Graceland is a National Historic Landmark.  Sun Records is a National Historic Place.  I think we need one other special category – National Historic Person, and I have a fine nominee:  Scotty Moore.

What qualifies Scotty Moore as a National Historic Person?  Well, let’s see.  On July 5, 1954, when Elvis recorded his first song, there were four men in the studio.   The guitar player was Scotty Moore, and he had a lot to do with creating that unique sound.  Scotty Moore’s guitar work made an immeasurable contribution to the initial success of Elvis’ music.

The other three men there that historic night are all dead.  Bill Black died in 1965, Elvis passed away in 1977, and Sam Phillips left us in 2003.  That’s too bad, because the session when “That’s All Right” was recorded was a very special moment in history.  Three men gone, only one left.    Scotty Moore, the last man standing.

It is now 53 years since that magic moment, and it’s nice to know that Scotty is still alive and well.  Don’t count on seeing him at many more Elvis Weeks.  It might happen, it might not.  But we know one thing for sure.  We can see him this year.  Scotty is headlining two tribute concerts at Elvis Week 2007.

Those fans that admire and cherish Scotty Moore were thrilled to hear they could catch him on Wednesday, August 15, at the Peabody Hotel.  To you folks that are going to Elvis Week but haven’t yet decided what to see, I’m telling you, buy tickets to one of Scotty’s two shows.  They are going to be great.

Scotty Moore – The Last Man Standingis a unique concert concept.  Both the 2 PM and 5 PM shows are double concerts.  Scotty has invited two groups of his favorite musician buddies to perform, and they jumped at the chance to be on stage with him during Elvis Week. 

Scotty has a recording studio in his home, and he has had a blast with a group of Nashville musicians.  After practicing and recording two-dozen R&B and blues songs, some from the Elvis library, they decided to call themselves “The Mighty Handful.”  I’ve heard most of the songs, and these guys do a spectacular job.  I hope there is a little section of the Peabody Grand Ballroom left open for dancing, because this is very danceable music.

Here’s a rundown of the men in “The Mighty Handful.”  The biggest name is sax player supreme, Boots Randolph, like Scotty, another legend.  He will steal the show, just like he always does.  Billy Swan will do the vocals.  Billy has tremendous stature among the Nashville music community as a successful songwriter, tour manager, producer, and singer (biggest hit – “I Can Help” --  # 1, 1974).  This grand performer will get a opportunity to show his stuff at The Last Man Standing, and he will not disappoint.  Steve Shepherd has played with Scotty many times and was a long-time bandmate of Ronnie McDowell.  Steve’s keyboard work will add so much to the sound of the concert.  The other musicians in the band will be Bucky Barrett (Roy Orbison’s guitarist), Bob Moore (who followed Bill Black with Elvis) on bass, Fred Satterfield on drums, and Buddy Spicher on fiddle.

Just seeing these guys would be enough for me, but there is more -- another group of Scotty’s buddies, this one from England:  The Grundy-Pritchard Band.  Scotty is much revered in England and Europe, so he has been traveling over there to perform since 1992.  On every tour, he has played with Liam Grundy and Pete Pritchard and various other musicians in their group at the time.  Scotty has recorded with them on the CD Western Union.  In recent years, Paul Ansell, who has had a two-decade career with his own band “Number 9,” handled the lead vocals.  Scotty also recorded with Ansell on the CD Live At Sun.

On the DVD, A Tribute To The King, Scotty and The Grundy-Pritchard Band did a superb job on six Elvis rockabilly and blues songs.  They covered “Shake, Rattle, and Roll,” “A Mess of the Blues,” “One Night,” “I Forgot To Remember To Forget,” “Reconsider Baby,” and “Ready Teddy.”  The music was tight, Ansell’s vocals were dead-on, and the end result was very impressive.

So, if you want some good entertainment at Elvis Week, take in the double concert Scotty Moore – The Last Man Standing.  Scotty will be appearing at no other events in Memphis that week.  This is the exclusive appearance of the genuine article, the last man standing.  And sadly, it’s looking more and more like a farewell performance.

Join Scotty Moore’s many fans in honoring and appreciating him while you still can.  Scotty may not have official recognition as a National Historic Person, but he truly is a national treasure.

Scotty’s long-time friend Darwin Lamm, Editor of Elvis…The Magazine, is presenting these concerts.  To get tickets, call  818-991-3892, or e-mail  elvisint@aol.com..    See you in Memphis.

                                                                                  Phil Arnold

                                                             Host of Elvisblog

©  2007  All Rights Reserved   Philip R Arnold   www.elvisblog.net

On January 13, 2005, I posted the third article in the young life of Elvisblog.  It was titled “The Guitar That Rocked The World,” and it told of an upcoming TV special featuring Scotty Moore and a roster of British guitar heroes playing two dozen Elvis’ hits.  Well, things didn’t quite work out that way.  Here’s a little background.

