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39-430: Hi Records' first big hit was "Smokie Part 2", an instrumental by Bill Black's Combo , released in 1959. Black was a bass player with Elvis Presley and a long-time friend of Ray Harris. Founder Claunch was forced out of the label, selling his share in 1960 to Carl McVoy (a cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis ), who had been involved with the label since its first recording and had worked with Bill Black. Willie Mitchell joined

78-484: A brain tumor on October 21, 1965, at age 39. His death occurred during his third operation that doctors had hoped would eradicate the tumor permanently. Black's body was buried next to his father, William Patton Black Sr., at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. Presley was criticized for not attending the funeral, but he believed that his presence would turn it into a media frenzy . He decided instead to visit

117-404: A "stage clown" persona in the same way that Maddox entertained audiences. Black performed as an exaggerated hillbilly with blacked-out teeth, straw hat and overalls. According to his son, Black said his goal was always to give his audience "a few moments of entertainment and maybe a little bit of humor that'll tickle 'em for a while." In 1952, Black began playing in clubs and on radio shows with

156-576: A lot of country crowds that weren't used to people jumping up and down on stage." In 1959, Black joined a group of musicians which became Bill Black's Combo. The lineup was Black (bass), Joe Lewis Hall (piano), Reggie Young (guitar), Martin Willis (saxophone), and Jerry Arnold (drums). There were several personnel changes. While Young was in the army, his position was filled by Hank Hankins, Chips Moman and Tommy Cogbill . On sax, Ace Cannon took over touring duties from Willis who remained in Memphis for

195-515: A motorman for the Memphis Street Railway Co . He was the oldest of nine children. His father played popular songs on the banjo and fiddle to entertain the family. Black learned to play music at the age of 14 on an instrument made by his father—a cigar box with a board nailed to it and strings attached. At the age of sixteen, Black was performing " honky-tonk " music on acoustic guitar in local bars. During World War II, Black

234-477: The Fender Precision Bass ( bass guitar ) in popular music , on " Jailhouse Rock ", in the late 1950s. Black, Moore and the drummer D. J. Fontana toured extensively during Presley's early career. Black continued his onstage "clown" persona and developed comedy routines with Presley. Black's onstage personality was a sharp contrast to the introverted stage presence of Moore. The balance fit

273-564: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked Black as 40th greatest bass player of all time. In 2022, Adam Dunn portrayed Black in the movie Elvis , starring Austin Butler . Maddox Brothers and Rose The Maddox Brothers and Rose were an American country music group active from the 1930s to 1950s, consisting of four brothers, Fred, Cal, Cliff, and Don Maddox, along with their sister Rose ; Cliff died in 1949 and

312-540: The San Joaquin Valley . They often worked from dawn to dusk, sleeping and eating on the ground. Having settled in Modesto, California , the family developed their musical ability, and in 1937, performed on the radio, sponsored by a local furniture store. In 1939, they entered a hillbilly band competition at the centennial Sacramento State Fair after driving to Sacramento in their Model A . When they took

351-519: The video clip to McCartney's song "Baby's Request". In the documentary film In the World Tonight , McCartney can be seen playing it and singing his version of " Heartbreak Hotel ". In 1995, he played it on " Real Love ", the last "new" Beatles record (one of two in which McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr overdubbed a full arrangement onto a John Lennon home recording from the late 1970s). Actor Elliott Street portrayed Black in

390-606: The "slap bass" technique as early as 1937. Fred Maddox's bass is displayed at the Experience Music Project in Seattle. "They wanted his bass because they believe he might have hit the first note of rock 'n' roll on it." Don Maddox was the last surviving member of the band and lived in Ashland, Oregon . He experienced a career resurgence 50 years after his success with Maddox Bros and Rose, while he played at

429-738: The Blues . The Combo's sound of danceable blues became a popular accompaniment for striptease dancers. Another characteristic of the Combo was Reggie Young thwacking on the guitar with a pencil. In 1962, Bill Black opened a recording studio called "Lyn-Lou Studios" (a shortened nickname "Linda-Lou" he had for his daughter Nancy), and a record label named "Louis" after his son, on Chelsea Street in Memphis, Tennessee, with Larry Rogers (Studio 19, Nashville) as his engineer and producer. Johnny Black, Bill's brother and also upright bass player, who knew Elvis at Lauderdale Courts before Bill, recalls visiting Bill at

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468-905: The Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon , opening for Big and Rich, performing at the Muddy Roots festival in Cookeville, Tennessee , in 2011 and 2012, playing on the Marty Stuart show, and receiving a standing ovation show at the Grand Ole Opry . He also performed in Las Vegas at the first annual Rockabilly Rockout at the Gold Coast Casino on October 5, 2014. Don Maddox died on September 12, 2021, at

507-514: The TV movie Elvis , starring Kurt Russell . Actor Blake Gibbons portrayed Black in the short-lived 1990 TV series Elvis , starring Michael St. Gerard . In 2005, Clay Steakley portrayed Black in the 2005 CBS miniseries Elvis , starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers . In 2007, Black was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum . On April 4, 2009, Bill Black was inducted into

