TCB Band
Encyclopedia
The TCB Band was a group of professional musicians who formed the core rhythm section of Elvis Presley
’s band from August 1969 until his death in 1977. TCB stands for Taking Care of Business, a personal motto
Presley adopted in the early 1970s. Although personnel changed over the years, the original members were James Burton
(lead guitar), Jerry Scheff
(bass), John Wilkinson
(rhythm guitar) http://www.johnwilkinson.net/, Larry Muhoberac
(keyboards) and Ronnie Tutt (drums). They first appeared live at Presley’s Las Vegas, Nevada
first performance at the Hotel International on July 31, 1969.
television comeback, Presley had to replace original band members Scotty Moore
, D.J. Fontana (who had returned to session work) and Bill Black
who had gone on to stardom with the Bill Black Combo before passing away in 1965. Elvis’ first call was to Ricky Nelson
’s guitarist James Burton
whom he asked to help form the group after knowing about him for many years and seeing on television. Burton called keyboard man Glen D. Hardin
who declined. Then he called Larry Muhoberac who had played on several of Presley’s movie soundtrack
sessions and he accepted. Next he added Jerry Scheff on bass and John Wilkinson on rhythm. Muhoberac suggested Ronnie Tutt for the drums to round out the section. By February 1970, Glen D. Hardin joined on keyboards, eventually replacing Muhoberac who returned to studio work in Los Angeles
. TCB brought a new lease of life to Elvis's rock 'n' roll sound of the 50s which had started to sound dated. TCB tightened up the sound; Burton added more twang, clever riffs, fills, technical difficulty; Tutt with two bass drums added groove, fast high hat work, new rhythms to old songs; Scheff reinvented the bass lines making them move around more than Bill Black's lines; Hardin introduced piano solos and arranged all the music for the band.
's Hot Band
and The John Denver Band
. These musicians include James Burton
, Glen D. Hardin, Emory Gordy, Jr.
and Jerry Scheff
. Burton left the Hot Band in 1976 and was replaced by the guitarist Albert Lee
. Scheff was never a member of the Hot Band. Gordy left John Denver's band in 1980 (he re-joined the band and toured with John shortly in 1989) and was replaced by Scheff. Burton, Hardin and Scheff remained in John Denver's Band until early 1994, and was then replaced by Pete Huttlinger
, Chris Nole and Alan Deremo. Several members of the TCB band (Glen D. Hardin
on piano, James Burton
on lead guitar, Jerry Scheff
on bass, and Ronnie Tutt on drums) also played with Roy Orbison
in his 1987 live performance Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
. Ronnie Tutt was also the original drummer for the Jerry Garcia Band
, playing with them from August 1975 until August 1977.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
’s band from August 1969 until his death in 1977. TCB stands for Taking Care of Business, a personal motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
Presley adopted in the early 1970s. Although personnel changed over the years, the original members were James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
(lead guitar), Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
(bass), John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson
John Wilkinson may refer to:* John Wilkinson * John Wilkinson , British industrialist who suggested the use of iron for many roles where other materials had previously been used...
(rhythm guitar) http://www.johnwilkinson.net/, Larry Muhoberac
Larry Muhoberac
Larry Muhoberac is an American musician, producer and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon....
(keyboards) and Ronnie Tutt (drums). They first appeared live at Presley’s Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
first performance at the Hotel International on July 31, 1969.
History
When planning his return to live performing after his successful 1968 NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television comeback, Presley had to replace original band members Scotty Moore
Scotty Moore
Winfield Scott "Scotty" Moore III is an American guitarist. He is best known for his backing of Elvis Presley in the first part of his career, between 1954 and the beginning of Elvis' Hollywood years...
, D.J. Fontana (who had returned to session work) and Bill Black
Bill Black
William Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. was an American musician who is noted as one of the pioneers of rockabilly music. Black was the bassist in Elvis Presley's early trio and the leader of Bill Black's Combo....
who had gone on to stardom with the Bill Black Combo before passing away in 1965. Elvis’ first call was to Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
’s guitarist James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
whom he asked to help form the group after knowing about him for many years and seeing on television. Burton called keyboard man Glen D. Hardin
Glen Hardin
Glen D. Hardin is an American piano player, songwriter and arranger. He has performed and recorded with such notable artists as Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Ricky Nelson and many others.-Career:...
who declined. Then he called Larry Muhoberac who had played on several of Presley’s movie soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
sessions and he accepted. Next he added Jerry Scheff on bass and John Wilkinson on rhythm. Muhoberac suggested Ronnie Tutt for the drums to round out the section. By February 1970, Glen D. Hardin joined on keyboards, eventually replacing Muhoberac who returned to studio work in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. TCB brought a new lease of life to Elvis's rock 'n' roll sound of the 50s which had started to sound dated. TCB tightened up the sound; Burton added more twang, clever riffs, fills, technical difficulty; Tutt with two bass drums added groove, fast high hat work, new rhythms to old songs; Scheff reinvented the bass lines making them move around more than Bill Black's lines; Hardin introduced piano solos and arranged all the music for the band.
After death of Elvis Presley
After Presley's death in 1977, several former members from the TCB Band went to form Emmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
's Hot Band
The Hot Band
The Hot Band may refer to:* The backing band formed by American soul musician Sylvester James in 1973.* The backing band for Emmylou Harris from 1974 to 1991....
and The John Denver Band
The John Denver Band
The John Denver Band was a country-folk band active in the 1960s through the 1990s. Based out of Aspen, Colorado and led by guitarist-singer/songwriter John Denver, the band renditioned some of the most popular folk, country, rock and pop songs of the era.-History:The band met its demise after the...
. These musicians include James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
, Glen D. Hardin, Emory Gordy, Jr.
Emory Gordy, Jr.
Emory Gordy, Jr., born December 25, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, is an American musician and music producer. Since 1989, he has been married to country music artist Patty Loveless. Gordy was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1992...
and Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
. Burton left the Hot Band in 1976 and was replaced by the guitarist Albert Lee
Albert Lee
Albert William Lee, born 21 December 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England, is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with some of the most famous musicians which stretch through a very wide of genres...
. Scheff was never a member of the Hot Band. Gordy left John Denver's band in 1980 (he re-joined the band and toured with John shortly in 1989) and was replaced by Scheff. Burton, Hardin and Scheff remained in John Denver's Band until early 1994, and was then replaced by Pete Huttlinger
Pete Huttlinger
Pete Huttlinger is an American guitarist. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. He is a respected Nashville studio artist. In 2000, he won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. He has performed around the world with such artists as...
, Chris Nole and Alan Deremo. Several members of the TCB band (Glen D. Hardin
Glen Hardin
Glen D. Hardin is an American piano player, songwriter and arranger. He has performed and recorded with such notable artists as Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Ricky Nelson and many others.-Career:...
on piano, James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
on lead guitar, Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
on bass, and Ronnie Tutt on drums) also played with Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
in his 1987 live performance Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night
Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night is a 1988 Cinemax television special originally broadcast on January 3, 1988 starring Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Roy Orbison. The special was filmed entirely in black and white...
. Ronnie Tutt was also the original drummer for the Jerry Garcia Band
Jerry Garcia Band
The Jerry Garcia Band was a San Francisco Bay Area rock band led by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Garcia founded the band in 1975; it remained the most important of his various side-projects until his death in 1995...
, playing with them from August 1975 until August 1977.