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The Book and Guitar Release Party
On August 3, 2013, Gibson sponsored a party for Scotty Moore in honor of the the release of his new book and the completion and release of the first batch of 81 Limited Edition Scotty Moore ES295 tribute guitars. The party was held in the Gibson Lounge in Memphis a block south of Beale Street, adjacent to their factory across the street from the Fed Ex Forum.
It was the same location as was used to celebrate Scotty's 80th birthday party in December of 2011 except this time the number of attendees were a little more limited and the overall affair more intimate. Being a private function, it was intentionally held before Elvis week festivities commenced so as not to disappoint the many fans that would be in the vicinity and unable to attend.
Guests included many of Scotty's closest friends and family in addition to special guests of Gibson. Scotty had spent that morning autographing about 36 of the completed guitars. The guitars are all special made to the measurements and specifications of the original 1952 ES295 he purchased years ago at OK Houck's and used for performing with the Startlite Wranglers, Elvis and Bill and on all of the Sun sessions except Mystery Train. That guitar is currently owned by Larry Moss of Memphis who was kind enough to loan it out for display at the party.
The tribute guitars were the brainchild of Gibson's Mike Voltz. He introduced the first one earlier this year at the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim in January. They also feature a Gretch bridge similar to the Melita bridge that Scotty had on his. A small one man company in the '50s, they were one of the first, if not the first, to develop a bridge with adjustable independent saddles for guitars which then allowed for exact and proper intonation. They were featured on many Gretsch models in that era which are today marketed by Fender. Our friend Mike Eldred of Fender, I'm told, facilitated the possibility of their use on these Gibsons. Everyone had good things to say about him. Last Spring Scotty gave him the first one that was given to him.
Chip Young, who many of the fans may know from his sessions with Elvis, if not others, was there with his wife Diane. Checking out one of the guitars he commented how he really favored the neck and its profile. He said it was reminiscent of his favorite, which is his early '70s Gibson Super 400. It is a CESN similar to the 1983 Super 400 that Scotty loaned to the Musician's Hall of Fame in Nashville. Unfortunately it was damaged in the Nashville flood several years ago while in storage after the museums former location closed. Scotty had hoped it could be restored and had requested but never got to see the damaged piece.
Hal Lansky of Lanksy's clothing in Memphis was there as was George Klein who Scotty had spent most of the previous day with in interviews. Of course no party of Scotty's would be complete without his regular entourage, the girls he referred to as Moore's Mafia. They include Ella Shepherd, DJ Gross, Patsy Andersen and Molly Blanks (along with Gail). Steve Shepherd who is usually a regular in this crowd works on the barges on the Mississippi and because of this could not attend this time, but he was missed. Add Jacques (Jack) Vroom to the mix and its the complete pack that I've known since I've been associated with Scotty.
Jack brought Carolyn Moorman and introduced her to us all and Bucky and Gigi Barrett made the drive in that day from Nashville to attend. Bucky played in the jam held later and was supposed to perform with Tracy Nelson but unfortunately difficulties with her car prevented her from making it.
Several copies of the book were made available for purchase by the guests courtesy of the Gibson Showcase that will be carrying it. Scotty signed them there for those that purchased them, as did the writer Jim Dickerson who was also in attendance.
The affair was catered, with BBQ Chicken the offering, and the entertainment was kicked off by a rocking set from Sonny Burgess and the Pacers. These guys still sound as great as they ever did.
Jim Dickerson initially met Scotty through Scotty's daughter Vikki. She was a friend of his and knowing that he wrote about a lot of the area music kept suggesting he meet her dad. Finally he asked who her dad was and she told him Scotty Moore. Immediately he said, "I'll be right over!" Then the task at hand was getting Scotty to agree to talk to him. Fortunately he did.
Louis Black was there but unfortunately his sisters Nancy and LouAnn couldn't be. Scotty always felt that Bill's kids were like his own.
