Elvis’ Generosity 

                                                  by Larry Geller

Elvis greets his fans 1965. Larry Geller can be seen at the far right.

As the years go by, our memories become like a dense forest through which we make our way along familiar, well-trodden paths.  Unnoticed smaller paths branch out, often leading to half-forgotten memories.  I recently came upon such a path and began thinking about incidents with Elvis about which I’ve rarely spoken, incidents with a common thread: Elvis’ generosity even in seemingly small matters.

Of course Elvis’ generosity is legendary.  During his lifetime he gave away houses, cars, motorcycles, jewelry, furs, clothing and money as if it were going out of style. His generosity knew no bounds. Once someone needed a kidney - no problem. Elvis just thrived on giving no matter who or what.
Once he got the impulse to give there was no stopping Elvis.  One afternoon on the Paramount lot during filming of “Easy Come, Easy Go,” we were walking towards the soundstage. A salesman rolling a large suitcase filled with an assortment of jewelry yelled out as he ran up to us, “Elvis wait up; I got something you can’t pass up. You gotta see this.”

Out of breath he exclaimed, “Just check this beauty out,” while he opened a drawer pulling out a diamond ring which he handed to Elvis.  Elvis admired it, putting it on his finger, and almost immediately told Joe Esposito to give him a check. On the set Elvis proudly showed off his newest acquisition.  After lunch, he was standing around, waiting for the cameras to be set up, occasionally looking at the ring and smiling.

Legendary choreographer David Winters with Elvis on the set. Photo: David Winters Collection

David Winters, Elvis’ choreographer, walked over and Elvis showed him his new ring. David’s eyes lit up. “Elvis, man, that’s beautiful; I love your ring.”
Elvis pulled the ring off his finger and handed it to him.
“Try it on,” he said, “and see how it fits.”
David slipped it on his finger.  “It fits great.”
Elvis took one look at his radiant face. “It’s yours,” he said, smiling as he turned and walked away; David stood there staring at the ring and looked at Elvis, he was stunned and speechless.

Another example of Elvis’ generosity that most recently came to mind was an event that occurred one late afternoon in 1965.  We were in his Dodge motor home, driving through the Arizona desert on Route 66, approaching the sacred Hopi mountains.
Elvis had been at the wheel as usual, until he had a profound vision, an experience that shook him to his core.  It was a spiritual jolt and a turning point in his life.  After that he was too exhilarated and distracted to drive, so he asked Red West to take the wheel.

Elvis motioned for me to follow him to the bedroom in the back of the vehicle, where we sat for awhile in silence. Then as night began to fall we began talking about what had just occurred as we continued on the road towards Flagstaff.

Eventually, we both nodded off – when we were abruptly awakened several hours later by shouts of “We’re on fire! We’re on fire!”
We snapped to, and Red quickly pulled over to the shoulder of the road and stopped.  Jerry Schilling, Red West, Billy Smith, Elvis and I jumped out to see what was happening. The back axles and the undercarriage were aflame.  All of us immediately scooped up sand and gravel from the desert with our bare hands and managed to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was a total wreck and wouldn’t start.

Luckily, we were only a few miles outside of Needles, California, in the Mohave Desert.  The five of us pushed the RV off the road, gathered our suitcases and walked a mile or so where we checked into the first motel on the outskirts of town.
“Let’s just get some vehicles, Larry, and go home,” Elvis said wearily.  “Go hire some cars.  Here’s my wallet you’re in charge.”

His wallet was crammed with an assortment of credit cards, but no cash; Elvis never carried cash.  I started walking in search of a car-rental agency.  It was eight or so in the morning, I hadn’t slept, and I needed a shower and shave. I must have looked pretty grubby and disreputable, an assessment confirmed by the wary look on the face of the man behind the counter.
“Yes sir, I’d like to rent two cars.  I’m with Elvis Presley.  He’s down the road at a motel.”
Thinking it would help, I handed him the wallet.  Flipping through the cards, he asked, “What are you telling me? Elvis Presley?”
“Yeah,” I answered.

Flinging the wallet at me, he screamed, “Get the hell outta here!”
As I retreated and headed back to the motel, it occurred to me that the easiest way to get from Needles to Los Angeles would be by cab.  When I got back to the room I phoned a local taxi service, and the people there were only too happy to help.  Within minutes, two cabs were at the motel, and we were ready to go.

