Ronnie Tutt, session drummer, best known as an original member of Elvis Presley’s TCB Band, died on the 16th of October at the age of 83.
Elvis Presley Enterprises announced Tutt’s passing on the Graceland website: “All of us with Elvis Presley Enterprises were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ronnie Tutt. In addition to being a legendary drummer, he was a good friend to many of us here at Graceland.” The cause of death has not been stated as yet.
The drummer was born on March 12, 1938 in Dallas, Texas. He joined Presley’s famed TCB Band (“Takin’ Care of Business”) following the superstar’s 1968 comeback, with Tutt serving as drummer for Presley’s 1969 Las Vegas opening and subsequent residencies. Tutt remained with the group until Presley’s death in 1977.
In the 1970s, Ron Tutt became an in-demand touring and session drummer. His most notable credits include the Jerry Garcia Band, Billy Joel (including 1973’s The Piano Man), Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, Neil Diamond, Gram Parsons, Elvis Costello as well as Johnny Cash.
In an interview for Rolling Stone a few years ago, Tutt compared working with Elvis and Jerry Garcia: “I’d always laugh because one night I’d be in Vegas playing with rhinestone two-piece outfits and the next night I’d be out with Garcia with the tie-dye and a pair of jeans. Socially speaking it was really different.”
Below, you can watch Dom Famularo’s Sessions Panel interview:
