If you want to know what Elvis Presley was really like, ask the musicians who stood on stage with him.
Most people know him as the King of Rock and Roll, but when his close friends and band members talk about those Las Vegas years, they tell a totally different story. To them, Elvis was a funny, nervous, and wildly talented friend who loved making music more than being famous.
His bass player, Jerry Scheff, remembered how Elvis acted right before walking out on stage. His legs would shake, and his fingers would tap nonstop against his knees. He wasn’t scared; he was vibrating with energy. On stage, he didn’t even use a written setlist. Elvis led the band with his eyes, his hands, and sharp karate moves. Drummer Ronnie Tutt actually studied karate so that he could guess what Elvis was going to do next! If Elvis felt like singing a random song, the band had to catch on instantly.
Elvis’ opening night at the International Hotel in 1970. He was so nervous.
Offstage, his friends saw how ridiculously generous he was. On his very first night in Vegas, Elvis took a real ring off his finger and gave it to singer Sammy Davis Jr. After doing two hard shows in one night, Elvis wouldn’t just go to sleep. He would bring his band upstairs to sing old gospel songs until six in the morning. Famous singer Mama Cass Elliot once sat in his room and started crying while listening to him sing “Amazing Grace.” He also loved playing practical jokes, like bringing a silly toy laugh box on stage or singing “Happy Birthday” to his guitarist when it wasn’t his birthday.
68 Singer Special (Comeback Special) Behind The Scenes
One of the funniest stories comes from his friend Jerry Schilling. After having a couple of polite drinks downstairs in the casino, Elvis and Jerry hopped into a taxi outside and asked to go to the Hilton—having no idea they were already standing inside it! They laughed about it the whole way back up to the elevator.
After a while, staying in Vegas got exhausting. His friends said they would go over a month without ever seeing the sun. His health got bad near the end, but his bandmates always said his voice was still amazing. He could sit at a piano and sing his heart out until the very end. When the people who knew him look back now, they don’t just think about how famous he was. They just remember a cool, funny guy who loved his friends and loved to sing.