Charlie Hodge (guitarist)

Charles Franklin Hodge (born 14 December 1934 in Decatur, Alabama, † March 3, 2006 in Knoxville, Tennessee), better known as Charlie Hodge, was an American musician who in his early years a member of the gospel group Foggy River Boys and was later part of the firm private and professional environment of Elvis Presley.

Life

Comedians from passion

A great passion of Charlie Hodge was the comedy. Already in his youth he imitated the voices of famous personalities and this brought his environment laugh. This penchant for comedy he owed among other things, his great relationship with Elvis Presley, whom he met as a soldier during their common basic training in 1958 at Fort Hood again, and with whom he went on the troop ship USS General George M. Randall in the FRG. The King of Rock 'n' Roll was on this trip because of his recently deceased mother in a sad condition and Charlie saw it as his task to cheer him up. After some time, Elvis thanked for this with the words: "Charlie, you've kept me from going crazy. " Later Elvis should even say to Charlie: " Every great person in history had a kind of court jester or comedian around, the made him laugh. " Hodge saw this as one of its central tasks for Elvis Presley.

Friendship with Elvis Presley

For the first time the two met in 1956 had, as Hodge appeared with the Foggy River Boys in Presley's hometown of Memphis ( Tennessee). Already at this appearance of only 1.60 meters tall Charlie Hodge Elvis had thereby brought smile that he placed himself at the gig on a Coke crate to make up for his small stature compared to the other members of the group. Since their military service in Germany, Elvis spent in Friedberg and Kirch Gons Charlie, the two men developed a close friendship that lasted until Presley's death.

Cooperation with Elvis Presley

Her first professional collaboration that was on the LP Elvis Is Back! published song I Will Be Home Again, they had taken a duet. Later held Hodge small supporting roles in several films of the King of Rock 'n' Roll: in the movie so was to see his shadow as a guitarist on a wall Great nights in Las Vegas. Even in the movies Kid Galahad - Hard fists, hot love and Speedway Hodge was to be seen as a guitarist. He also did not seem to be a millionaire as a barber and in Charro in Only! As Mexican peasant with. In the 1979 film The Elvis is incurred over the life of the King of Rock 'n ' Roll played Charlie Hodge ( Himself ) is also connected.

As the film business Presley turned his back and prepared his stage comeback, they built together on the TCB band. In addition, Charlie Hodge acted in this time as Presley's vocal coach.

While Presley's concert years ( 1969-1977 ) was one of Charlie Hodge to his constant companions. Before the performances, he acted as his hair stylist and on stage he supported him in many ways: he hung Elvis the guitar around and took them meet again and caught it in his later years on a regular basis when they Presley at the end of a song about the stage cast. He also hung Elvis the white silk scarves to which he then threw into the audience, gave him water and played guitar.

He also influenced Elvis for recording gospel songs like Lead Me, Guide Me and How Great Thou Art, which was one of Presley's standard repertoire in his later tours.

Others

On 3 March 2006 Charlie Hodge died of lung cancer at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.