This Is Elvis

In 1981, I played the part of Scotty Moore (Elvis' guitarist in the '50s) in the movie 'This Is Elvis'.

The Screen Actors Guild was on strike at the time so the producers got a bunch of local Memphians

to play the parts of Sam Phillips (Knox Phillips), Bill Black (Jerry Phillips), Scotty Moore (me),

Dewey Phillips (Larry Raspberry)and 'Bluesman' (Furry Lewis)

The producers found the actual guitar Scotty played in the '50s on display at Strings & Things

(a local music store) and talked them into letting us borrow it for the Sun Studio scenes.

That's what I'm playing in the photo. Seriously Cool!!!

Sam still owned the actual recording equipment he used at Sun for Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis,

Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison. I was chief engineer at the new studio and located all the

equipment,hooked it up and got it working to factory specs. In the scene where Elvis

is recording 'That's All Right, Mama', it's us actually playing and being recorded on that

old equipment. They crossfade from our scene to Dewey Phillips playing it on the radio for

the first time. Getting to play Scotty's guitar and be in a major motion picture was really a

thrill and honor for me. They paid $500.00for the scene but I would easily have done it for free!!!

I even had a speaking part; I said "yeah" or something. In typical Emory fashion, I don't have

a copy so you'll have to get a copy to hear.

...and we did a pretty dang good job on 'That's Allright, Mama' if I do say so myself!

Most movie rental places have or can get this on VHS. I don't think it's available

on DVD yet (so much for 'major motion picture' ;^)

That's me on the right, Knox behind the window, Jerry on the left and "Elvis" left center.

A closeup (ain't I gorgeous!)