It's hard to over estimate the impact and influence of Elvis Presley and his band. John Lennon is famously quoted as saying that without Elvis, there would have been no Beatles.
Without guitarist Scotty Moore, legends like Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Mark Knopfler and Jimmy Page would have sounded very different. Scotty of course was Elvis' guitar player, and he was a major influence on the generation guitarists that later came to define the rock music of the 60's and 70's.
In new releases this week, we're really fortunate to have Scotty showing us his guitar magic on several Elvis classics as well as sharing some priceless stories that take you back stage, on the road and in the studio with Elvis and his band.
Along with Scotty, we bring you DJ Fontana, the great drummer for the original Elvis Presley band. This cat still has chops and he did an outstanding job showing us how to play the drum parts on several early Elvis tunes. As Scotty did, DJ shares some insightful stories about making music with The King that you won't want to miss.
The music that Scotty and DJ talk about and show how to play is raw and authentic - this is the Elvis of the mid-late 1950's when he was creating a masterful brew of Country, Blues and Gospel that came to be known as Rock and Roll.
The songs we shot with Scotty and DJ include Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Don't Be Cruel and That's Alright Mama. Without question, these songs are the bedrock of Rock and Roll. Seeing these master musicians show their craft and share their stories was a life changing experience for me and I am thrilled that we are able to share it with you.
There are many amazing musicians that made a mark on the early days of Rock and Roll, but none shine brighter than these two giants. Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana up close and personal. We hope you enjoy.
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