Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, The Doors and More: The Autobiography of Jerry Scheff

Jerry Scheff has a very endearing and warm style of writing. Reading his biography is like listening to a favourite Uncle telling you his old stories. Some you will have heard of, but now they are more fleshed out and even more interesting. Especially when we know the key players all too well! One oddity about the book is how he jumps around with the chronology at times but while this could be annoying, most times it is understandable. The book is 235 pages – full marks for a good index – of which Scheff’s stories with Elvis take up 68 pages of the book. Jerry’s tale of his early years and first becoming inspired as a bass-player, even though not being involved with Elvis, is a sheer delight. There are some revealing stories of 50s’ racism in the black jazz music scene and some interesting revelations on how the jazz, R & B and soul musicians often intersected in their session and stage work. The story of his first true gig as a white, skinny, 14 year-old in a duck-tail hairdo trying to impress a seriously cool black jazz band – paying until his fingers bled – is a fabulous tale. As well as being just one insight on how hard it is to become a successful musician. A load of producers and musicians have passed through Jerry’s life and it is amazing the amount of links there are in bands and recordings one has heard of over the years. Jerry started playing with up-coming stars like Billy Preston (The Beatles etc) as far back as 1965 before recording with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr and Neil Diamond. There is also the strange oddity of Red West calling him up to play on Elvis’ ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ session. Red West asked "Are you Jerry Scheff the trumpet player?", to which Jerry of course agreed - although he had never played trumpet before in his life! (You will have to get the book to read his wonderful stories about starting out as a Tuba Player!) In his tales of Elvis and touring with the TCB Band, Jerry imparts some real warmth and joy of what it was like to be so close to all these wonderful musicians we feel we know so well. The book starts with the fateful day of August 16th 1977 but it is a real pleasure of the book that Scheff tells of you the shocking news in such an open, honest and warm manner. He welcomes you to the TCB family in such a special way - even on the day when they heard the devastating news. In the book Jerry Scheff reveals what it was like to spend time with all of Elvis’ musicians but also has some particularly wonderful tales about Glen D Hardin and Ronnie Tutt both of whom he was very close to. Who knew that Scheff and his family, as well as Glen D Hardin, opted to move into quiet Las Vegas apartments in preference to the noise and craziness of living in the Hilton hotel for free? His pet parrot Otis also features in some wonderful tales! There are stories of JD Sumner and The Stamps in Elvis’ cool "super-fly" suits, humourous on-stage pranks, getting involved with the Mafia, the troubles with Colonel Parker, getting close to young "Groupies" and all the other trials of being on-tour. One feels that there is a real truth to his biography and while Jerry doesn’t bad-mouth anybody nor does he evade the topic of pretty heavy-duty drug taking that was all part of the 70s and 80’s culture. In fact he tells a marvellous tale of a joke played on him at the Jungle Room sessions.. Another exciting section is on what it was like to be there playing for Elvis on Opening Night July 31, 1969…. Jerry Scheff’s stories about Elvis take up around a third of the book but don’t let that put you off as the rest is filled with marvellous tales of all sort of musicians, such as working with Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, John Denver (some great stories there) and The Doors. There is also a lovely chapter about touring with Bob Dylan and his Rolling Thunder Review. As with any auto-biography there is a few chapters dedicated to the early years his family and family life. I had no idea Jerry would opt out for a while for basic ‘island living’ fishing for crabs and oysters. His tales of living with Otis the parrot are particularly funny. At the end of the book there's a very telling story of why Jerry quit the 'Elvis In Concert' tour. And it all comes down to wanting to play real music! In the middle of the book are 16 pages of black & white photos of Jerry playing with various bands which helps put the stories into visual context. Fans will however have seen most of the photos of Jerry playing with Elvis. There is an unfortunate mistake where a two–page spread of Elvis performing in Madison Square Garden is labelled as being from the Aloha special! I also wish they had used a better looking photo of Elvis on the front cover. Overall Verdict: This is a delightful book that I would recommend to anyone interested in what it is like to survive a successful career as a working musician. There are plenty of great insights along the way and Jerry Scheff’s writing style is very easy to read. Of course most people will buy the book only for the stories of Elvis but there is much more here to enjoy. With plenty of laughs and lovely insights along the way, you learn a lot not only about Elvis and the TCB Band but also about other well-known musicians.