We loaded all the luggage into one cab, then Jerry, Red, Billy, Elvis and I crawled wearily into the second.   As we rode down the highway, our young driver couldn’t stop turning his head around every few minutes to stare at Elvis, or look at him in the rear view mirror.  That was understandable, but when he hit a cruising speed of ninety miles an hour and still couldn’t keep his eyes off Elvis, I yelled, “Hey, man, slow down!  You’re going to kill us.  Yes, this is Elvis Presley.  Just calm down or I’ll have to take the wheel.”

All the way back our driver was visibly nervous. When we arrived in Bel Air about four hours later, the other guys who’d lost us on the road during the drive were lined up in front of the house, waiting.
While everyone was dealing with the luggage Elvis asked me how much the fare was.  I told him a hundred and sixty dollars for both cabs.  He then asked how much cash I had on me.  I checked my wallet. “Little over five hundred bucks.”

Elvis said, “Hey, these guys probably never even leave Needles, and they sure don’t get customers like us every day.  They work hard, and could probably use a break.  Just give ‘em what you have there, I’ll pay you back later.”
I may not have told this story much over the years – but I bet those two cab drivers have told it over and over to anyone who would listen.

Larry Geller is a writer, speaker and hair care expert. Larry was a trusted and close friend of Elvis'. Larry styled Elvis' hair for eleven movies, countless concerts and Las Vegas performances and his funeral. A confidant like no other who shared Elvis' thirst for knowledge. Larry authored the books Leaves From Elvis' Garden and If I Can Dream. A DVD where Larry shared memories with fans, "Elvis & Larry: A Journey Shared" is available.

Please visit: www.donwilsonshollywoodbeat.com

Exclusive! Elvis' Secretary Becky Yancey Remembers The King

by Don Wilson

HOLLYWOOD, CA.: September 20, 2016-- Becky Yancey remembers her friend and employer Elvis Presley in this exclusive interview. Her story is like no other that you will read. She was there from the very beginning of his career in 1954. You will soon see how this young lady got the dream job that many girls wished they had, Elvis' personal secretary.

Elvis signing autographs for fans in Cleveland, Ohio on October 19, 1955

Becky attended Elvis' earliest appearances in Memphis and saw his rise to stardom firsthand. That's just the beginning, the ducktailed tip of the iceberg, you could say. Let's get things underway and hear from Becky herself as she shares her memories with us

"When Dewey Phillips first played "That's All Right, Mama" on his WHBQ radio show "Red, Hot and Blue" was the first time that I heard Elvis. I hadn't seen him at the the time, but I fell in love with him though. You know, just his voice and all. I listened to "Red, Hot and Blue every night. The first time I saw Elvis was when he played at Katz Drug Store down Airways and Lamar - on a flat bed truck in 1954. I was 14 years old at the time."

"I saw Elvis at Overton Park Shell on June 1, 1956, I was 16 then. I still have the write up, the clippings from the paper. That was the Carl Perkins show and Elvis was backstage. I had gone with a girlfriend of mine and when I heard that Elvis was backstage, we climbed over the rail and went back there. There is a picture of Elvis and Carl Perkins exchanging autographs and I am standing by Elvis. You can barely see my face and I put my arm on his back." 

"And then there's one of me behind Carl Perkins, as well as one of me with my hand on Carl Perkins' shoulder, that picture was in the paper too."

"I dearly loved Elvis, I was his fan. Like every 14 or 16 year old girl."

Elvis in March 1960, shortly before his return home to Memphis.

"When Elvis was in the Army I met Alan Fortas and George Klein and I met Dewey Phillips. I grew up in Whitehaven, where Graceland is located, I graduated from Whitehaven High School."

I asked Becky the first time that she went to Graceland: "

"Well, my girlfriend and I were driving around and I said something to her, I said, ' Now , I know Alan Fortas, maybe we can get into Graceland. So we stopped and I think Elvis' uncle Travis was at the gate. I told him to tell Alan that I was there and they said 'Come on up.' So, my girlfriend and I went up and there were lots of fans up there."

