Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore dies aged 84

Moore made Keith Richards become a guitarist

Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore has died at his home in Nashville. He was 84.

Moore was teamed up with Presley by Sam Phillips, boss of the singer’s record label Sun, and played guitar on Presley’s first single ‘That’s All Right (Mama)’ in 1954.

Alongside bassist Bill Black and drummer DJ Fontana, their backing band The Blue Moon Boys played on a string of Presley classics including ‘Jailhouse Rock’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Mystery Train’ and ‘Hound Dog’.

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After appearing in four of Presley’s films including Jailhouse Rock and GI Blues, Moore was fired by Philips in 1964 for breaking his contract by releasing a solo album, ‘The Guitar That Changed The World’.

Moore was reunited with Presley in 1968 for the singer’s influential TV show ’68 Comeback Special, which saw Moore and Presley play the guitarist’s trademark Gibson Super 400 guitar.

As well as Presley, Moore played guitar for Carl Perkins, Jeff Beck, Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood.

Keith Richards said Moore made him want him to be a guitarist. He said: “When I heard ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, I knew what I wanted to do in life. It was as plain as day. All I wanted to do in life was to be able to play and sound like that. Everyone else wanted to be Elvis, but I wanted to be Scotty.”

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In 2000, Moore was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

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