Buried Here – William “Bill” Black, Jr. Of Elvis Presley’s Backup Band

Via Google Maps

Buried here:

William “Bill” Black, Jr.

Bill Black was the bass player for Elvis Presley’s “Blue Moon Boys” that backed him on many early singles such as “Hound Dog“, “Don’t Be Cruel“, “Love Me Tender” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”

In 1959 Black started Bill Black’s Combo. Eight of the recordings by his Combo placed in the Top 40 between 1959 and 1962 and their “Saxy Jazz” album spent a year in the top 100. The Combo appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, where they performed a medley of “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Cherry Pink,” and “Hearts of Stone” and were voted Billboard’s number one instrumental group of 1961.

Bill died on October 21, 1965 at the age of 39 of a brain tumor.

Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown
1661 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis TN 38106
901 775-0310