William Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21st, 1965).
Elvis Presley's bassist.('slapped/rockabilly' upright double)
Born in Memphis, Tennesse, Bill recorded "That's all right"with Elvis and Scotty in a Sun Records Studio session in Memphis. That is considered a seminal event in the history of Rock N Roll.
Elvis Presley's bassist.('slapped/rockabilly' upright double)
Born in Memphis, Tennesse, Bill recorded "That's all right"with Elvis and Scotty in a Sun Records Studio session in Memphis. That is considered a seminal event in the history of Rock N Roll.
Bill Black became one of the first bass players to use the Fender Precision Bass Guitar in the late 1950s.
Bill, Scotty, Elvis and drummer D.J. Fontana toured extensively during Presley's early career.
Bill was an extrovert and often "clowned" and did comedy during the shows. He and Elvis had a couple of comedy routines together that they would slip into the show from time to time. Bill's on stage personality was a big contrast to the introverted stage presence of Scotty Moore. This balance seemed to be the perfect fit for the Elvis performances.
Elvis' unusual and very active stage presence was not always easily accepted in the 50's. Bill's comedic personality would often relax the audience and win them over to their side.
Black worked with Elvis until 1958, leaving his band in large part due to disputes over financial terms.
Although guitarist Scotty Moore would eventually work with Elvis again, Bill never did, joining a Memphis group that evolved into Bill Black's Combo in 1959. Their instrumental "Smokie," released late that year, made the Top Ten.
Black died of a brain tumor in 1965 at the age of thirty-nine and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis.
Elvis received criticism for not attending his funeral; however Elvis believed that his presence would turn the funeral into a media frenzy. He decided instead to visit the family privately after the service to express his condolences.
Bill Black's bass is today owned by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney who received the bass as a birthday present from his late wife Linda McCartney in the late 70's. The bass can be seen in the video clip to McCartney's song "Baby's Request". In the documentary film "The world tonight" Paul McCartney can be seen playing the bass and singing his version of "Heartbreak Hotel".
source;http://wikipedia.org/