Gail's son Wayne and his wife Caroline drove down from Nashville. Wayne had swapped vehicles with Gail so she could comfortably drive Scotty, Pete and Stella to Memphis, along with their luggage. Having been vacationing here for over a week, Pete and Stella were flying home to London out of Memphis.
Scotty, now completely retired, had given the last of his studio equipment to his grandson Nick. Nick, a musician himself, has a studio in Memphis and is now equipped to record both digital and analog. He also works a bass player in a band.
It was great to finally meet Wayne and Caroline. Along with Pete and Stella we ate that afternoon at B.B Kings on Beale Street then made a stop to Lansky's in the Peabody to visit with Hal.
They had party favors too, shaped like little Gibson ES295s. They went quick. They were gone before I knew they were they.
Then it came time for presentations. David Winters, the general manager of Gibson in Memphis, along with Mike Voltz took the stage as Scotty gave Gibson two of his remaining guitars. The first was his custom made Gibson Chet Atkins that he had made to his specs after almost losing the original that Chet had given him twice at airports. He used that as his performing guitar from 1998 until he retired in 2007.
Scotty then gave them the 2003 Gibson L5 CT that they had presented to him for his 50 years with Gibson celebration party in Nashville. In actuality they had to present it to Gail on his behalf because Scotty had undergone emergency surgery that morning. Dave and Mike said they will display these guitars in honor of Scotty proudly. Prior to the party Scotty had also given to them the blue Elvis Presley Baldwin piano that Gibson had given to him several years ago and had been in his studio. It is currently on display in the lobby of the Gibson factory outside the store in Memphis and can be seen by anyone going in or taking the tour.
Unknown to most of us attending and especially to the surprise of four recipients, Scotty and Gibson gave four of the tribute L5s to people he wanted to personally thank. One was presented to Larry Moss, the owner of the original who has made it available on every occasion he's been asked and allowed Gibson to analyze and measure it for the production of the tributes.
The second went to Scotty's grandson Jim. He and his family had driven to Nashville for the occasion all the way from Spokane, WA.
The third was presented to Pete Pritchard, who was overwhelmed. Pete's been a friend and bandmate since Scotty first toured the UK in the early '90s. He booked and managed one of the tours there when Scotty was still playing also. Both he and Stella are like family and he thinks of Scotty as a father. We were all at his 50th birthday party in 2005 and are looking forward to the 60th in a couple years (with this guitar we should be good in the gift department). Be careful Dave Briggs doesn't grab that when you get home.
Lastly Scotty presented a guitar to his friend Roger Hamlett. Roger has known and been working odd jobs for Scotty since he was 14 years old. From picking up sticks in the yard to plumbing and other household maintenance around the house. He's probably the only one that Scotty taught to play guitar at his kitchen table.
Finally Jim Dickerson came up and spoke a little about the book, the other reason for the party. This book, though based a lot their previous effort, was done as a result of the plethora of notes and information that Jim acquired and did not use in the first one in addition to what he's researched since. They said its "Scotty's tell-all" and he pulls out all the stops and pulls no punches telling it like it is from his perspective. He doesn't "dis" anyone though, its never been his nature.
After the presentations it was a time to party and jam. Several of the guests got up to perform and the stage welcomed anyone that wanted to play. Surprisingly not many went up but those that did were great.
It was a great time and didn't run too late. There was still plenty of time to visit the clubs on Beale street for those that wanted but most returned to their hotels in preparation for the trips home the next day. Bucky and Gigi were driving back that night. It was a great opportunity to see most of the people and friends that I have come to meet and know over the last decade or so and probably one of the last times we'll all get together like this in the foreseeable future.
Thank you Scotty, Gail and Gibson for having us. James V. Roy
The book "Scotty
& Elvis Aboard The Mystery Train" is published by
the University
Press of Mississippi. At this time we don't anticipate offering it
direct from Scotty through the website but it will be available to
everyone at least at Amazon.com,
and on
Kindle.
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All photos on this site (that we didn't borrow) unless otherwise indicated are the property of either Scotty Moore or James V. Roy and unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited. |