Certain European music producers were well aware of the high esteem that top-name English guitarists had for Scotty Moore.  They were sure these musicians would jump at the chance to record with Scotty, so they conceived a three-day filmed performance at famous Abbey Road Studios in London.  The producers then sold Scotty on the idea of a tribute to him titled “The Guitar That Rocked The World.”  Naturally, he wanted to do it.  Who wouldn’t want to perform with Eric Clapton, Mark Knoffler of Dire Straights, David Gilmore of Pink Floyd, and Bill Wyman and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones?

Scotty was promised certain financial rewards and artistic controls over the finished product.  However, when he arrived at Abbey Road in December 2004, no contract was prepared.  Scotty (and his traveling party of three) had two choices:  turn around and go home, or go through with the deal on a promise and a handshake.  With all the British rockers already there and ready to play, Scotty decided to do the show.

Well, as it turned out, Scotty got taken advantage of.  The money and controls didn’t happen.  The Abbey Road sessions did not end up as a TV special; they were released as a DVD titled, “A Tribute To The King.”  In small print at the bottom of the box it says “By Scotty Moore and Friends.”  What started out as a tribute to Scotty was now being marketed as a tribute to Elvis.

I did not write about this earlier because of the deep disappointment it caused Scotty.  But time has mostly healed the wounds, and last week he told me it was OK to do a blog story on it.  After all, as he said, “It is some wonderful music.”  And I agree.  I’ve watched the complete DVD (27 songs) three times, and it just keeps getting better.

My favorites are the three songs Scotty does with Eric Clapton: “That’s All Right,” “Mystery Train,” and “Money Honey.”  Clapton got to pick the songs, and he went for the early stuff, including two Sun Records rockabilly numbers.  He and Scotty are seated and backed by a minimal band, but the sound is just wonderful.  For the first time in history, these two guitar immortals played together.  What a magic moment.

One other personal favorite was David Gilmore playing “Don’t.”  Scotty was not on stage for this one, and Gilmore stayed fairly true to the original Elvis version of the song, until he came to the instrumental bridge.  Then he blended the Pink Floyd sound into an Elvis classic, and literally gave me goose bumps the first time I watched it.

My other favorite on the DVD is a group you probably have not heard of: The Grundy-Pritchard Band.  Scotty is much revered in England and Europe, so he has been traveling over there to perform since 1992.  On every tour, he has played with Liam Grundy and Pete Prichard and various other musicians in their group at the time.  Scotty has recorded with them on the CD Western Union.  In recent years, Paul Ansell, who has had a two-decade career with his own band Number 9, handled the lead vocals.  Scotty also recorded with Ansell on the CD Live At Sun.

On the A Tribute To The King DVD, Scotty and The Grundy Pritchard Band do a superb job on six Elvis rockabilly and blues songs.  They cover “Shake, Rattle, and Roll,” “A Mess of the Blues,” “ One Night,” “I Forgot To Remember To Forget,” “Reconsider Baby,” and “Ready Teddy.”  The music is tight, Ansell’s vocals are dead-on, and the end result is very impressive.

So, let me suggest two things.  If you want to get a great Elvis-related gift for Christmas, tell your spouse to go to Amazon.com and order the video.  If you love Elvis music and want to see how it sounds done by several famous British rockers, you will enjoy it thoroughly. 

And second, if you are going to Elvis Week 2007, please plan to attend the Scotty Moore tribute concert “The Last Man Standing.”  In my October 3 Elvisblog, I wrote about Scotty’s Nashville blues band that will do the first set.  After the intermission, Scotty’s English band (as his website calls them), Grundy-Pritchard, will do the second set.  This is going to be one outstanding concert.

I just got the details on what should be the best concert coming to Elvis Week 2007 – “The Last Man Standing.”  And that man is legendary guitarist Scotty Moore.  Scotty has been a fixture at lots of Elvis Week concerts over the years, but this year is totally different.  The concert will be split into two different sets, and Scotty will join both bands.  Two REALLY GOOD bands.

The first set will feature a bunch of Scotty’s Nashville buddies calling themselves “The Mighty Handful.”  That name sounds like they might do gospel; but, no, these guys play the blues.  They recorded enough songs at Scotty’s home studio to fill a self-titled CD that will be released in a few months.  Now they are going to perform all those blues songs during Elvis Week.  This is going to be great.

I know it will be great because of the men who make up “The Mighty Handful.”  The biggest name is sax player supreme, Boots Randolph, another legend.  I’ve seen Boots do “Reconsider Baby” at four concerts, and let me tell you, he nailed the sax solos every time.  The audiences ate it up.  Standing ovations.   Paired with Boots on two of those occasions was Billy Swan doing the vocals.  Billy will be at the mic for this blues concert, and he will thrill those in attendance.  Billy has tremendous stature among the music community in Nashville as a successful songwriter, tour manager, producer, and singer (biggest hit – “I Can Help” --  # 1, 1974).  He not only has the voice of a great bluesman, he has the attitude.  This grand performer will get a opportunity to show his stuff at “The Last Man Standing,” and he will not disappoint.

The only other member of the group I have seen perform is Steve Shepherd, and he is a fabulous keyboard player.  Steve has played with Scotty many times and was a long-time bandmate of Ronnie McDowell.  Steve’s keyboard playing will add so much to the sound of the concert.

