvis bassist Bill Black die and whats his connection to Paul McCartney? Possibly the restriction of access too was on the orders of the Colonel. 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 attention inspired Marshall Crenshaw to record Bens Im Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee) for his Downtown album. Black's onstage personality was a sharp contrast to the introverted stage presence of Moore. by Charlie Kerlinger | Nov 27, 2022 | Famous Musicians. 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. Interview with guitarist Reggie Young(Member Bill Black Combo) Bass links rock and roll royalty Interview with D.J. He wanted it made clear who the star was. 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. They created a very fresh and lively sound that was destined to make a large impact on exposure. It appears that the spirited act from Bill during 'Blue Suede Shoes' on Berle's national tv show was the final straw for Parker. According to Louis Black, Presley said, "If there's anything that y'all need, you just let me know and it's yours. There were several personnel changes. 1. 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. In 1961, the group even ventured onto the silver screen, appearing in the film 'Teen-Age Millionaire'. Then Elvis' voice comes in supported by Scotty's guitar licks, which already displays the fluidity which allowed him to move between genres, be it jazz, pop, R & B, country and ballads.. Early in 1963, Black sent from two to five different versions of the Combo to different regions of the country at the same time, while staying off the road himself, wanting to concentrate on his business, family and his health.[3]. Combo winning Billboard instrumental award three times.3. 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. And they'll be sellin' the same ol' price of only a quarter. The balance fit the group's performances. This includes a lengthy Memphis Press-Scimitar interview from December 1956. There then followed a long period of rehearsals before any actual recording started. Thanks to Bill Black'sdaughter Nancy Black Shockley andgranddaughter Carriefor correcting the names of Bill's wife and children. [citation needed]. Millie Kirkham - Bob Hayden Interview for EIN: "Reconsider Baby: Elvis: A Listener's Guide" 2017- Shane Brown Interview. Again this was over money. In 2005, Clay Steakley portrayed Black in the 2005 CBS miniseries Elvis, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. 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). The manager came out. Want to listen to your favourite artists and the latest songs? A key book for anyones collection. This was after it had done some 20, 000 miles. This was mainly due to the others in the group being wiry and angular. The combination made for the classic rock and roll sounds, which paved the way and still effects listeners like a million volts all these years later'.Blackie' was every bit as important within that unit as any of the other three, even if he's not as well written up as them. why did bill black leave elvis. At the start of the 'Hayride' contract, Elvis got 18 dollars and Scotty and Bill 12 each. 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. Ive been playing it ever since. It wasn't nothing dirty'. In 1959, the Combo signed to Joe Cuoghi's Hi label. On sax, Ace Cannon took over touring duties from Willis who remained in Memphis for the studio work and movie appearances. Returning to Memphis, following his stint in the U.S. Army, Bill worked at Firestone Tyres and Ace Appliance Co., plus played in one or two local groups, before joining up with the Starlight Wranglers. Elvis offered then another 50 dollars and, for a short time, the rift was healed. Instead, Elvis would pay his respects by visiting Bills family privately after the funeral. Author Paul Belard has tracked down so many interviews and news articles, with it all combining to make an enthralling look into the life of bass-man Bill Black. I suspect the reason why he hadn't adopted it is because he was known for his on-stage . But when he was alone in private, the King liked to close the shades and also turn down the temperature. John Entwistle was a rock bassist who had an enormous impact on the industry. 'Blackie' was buried in Forest Hill Cemetary, Memphis. Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley, Bill Black and D.J. All of this was sometimes done while he was wearing an oversized pair of bloomers! See you when I get out'. It made for a strange mix. An example of off-stage fooling around was described by D.J. Louisiana Hayride appearances - establishing the new sound.4. I somehow think not. The band changed to country music when it joined Columbia Records, and won Billboard's Country Instrumental Group of the Year award in 1976.[3]. Combo winning Billboard instrumental award three times. 'Blackie' with John 'Ace' Cannon and Hank Hankins, The Bill Black Combo - with 'Ace' Cannon, Hank Hawkins and a very young Bobby Emmons (later included on Chips Moman's Elvis Memphis Sessions) playing keyboards. They'd met and become friends at the 'Hayride', where Dominic Joseph was the staff drummer. As I've already noted, some thought Johnny was the better of the two.

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