James Burton - lead guitar
James Burton played lead guitar. James was born in 1939 in Louisiana and as a teen appeared on "The Louisiana Hayride". He eventually worked for Ricky Nelson, including appearing with him on the Nelson family's "Ozzie & Harriet" TV series. He also became well known for his session work with such greats as The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, and Sonny and Cher. Elvis had gotten in touch with him about being part of the 1968 TV special, but he was unavailable. Elvis recruited him as lead guitarist for his new band in 1969, a position he would keep until Elvis' death in 1977.
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John Wilkinson - rhythm guitar
John Wilkinson played rhythm guitar in the band from 1969 until Elvis' last show in 1977. Born in Washington, DC in 1945, John moved with his family to Springfield, Missouri. His father, a professor of psychology, was very talented musically and was a big influence. John began playing guitar at age five and banjo at age six. He also played trumpet. He first met Elvis in 1956 when he was able to see him backstage at an Elvis concert in Springfield. His early musical influences were folk singers like Peter, Paul and Mary, Gordon Lightfoot and The Kingston Trio. He was able to join The Kingston Trio at one point, a dream come true. After Elvis' death, John worked for an aircraft company. While working there he suffered a severe stroke in 1989. No longer able to continue working in that field or to play the guitar he returned to performing as a vocalist.
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Jerry Scheff - bass guitar
Jerry Scheff played bass guitar. Jerry grew up in San Francisco and moved to Sacramento at age 14. He played the tuba in grammar school took up the bass in seventh grade. He played classical and jazz music on the string bass. He served in the Navy, ending up in San Diego when he was discharged in 1961. He moved to Los Angles, where he began session work. His first hit song to play on was "Along Comes Mary" by The Association. He played for Johnny Mathis, Johnny Rivers, Neil Diamond, Nancy Sinatra, Pat Boone, Sammy Davis Jr., Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand and Linda Ronstadt to name a few. He played bass for Elvis' concerts from 1969 to 1977 except for a two-year period, 1973 - 1975, while he was going through a divorce.
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Ronnie Tutt - drums
Ronnie Tutt played drums for Elvis from 1969 to 1977. Ronnie is from Dallas, Texas. As a very young child his mother put him in dance class. He also began playing musical instruments, starting at age three with a ukelele, then guitar, violin and trumpet. He didn't start playing the drums until his late teens. His experience in dance gave him a sense of rhythm that wasn't satisfied by other instruments. The first band he played with was a western-swing band. His friend Larry Muhoberac, a keyboard player, put in a good word for him and he was granted an audition as Elvis' drummer in 1969. In an interview he once said the reason he thought Elvis gave him the job was..."I emulated and accented everything that he did just instinctively. Every move, almost like a glorified stripper! And he loved that." Ronnie has also worked with Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, The Carpenters and Neil Diamond among others.
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Glen D. Hardin - tcb band
Glen D. Hardin became a member of the TCB-Band in January 1970, taking over from Larry Muhoberac on piano.His first performance live with Elvis was in Las Vegas at The International Hotel on January 26, 1970.Especially in 1970, he worked out new arrangements on several older songs as well as arranging new ones.Glen's first studio recording with Elvis took place on March 27, 1972 with songs like 'Seperate Ways' and 'Burning Love'.Glen D. Hardin performed with Elvis live 889 times. His last show with Elvis was on December 31,1975 in Pontiac,MI.The last time he recorded with Elvis was during the February 2-8, 1976 sessions at The Jungle Room in Graceland with songs like 'Moody Blue' and 'Hurt'. Glen left on the sixth day of the sessions to join Emmylou Harris' Hot Band.
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Charlie- tcb band
Well, I was like Elvis in a lot of ways. I wanted to be in a gospel quartet. And I went out to the Stamp School of Music when I graduated school and met a young man out there named Bill Gather. And we formed a quartet together, sang together about a year before we broke up. And then I worked for another group for a short period of time. And we happened to work with a group called the Foggy River Boys on the ABC network on the Ozark Jubilee. And they needed a lead singer. So, they hired me. And at 20 years old, I went on network television. And that's how I met Elvis. We played Memphis with Red Foley. And he came backstage and met Mr. Foley and then over to meet my quartet. And I didn't see him again until we both were drafted in the military.
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Kathy Westmoreland - tcb band
Kathy Westmoreland had already been working as a singer with all kinds of singers and orchestras in California when she got a call from Jordanaires original Hugh Jarrett in August 1970 who asked her if she'd be interested in a 2-week job singing for Elvis. In no time she found herself in Las Vegas where she replaced Millie Kirkham on stage starting August 15th as "high voiced singer". The 2-week job ended up being 7 years, for Kathy would be a part of Elvis' singing group on stage until the very last show in 1977.
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The Sweet Inspirations - tcb band
The Sweet Inspirations were Elvis' female backing vocal group from 1969 to 1977. That hitmaking female vocal groups from New York City existed in abundance throughout the early to mid-Sixties is without dispute. But while The Ronettes, The Cookies, The Crystals and their ilk offered strongly pop-oriented confections, The Sweet Inspirations were unashamedly soulful, opening the way for other gospel-rooted groups like The Sisters Love and The Mirettes.
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J.D. Summer & The Stamps Quarted- tcb band
J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet were Elvis' male backing vocal group from 1971 to 1977. The onetime holder of a Guinness world record honoring the lowest bass note ever reached, gospel pioneer J.D. Sumner was the driving force behind the Stamps Quartet, which earned secular renown as the longtime vocal support for Elvis Presley. Born November 19, 1924, Sumner became the Blackwood Brothers' bass vocalist in 1954, remaining with the group for a dozen years.
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Joe Malin Orchestra - tcb band Joe Malin Orchestra, a local orchestra(NYC) that had been hired for the engagement rather than flying Guercio's orchestra from Las Vegas to NYC.
Also see:
http://www.jazzwax.com/2012/11/elvis-and-al-june-1972.html
and here:
http://www.penaltyofleadership.com/sesrecdate.php?id=567&content=info&PHPSESSID=746ebc668eabaf481e167efe3b132757
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