Everybody that hears a CD of Elvis's live performances say; Who is that Bass Player? Jerry Scheff, one of The Best in the Business! This book tells of his career, playing with some of the most influential entertainers in the music business. A must for music enthusiast! Way Down! Playing Bass... is well written and has some cool photo's. This guy was as most bass players are, is one cool cat. His account of the day he found out Elvis had died is worth purchasing the book alone, not to mention all the other stuff. I was delightfully surprised how much i enjoyed reading this Book! Thanks for taking the time to write if Jerry....

I couldn't wait to get this book. Once I read it, I thought, where is the deep thoughts?? Jerry tells some good stories in his book but if you want any deep stories or how he felt about Elvis it isn't here. The Doors? You get 2 pages! Not like how did they work together, what was Jim really like. You do get 10 pages on John Denver, whoopee! He starts out by talking about Elvis in 1969 and how great it is, to playing in Elvis's jungle room (1976) and getting free cloths from Elvis in his room. But not ONE word on Elvis and his drugs, how did it make you feel Jerry seeing Elvis at 240pds, on drugs?? What do you and the other band members think? Even when he talks about Elvis passing away, there was no words of "I felt sad" If you want to hear stories of what it is like to be a bass player with some great musicians and what it was like to work in the 60's and 70" and doing some drugs then it is a fine read. He mentioned being stoned on stage with Elvis, hell the camera light bulbs going off would freak me out right there, how you kept it together Jerry is beyong me. I speak for many Elvis fans, "Thank you and the rest of the TCB Band for sticking with Elvis so long and thank you for ripping on the Colonel he deserved it!" I think the book would have been more fun and interesting if Ronnie and James would have joined in. Side note, Jerry for years I would listen to Madison Square Garden, I thought Elvis was saying when he introduces you, "my friend on the bass Jerry Scheff", then 20 years later I learned he said, "and on the FENDER Bass Jerry Scheff." I still like the first way I heard it. Good luck to you Jerry and the rest of the TCB Band!!Thanks for MANY MANY great times of watching and listen to Elvis, sober and maybe a few cocktail nights.

One of the best autobiographies I’ve read

This book is about bass player Jerry Scheff. It is not about Elvis Presley. You know how people who lived or worked with Elvis Presley wrote whole books on that relationship? Well this not one of those types of books. Even though Jerry played bass for Elvis Presley for 6 years from 1969 to 1977; he took a couple of years off in the middle there are only a few stories about Elvis Presley. I keep having to spell out Presley so as to not confuse this Elvis with Elvis Costello, who Jerry also worked with. This book is about Jerry's life as a musician and all the artists he worked with. If you are a musician and want to know about Jerry Schiff as a musician then this book is for you but if you want a book about what it was like on the road with Elvis Presley then skip this book. You will be disappointed.

Scheff's autobiography is not a sensational tell all as much as it is like sitting down to a cup of coffee with a venerable master. It's a friendly collection of anecdotes of Scheff's life and times. Life on the road and in the studio of a bass player. Highly enjoyable and recommended for any music fan. Thanks for sharing, Jerry.

As a bass hobbyist and classic rock and roll fan I loved Jerry Scheff's book. It is his very interesting account of his journey as a bassist from his teen years until past 70. It's well-written, with a good flow to it so you can read 80 pages before you know it. He doesn't dish dirt on famous people, but mentions enough about some interesting people, not just Elvis, that you'll want to Google more details on some of them. There's not much "how-to" bass player tips.

This is a super good read about Elvis. Give good information about the others in his life. I think everyone would like to read this one.