It’s been a while, so I thought I’d check out elvis.com/news to see if anything going on would make a good ElvisBlog article. Most of the ‘news’ stories were uninspiring, but one did catch my eye.
So, now you can watch photos of Elvis playing various musical instruments on your smartphone using Elvis Mobile Apps. Being an old dinosaur who somehow manages to get by without a smartphone, I could not check out what instruments EPE has selected for this feature. I wonder if they include any of these.
The picture on the webpage shows Elvis in Loving You costume playing a guitar. It’s a fairly common photo. But, have you ever see the one above of him playing an electric bass guitar. This looks to be young Elvis, so the picture could be from the 1957 recording session for “(You’re so Square) Baby, I Don’t Care.” Remember how Bill Black was having trouble getting the bass intro straight, and Elvis had to step in and play the licks.
I think this shot of Elvis with a double neck guitar came from the publicity photos for one of his movies, but I can’t remember which one.
Here is another instrument that Elvis could actually play – the piano. This shot was snapped during the recording session for “Love Me Tender.”
Elvis played the piano before rehearsals for the Steve Allen Show. (Thanks Al. www.alfredwertheimer.com)
The website where I found this one said it was taken aboard the USS Randall, which was the troop ship that took Elvis to Germany. That looks like his medals for sharp-shooting hanging from his chest. I didn’t realize he got them during basic training, not active duty. I also didn’t know that troop ships had pianos. That white streak pointing to the guy’s chin is a drumstick.
Speaking of drumsticks, look what Elvis is doing here. I’ve never read that he had any particular skill as a drummer, but he must have found it fun to play around with them.
It certainly looks like he was enjoying it here.
That’s Bill Ulyate in this shot with Elvis taken during the wrap party for a 20th Century Fox movie.
I guess if you can play guitar, then a ukulele would be no big challenge. This photo was taken in 1961.
The most famous examples of Elvis playing the ukulele are shots from Blue Hawaii.
The fact that there are at least two photos on the internet of Elvis playing the accordion indicates that maybe he actually knew how to.
Here’s another shot of him in his Army uniform playing an instrument. Do you think he was actually playing the accordion or just goofing around?
We know Elvis was goofing around with this trumpet.
He may actually have been trying to play the trumpet here under the tutelage of professional trumpeter Raymond Brankey.
This shot on the set of Loving You shows Elvis playing(?) the clarinet.
I found this picture on the internet twice. One site called it a clarinet, and the other called it a flute. I think it’s a flute.
And this is a pan-flute. Well, if Cartman and the guys on South Park can play the pan-flute, why not Elvis.
And finally, we have Elvis playing the tambourine. You probably recognize this shot from the ’68 Comeback Special.
If any readers have the Elvis Mobile Apps and access their photos of Elvis playing musical instruments, could you please advise on ‘Comments’ what they actually show. I’d like to see how the it compares.
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