Sinatra Timex Show - March 1960 -> Name The Bass Players!

[drjohncarpenter]

Sorry, to date, no response from Ray. He hasn't even read my message(s), not sure he got notifications. I can try just posting to his page.

Thank you so much for the update, James. It is really appreciated. He may not be as involved on-line anymore.

[drjohncarpenter]

In reviewing some files, I suddenly noticed we have a semi-clear photo of the mystery acoustic bass player. It appeared in Welcome Home, Elvis, a book published by FTD in 2012, although he was not credited:

Welcome Home Elvis page 161.jpg

Welcome Home Elvis page 161_DETAIL.JPG

Here's the next best shot of our mystery man:







And here again another look at that Jimmy Dean show from four years later:





Ray Edenton performing at the Grand Ole Opry (ABC-TV's "The Jimmy Dean Show" - Thursday, November 5, 1964)


Could this be the guy in Miami?

[drjohncarpenter]

One last photo of the mystery bass man from 1960 is below. For now, Ray Edenton remains my best guess, but oh how I'd love to nail this one down via some solid documentation. Maybe someday ...

600326_Miami rehearsal.JPG

600326_Miami rehearsal_DETAIL.JPG

[elvis-fan]

John... not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but the bass player for the 1960 Sinatra special
was identified on page 232 of Elvis Presley The Album Collection book as Joe Comfort.
The only thing I can think of is that they had someone different sit in for the rehearsal??? Obviously the guy in the rehearsal photo you posted above isn't Joe.

[drjohncarpenter]

John... not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but the bass player for the 1960 Sinatra special
was identified on page 232 of Elvis Presley The Album Collection book as Joe Comfort.
The only thing I can think of is that they had someone different sit in for the rehearsal??? Obviously the guy in the rehearsal photo you posted above isn't Joe.

Documentation showed Joe Comfort was a part of the Nelson Riddle Orchestra in Miami that weekend, so he is playing on the duet segment which features Elvis with Frank Sinatra.





Letter to the AFM from the Local 655 - June 29, 1960



But, as established on page 1, Comfort was also African-American, and the man in all of the photos, both rehearsal and live, is not.

Furthermore, on page 1 we have testimony from the Fender bass player in Presley's group, Stan Musick, who states Comfort ** did not play ** with Elvis.

500000_Nat King Cole Trio_DETAIL.JPG

500000_Nat King Cole Trio.JPG

Nat King Cole Trio, circa 1950
Actually a quartet, with Jack Costanzo on bongos, Joe Comfort on bass, and Irving Ashby on guitar.
Autographed photo.



For now, Ray Edenton still remains my best guess. I wish we could crack this case!

[elvis-fan]

Makes sense... besides the Sony collection book only mentions one bass player and there were actually two!!

[drjohncarpenter]

Makes sense... besides the Sony collection book only mentions one bass player and there were actually two!!

Yup. Thanks so much for caring about this topic.

Maybe someday we'll know the names of all the men who backed Elvis on his only available live performances of "Stuck On You" and "Fame and Fortune."

[BobDylan]

According to the bootleg, Frank Sinatra Show, Welcome Home Elvis the bass player was Bob Moore.

It lists the following: Elvis Presley (vcl), Scotty Moore (gtr), Floyd Cramer (pno), Bob Moore (bs), D.J. Fontana, Murrey "Buddy" Harman (dms), The Jordanaires (bv), plus The Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

Are all of the other players correct as far as Floyd Cramer and Buddy Harman being there?

Again, this is from the front cover of the bootleg, so I am just passing along what it says.

[drjohncarpenter]

As of January 2019, the following musicians below have been identified as performing in Miami.

If anyone has a lead on who handled the acoustic bass, please share! I cannot believe I posted this topic a decade ago.

Hope springs eternal.

Elvis Presley: vocals
Jordanaires (off camera): backing vocals, hand claps
Scotty Moore: electric guitar
unknown: acoustic bass
Stan Musick: electric bass
D. J. Fontana: drums
Anselmo Sacasas : piano *

* = Fontainebleau Hotel music director



UPDATE: April 2009
As per a new post below, Stan Musick has been identified as the electric bass player. One down, one to go!



UPDATE: April 2015
A newly-surfaced rehearsal photo gives us our first full shot of the mysterious acoustic bass player's face:











He has somewhat haunting eyes, and sallow cheeks.

Who is this man?

It's been almost 55 years since the Sinatra program was broadcast, and we still don't know.

Anyone?