"I can't remember a whole lot about that night, what I remember is the carpet! Strange... (Becky laughs) I had never seen such white carpet. I remember that Elvis and Sonny put on a Karate demonstration. I asked to go to the bathroom, I wanted to see the other parts of the house. One of the guys said 'Go upstairs and use that one.' so we did and we peeked into Elvis' bedroom. The only other things that I remember about that night is my girlfriend called her mother and told her where we were and she couldn't believe us."

"I remember some girl took a teddy bear that night and Elvis was really upset about it. He said 'If she had only asked me, I would have given it to her.' That's all that I really remember about that night. Another time, it was myself and two other girls and we drove through the gates of Graceland and as we got out, this limousine started coming down the driveway and George Klein and Elvis were in there. 

They said 'Come on, go to the movies with us!' And I nearly broke my neck crawling over my girlfriends to get close to Elvis! I sat with him at the movie that night. It was a thrill, I don't know if I said too much. I don't remember if he said too much either!"

Graceland, 3764 Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee in 1962.

"I had been going up to Graceland a few times and one night I just happen to sit by Elvis downstairs in the TV room and I just looked at him and said, 'Elvis, Do you need a maid?' He said 'No, But I may need a secretary.' So, that's how I got the job. He didn't call me to tell me that I got the job, Alan Fortas did. He knew I knew Alan real well. I started working for him in 1962, I was 21 then."

"When I first started to work for him, I was kinda scared that I wouldn't get in. Elvis' uncle Travis let me in, he worked days. Elvis was in California at that time. I remember Speck Rhodes' daughter Bonya Rhodes McGarrity was working there and Pat West. There were Army type desks and a heater. I was really thrilled and  I answered fan mail. Vernon didn't ever come in the office much then."

What kind of things did you get in the mail for Elvis?

"You name it! Pictures and letters. love letters...women sent nude pictures in, which the guys wanted me to save. There would be people that would write every day and it would be like they were writing a diary - like high school girls. People would write from Alabama would say they saw Elvis driving around there and he'd be in California. Once a woman sent her dead parakeet to be buried at Graceland. I gave the parakeet to one of the workers and they buried it."

"We put all the pictures sent into albums, all the fans, he did look at those. He'd read fan letters...I remember we got letters from Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Cuba and I remember a letter got through from Russia one time! We got them from all over the world. I used to collect the stamps for my son and he has stamps from everywhere. Elvis really loved coming out and reading the fan mail and seeing the albums, especially the girls. We got post cards from everywhere. We would save him a lot of letters if they were funny and thought he would enjoy them."

Seeing some post cards prompts Elvis to talk about The Royal Family:

"I do remember Elvis discussing the Queen of England and he couldn't understand why her husband wasn't the King of England. He didn't think that was right. Elvis said 'He should be The King.' He was on the topic of The Royal family that day, other days he'd discuss religion or other things."

"I rode the Pippin with him at the Fairgrounds and I wrote about it. I threw up with him in the seat that was very embarrassing. I had been riding the thing  before he asked me to ride it. They changed the name later to the Zippin' Pippin'. But still, that was a special fun time. Elvis told me not to feel bad about what happened, he always brought extra clothes with him. He always brought extra pairs of pants because he wore them so tight."

Christmas At Graceland

"Christmas at Graceland was a magical time because of the preparations before Elvis came> At one time the Nativity scene was rented and Mr Phelps, he would bring it out and put it up. It's the same one that is used today and the 'Merry Christmas To All From Elvis' and it was a special time getting it all together." 

"Then Elvis wanted the blue lights, the electrician (George Coleman) came out and did that. he just called about that and it turned out really good. Then the Christmas tree...everything just seemed so magical before he got there. And then the Christmas cards, I forgot how many that we mailed out. We read all of the Christmas cards that we got in. A lot of the cards were sent into the house."

"After he married Priscilla, she came out for the cards to decorate inside the house. Elvis received so many Christmas cards, many would be sent to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Christmas was special. I never spent Christmas Eve or Christmas day with Elvis, I spent those days with my family. New Years's Eve I spent going to Graceland or the Manhattan Club or whatever club that he rented out.Those were fun times."

"I can still picture Priscilla coming into the office with her daddy for the first time. She used to spend a lot of time with us, she was really shy. We'd go out to lunch and dinner. I went to the movies with her. Priscilla was with Patsy Presley a lot too."

Vernon Presley and his son Elvis in 1969.

