Glen D. Hardin : King's Man Recalls
'Yeah, it's true, I'm afraid', Hardin said. 'He used to play around on the piano a bit at home, but he wasn't that good, really'
Hardin would know. He was Elvis' piano player from 1970 to 1976 - the big touring years - and arranged extravaganzas such as The Wonder Of You, 'Let It Be Me' and 'I Just Can't help Believin'.
He played with many other stars including Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, the Everly Brothers, John Denver and the Crickets (After Buddy Holly). But most people still associate Hardin with Elvis.
He is again playing with his old Elvis band mates - guitarist James Burton, bassist Jerry Scheff and drummer Ron Tutt - in the TCB band that will tour Australia soon.
TCB - named after the rather ambiguous Elvis motto 'Takin' Care Of Business' - has been touring the world performing hits such as 'Suspicious Minds', 'In The Ghetto', Burning Love' and 'The Wonder Of You', with Elvis' recorded voice and video image on a giant screen.
In Australia the band will perform for the first time with another singer doing the Elvis songs, Australia's Mick Gerace.
Why? 'Well, he sent us a tape and we just decided to give it a go', Hardin said. 'He is a great singer and I suspect that if things work out well, he will join us on the road outside Australia'.
Hardin started working with Elvis Presley in 1970 and was instantly impressed by the King's friendliness and ability to work hard. 'He seemed like an ordinary fellow,' he said. 'I have many great memories from that period. I remember the session when we recorded 'Burning Love' and it was great fun, although I can't recall whether I knew at the time what a big hit it would be. At the time you just get on with your job and have a lot of fun'.
'I also remember the Madison Square Garden live sessions we did. Boy, there were a bunch of hits from that period and Elvis was singing the best I'd heard him'
If the sessions were good, sometimes the resulting recordings were not.
'Yeah, a lot of the old Elvis records lack a bit in sound quality'. Hardin said. 'We did some songs in one or two takes and they sounded great at the time, but then the records came out and they weren't as good. I don't know why'. 'But then again, the old style of recording had it's good sides. I don't care if the drum parts aren't as tight as a drum machine or even if the drummer drops on of his sticks midway. You sometimes get a better overall feel in the old ways of recording'.
Hardin spent hours chatting about music and life with Elvis, but is reluctant to discuss that today. Some thing's he says are better left in the past.
By 1976, Hardin was playing with both Elvis' and Emmylou Harris's bands. The work load was heavy and he had to drop out of one band. He chose to stay with Harris because the situation with Elvis was 'getting kinder sad'.
Elvis died about a year latter. Hardin then travelling with Willie Nelson, was saddened by the news. Now he prefers to remember the good days.
'I don't know if you can speculate about what would have happened if Elvis had lived, but I tend to think that he might have concentrated on singing and recording gospel music'. he said. 'That was his great love, always.
'But who knows? he could have ended up anywhere if he'd lived'
Written by Brian Patterson for The Sunday Herald Sun Melbourne Australia. Transferred to text for Elvis.com.au by David Troedson December 7, 2003
More Interviews
Interview with Larry Muhoberac
Interview with John Wilkinson
Interview with Michael Jarrett, songwriter, I'm Leavin'
Interview with James Burton
Interview with James Burton Sydney Australia 2006
James Burton : First Call For The Royalty Of Rockabilly
Interview with Ronnie Tutt
Interview with Ronnie Tutt #2
Interview with Jerry Scheff
Interview with Glen D. Hardin
Interview with Sherrill Nielsen
Interview with Terry Blackwood & Jim Murray
Interview with Tony Brown
Duke Bardwell
Interview with Scotty Moore
Bill Black
Interview with D.J. Fontana
Interview with Charlie Hodge
Interview with Ernst Jorgensen
Elvis Presley & the TCB Band
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