546-578: The United States and Europe and won awards as the best instrumental group in America in 1966 and 1967. Bob Tucker worked for the University of Memphis as Professor of Music Business while leading the combo. Black's main stand-up bass is today owned by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney , who received the instrument as a birthday present from his wife Linda in the late 1970s. The bass can be seen in

585-419: The as-yet-unknown Elvis Presley . Black slap played the double bass with Moore on lead guitar, while Presley played rhythm guitar and sang lead . Neither musician was overly impressed with Presley, but they agreed a studio session would be useful to explore his potential. On July 5, 1954, the trio met at Sun studios to rehearse and record a handful of songs. According to Moore, the first song they recorded

624-458: The band members were still children, following the failed efforts of their sharecropper parents during the early part of the Depression . They were a little in advance of the flood of Okies who were to flood the state in the 1930s. They struggled to make a living as itinerant fruit and vegetable pickers, following the harvest as far north as Washington and as far east as Arizona, as well as

663-463: The beginning of the 1950s. Rose Maddox stated: "We were called hillbilly singers — not country — then. No, none of this country music then. People just called us hillbilly... People tell me that I was one of the first women to sing what I sang — country boogie. I guess I was. There was no rock 'n' roll in those early days, before 1955. Only country boogie. My brothers also played that way. We called it country then." Fred Maddox played upright bass using

702-478: The catalog in Canada and the United States until 2009, when Fat Possum Records began distributing for the United States, Canada and Australia. Before EMI, Motown Records distributed Hi's back catalog from the 1980s to the mid-1990s, consisting mostly Green's and Mitchell's albums. The Royal Recording Studios, also Hi Recording Studio, was located at an old movie theatre, at 1320 South Lauderdale Street, founded by

741-527: The family privately after the service to express his condolences. According to Louis Black, Presley said, "If there's anything that y'all need, you just let me know and it's yours." Black's widow sold Bob Tucker and Larry Rogers the rights to use the name Bill Black's Combo. The band changed to country music when it joined Columbia Records, and won Billboard's Country Instrumental Group of the Year award in 1976. Bill Black's Combo cut more than 20 albums, toured

780-453: The group recorded four more songs, including " Blue Moon of Kentucky ", by the bluegrass musician Bill Monroe , which he had written and recorded as a slow waltz . Sources credit Black with initiating the song, with Presley and Moore joining in. Moore said, "Bill is the one who came up with "Blue Moon of Kentucky." ... We're taking a little break and he starts beating on the bass and singing "Blue Moon of Kentucky," mocking Bill Monroe, singing

819-411: The group's performances. According to Black's son Louis, Moore said, "Elvis used to just stand up there and not move, and Bill would jump around on the bass. Your daddy would come down through there and get everybody to laughing and loosen them up." Fontana called Black the mainstay of the band in the early days. "He was a comedian who could warm up a crowd. That was necessary for us because we played for

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858-561: The guitarist Scotty Moore . Along with two other guitarists and a fiddler, they performed country music tunes by Hank Williams and Red Foley in Doug Poindexter 's band, the Starlight Wranglers. Black and Moore also played in a band with Paul Burlison , Johnny Burnette , Dorsey Burnette on steel guitar , and a drummer. In July 1954, Sam Phillips , of Sun Records , asked Black and Moore to play backup for

897-493: The high falsetto voice. Elvis joins in with him, starts playing and singing along with him ..." They ended up with a fast version of the song in 4/4 time. After an early take, Phillips can be heard on tape saying, "Fine, man. Hell, that's different—that's a pop song now, nearly ʼbout." Phillips took several acetates of the session to DJ Dewey Phillips (no relation) of Memphis radio station WHBQ's Red, Hot and Blue show. From August 18 through December 8, "Blue Moon of Kentucky"

936-514: The label included " Tired of Being Alone ", " Let's Stay Together ", " I'm Still in Love with You ", and " Call Me ". Other artists on the label included O. V. Wright , Don Bryant , Otis Clay , and Ann Peebles . None reached the same level of success. The label's music was mostly recorded at Willie Mitchell's Royal Studios , located in a renovated movie theater in South Memphis . The label

975-436: The label that year as a recording artist. In 1968 he began to produce Al Green . Bill Black's saxophonist, Ace Cannon , landed a hit with the single " Tuff " in 1961. In 1970, when founder Joe Cuoghi died and Ray Harris retired, Nick Pesce became president; Willie Mitchell became vice-president. Hi Records' commercial peak was in the early 1970s, mainly due to the innovative and highly successful work of Al Green, whose hits on

1014-574: The owners of Hi Records; several hit singles were recorded here. Bill Black%27s Combo William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll . He played in Elvis Presley 's early trio, The Blue Moon Boys . Black later formed Bill Black's Combo . William Patton Black Jr. was born on September 17, 1926, in Memphis , Tennessee, to

