The Blue Moon Boys: The Story of Elvis Presley's Band

It was in 1958 that Elvis Presley and his backing band cut "That's Alright Mama" with Sam Philips at the legendary Sun studios in Memphis. For Elvis, the rest is history—he went on to become the king of rock and roll. For his backing band, the Blue Moon Boys (bassist Bill Black, guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D.J. Fontana), the story went differently. In this exhaustively researched and well-written book, journalist Burke (Blue Suede News ) and Griffin, a producer who later worked with Moore and Fontana, present a vital piece of rock history. Burke and Griffin adeptly recount the band's vital role in creating Elvis's success, from Black's signature enormous stand-up bass lines (one promoter was amazed to learn the band was only a three-piece) and Moore's lilting guitar to Fontana's energetic beats, which fueled Presley's hypersexual performances. Eventually, superstardom on an uncharted scale led to squabbles over everything from egos to credit, and of course money (at one point, while Elvis was making "millions," the band was making just a few hundred dollars per performance). Elvis fans will enjoy this fascinating history, but more than that, Burke and Griffin offer a glimpse at the crucible in which rock and roll was fired. (Oct.)