When Elvis got called back to Sun Studios by Sam Phillips in 1954, Phillips hooked him up with Scotty Moore, a guitarist, and Bill Black, an upright bassist. It’s said that the two older session musicians weren’t too impressed with the young Presley when they first met him. He was several years younger than either one of them and less experienced. But after they played together a bit, the rapport started building and first impressions disappeared in place of friendship.
The Blue Moon Boys, as they were then called, created their own unique sound, a mix of country, gospel and blues, later called rockabilly. They first made magic together when they had their first regional hit, a cover of Arthur Crudup’s “That’s Alright, Mama” in 1954. More songs followed, including a breakthrough into the national charts with “Baby Let’s Play House”. Scotty Moore was the original manager and the group started getting a regular local tour circuit.
Soon, Phillips decided that the trio could use a drummer. D.J. Fontana, who met Elvis off the Louisiana Hayride in 1954, got the gig and soon started becoming a feature of the group’s recordings and live performances.
When Elvis’s contract was sold from Sun to RCA in late 1955, Scotty, Bill and D. J. followed right along. The final original addition to the Presley sound came with the vocal group The Jordanaires. When Elvis’s first RCA LP came out in 1956, the legendary Elvis Presley, this group backed Elvis up to Platinum.
But life wasn’t all good; when Elvis was told by the talent agent of the Grand Ole Opry that he should go back to driving trucks, his band, now close friends, stood behind him. Then, when Elvis and the group got lukewarm results with their first shows in Las Vegas, his group stood behind him. And when Elvis was nearly banned for his ‘overly sexual’ dance moves on the Milton Berle show, this band followed him through it, to his return and humiliation on the Steve Allen show (Elvis was required to sing “Hound Dog”, the song who’s dance moves got him in trouble, to a real hound) and later with his big comeback to popularity on the Ed Sullivan show. Even when Elvis’s popularity eclipsed the personas of the rest of the group, they stood behind him.
This group were in his movies and backed Elvis up until 1958. Then, after a pay disagreement with Elvis’s manager, the Colonel, Elvis and his original band parted ways, except for the Jordanaires who continued to back him up until 1970.
But Elvis still needed a group of friends to help guide him. With childhood friends such as Red and Sonny West and George Klein, these men became known as the Memphis Mafia, Elvis’s personal escort of friends, who stayed with him for the rest of his life.
And if you’re wondering about what happened to his original group, Scotty, Bill and D.J., it worked out better than you may have worried. Scotty and D.J. continued their friendship with Elvis and worked with him on his ’68 Comeback Special, when he was returning back to public performing, during the informal, sit-down portion of the show. Only Bill completely severed ties with Elvis, dieing suddenly in 1965.
Elvis’s Lessons:
Ø Make friends, a couple will do, that have positive mindsets and similar interests to you. Then go through a couple memorable occasions with them. Life will change but your friendships will provide stability.
Ø When friendships break up, as they might, it’s not an excuse to go friendless and remain hurt. Be like Elvis; move on and make more and different friends. Everybody is unique and has something to offer and as a result will impact your life positively in different and unique ways (if they’re good friends − those who impact you negatively are generally not true friends).
P.S. If you're interested in seeing Elvis singing "Hound Dog" to a Hound on Steve Allen's show, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xypX3lsF2nE
The Blue Moon Boys, as they were then called, created their own unique sound, a mix of country, gospel and blues, later called rockabilly. They first made magic together when they had their first regional hit, a cover of Arthur Crudup’s “That’s Alright, Mama” in 1954. More songs followed, including a breakthrough into the national charts with “Baby Let’s Play House”. Scotty Moore was the original manager and the group started getting a regular local tour circuit.
Soon, Phillips decided that the trio could use a drummer. D.J. Fontana, who met Elvis off the Louisiana Hayride in 1954, got the gig and soon started becoming a feature of the group’s recordings and live performances.
When Elvis’s contract was sold from Sun to RCA in late 1955, Scotty, Bill and D. J. followed right along. The final original addition to the Presley sound came with the vocal group The Jordanaires. When Elvis’s first RCA LP came out in 1956, the legendary Elvis Presley, this group backed Elvis up to Platinum.
But life wasn’t all good; when Elvis was told by the talent agent of the Grand Ole Opry that he should go back to driving trucks, his band, now close friends, stood behind him. Then, when Elvis and the group got lukewarm results with their first shows in Las Vegas, his group stood behind him. And when Elvis was nearly banned for his ‘overly sexual’ dance moves on the Milton Berle show, this band followed him through it, to his return and humiliation on the Steve Allen show (Elvis was required to sing “Hound Dog”, the song who’s dance moves got him in trouble, to a real hound) and later with his big comeback to popularity on the Ed Sullivan show. Even when Elvis’s popularity eclipsed the personas of the rest of the group, they stood behind him.
This group were in his movies and backed Elvis up until 1958. Then, after a pay disagreement with Elvis’s manager, the Colonel, Elvis and his original band parted ways, except for the Jordanaires who continued to back him up until 1970.
But Elvis still needed a group of friends to help guide him. With childhood friends such as Red and Sonny West and George Klein, these men became known as the Memphis Mafia, Elvis’s personal escort of friends, who stayed with him for the rest of his life.
And if you’re wondering about what happened to his original group, Scotty, Bill and D.J., it worked out better than you may have worried. Scotty and D.J. continued their friendship with Elvis and worked with him on his ’68 Comeback Special, when he was returning back to public performing, during the informal, sit-down portion of the show. Only Bill completely severed ties with Elvis, dieing suddenly in 1965.
Elvis’s Lessons:
Ø Make friends, a couple will do, that have positive mindsets and similar interests to you. Then go through a couple memorable occasions with them. Life will change but your friendships will provide stability.
Ø When friendships break up, as they might, it’s not an excuse to go friendless and remain hurt. Be like Elvis; move on and make more and different friends. Everybody is unique and has something to offer and as a result will impact your life positively in different and unique ways (if they’re good friends − those who impact you negatively are generally not true friends).
P.S. If you're interested in seeing Elvis singing "Hound Dog" to a Hound on Steve Allen's show, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xypX3lsF2nE
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