Chapter 21 - The Jordanaires - Orpheum Theater, Galesburg, IL April 2, 2008

As of right now, this is the highlight of my musical career.

When Elvis was a rising young star, he got paired up with a vocal group
The Jordanaires. Here is a clip from their website http://www.jordanaires.net



One Sunday afternoon, in 1955, the Jordanaires played a show in Memphis with Eddy Arnold. They had just completed the "Eddy Arnold Show" for TV. When the show was over a young man, quiet and courteous with plenty of combed-back hair, came backstage to meet them. He was Elvis Presley, a young, practically unheard of singer, just getting his start in the area. There were a few polite exchanges, then Elvis said, "If I ever get a recording contract with a major company, I want you guys to back me up." He was on "Sun" at that time. Thinking back to that night, The Jordanaires' first tenor, Gordon Stoker, remembers wishing Elvis well, "But we never expected to hear from him again," he said. "People were always coming up and saying that. We're still told that."
Sure enough!! Elvis recorded his first session with RCA on January 10, 1956, with Scotty, Bill, and, D. J. That day, "I Got A Woman", "Heartbreak Hotel", and, "Money Honey" were recorded. On January 11, 1956, Gordon Stoker was called by Chet Atkins to do a session with a "new-probably-wouldn't-be-around-long kid, named Elvis Presley"---oily hair, pink shirt, black trousers. RCA had, also, just signed "The Speer Family". Chet asked Gordon to sing with Ben and Brock Speer so he could use them. On that day, "I'm Counting On You" and "I Was The One" made history by being the first recording session that Elvis did with vocal background. By April 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel" was No. 1 on the charts. After having done several more recording sessions in New York with Scotty, Bill and D. J., Elvis flew to Nashville on April 14, 1956, to record "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You". Gordon was called, again, to sing a vocal trio with Ben and Brock. After the session, Elvis took Gordon aside and told him (not knowing, at the time, why all the Jordanaires were not there) that he wanted "the" Jordanaires on all his future recording sessions. This time, Stoker saw to it that it was known - and - true to his word - Elvis used the Jordanaires on nearly every one of his recording sessions for the next 14 years. At a time when no backing musicians, producers, or engineers received a name recognition on any records, Elvis insisted that he have the "Jordanaires" on the "labels" of his records.

These guys were with Elvis during his rise to fame. And on April 2, 2008, in The Orpheum Theater in Galesburg, IL, I got to play a show with them.

Here is our Elvis - Al Hull, looking out at the crowd.





We had our normal show opening, and played for about 30 to 45 minutes. Then, we left the stage as Dan O'Brien (local Radio Talent and Sirius Radio Host) introduced The Jordanaires. They had sang four or five songs over the top of some backing tracks they had.




Then we came back out and jammed with them. We did "Teddy Bear", "Don't Be Cruel", "Suspicious Minds", "A Hunk of Burnin' Love" and many other hits.



These guys were on Elvis' original recordings. They played live shows with the King. And here I was, a white boy from Illinois, jamming with them. They joked with Al and told stories. It was a really fun and powerful evening.










Here are some shots I took before the show.



This is the Orpheum Theater, in Downtown Galesburg, IL



Here is the fancy ballroom. What a great place to put on a show!!








Bruce is reflecting on Life...




Sound Check





Dad and Elvis

Chapter 20 - The Isle Of Capri - Bettendorf, Iowa Jan 18, 19, 20th 2008

The Isle Of Capri - Bettendorf, Iowa

In January 2008, we traveled by Bus and Explorer to Bettendorf, Iowa, where we played five shows in three days at the Isle Of Capri Casino. Here's what the fancy Hotel lobby looks like


And here's what a keyboardist looks like after two shows and three Blue Moons.




There is a fancy restaurant in the hotel, as well as what used to be a comedy club. You walk into a bar that has a ticket booth in it, and a door leading into the room with the stage, where we set up



Not only were these shows fun, the hotel was first class. They really treated us well, and we hope we can return real soon.

2007

Well folks, sorry I have not kept up with my blog. I enjoyed taking care of it when I started. Then there was a spell where we had no shows, and hence no blogging of the shows. Silly me, once the shows picked up, my blogging did not. I have lost my blogging way.





Again folks, sorry for the inconvience.





2007 held some good shows for the band. Each of them deserves their own post, however, seeing that it is halfway through 2008, I am going to downsize. We played at the Lincoln Square Theater in Decatur, IL. In Rock Island's downtown district we split the bill with The Rat Pack and Neil Diamond. We played at the Prime Beef Festival in Monmouth. Our first ever Elvis Gospel Show was at Galesburg High School in October.



We had a special Elvis Christmas show at Legends. We have played at some really cool places, but Legend's is like our home turf. The show there are always more comfortable than anywhere else. I guess it's like that until you headline in Vegas.

The next six pictures are of the Lincoln Theater in Decatur, IL. It's such a beautiful place, you can't help but want to take pictures of it!


This is the Lincoln Square Theater in Deactur, Il.






They were auctioning off this Mustang for charity.




This is what the theater looks like from the stage. They had just opened the doors, in a few minutes that theater was PACKED with people. It's hard not to get excited when you look out at all those seats. Now imagine what it feels like to walk out on stage and there's a person sitting in each of these seats.



I tried to capture how cool the ceiling above the seats looks.



Here is the stage at the Lincoln Theater. I love these old Theaters. They hold this immense feeling that some great entertainment has taken place there over the years.



In Rock Island's downtown district we split the bill with The Rat Pack and Neil Diamond.



In Downtown Rock Island, a place they call The District, is a really cool place. They took this six block section of downtown, and permanately closed off the roads. There are park benches where there were stoplights, and local artist's murals on the street where there was once only pavement. There are all sorts of bars, restaurants, food vendors and even two of Chicago's best known bluesmen, Jake and Elwood Blues



The first stage act was The Rat Pack. These guys were a riot. They were drinking and smoking on stage, just being out of control all around. It was a lot of fun.



Again, I'm sorry but I don't have any picutures of our show, but it was just starting to get dark, a pretty large crowd showed up, and we rocked the house!!



Here is the Neil Diamond Impersonator from Las Vegas. Him and his band were great.





We played at the Prime Beef Festival in Monmouth. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of that show.

Our first ever Elvis Gospel Show was at Galesburg High School in October.