"Elvis' family was like my family. I was there many years, even today, Graceland is still a big part of my life. It was just a fabulous place to work."

Elvis joking around on the set of "Harum Scarum" in 1965.

"Elvis was always pulling jokes, he was always coming out to the office. He would bang on the side of the building to scare us. I rode the stockcar with him one time, it nearly scared me to death, it was always so fast and all. There were so many things over the years."

Elvis And Scatter

"Scatter, this is funny...I think the guys taught Scatter to do a lot of things. I walked by Scatter one day and I had a wrap around skirt, back when they were in style. I was walking past Scatter and he just reached up and pulled that skirt around! It scared me to death and it wasn't funny to me. It was funny to Scatter, I guess. I wasn't really too wild about Scatter."

Richard Davis, left with Elvis on location in Seattle, Washington in 1962.

"Richard Davis and I were friends, Richard came there after I did. but I knew Richard before he started working for Elvis. He and Jimmy Kinglsey came a few months later, after I did in 1962. I remember them well, they were good friends."

Vernon Presley and Becky Yancey in the office  at Graceland.

"Later on in the 60's I started doing more of writing the bills and handling insurance, more of the business type things. Writing checks became one of my jobs. It ended up that the bills from the homes in California were all sent to Graceland. I had to write checks for Graceland, the Circle G Ranch and all that. I would cover a truck in insurance and before you know it, Elvis would be giving it away. So, therefore you had to get it off the insurance."

Linda Thompson

"I didn't live too far from Graceland, I lived in the subdivison behind him, Linda Thompson had the house on Old Hickory and I can remember my husband and I would be out driving around and whenever I saw Linda passing in the car, she was always singing. She's a very upbeat person, you can tell by her book."

Janelle McComb, Elvis Presley and Linda Thompson in 1972.

"I remember seeing Linda Thompson, but I never really got to know her well and I hate that. I recently read her book and I feel like I know her now. Her book is wonderful. I love biographies and think it is one of the best autobiographies that I have read in a long time. I like Linda's book because not only did she cover Elvis, but Bruce Jenner (Kaitlyn) , David Foster. I just did not realize how many songs she has written. I think she has had an interesting life - and she still has. I just loved her book. In fact, I will go back and read her lyrics again."

Becky Begins Writing in 1975

"I began writing my book in the latter part of 1975, on through 1976. It wasn't supposed to come out until January 1978, but when Elvis died in  August 1977, the New York publisher rushed it up." My Life With Elvis by Becky Yancey and Cliff Linedecker was released in 1977 by St. Martin's Press.

Elvis Is Gone - August 16, 1977

"I first thought 'It must be a mistake, because I heard all of this stuff before. I wasn't working at Graceland then. I was helping a friend at Howard Johnson's, she was a manager and she had a girl coming to be her office manager, but she couldn't get her for awhile, so she wanted me to help her out. I was doing that when I heard about it and I called Graceland and Patsy told me that it was true. It had been rumored before...but it was truly devastating. So unreal, it was such a shock. But, it's amazing that after all of these years - he will go on forever, because we have his music."

"Elvis loved his fans. I don't know if they realize how much he did. I would think they would know it, surely, because he did. I have never known him to turn down a fan for an autograph, if anybody asked him for one. He never turned anyone down and a lot of stars today will."

"Mindi Miller appeared in England recently. I think she is a super person. I can tell by her comments that she is nice. I have never known her to put anyone down. I listened to her interview with George Klein and Mindi is good. Mindi Miller is a movie star, she's done films, she's modeled, I've never done that, but I do get picture requests. I love Elvis' fans and I love to meet them."

Thank you Becky for such a wonderful interview!

"Don, I don't do many interviews, but I love your pictures and your website. I really think you should put out a book."

Thank you Becky, maybe I will...

