Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's first guitarist, dies at 84

This 1954 Gibson ES 295 is one of the most prized possessions in the guitar collection of Brad Putt, seen at his store, Main Stage Music, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, in Dayton, Tenn. This style of gold-colored guitar was popularized by Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's guitar player.
This 1954 Gibson ES 295 is one of the most prized possessions in the guitar collection of Brad Putt, seen at his store, Main Stage Music, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, in Dayton, Tenn. This style of gold-colored guitar was popularized by Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley's guitar player.

NASHVILLE - Scotty Moore, the pioneering rock guitarist who played on "Hound Dog" and other early Elvis Presley hits, has died. He was 84.

Biographer and friend James L. Dickerson says Moore passed away Tuesday morning in his house in Nashville. Dickerson spoke with a family member of Moore's longtime companion, Gail Pollock, who had been staying in the house with Moore. Pollock died in November 2015.

Moore's slashing guitar style and Bill Black's hard-slapping work on a standup bass gave Presley the foundation on which he developed his sound.

Sun records producer Sam Phillips paired Presley with Moore and Black in 1954. They played on Presley's first professional recording, "That's All Right."

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