The other musicians in the band will be Bucky Barrett (Roy Orbison’s guitarist), Bob Moore on bass, Fred Satterfield on drums, and Buddy Spicher on fiddle.  These men have to be as good as Boots, Billy and Steve, because Scotty picked them.  Any musicians who end up on a Scotty Moore CD are tops in their game.

If you go to Elvis Week 2007, be sure to take in “The Last Man Standing” concert on August 15.  It should be the highlight of the week, and the blues set will be only half the show.  Scotty will also join the Grundy-Pritchard Band for a concert of Elvis rockabilly music.  More news about this terrific English band in a future Elvisblog article.

Perhaps a few words are in order about the concert‘s title, “The Last Man Standing.”  Scotty Moore was with Elvis when rock & roll was born -- that first recording session for “That’s All Right (Mama)” at Sun records on July 5, 1954.  It  was the collaboration of four unique musical talents.  Along with Elvis and Scotty were Bill Black on bass and Sam Phillips turning dials in the control room.  Bill Black left us in 1965, Elvis in 1977, and Sam Phillips in 2003.  Scotty Moore is indeed the Last Man Standing.  Don’t miss this rare chance to see him perform. 

©  2006   Philip R Arnold   All Rights Reserved   www.elvisblog.net

Searching through many Elvis-related websites is both prep work for Elvisblog and a lot of fun.  One site I go back to frequently is www.scottymoore.net .  That’s right, the man who helped Elvis give birth to rock & roll has a great website of his own.  It contains almost a dozen sections you can check out, but my favorite is SCRAPBOOK, a digital photo album.

Lovely lady Gail Pollock, who has been with Scotty for over 25 years, hosts the site and writes the commentary under each picture in the scrapbook.  Hundreds of photos tell the story of places they’ve been, people they’ve met, and shows he’s done.   There are 89 entries, mostly from 1992 to 2006, but a few go back to the 50’s. 

I visit Scotty’s site frequently to see the latest photos in SCRAPBOOK.  But while I’m there, I’m always drawn back to the same set of pictures I’ve seen four or five times before.  You probably will understand why, when you see the title:  “Backstage With the Rolling Stones in Memphis -- December 15, 2005.”

Keith Richards and Ron Wood, who do the guitar fireworks for the Rolling Stones, both love and admire Scotty.  They’ve recorded with him and had him backstage at four of their concerts.  What started as admiration has grown into genuine friendship.

The SCRAPBOOK pictures show that Scotty and Gail and others obviously had a ball in Keith’s dressing room before the show.  Then they had concert seats in the eighth row right in front of Mick Jagger (Scotty stayed backstage and watched from there).  After the concert, there was a wrap party at the Peabody Hotel.  It was here that Scotty got to spend some time with Mick Jagger and drummer Charlie Watts.  Ron Wood spent a lot of time posing for smoochin’ pictures with Gail and the other girls.  Sure looks like it was a fun party.

One backstage picture is outstanding.  The dressing area at the concert venue contained a full-sized, color cutout of Elvis in his famous gold suit.  Of course, this got into several of the pictures.  I just love the photo of four musicians, Keith, Scotty, Elvis, and Ron.  Take a quick glance at the picture and see if Elvis doesn’t look real.  I liked the photo so much, I downloaded it to my hard drive and printed it out.  Very cool picture.

Scotty’s whole site is, too.  You can get lost for hours scrolling down through HISTORY, and connecting on all the links.  Gail does a wonderful job with SCOTTY’S UPDATES.  These periodic journal entries started in December 2003 when Scotty had some health problems.  Now the updates are long chatty letters to all of Scotty’s fans telling them what’s going on in his life.  By the way, Gail, we are long overdue for another one.

So check out Scotty’s excellent website.  He’s the last man standing of those who were at Sun Studios in 1954 when it all began.  He’s a gentleman who deserves all the good things going on for him now.  He’s a national treasure to be cherished. 

©   2006   Philip R Arnold    All Rights Reserved    www.elvisblog.net

Hopefully, most Elvis fans also have a warm spot in their hearts for his original guitar player, Scotty Moore.  For those of us who do, there is a very special treat coming up later this year.  How does this sound?  A ninety-minute TV special titled “The Guitar That Rocked The World,” featuring Scotty and a roster of British guitar heroes playing two dozen of Elvis’ biggests hits.

Last December, Scotty and his musical director, Steve Shepherd, traveled to London for a three-day recording session at the legendary Abbey Road Studio.  The stellar line-up of other pickers includes Eric Clapton, Mark Knoffler of Dire Straights, David Gilmore of Pink Floyd, Bill Wyman and Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, and many more.

The producer conducted hours of interviews with these musicians, which will be condensed down for use in the special.  The overriding theme they reveal is the admiration and respect these guitar players have for Scotty Moore, a genuine rock pioneer.  Just as Elvis was the inspiration for many singers who followed, dozens of American and British guitarists have cited Scotty as their first role model.  More news as it become available.

© 2005  Philip R Arnold