by Tony Trout » Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:46 pm
Being a guitarist, drummer, pianist, bassist, singer I love almost all kinds of music.
First off, I'm a HUGE Elvis Presley fan so his original lineup of musicians which included Scotty Moore (lead guitar); D.J. Fontana (Drums) & the late Bill Black are tops for the early days of rock and roll.
I'm also a big fan of his TCB Band which included:
James Burton: Lead guitarist who also worked with Ricky Nelson among hundreds others
John Wilkinson: Rhythm guitarist who was also signed to RCA at the same time Elvis was.
Ronnie Tutt: Drums. (I also like guys such as Dave Weckle, Mitch Mitchell, Gene Pello, etc.)
Jerry Scheff: Bass (Jerry also played on The Doors 1971 album, "L.A. Woman"). Jerry left the band to get himself cleaned up from substance abuse in February, 1973 but finally returned (thank, God!) in April, 1975. However, by then things music wise had literally been on "autopilot" for at least two years and would stay that way for the rest of Elvis's touring years until he died on August 16, 1977).
Glen D. Hardin: Arguably the best pianist Elvis had for his TCB Band in the 1970s.
Floyd Cramer: Greatest pianist in country music history!
Eric Clapton: "Cocaine"; "Layla"; "Tears In Heaven"...many others....need I say more?
Jimi Hendrix: "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" AWESOME!
Clarence White: Acoustic bluegrass and electric guitarist with the Byrds. His electric guitar is now owned and played nightly by Marty Stuart who I had the opportunity to open two shows for with a band I work with on July 17, 2008. I also was able to strap "Clarence" around my neck and play it - AWESOME! It's a HEAVY guitar, though, because it has the prototype B-bender inside of it, hence the extra-thick body.
Marty Stuart: Literally, a walking encyclopedia of country music history and preservation!
Jimmy Olander of country group "Diamond Rio"
The late Danny Gatton - what a loss to the guitar world!!
Roy Buchanan - Another huge loss to the music and guitar world!!!
Chet Atkins: The best of the best!!!
Brent Mason
Brad Paisley
Neil Peart - Drummer with RUSH!! I first saw him play recently on a YT video on Letterman and was blown away by how great he is!!
Lynyrd Skynyrd - the original band from 1970-1973!! I can't stand the "tribute band" even though Gary Ro$$ington is the only member of the original band alive.
Jim Croce - amazing singer/poet/guitarist who tragically died in a plane crash in September, 1973.
Gram Parsons: A great singer with a taste for drugs that led to his untimely death on September 21, 1973.
That's all I can think of for now as my favorites.....