1053-495: The past year and a half and unable to travel. Nonetheless, he insisted that the band continue without him. Bill Black's Combo created musical history in 1964 when they became the opening act for the Beatles (at their request) on their historic 13-city tour of America after their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show . Black himself was not well enough to make the tour. After two surgeries and lengthy hospital stays, Black died of

1092-484: The stage, they tore through "Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down" with rocking rhythms and risqué lyrics. They became, officially, California's best hillbilly band. The brothers and Rose appeared at places such as the 97th Street Corral in Los Angeles. From 1946-1951, the group recorded for 4 Star Records (Hollywood), then for Columbia Records . Some 4 Star masters were leased and released by US.- Decca Records at

1131-467: The studio and reported that Bill would be totally absorbed mixing and playing back tracks. Bob Tucker and Larry Rogers purchased Lyn-Lou Studios after Bill Black's death in 1965. The studio recorded many Bill Black Combo albums (with billings such as "The Best Honky Tonk Band in America" and "The band who opened for the Beatles") and produced number-one country hits for Charly McClain, T.G. Shepard, Billy Swan and others. The house band for these sessions

1170-562: The studio work and movie appearances. Carl McVoy replaced Hall in the studio, while Bobby Emmons replaced him on tour. The band released blues instrumental "Smokie" for Hi Records (Hi 2018) in December 1959. " Smokie, Part 2 " became a No. 17 U.S. pop hit, and made number one on the "black" music charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA . A follow-up release, "White Silver Sands" (Hi 2021),

1209-427: Was " I Love You Because ", but after a few country music songs that weren't impressive they decided to take a break. During the break, Presley began "acting the fool" with Arthur Crudup 's " That's All Right (Mama) ", a blues song. When the other two musicians joined in, Phillips taped the song. The upbeat sound was original. Black remarked, "Damn. Get that on the radio and they'll run us out of town." The next day,

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1248-714: Was a Top 10 hit (#9) and, like its predecessor, topped the R&;B charts for four weeks. Eight of the recordings by Bill Black's Combo placed in the Top 40 between 1959 and 1962. The Combo appeared in the 1961 film Teenage Millionaire and on The Ed Sullivan Show , where they performed a medley of "Don't Be Cruel", "Cherry Pink", and "Hearts of Stone", and were voted Billboard's number one instrumental group of 1961. Albums with themes included Bill Black's Combo Plays Tunes by Chuck Berry , Bill Black's Combo Goes Big Band , Bill Black's Combo Goes West , and Bill Black's Combo Plays

1287-534: Was consistently higher on the charts, and then both sides began to chart across the South. Black and Moore became Presley's backup group and were paid 25% of his earnings. Moore and Black left the Starlite Wranglers after the success of "That's All Right", jealousy within the group forcing them to split. Their recordings at Sun were released with the credits as "Elvis Presley, Scotty and Bill." The group

1326-534: Was distributed nationally by London Records . On its numerous hit recordings of the 1970s, the label used a house backing band of local session musicians known as the Hi Rhythm Section . The popularity of disco music in the late 1970s led to a decline in the popularity of southern soul music. Licensed distribution is by Crimson Productions (a division of Demon Music Group ) in Europe; EMI licensed

1365-692: Was later billed as "Elvis Presley and the Blue Moon Boys." Over the next 15 months, the trio released five singles, toured across the South, and appeared regularly on the Louisiana Hayride . They had auditioned for the Grand Ole Opry in October 1954, but they failed to impress the people in charge, or the audience, and were not invited back. In 1955, Black went to RCA Victor along with Presley and Moore when Presley's contract

1404-676: Was replaced by brother Henry. Originating in Alabama , but gaining success after the Maddox family relocated to California during the Great Depression , the group were among the earliest "hillbilly music" stars to emerge from the West Coast . The group disbanded in 1956, with Rose Maddox embarking on a solo career. The family hailed from Boaz, Alabama , United States, but rode the rails and hitch-hiked to California in 1933 when

1443-477: Was sold to that company. Except for the RCA reissue of "Mystery Train" and "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" ("with Scotty and Bill"), they were no longer credited on record labels. Black played on early Presley recordings including "Good Rockin' Tonight", " Heartbreak Hotel ", "Baby Let's Play House", " Mystery Train ", " That's All Right ", and " Hound Dog ", and eventually became one of the first bass players to use

1482-569: Was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Lee in Virginia . While in the Army, he met Evelyn, who played guitar as a member of a musical family. They married in 1946 and returned to Memphis. Black worked at the Firestone plant. He began playing the upright double bass , modeling his " slap bass " technique after one of his idols, Fred Maddox, of Maddox Brothers and Rose . Black also developed

1521-529: Was the Shylo Band, featuring guitarist/songwriter Ronnie Scaife, nephew of Cecil Scaife, famed Sun Studio engineer. Early in 1963, Black sent from two to five different versions of the Combo to different regions of the country at the same time, while staying off the road himself, wanting to concentrate on his business, family and his health. In 1963, Bob Tucker joined Bill Black's Combo as a road manager and guitar/bass player. Black himself had been ill for

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