Something that I've always wondered when Elvis was performing live...

[LtCarman]

I've always wondered, when Elvis did this:
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/LtCarman/img_0007_991703.jpg

at the end of a song, did he actually signal his band when to stop, or did he just move to the ending beat?

Sorry if it is a stupid question or if the answer is obvious and little ol' me can't see it.

[Diane]

He directed his band an background singers throughout all his performances. He is the only performer I've seen who does this as well as sing and move at the same time....and some people complain that he didn't write his own songs?????

Diane

[Tony Trout]

I've always wondered, when Elvis did this:
http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo21/LtCarman/img_0007_991703.jpg

at the end of a song, did he actually signal his band when to stop, or did he just move to the ending beat?

Sorry if it is a stupid question or if the answer is obvious and little ol' me can't see it.


He was always signaling the band when to stop when he would use moves like that.

[memphis69]

Ronnie Tutt And James Burton Said That They Always Watched For Hand Movements And Signals From Elvis On Stage.

[LtCarman]

Thanks for clearing that up for me guys.

[easyrider]

i'm not wondered,Elvis directed his band.

[Dudcowboy_1]

Also, they would watch his leg moving to the beat. But like you said it was mostly his hands.

Thing about stealing was stupid...Yea, but writer of the song has rights on who can sing it and who can't. Like Paul Anka(sp?) writer and singer of My Way and etc.

Love to all,
Tim

[memphis69]

Yes Elvis was always the boss on stage. He knew how he wanted the band and singers to sound. He had a great feel for the music.

[WHITETIGERMAN]

As I always heard the band say that he was not moving to the beat....that they were playing of his movements.Scotty Moore said that they were the only band he knew of that was directed by a a**.Scotty laughed when saying that.But yes LtCarman....that was always Elvis' cue to end the song.

[KPM]

Ronnie Tutt And James Burton Said That They Always Watched For Hand Movements And Signals From Elvis On Stage.
Tutt especially had a hard job, because he had to accentuate any movement Elvis made on stage and still keep the basic tempo going.
He is not recognised enough IMO for how hard this must have been.

[LtCarman]

Tutt especially had a hard job, because he had to accentuate any movement Elvis made on stage and still keep the basic tempo going.
He is not recognised enough IMO for how hard this must have been.

Yeah, I could imagine. That's what makes him a spectacular drummer.

[Tony Trout]

Tutt especially had a hard job, because he had to accentuate any movement Elvis made on stage and still keep the basic tempo going.
He is not recognised enough IMO for how hard this must have been.


Tutt actually studied karate to anticipate Elvis's moves onstage.

[shelley.m.]

As I always heard the band say that he was not moving to the beat....that they were playing of his movements.Scotty Moore said that they were the only band he knew of that was directed by a a**.Scotty laughed when saying that.But yes LtCarman....that was always Elvis' cue to end the song.

That's funny,WHITETIGERMAN.I was trying to remember that quote as well by Scotty Moore.

[KPM]

Tutt actually studied karate to anticipate Elvis's moves onstage.
I recall Elvis calling him "one of my students" in some import cd.
It had to be a hard task to anticipate and react so quickly to moves which sometimes were out of the blue. My hats off to Tutt.

[President Presley]

I've got a question also. On disc 4 of "Elvis Live in Las Vegas Box" you can hear Elvis say to Jerry Scheff at the beginning of 'Burning Love':"What a bass groove" or is he saying "Play that bass groove". I'd like to know what Elvis is saying to Jerry.

[Getlo]

It was a combination of both showmanship and band direction.

Let's face it, Elvis didn't need to be signalling the band to end All Shook Up or whatever right at the end of his career. They knew the songs so well.

And at the very end, Elvis' direction was virtually superfluous.

[Tony Trout]

It was a combination of both showmanship and band direction.

Let's face it, Elvis didn't need to be signalling the band to end All Shook Up or whatever right at the end of his career. They knew the songs so well.

And at the very end, Elvis' direction was virtually superfluous.


Very much agreed, Gelto. :)

[Dino78]

I agree with you Getlo except one point.
When Ronnie Tutt was replaced in '77 it needed these movements to show him when to stop.

[Getlo]

I agree with you Getlo except one point.
When Ronnie Tutt was replaced in '77 it needed these movements to show him when to stop.

Only to a point.

Jerome Munroe had seen the show so many times, he would have pretty much known the drill.

And Larrie Londin had been there several times already.

[KPM]

In watching Tutt on videos its almost at times like he was an extension of Elvis. Tutt said watching the TTWII SE he saw Elvis clap his hands at a point in rehearsals and he knew Elvis was telling me he wanted him there on drums.
I tried to explain to my 17 year old nephew who plays drums how good Tutt was in doing this.
He said "Oh thats not so hard" so my brother and I sat and jammed with him on some pretty simple songs-and I did a few kicks and chops (lamely of course) and he saw it was not as easy as he thought to interrupt his basic drumming to add the extra beats where I wanted. It was kind of fun to see him trying.:)

[Dino78]

You might be right about this Getlo, it's not on me to have any doubt about it.
But I read an interview with Londin where he said, that during the rehearsals he had to learn to watch on Elvis' movements. Another point is, that you can watch something for a long time but when get involved in it as an acting person there's a huge difference. It's no question, when you have talent and experience it's quite easier to do so but you're always a little bit nervous at the first time. So I think that he needed these movements in the first appereance to know when to stop.

[Getlo]

But I read an interview with Londin where he said, that during the rehearsals he had to learn to watch on Elvis' movements. Another point is, that you can watch something for a long time but when get involved in it as an acting person there's a huge difference.

Point taken, but I don't think that would necessarily apply to the well-worn classics, some of which hadn't changed much since '69.

The new drummers would have certainly had to concentrate, though, during Polk Salad Annie or rare one-offs or new songs.