Quotes by Elvis' Musicians and close friends

  Quotes By Elvis'  Musicians And Close Friends

 

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“He was such a nice person and my personal feelings were like to separate the showmanship and entertainment from being a normal person. Even though he had to live, it’s  almost like being in a prison. He couldn’t do the things like we can do – get into a car, drive in the daytime like normal people. He could never do those things, but the thing that always amazed me was that it didn’t bother him so much. He had accepted that and the life he had to live..just being real generous..kindness..just a down home southern boy even though he was my boss, you know. I felt it was more of a personal thing. It was a situation where we could talk. We could talk to each other over the phone. If I had anything to discuss with him, I could do it anytime and that’s the thing I remember most of all….James Burton, Guitarist

“The first night he came to the studio I psyched myself out. We’re hotter than he is. There’s no need about me getting nervous about Elvis coming to the studio. You know, I knew the minute he was in the back parking lot. That’s how strong his charisma was. Then when he walked in I almost cried. I got all choked up.”..Bobby Wood, Pianist

“I recorded with him for a retake at MGM, and we did a brief scene with him also. The movie was called “Chautauqua” and they later changed it. It was strange to be with him. There was no communication. In fact, for another movie we were told when we got to the recording studio, “Don’t speak to Elvis unless he speaks to you. ”He was charming and Warm.”..Thurl Ravenscroft, Bass Singer of The Mellow Men

“He was a soft and very warm-hearted man. He seemed to take great pleasure in taking care of those that he cared for.”..Larry Schanpf, Director of Recording Operations.

“One time we got to sitting at the piano together fiddling around on the piano, and we talked together for about 45 minutes to an hour. About 30 minutes into the conservation it dawned on me that I was sitting cheek to cheek with Elvis Presley…started freaking me out.”..Bobby Wood, Pianist

“I do remember Felton Jarvis was in ill health and was literally lying down in the control room so we had to kinda take charge of the session. Elvis invited me to get involved and one of the songs to come out of that session was ‘Burning Love’. It did pretty well for him.”..Ronnie Tutt, Drummer

 

“He was an inspiration to me in that I try to make the best out of any situation that arises today, and that’s exactly what he did. He tried to make the best out of everything that came up before him.”..Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires

“Elvis was the consummate professional. He paid attention to detail and again contrary to popular belief, nothing slipped past him.”..Larry Schanpf, Director of Recording Operations

“I didn’t like Elvis Presley before I went to work with him. I mean, I didn’t know him. I just didn’t like his music. I was into black music mostly and jazz so when I went to work for him on the first rehearsal I told my ex-wife, Í don’t think I’m going to do this gig, but I’m going to go down and check it out..see what’s going on.’ I came home that night and said, ‘you gotta come down and hear this guy tomorrow night.’ She said, ‘you’re kidding.’I said, ‘no, you got to come down and hear him.’ She came down the next night to the rehearsal and she walked away a fan. It was that immediate. When I walked in and I heard him I said, Óh, oh, I believe that I’ve been missing something here!’”..Jerry Scheff, Bass Guitarist

 

“When I first knew Elvis he was still very young. He was in his early twenties. He was still a big kid when I worked with him. As I saw him mature over the years..that was something that was interesting.”..Millie Kirkham, Singer

 

“Well, he had guys do everything. He had guys to make sure he had a jar dill pickles and a glass of water. There was another guy to make sure he had clean shirts and all of that stuff. Anyway, one of those guys had put a jar of pickles down. Henri Strzelecki, the bass player, came in, and Elvis wasn’t at the mike so Henry just walked over and took a pickle and bit into it and this guy just materialized out of nowhere and said, ‘Hey man those are Elvis’ pickles and you can’t have any of them, ‘so it scared him kind of. He thought he might lose his job. It was funny.”..Dolores Edgin, Singer

“Elvis was so generous you had to be careful around him. If you said you liked something he’d turn around and give it to you.”..Glen D. Hardin, Pianist

“He never raised his voice in the fifteen years that we were around him. He absolutely had a super, super nice attitude. He was really an inspiration to me in that he never..people would come in and say things about him about what he couldn’t do or should do, and if I had been the star I would have said, ‘I am doing this my way,’ but you know, Elvis never said that. It’s just unbelieveable..the attitude he took with so many different things. I couldn’t believe that he never even raised his voice and got mad about something and stormed out.”..Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires

 

With all the controversy about Elvis’ drug-taking and his physical condition toward the end of his life, people often forget what a tank he was. Nobody did what Elvis did in Las Vegas. Four weeks, seven days a week, two, sometimes three shows a night. An awesome schedule. But he did it. Those of us who were there now understand that the man was working himself to death. Literally…Lamar Fike, former member of the Elvis entourage

Elvis was the kind of guy who would dodge reality. He didn’t like to face things. He wasn’t  a confrontational person. He was always hoping that if he had ignored something, it would go away…Lamar Fike 

"He completely changed the way I felt about music. He combined everything that a star needs. Looks, charisma, talent and originality"...Elton John

"On stage he encompassed everything..he was laughing at the world and he was laughing at himself, but at the same time he was dead serious"..Bruce Springsteen.

"Without Elvis, none of us could have made it"..Buddy Holly

"When he started, he couldn't spell Tennessee. No he owns it."...Bob Hope

"He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn't let black music through. He opened the door for black music."..Little Richard

"Sometimes when I walk into a room at home and see all the gold records hanging on the walls, I think they must belong to another person, not me, I just can't help believe that it's true."..Elvis Presley

"Elvis was the best, the most unique. He started the ball rolling. He deserves the recognition."..Jim Morrison

"I hope that nobody will ever forget how he influenced us all..he isn't just a historical phenomenon but rather something very lasting."...Roy Orbison

"He was good. He never had to take a back seat to anybody. I thought "Don't Be Cruel" was one of the greatest songs I ever heard."..Jerry Lee Lewis

      

"Every time I felt low, I just put on an Elvis record and I'd feel great."...Paul McCartney

"He was white, but he sang black."...Chet Atkins

"My crushing ambition in life was to be as big as Elvis Presley."...John Lennon

"Black didn't have the airwaves. Elvis had. He delivered what he obtained beautifully."...Chuck Berry

 

"He had so much energy we had to sit up nights to wear him out so we could sleep."..Scotty Moore

"Before Elvis, there was nothing."...John Lennon

"Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been Elvis, there wouldn't have been the Beatles."..John Lennon

“I really liked the way he did ‘Blue Moon Of Kentucky.’ Those early tunes which was the same thing I was into…taking original tunes and changing them up.”…James Burton, Guitarist