Please
Visit: www.donwilsonshollywoodbeat.com

Linda Thompson Back In Los Angeles

Linda Thompson Back In Los Angeles After Whirlwind Book Tour

by Don Wilson

Linda Thompson at The Grove in Los Angeles. Photo: Don Wilson

HOLLYWOOD, CA.: August 29, 2016-- Linda Thompson touched down on her home turf in Los Angeles on Sunday after an early flight from Tennessee. This after a whirlwind book promotion tour for her new memoir A Little Thing Called Life: On Loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner and songs in Between. Linda made television appearances on such programs as "Good Morning America", "Nightline", "Entertainment Tonight", "Access Hollywood" and more, not to mention the local television interviews that she gave and the book signings in Memphis, Nashville and Ridgewood, New Jersey. This writer has been receiving calls from all over the country asking about upcoming book signings with Linda, many came from the Las Vegas area, and it stands to reason, Linda spent a lot of time there with Elvis during his engagements at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The book has been a long time coming, just as Elvis purportedly sang about Linda in a song that he recorded in 1973, "Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming". Elvis many times sang songs that reflected what he was feeling in his life at the time, whether it was good or bad. This song was definitely a more uplifting song than many in her last years. Linda was introduced to Elvis by Presley's friend, George Klein in 1972. After Thompson realized that Elvis was separated from Priscilla, she only then cozied up to him. Their first date was at a movie theater, a double-feature, and yet neither recall the films that were being screened.

Linda's story is not only for Elvis fans, although they seem to have waited the longest time to learn about their relationship directly from Thompson. After her relationship with Elvis ended she married Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner and kept secret for decades his desire to become a woman. She went on to marry record producer David Foster and she penned songs for Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers and Whitney Houston among others. Despite all of of this, Linda has a relatively quiet life in Malibu with her family and friends.

Linda Thompson on what she learned from Elvis.

The press questioned Linda equally about her relationship with Elvis Presley and Bruce Jenner. Of course, Jenner has been in the headlines a lot lately after his transformation into Caitlyn. Linda Thompson's appearance at Barnes & Noble was the last stop on this leg of her book tour. Personally, I would have preferred seeing Linda at her Memphis appearance, as I had lived in Memphis for a quarter century of my life and the fact that Memphis is also Linda's hometown. I am sure that the book signings were looser in the Mid-South than trendy West Hollywood. It's a completely different vibe and atmosphere. Although, for Los Angeles, this was a better experience than many book signings that I have attended here.

When I arrived at Barnes & Noble,  I asked where Linda was going to be signing her book, I was directed to the third floor, when I arrived there, via escalator, I was told that the event was indeed going to be held there. However, I would have to go back to the ground floor to purchase a book. So down I went and back up again I came. This would never happen in Memphis. If someone says I am nit picky, so be it, I write what I experience. It was frustrating, and not only to me. I was also handed a flyer which stated "This is a wristband event. Wristbands will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Lost or stolen wristbands will not be replaced." Purple wristbands, copper wristbands, each designating placement in the line. So LA. Whatever. I didn't even put mine on at all, it's still in Linda's book as a bookmark. That's Barnes & Noble's policy, of course, not Linda's, in all fairness.

Linda was fashionably late, by only a few minutes. I was thankful for that. Meantime, I was in earshot of her fans and readers, some spoke of Linda solely and what an inspiration she is, others spoke about Linda and Elvis and others spoke about her dedication and support of Bruce/Caitlyn. I was indeed at the right event. Lo and behold, I heard a lady say "Ladies and gentleman please welcome Linda Thompson!" and that they did applause filled the area, as Linda gracefully seem to appear out of nowhere and greet her friends and fans. I saw one gentleman with a red rose, he was waiting in anticipation to meet Thompson and present the rose to her, which he did. Rather than quote Linda, I am sharing video clips from the event so you can see for yourself. 

Linda Thompson's opening remarks.

Linda made time to sign books for all in attendance, personalize them and pose for photos with those who requested to do so. By the time I came to her in line, she had met nearly everyone. I asked Linda if she was tired, she said that she was, but no one could tell it. I know I  would be tired after a tour like she had been on, Linda was everywhere, not only on television, but in print, like an article in People magazine. This article is not a review of the book, this writer is still in the midst of reading Linda's life. But, her book, obviously has been well received.

Besides Linda's appreciative readers in attendance at this event, Linda had her "Mailbu Mafia". (I coined this affectionately for a group of nuturing friends that surround Linda.) I have met many of her friends because I have been at some events with Linda in the past. Unlike Elvis' "Memphis Mafia", these ladies are not on the payroll, as many of Elvis's pals were. The origin of the "Memphis Mafia" being coined is attributed to Hollywood columnist Rona Barrett, because Barrett had seen Elvis and his guys all in sunglasses and mohair suits in the 1960's.

