Scotty Moore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scotty Moore |
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Moore in 2000
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Winfield Scott Moore III |
| Born | December 27, 1931 Gadsden, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | June 28, 2016 (aged 84) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–2009 |
| Labels | Sun, RCA Victor |
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Winfield Scott Moore III (December 27, 1931 – June 28, 2016), known as Scotty Moore, was an American guitarist. He became famous as the guitarist for Elvis Presley. In 1954, he helped form The Blue Moon Boys, which was Elvis's first band. Scotty played guitar for Elvis both in the studio and on tours from 1954 to 1968.
Many people say Scotty Moore helped create the "power chord" in rock music. This was heard in the intro to Elvis's 1957 hit song, "Jailhouse Rock." Rolling Stone magazine ranked him 29th on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2011. He was also added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
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About Scotty Moore
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Winfield Scott Moore III was born near Gadsden, Tennessee. He was the youngest of four brothers. Scotty started learning to play the guitar when he was eight years old. He learned from his family and friends. Even though he was young, he joined the United States Navy. He served in China and Korea from 1948 to 1952.
Early Music Career
Scotty Moore's first music experiences were in jazz and country music. He really liked the guitarist Chet Atkins. Before meeting Elvis, Scotty led his own group called the Starlite Wranglers.
In 1954, Sam Phillips from Sun Records brought Scotty together with a young Elvis Presley. They were joined by bass player Bill Black. This trio soon recorded "That's All Right," which became Elvis's first hit song. This recording is seen as a very important moment in the history of rock and roll.
The band also recorded a bluegrass song called "Blue Moon of Kentucky." They used a special echo effect that Sam Phillips called "slapback." Both "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" were released together as a single record.
The Blue Moon Boys
By October 1954, Elvis, Bill Black, and Scotty Moore were known as the Blue Moon Boys. Later, drummer D.J. Fontana joined them.
The Blue Moon Boys toured and recorded all over the American South. As Elvis became more popular, especially with teenage girls, they started touring nationwide. They appeared on famous TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Milton Berle Show.
On The Steve Allen Show, Elvis and the band performed "Hound Dog" in a funny sketch. Elvis was not allowed to do his famous dance moves on that show. Scotty Moore once told Elvis why girls screamed when he sang: "It's your leg, man. The way you shake your left leg."
Scotty played on many of Elvis's most famous songs. These include "That's All Right," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Blue Suede Shoes," and "Jailhouse Rock."
Challenges and Changes
As Elvis became a huge star, the band members, Scotty and Bill, sometimes felt left out. They didn't always get to spend time with Elvis, even when they were close by. They also faced money problems because they weren't getting paid as much as Elvis.
In December 1956, Scotty and his wife had to move in with family. They spoke to a newspaper about not having many performances and not seeing Elvis much. They were given permission to record their own instrumental album without Elvis.
After a recording session in September 1957, Scotty and Bill felt ignored. They decided to leave the band. Elvis tried performing with other musicians, but it didn't feel the same. So, he hired Scotty and Bill back. Scotty said there were no hard feelings.
Scotty and the Blue Moon Boys appeared in four of Elvis's movies: Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, King Creole, and G.I. Blues.
After Elvis's Draft
In 1958, Elvis was drafted into the army. Scotty Moore then started working at Fernwood Records. He even helped produce a hit song called "Tragedy."
When Elvis returned, Scotty continued to record with him at RCA Victor. Scotty also managed the studio operations at Sam Phillips Recording Service. He played on many more Elvis songs, including "Surrender" and "Good Luck Charm." He also played on songs for other artists, like Roy Orbison's "Crying."
In 1964, Scotty released his own solo album called The Guitar That Changed the World. He reunited with Elvis and D.J. Fontana for the NBC television special known as the '68 Comeback Special. This was the last time Scotty played with Elvis, and the last time he ever saw him.
Scotty's Guitar Style and Influence
Scotty Moore's guitar playing was very important in early rock and roll. He used a special finger-picking style with a thumbpick. His style helped move country guitar playing into the new rockabilly sound.
Many people see Scotty as a pioneer, meaning he was one of the first to create the lead guitar style in rock 'n' roll. However, he was humble and said that others were doing similar things too. His guitar solos often mixed country finger-picking with blues-based sounds.
Elvis rarely played lead guitar himself, leaving that job to Scotty. Scotty became an inspiration for many famous guitarists who came after him. These include George Harrison, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards once said, "Everyone else wanted to be Elvis—I wanted to be Scotty."
Scotty's Equipment
Scotty used different guitars throughout his career. Early on, he used a '52 Telecaster. He then traded it for a gold-colored Gibson ES-295, which was nicknamed "The Guitar That Changed the World." He made some changes to this guitar.
Later, he used a 1954 Gibson L-5 CESN. In 1957, he switched to a Gibson Super 400. This Super 400 was heard on songs like Jailhouse Rock.
A key part of Scotty's sound was the Ray Butts EchoSonic amplifier. This amplifier had a tape echo built in, which helped him create his famous "slapback echo" sound. However, he didn't use this amplifier until 1955, so his earliest recordings with Elvis didn't use it.
Later Years and Passing
Scotty Moore stopped playing guitar a few years before he passed away because of arthritis. His last recording was likely in 2011, as a guest on an album by the Mike Eldred Trio.
Scotty Moore passed away on June 28, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 84 years old.
Songs Scotty Moore Wrote
Scotty Moore helped write some songs. He co-wrote "My Kind of Carrying On" and "Now She Cares No More." These songs were released in 1954 when he was part of the group Doug Poindexter and the Starlite Wranglers. In 1958, he also co-wrote an instrumental song called "Have Guitar Will Travel" with Bill Black.
Awards and Recognition
Scotty Moore was recognized for his important contributions to music. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was also added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Scotty Moore para niños
