The TCB Band is a group of musicians who formed the

rhythm section A rhythm section is a group of musicians within a music ensemble or band that provides the underlying rhythm, harmony and pulse of the accompaniment, providing a rhythmic and harmonic reference and "beat" for the rest of the band. The rhythm ...

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

's band from August 1969 until his death in 1977 (depending on the context, the nickname may also extend to Presley's background vocalists during that same period:

the Imperials The Imperials is an American contemporary Christian music group that has been active for over 60 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There ...

the Sweet Inspirations The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group from Newark, New Jersey, founded by Cissy Houston who are mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists but who are also a Grammy-nominat ...

, and JD Sumner and The Stamps Quartet). The initials TCB stand for Taking Care of Business, a personal

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

Presley adopted in the early 1970s. Although personnel changed over the years, the original members were

James Burton James Edward Burton (born August 21, 1939, in Dubberly, Louisiana, United States) is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 (his induction speech was given by longtime fan Keith Richards), Burton has also ...

(lead guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar),

Larry Muhoberac Lawrence Gordon Muhoberac, Jr. (February 12, 1937 – December 4, 2016) was an American musician, record producer, and composer who was also known under pseudonyms "Larry Owens" and "Larry Gordon". Career in America Muhoberac is widely known a ...

(keyboards) and Ron Tutt (drums). They first appeared live at Presley's first

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

performance at what was then known as the International Hotel (later the Las Vegas Hilton, now Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino) on July 31, 1969.

History

When planning his return to live performing after his successful 1968

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

television comeback, Presley had to replace original band members

Scotty Moore Winfield Scott Moore III (December 27, 1931 – June 28, 2016) was an American guitarist who formed The Blue Moon Boys in 1954, Elvis Presley's backing band. He was studio and touring guitarist for Presley between 1954 and 1968. Rock critic ...

, D.J. Fontana (who had returned to session work) and

Bill Black William Patton Black Jr. (September 17, 1926 – October 21, 1965) was an American musician and bandleader who is noted as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. He played in Elvis Presley's early trio, The Blue Moon Boys. Black later formed Bill ...

who had formed the Bill Black Combo before his death in 1965. Presley's first call was to guitarist James Burton, who was from

Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician and actor. From age eight, he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. In 1957, he began a ...

's band and a session musician in Nashville and Los Angeles, whom he asked to help form the group after knowing about him for many years and seeing him on television. After keyboardist Glen D. Hardin declined Burton's offer to join the group,

, who had played on several of Presley's

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

soundtrack A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television show, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of m ...

sessions, accepted his offer to perform. Burton later added Jerry Scheff on bass and John Wilkinson on rhythm guitar. Muhoberac suggested Ron Tutt for the drums to round out the section. By February 1970, Glen D. Hardin joined on keyboards, replacing Muhoberac who returned to studio work in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. (According to Hardin, Muhoberac, "for reasons of his own, didn't want to go on the road anymore.") At that time Bob Lanning, a Los Angeles session drummer joined on drums, briefly replacing Tutt, who had returned by July. In 1975, Burton, Tutt and Muhoberac backed

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...

on his album, '' John R. Cash''. Before Presley's death in 1977, several current and former members from the TCB Band, initially simultaneously, went on to form the core of

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, and activist. She is considered one of the leading music artists behind the country rock genre in the 1970s and the Americana (music), Americana genre ...

's Hot Band and later

John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American Country music, country and Folk music, folk singer, songwriter, and actor. He was one of the most popular acoustic m ...

's band. These musicians included James Burton, Glen D. Hardin, Emory Gordy Jr., and Jerry Scheff. Burton left the Hot Band in early 1976 to focus fully on his work with Presley and the TCB Band, and he was replaced in the Hot Band by English guitarist

Albert Lee Albert William Lee (born 21 December 1943) is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres. He has also m ...

. (Scheff was never a member of the Hot Band.) Hardin left the TCB Band in early 1976 to work full-time with Emmylou Harris, and he was replaced by Tony Brown. Larrie Londin, a Nashville session drummer who recorded and occasionally toured with Presley over a nine-year period, filled in for Tutt on occasion during 1976 and 1977 performances.

Tours with other musicians: After the TCB Band disbanded

Before Presley's death in 1977, several former members from the TCB Band went on to form Emmylou Harris'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 English guitarist

. Scheff was never a member of the Hot Band. Gordy left John Denver's band in 1980 (before rejoining briefly in 1989) and was replaced by Scheff. Burton, Hardin, and Scheff remained in John Denver's band until early 1994. After drumming a few years with the Jerry Garcia Band before Presley's death, Ron Tutt was invited by

Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling musicians of all time. He has written and ...

to become Diamond's permanent concert and recording session drummer. Tutt's drumming has since become a feature to Diamond's concert shows, punctuating moments in the Diamond concert with his TCB Band style drum fills and cymbal crashes. Tutt is a workman celebrity drummer, and routinely receives concert crowd ovations when he appears and takes his seat at his drum kit. Noteworthy during concerts is Tutt's soaring drum work on the song, " Holly Holy". Tutt recorded and toured with Diamond until Diamond's retirement from touring after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Tutt also appears on several of recordings by

Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer, actress, film producer and author. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato) and is known for her 1965 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walki ...

Reunions (1979, 1981, 1987, 1997–present)

The TCB Band reunited with a new lineup to record their own album in 1979 of covers of Elvis Presley songs as a tribute. They also reunited in 1981 as the backing band for

Tony Sheridan Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity (21 May 1940 – 16 February 2013), known professionally as Tony Sheridan, was an English rock and roll guitarist who spent much of his adult life in Germany. He was best known as an early collaborator of th ...

, augmented by

Klaus Voormann Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann (born 29 April 1938) is a German graphic artist, artist, musician, and record producer. Voormann was the bassist for Manfred Mann from 1966 to 1969, and performed as a session musician on a host of recordings, includ ...

and again mostly featuring Sheridan's recordings of Elvis Presley songs. In July 1987, Burton, Hardin, Tutt, and Scheff reunited to participate in a British television special (''Love Me Tender: A Tribute to the Music of Elvis Presley'') featuring many British and American musicians, some of whom were Presley's contemporaries; the TCB Band backed

Roger Daltrey Sir Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of the Rock music, rock band the Who, known for his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence. His stage persona ear ...

The Who The Who are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Considered one of th ...

for performances of "Mystery Train" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", and Daltrey and the TCB Band joined

Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...

for a performance of "Blue Suede Shoes". The special aired in August 1987. In September 1987, Burton, Scheff (who played

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

instead of electric bass), Hardin, and Tutt reunited again to serve as the core of the backing band for Presley's contemporary

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his distinctive and powerful voice, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Orbison's most successful periods were ...

for his TV special and live album titled '' Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night''. Burton, Hardin, Scheff, and Tutt reunited again in 1997 to perform '' Elvis: The Concert'', with John Wilkinson rejoining for the 25th anniversary concert in Memphis. Since then, Burton, Hardin, Tutt and Scheff have toured frequently together in various formats, including the ''Elvis: The Concert'' tours and special ''Elvis: The Concert'' shows during the annual Elvis Week festival organized by EPE and Graceland. They have also often backing UK-based singer Jenson Bloomer and Austrian singer Dennis Jale and his band, mostly playing music from Elvis Presley's catalogue. They have also backed Greg Page of

the Wiggles The Wiggles are an Australian children's music group formed in Sydney in 1991. As of 2022, the group members are Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce (entertainer), John Pearce, Caterina Mete ...

for two solo albums and some live concerts. However, after the 30th anniversary concert in 2007, Scheff departed the band and was replaced on tour by Norbert Putnam and

Nathan East Nathan Harrell East (born December 8, 1955) is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass guitarist and vocalist. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music. East holds a Bachelor of Arts ...

. Wilkinson died on January 11, 2013, from cancer, at the age of 67. Putnam and East departed the band in 2013. The TCB Band currently continues to tour backing Dennis Jale and his band. In 2019, for the first time since 2014, the TCB Band performed a new Elvis: The Concert-style show, alongside the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, England. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable recording contracts and important engagemen ...

, combining elements from the 2016-2018 Presley/Philharmonic tours with the old 1997-2014 TCB Band tours; however, no further tours with the TCB Band members were booked after this point. Despite this, the TCB Band (Burton, Hardin, and Tutt) performed at the ''Elvis: The Concert'' show that year during Elvis Week, alongside "other veterans" of Elvis Presley's 1970s-era touring group. The most recent TCB Band performance took place in August 2022, as part of Elvis Week 2022, when Scheff reunited with Hardin, with both performing at two events: "All the King's Men", a jam session and storytelling event (which also featured drummer Gene Chrisman of the Memphis Boys, who had recorded with Elvis Presley in 1969), and a virtual ''Elvis: The Concert''-style (titled ''Elvis Presley In Concert'') show that closes the week's festivities annually. (The second event also included Terry Blackwood, formerly of

The Imperials The Imperials is an American contemporary Christian music group that has been active for over 60 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There ...

, and Larry Strickland, formerly of J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet.) Hardin and Scheff also spoke at the "Conversations on Elvis" event about their time working with Elvis. Burton was due to join them for all three events but was sidelined due to health issues, including testing positive for the coronavirus shortly before the event.

Members

Current

— lead guitar (1969–1977, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1997–present); vocals (1979) * Glen D. Hardin — piano, keyboards (1970–1976, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1997–present)

Former

* John Wilkinson — rhythm guitar (1969–1977, August 16, 2002; died 2013) * Jerry Scheff — bass,

(1969–1973, 1975–1977, 1979, 1987, 1997–2011, 2022) *

— keyboards, piano,

electric piano An electric piano is a musical instrument that has a piano-style musical keyboard, where sound is produced by means of mechanical hammers striking metal strings or reeds or wire tines, which leads to vibrations which are then converted into ele ...

(1969; died 2016) * Ronnie Tutt — drums (1969–1977, 1979, 1981, 1987, 1997–2021); vocals (1979) (died 2021) * Bob Lanning — drums (1970) * Eddie Graham — percussion (1970–1971) * Jerome 'Stump' Monroe — drums (1971, 1975; June 24, 1977) * Emory Gordy Jr. – bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards (1973, 1979, 1981) * Duke Bardwell — bass (1974–1975) * David Briggs — electric piano,

clavinet The Clavinet is an electric clavichord invented by Ernst Zacharias and manufactured by the Hohner company of Trossingen, West Germany, from 1964 to 1982. The instrument produces sounds with rubber pads, each matching one of the keys and respond ...

, piano (1975–1977; died 2025) * Shane Keister — piano,

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer ( ) is a modular synthesizer invented by the American engineer Robert Moog in 1964. Moog's company, R. A. Moog Co., produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 2014. It was the first commercial synthesizer ...

(1976) * Tony Brown — piano, organ (1976–1977) * Larrie Londin — drums (March 1976, June 25–26, 1977; died 1992) * Bobby Ogdin — electric piano, clavinet, piano (1977) * Tony Smith — rhythm guitar (1997–2007) * Norbert Putnam — bass (2009–2013)

Recurring guests

— bass (2009–2013) * Paul Leim – drums (2021-present; occasional substitute for or second drummer alongside Ronnie Tutt, 1997-2012)

Timeline

ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:0 right:50 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/07/1969 till:01/06/2024 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:lead value:green legend:Lead_guitar id:guitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:percussion value:claret legend:Percussion id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album Legend = position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1970 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1970 BarData = bar:James text:"James Burton" bar:John text:"John Wilkinson" bar:TonyS text:"Tony Smith" bar:Larry text:"Larry Muhoberac" bar:Glen text:"Glen D. Hardin" bar:David text:"David Briggs" bar:Tony text:"Tony Brown" bar:Bobby text:"Bobby Ogdin" bar:Jerry text:"Jerry Scheff" bar:Emory text:"Emory Gordy, Jr." bar:Duke text:"Duke Bardwell" bar:Norbert text:"Norbert Putnam" bar:Nathan text:"Nathan East" bar:Ronnie text:"Ronnie Tutt" bar:Bob text:"Bob Lanning" bar:Stump text:"Jerome Monroe" bar:Larrie text:"Larrie Londin" bar:PaulLeim text:"Paul Leim" bar:Eddie text:"Eddie Graham" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:James from:01/07/1969 till:16/08/1977 color:lead bar:James from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:lead bar:James from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1982 color:lead bar:James from:01/01/1987 till:01/12/1987 color:lead bar:James from:01/01/1997 till:end color:lead bar:James from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:vocals width:3 bar:John from:01/07/1969 till:16/08/1977 color:guitar bar:John from:01/07/2002 till:16/08/2002 color:guitar bar:Larry from:01/07/1969 till:01/01/1970 color:keys bar:Jerry from:01/07/1969 till:01/03/1973 color:bass bar:Jerry from:01/06/1975 till:16/08/1977 color:bass bar:Jerry from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:bass bar:Jerry from:01/01/1987 till:01/12/1987 color:bass bar:Jerry from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2010 color:bass bar:Jerry from:01/08/2022 till:17/08/2022 color:bass bar:Glen from:01/01/1970 till:01/03/1976 color:keys bar:Glen from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:keys bar:Glen from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1982 color:keys bar:Emory from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1982 color:bass bar:Glen from:01/01/1987 till:01/12/1987 color:keys bar:Glen from:01/01/1997 till:end color:keys bar:Emory from:01/03/1973 till:01/10/1973 color:bass bar:Emory from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:guitar bar:Emory from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:guitar bar:Emory from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:keys width:3 bar:Duke from:01/01/1974 till:01/05/1975 color:bass bar:Tony from:17/03/1976 till:16/08/1977 color:keys bar:Eddie from:01/01/1970 till:01/01/1971 color:percussion bar:Ronnie from:01/07/1969 till:01/01/1970 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/06/1970 till:16/08/1977 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1982 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/01/1987 till:01/12/1987 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/01/1997 till:17/10/2021 color:drums bar:Ronnie from:01/01/1979 till:01/01/1980 color:vocals width:3 bar:Bob from:01/01/1970 till:01/06/1970 color:drums bar:TonyS from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2008 color:guitar bar:Stump from:24/06/1977 till:24/06/1977 color:drums bar:Stump from:08/11/1971 till:08/11/1971 color:drums bar:Stump from:07/12/1975 till:07/12/1975 color:drums bar:Larrie from:25/06/1977 till:26/06/1977 color:drums bar:Larrie from:17/03/1976 till:22/03/1976 color:drums bar:David from:01/03/1975 till:01/03/1977 color:keys bar:Bobby from:01/03/1977 till:16/08/1977 color:keys bar:Norbert from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2014 color:bass bar:Nathan from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2014 color:bass bar:PaulLeim from:01/01/1997 till:31/12/2012 color:drums width:3 bar:PaulLeim from:01/01/2021 till:end color:drums width:3

Discography

Studio album

* ''The TCB Band'' (recorded in 1978, but never released until it was leaked on sale) # " Mystery Train" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # " Hound Dog" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # " That's Alright Mama" (James on lead vocals) # " Jailhouse Rock" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # " Suspicious Minds" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # " Burnin' Love" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # " Love Me" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # " Little Sister" (Ronnie on lead vocals) # "

Heartbreak Hotel "Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. It was written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, with credit being g ...

" (James on lead vocals) # " Falling In Love with You" (Ronnie on lead vocals)

With Elvis Presley

Several members of the band also contributed to some of Presley's soundtracks and studio albums during his lifetime. * '' From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis'' (1969) lvis In Person at the International Hotel* '' On Stage'' (1970) * '' That's the Way It Is'' (1970) * '' As Recorded at Madison Square Garden'' (1972) * ''

Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite ''Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite'' is a concert starring Elvis Presley that took place at the Honolulu International Center and was broadcast live via satellite to audiences in Asia and Oceania on January 14, 1973. The show was presented ...

'' (1973) * '' Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis'' (1974) * ''

Today Today (archaically to-day) may refer to: * The current day and calendar date ** Today is between and , subject to the local time zone * Now, the time that is perceived directly, present * The current, present era Arts, entertainment and m ...

'' (1975) * '' From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee'' (1976) * '' Moody Blue'' (1977) * ''

Elvis In Concert '' ''Elvis In Concert'' is a Death, posthumous 1977 television special starring Elvis Presley. It was Presley's third and final TV special, following ''Elvis'' (a.k.a. ''The Elvis (1968 TV program), '68 Comeback Special'') and ''Aloha from Hawai ...

'' (1977) * ''Elvis Aron Presley'' (box set) (1980) * ''The Alternate Aloha'' (1988) * '' An Afternoon in the Garden'' (1997) * ''Live 1969'' (box set) (2019) * ''Elvis on Tour'' (box set) (2022/2023)

With others

Members of the band have also worked in various configurations with other musicians not listed below. * ''Tony Sheridan and The Elvis Presley TCB Band'' (with

, 1981) * "Sedona" (with Donna Loren, 1982) * '' A Black and White Night Live'' (with Roy Orbison and Friends, 1989) * ''One Night of Sin'' (with Big Fat Snake and

The Sweet Inspirations The Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group from Newark, New Jersey, founded by Cissy Houston who are mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other R&B and rock artists but who are also a Grammy-nominat ...

, 2003) * ''Taking Care of Country'' (with Greg Page, 2005) * ''Aloha from Sweden'' (with Maarten Jensen and The Sweet Inspirations, 2006) * ''Nashville'' (with Dennis Jale, 2010) * ''Let It Be Me'' (with Greg Page, 2012) * ''Live at the Metropol'' (with Dennis Jale and Terry Blackwood's Imperials, 2019) * " What's Going On" (with Dennis Jale and Friends, 2022)

References

External links

Official TCB Band Fan Club
* {{Authority control 1969 establishments in the United States 1977 disestablishments in the United States American rock music groups American pop music groups Elvis Presley Musical groups established in 1969 Musical groups disestablished in 1977 Musical groups reestablished in 1997