Following the event I ran into Linda as she was posing for photos by a banner outside the Barnes & Noble store (above) just after I arrived, they were taking Linda's banner down, the event was over. I spoke briefly with Linda and she put her shades on and  disappeared with her friends into The Grove.

Scotty Moore: Elvis And Tornell Darlin'

by Don Wilson

Scotty Moore and Elvis Presley in 1956.

HOLLYWOOD: When Scotty Moore died at age 84 on June 28th of this year, he left a lifetime's work behind. To see Scotty in person and to know him as I did, it was difficult to comprehend how unaffected his was by his fame and notoriety. This quiet, unassuming, polite man with a laid back manner was a dangerous and influential guitar player.

Scotty could be on stage with the biggest rock stars - of any generation and put them all to shame. they could wear a flashy suit, have the big Rocker pompadour, be the lead singer and player of a major million selling band. They would be strutting  their self on stage with any stage antics imaginable and they still couldn't top Moore by his sheer presence or his playing. Scooty Moore standing in a suit and tie with no stage bravado would bring the house down.

Scotty Moore, Patsy Andersen-Presley and Ronnie McDowell.

Close friend Patsy Andersen-Presley, the former Fan Relations manager at Elvis Presley Enterprizes saw first hand the man behind the legend. Presley remembers: "Scotty was a phenomenal guitar player! He was the most loyal friend I've ever met in my life. He never said a bad thing about Elvis Presley in his life. 'I liked him, he was a good friend.' he would say. 

Moore refused to do any appearances at Graceland after Patsy's departure. "He would say to me 'If you are in your office, then call me and I will be there for any appearance.' Presley never returned to her position and Scotty Moore never appeared for a Graceland function again. 

"I have great memories of being and his home and all...Paul McCartney called Scotty every year to sing 'Happy Birthday' to him!" A call from McCartney didn't faze Moore: "He was a calm, down to earth guy. He didn't care how famous he was. Keith Richards often phoned Moore at his home. They cut their teeth on Moore's guitar licks and riffs.

Paul McCartney checks out guitar licks that  Scotty Moore is picking.
Photo: Paul McCartney Archives
www.paulmccartney.com

Scotty Moore also was a friend to Elvis fan club president Daphne Craig. He affectionately called her 'Tornell Darlin' in reference to a question she had about Elvis saying that endearment on his "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" record in 1956. Moore looked back on how that came to be:

Scotty Moore and Elvis Presley in a still from the M-G-M film, "Jailhouse Rock" in 1957.

"It was a small private joke between Elvis and me. In the early days of our recording, we often took records from either Elvis's or my personal collection of rhythm and blues into the studio and listened to them and picked out what we wanted to do. Then, we sort of arranged them on the fly. I made up guitar parts and he tailored lyrics to his style as we rehearsed and recorded." We might do several cuts, then listen to pick out the one we liked best."

"In the case of "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy", that was from Elvis's collection and he had already learned it and I just broke up at the line, 'Goodbye, Tornell Darlin'! I told him that it must be wrong, there couldn't be anyone named Tornell, it was too close to toe nail! Elvis said he was right and he sang it that way. After that recording, when we were putting together a list of songs to sing for a performance, I'd say, 'Let's do Tornell Darlin'!' and when he would sing it on stage, very often, he'd turn to me and grin."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSD2qlkmV2M

"When Elvis did the NBC-TV special in 1968, the last time I performed with him, we 

did "Lawdy Miss Clawdy". After the taping we went to Elvis's home for dinner. I had bought a studio in Nashville in 1964,and he said that all of his old 78's were getting chipped and brittle and he wanted me to copy them on (tape) reels for him at the studio. A few days after I came back to Nashville, he sent a runner with abriefcase of old 78's to copy. I made the tape copies and mailed them to him."

Scotty Moore played the guitar that changed the world, performing with the most influential entertainer of the 20th century, Elvis Presley. With Bill Black on bass and D.J. Fontana on drums, they were unbeatable and they are unforgettable.

    Keith Richards, Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana and Ron Wood.

Scotty Moore, Don Wilson and D.J. Fontana at a function in Memphis.

For Music Enthusiasts, here's Lloyd Price's version of "Lawdy, miss Clawdy", that Elvis had in his collection: