Ronnie Tutt

From up a tree… No, on drums, from Dallas, Texas is hard-workin’ Ronnie Tutt!

Ronnie Tutt is probably the best rock-drummer alive today. Not everybody loved his “beating” style, but Elvis thought he added extra dynamite to the show by hiring Ronnie.  

Tutt moved to Memphis in 1963 and played in many of the great loca rhythm sections os the 60's. He has backed dozens of top names as a studio musician in Los Angeles and Nashville, including Billy Joel, Mink Deville, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Byrds.

In February of 1976, when Elvis recorded in the den at Graceland, a strange incident occurred. Peter Guralnick heard the tapes: "Elvis tried to get the band to loosen up, but the acoustic limitations of the room got in the way. When Ronnie Tutt commented that a take had all been “drums”, Elvis thought he said “drunk”, remarking: “I can get drunk now, man. You goddamn bum, you don’t know where you’re at…”

After 1977, Tutt continued doing studiowork in Nashville. ‘Till this day, he’s a member of Neil Diamond’s Road Show.