CONCERT MUSICIANS 1969 - 1977 1 / 3

CONCERT MUSICIANS 1969 - 1977

LAS VEGAS SEASON 1, JULY/AUGUST'69

James Burton lead guitar
James was asked by Elvis to pick members for a rock band. Burton was not only a well-known studio musician, but with his special pure playing-style he was highly acclaimed anda trend- setter in country music.

LAS VEGAS SEASON 2, Jan. /Feb. / 1970

James Burton lead guitar, John wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff, bass Bob Lanning drums, Glen Hardin, piano (had played in the Buddy Holly's group "The Crickets"), Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Vocal groups: The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations. Millie Kirkham high voice singer. Bobby Morris conducted The Bobby Morris Orchestra Comedian: Sammy Shore

John wilkinson rhythm guitar,

Was originally a vocalist. He was relatively little known as a guitarist and studio musician for RCA

HOUSTON ASTRODOME FEBRUARY / MARCH 1970

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Bob Lanning drums, Glen Hardin piano (also played for Buddy Holly's group "The Crickets"), Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Vocal groups: The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations. Millie Kirkham High voice singer Neither the orchestra nor the comedian took part in these concerts.

Jerry Scheff Fender bass
Was a well-established and frequently-used studio musician, wellknown for his bass playing on records by Doors/Jim Morrison, amongst others

LAS VEGAS SEASON 3, AUGUSTUS / SEPTEMBER 1970

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations. (Ann Williams had replaced Emily Houston). Millie Kirkham High voice singer. She sang high voice in the first half of this season, Kathy Westmoreland the last half. Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Sammy Shore

Ronny Tutt drums, Was a busy studio musician, later often referred to
as the World's best rock drummer.

TOUR 1, SEPTEMBER 1970

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland high voice singer, The Hugh Jarrett Singers (Jarrett was a member of the Jordanaires in the 50's), The Sweet Inspirations. Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Sammy Shore

Larry Muhoberac, piano,electric piano and organ
Was often used as a studio musician, and had played in Elvis' soundtracks.

TOUR 2, NOVEMBER 1970

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Sammy Shore

Charly hodge acoustic guitar, backup singer,
friend of Elvis.

LAS VEGAS SEASON 4, JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1971

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Sammy Shore

The Impirials, male backup group.
Jake Hess, Jim Murray, Garry McSpadden, Armond Morales Backed Elvis on the album "How Great Thou Art", amongst others.

LAKE TAHOE SEASON 1, JULY / AUGUST 1971

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar,
Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano,
Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland
high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted the 23 piece Al Tronti Orchestra. Comedian: Nipsey Russel

The Sweet Inspirations, female backup group.
Emily Houston, (Whitney's mother), Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Estelle BrownThe Sweet Inspirations had recently been Aretha Franklins backup group, and also backed a number of soul hits.

LAS VEGAS SEASON 5, AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 1971

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar,
Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano,
Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland
high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Bob Melvin

Millie Kirkham, High voice singer
The first woman in an Elvis recording session, 5th - 7th September 1957. Took part in a serie of Elvis' sessions up to March 1975.

TOUR 3, NOVEMBER 1971

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations J. D. Summer and the Stamps Quartet: Donnie Summer, Bill Baize, Ed Enoch, Richard Sterban (Ed Wildeman). J. D. Summer was a member of the gospel quartet The Black Brothers, Originally from Ackerman Mississippi. The gtoup's original members had formed the quartet way back in 1939. Elvis himself had once been asked to join the group's junior section, Songfellows, but had declined because he had just started recording for Sun Records. Joe Guerico conducted the orchestra which, though it had not been Guerico's Orchestra. This time, however, the orchestra was presented as The Tony Bruno Orchestra. Comedian: Jackie Kahane

Kathy Westmoreland, High voice singer

LAS VEGAS SEASON 6,JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1972

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland
high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations J. D. Summer and the Stamps Quartet. The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Jackie Kahane

Bobby Morris
Conducted a 30-strong orchestra with wind and string sections.

TOUR 4, APRIL 1972

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations J. D. Summer and the Stamps Quartet. The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted The Tony Bruno Orchestra. Comedian: Jackie Kahane

Sammy Shore, Comedian.

TOUR 5, JUNE 1972

James Burton lead guitar, John Wilkinson rhythm guitar, Jerry Scheff bass, Ronnie Tutt drums, Glen Hardin piano, Charlie Hodges acoustic guitar/backup singer. Kathy Westmoreland high voice singer, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations Joe Guercio conducted The Joe Guercio Orchestra. Comedian: Jackie Kahane

Today's (2007) The Concerts Crew 'The Sweet Inspiration and the TCB Band'