Elvis and Bill Black

[Sonny]

Hi there!

Any of you ever wondered why Elvis never mentioned Blacks name during the 1968 Special.

He was introducing the band from way back and just said: a bass player.

Why not name the guy?

Sonny

[ForeverTheKing]

Good question :hmm: but I really don't know...I don't think it was intentionally, I mean not using his name (y)

If I'm not wrong Bill Black had already died in 1968.

[JDD]

Nobody has really ever discussed all of what happened with Elvis and Bill that I've seen anyway. I know there was a falling out over money, and Bill black left and had some success on his own with the Bill Black Combo, and died very young. I know Elvis supposedly wanted to attend the funeral but didn't, because he thought he'd be a distraction from the real point of it and sent Vernon instead. What hasn't really been discussed though is if in private, or even the phone, if Elvis and Bill mended fences.

I suspect and this is just my opinion that if Black had still been alive in 68 that Elvis would have invited him along with Scotty . I've always wanted to know more of the in's and outs on the story. In the beginning there were only three of them , when Bill left there were many more that had come along and latched on. I'm sure the money and being pushed further and further to the back didn't help.

JD

[franny]

Bill Black died in 1965, but it's hard to say why Elvis didnt mention his name..:hmm:

At least he could have mentioned him, out of respect, even though he had passed away by then...

franny

[Jailhouse-Rocker]

Bill Black died in 1965, but it's hard to say why Elvis didnt mention his name..:hmm:

At least he could have mentioned him, out of respect, even though he had passed away by then...

franny

yeah i agree, he could have mentioned his name out of respect ... who knows why he didn't! :hmm:

[Burning_Love]

Aww Franny never knew that. That's upsetting.
But, i think, once Bill said that he don't think Elvis can sing. Not sure whether it's true, but i definately heard it.

[SleepyJack]

I`ve often wondered about this one...it seems very strange that Elvis made no mention of him.....

[kevis]

i must admit i dont know the answer to this, how ever i did read that slvis didnt go to bills funeral for the reason as stated above but the guy that buried bill black has gone on record as saying that elvis turned up at the grave the following day or close to it and asked if he could spend some time which he did he spent 3 hours at the grave in the report i read so ha must have made some sort of peace then but it would be good to know why he never mentioned him maybe emailing scotty moore to ask wouldent be a bad idea,

kev

[toffe]

I have never thinked about that, but very strange!

[marijaep]

Thank you Franny for the info. I never knew that either :blink:
I'm sure Elvis didn't mean anything bad by not mentioning his name ;)....oh well, i guess lol

[franny]

Aww Franny never knew that. That's upsetting.
But, i think, once Bill said that he don't think Elvis can sing. Not sure whether it's true, but i definately heard it.

I never heard that, Danielle! I hope he didn't say that about Elvis!
Thanks, for the info! (y)

franny

[franny]

Thank you Franny for the info. I never knew that either :blink:
I'm sure Elvis didn't mean anything bad by not mentioning his name ;)....oh well, i guess lol


You're welcome, Marija! ;) No, I'm sure Elvis didn't mean anything bad, maybe he just forgot to say it at that time!

franny

[Getlo]

Elvis issued a statement to the Memphis Commercial Appeal when Bill died in 1965 saying how much he loved Bill.

I read somewhere years ago that Elvis did go to the funeral but "giggled his way through it". Can't remember where I read it though.

But Guralnick says he didn't attend the funeral, so ...

I think had he lived, Bill would've been up on that stage in '68.

[Diane]

I agree with Getlo, if Bill had lived, he would have been on that stage. I don't remember all that was said but if a real serious discussion about how he started in the business had been planned for the show then Elvis would have named Bill for sure.

Diane

[Tony Trout]

I've often also wondered why Elvis never mentioned Bill Black during the introductions..he should have done it out of respect and at least maybe let the audience know why Bill wasn't present.

[Donut]

Maybe he was just nervous.

[Tony Trout]

I asked this question to James V. Roy, who has a website for Scotty Moore and here is the response he gave me. I hope (if he's a member here) that he does not mind me posting his answer as to the possible reason(s) why Elvis didn't mention Bill Black by name:


Hi Tony,

No idea. My guess is that its just that it was not scripted and he said what little he had to. He talked little about how and where he came from and only mentioned the people there, Scotty and DJ that is.

I wouldn't view it as slighting Bill though.

Jim