He Backed 'The King' For Years

From 1969 until Elvis Presley's death in 1977, Ronnie Tutt played drums for "The King." Now Tutt, 83, is dead, TMZ reports. His wife says he had a longtime heart condition and there was no longer anything that could be done to treat it; "he couldn't play another drum lick." Not wanting to be hospitalized, she says, he died peacefully of natural causes surrounded by family at his Tennessee home.

Tutt was an original member of Takin' Care of Business, also known as the TCB Band, the band that backed Presley at his performances, USA Today reports. The band was formed in 1969 for Presley's Las Vegas opening, Pitchfork reports. "All of us with Elvis Presley Enterprises were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ronnie Tutt," the organization says in a statement. "In addition to being a legendary drummer, he was a good friend to many of us here at Graceland."

He became Neil Diamond's drummer after Presley's death, and also played with artists including The Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, and Jerry Garcia. He recorded with Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Costello, Stevie Nicks, and Michael McDonald, and also went on to play Presley's hits at "Elvis in Concert" shows after Presley's death. (More obituary stories.)