One last photo of the mystery bass man from 1960 is below. For now, Ray Edenton remains my best guess, but oh how I'd love to nail this one down via some solid documentation. Maybe someday ...

[drjohncarpenter]

Welp, the following isn't much, but it does belong to this topic, I suppose:

THE AUCTION AT GRACELAND • MARCH 4, 2017

LOT #46:

Scotty Moore’s “American Broadcasting Co.” Name Tag as Part of “Elvis Presley Band” - Likely for ABC’s 1960 Frank Sinatra Timex TV Special *

01a.jpeg

01b.jpeg

From the Family of Scotty Moore

In the 1960 television special known as Welcome Home Elvis (officially titled It’s Nice to Go Traveling), hosted by Frank Sinatra and sponsored by Timex, Elvis made his first television appearance since returning from his Army service in Germany. The show was taped on March 26, 1960 to air on May 12 on ABC (American Broadcasting Co.).

Offered is Scotty Moore’s “American Broadcasting Co.” name tag as part of “Elvis Presley Band,” likely for this 1960 Frank Sinatra Timex ABC TV Special. The original paper name identification tag is typed and reads “AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO. / Scotty Moore / Elvis Presley Band.” It is housed in a pinback, plastic holder.

The identification badge, measuring 2 by 3 inches (5.08 x 7.62 cm), emanates directly from the family of Scotty Moore and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated.

http://auction.graceland.com/Scotty_Moore_s__American_Broadcasting_Co___Name_Ta-LOT2397.aspx

If we could only hunt down the other four musician name tags, our mystery would be solved.

We will soon be at sixty years -- 60! -- without knowing the name of the acoustic bass player.

[TCB Band]

I can’t offer anything new to the topic, but I’m not convinced it’s Ray Edenton; Edenton has a wider face than the man in the Sinatra special photos.

[drjohncarpenter]

I can’t offer anything new to the topic, but I’m not convinced it’s Ray Edenton; Edenton has a wider face than the man in the Sinatra special photos.

Only the hairline seems close. This is quite a conundrum!

I have recently put out a request to someone who may have documentation on this performance. Fingers crossed it provides insight. These musicians had to have been paid for their appearance on the network program.

[DarkShade]

i know it's been nearly 10 years since stan musick came forward but is he still with us?

[drjohncarpenter]

i know it's been nearly 10 years since stan musick came forward but is he still with us?

Hello, and welcome to FECC.

I have no idea, unfortunately. If he is still here, Stan Musick is now about 89 years old.

I found this online comment by Stan from October 2013, on classical and jazz bassist Don Wilner's official website:

Stan Musick said: October 28th, 2013 6:36 am
Hey Don, This is Stan Musick and the other night on the radio I heard a wonderful recording of you and Mike Renzi. I had no idea that you had become such an accomplished musician. I remember in the early 80's you came and sat in with a duo I was working with at Grove isle and at that point I had the feeling that this young man had the determination and willingness to progress...and you sure have. I'm 84 now but in great health and I would like you to let me know when you are appearing so I can catch you in person. Stan

http://www.donwilner.com/Press.php

If you have any information that can help us with naming the final musician, please share!

[George Smith]

I came across this photograph yesterday, which I believe to be the clearest picture yet of the mystery bass player.

Who is this guy?

Sinatra Show Bass Player.png

[drjohncarpenter]

I came across this photograph yesterday, which I believe to be the clearest picture yet of the mystery bass player.

Who is this guy?

Oh, I got so nervous when I saw you'd posted on this topic. Thanks for the un-watermarked version of the photo I found and uploaded in 2018. It's just a handful of posts before your upload today.

I did a focus on the man's face, too.








Maybe someday we''l square the circle on this one.

[George Smith]

Yup, your previous pic noted.

I was surprised to find the clean version online.

The search goes on.

[drjohncarpenter]

Yup, your previous pic noted.

I was surprised to find the clean version online.

The search goes on.

This topic was birthed in January 2009, over thirteen years ago. So far, we've ID'd one of the two bass players.

It's insane every musician on stage with Presley that day cannot be confirmed. He did so few live performances in the decade to come.

Somewhere there's a union record, or something tangible, which will tell us the name of this acoustic bass player.


I gotta know, gotta know, gotta know.

[drjohncarpenter]

I went and found some more "clean" images from the rehearsal photos in Miami. They are below.

The man was somewhere between 35 and 35, a little chubby around the middle, and liked to wear his belt up high.

Gotta have it built in the right place, as Elvis used to joke.

Take a look and maybe we can figure out this musician's name and backstory.



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