THE "TCB BAND" ON STAGE AT ELVIS PRESLEY'S MEMPHIS AUGUST 17, 2001

Written and photographed by: Keith Alverson

The TCB Band was scheduled at the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" restaurant on August 17. The night before the TCB Band performed at the Mid South Coliseum for "The Concert" along with the rest of the back-up group that Elvis used during the tour years in the seventies. Elvis' voice and video image is displayed on a giant screen over the band while recreating the live show as close as possible to the real thing!! For those unfortunate fans that never witnessed Elvis on stage in person...this is without a doubt the best time machine available to us!!

At the "Elvis Presley's Memphis" restaurant James Burton, Jerry Scheff, Ronnie Tutt and Glenn D. Hardin along with Terry Mike Jeffrey on vocals put on a wonderful display of Elvis tunes for a limited standing room only crowd for two sets. The line of fans waiting to get in the second show (outside around the building) where some had been standing for over three hours hoping to sit up close to the stage...were eager for the first show to end!!

My wife and I had tickets for the second show.....thinking it would be longer and better than the first. I was right to say the least!!! They were on stage for over 90 minutes!! They certainly rocked the house and everyone was completely satisfied with what they saw!! All the band and Terry Mike were very tight (especially with no rehearsing). James Burton was just as good as he was back in the concert days!! The place was packed and the sound was incredible too! After seeing "The Concert" the previous night...it was nice to see the band up close and share a much more relaxed atmosphere together as one. They played a lot of the hits that made Elvis famous and after the show took time to sign autographs on stage awhile. I asked James Burton for his guitar pick and he handed it to me!! Then the guys hustled off to attend a private party upstairs with the Graceland folks and some other special guests. I caught the attention of James and Jerry long enough to present one of my photo books to them!! They were surprised to see it and accepted it with high anticipation!! They are always hungry to see photos of them with Elvis on stage together! Jerry walked around for over an hour with my book under his arm!! He didn't want to put it down in fear of losing it, I guess! I had a couple of photos taken while I talked to James. As you certainly know by now... he was just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Well deserving for sure!! 

This was a fun and memorable night for everyone!! Hopefully next year for the 25th anniversary there will be more of this outstanding entertainment offered to the ever-growing fans that travel from all over the world.