Scotty Moore didn’t get the public recognition he deserved for his part in shaping young Elvis Presley’s distinctive style, but the truth is that Elvis owed him a lot and he let Scotty know it too.Moore was an innovative young guitarist with a stirring style, performing in early 1950s Memphis. He was playing with Doug Poindexter’s “Starlight Wranglers” when Sam Phillips called him and asked if he wanted to play with a new guy who had some talent but still had a lot of rough edges. Elvis met Scotty at his house with another musician named Bill Black and they played a few songs together. The following week they had a session at Sun Studios and during a break, they accidentally found the song that would turn the entire music world upside down in “That’s All Right, Mama”.Phillips was impressed and Elvis was on the way up. Elvis signed Scotty as his manager shortly thereafter, but being an agent and musician at the same time was more than Scotty could handle and the contract was canceled without a guilty conscience. For two more years, Elvis, Scotty and Bill toured the South as the “Blue Moon Boys”. When Colonel Parker took over Elvis’ management, it wasn’t long before they parted ways due to disagreements over fee issues.Both musicians continued to work for Elvis until Elvis was drafted into the army. Black then separated entirely in 1960, but Moore was still at Elvis’ side until disagreements finally forced him to end the collaboration in 1968. It was Moore’s powerful lead guitar and his bold and rousing riffs that made up a large part of the early “Elvis Presley Sound”.
