Elvis Presley Performs 'Tutti Frutti' In Sentimental 1956 Original Clip

Jun 23, 2020 by apost team

Part of Elvis Presley's rise to fame was his ability to put on a show for television audiences. His high-energy style and frenetic movements captured the hearts and imaginations of many viewers.

On February 4th, 1956, Presley engineered one of his more famous performances with his cover of the Little Richard hit, Tutti Frutti. The viewing public had no idea what they were about to witness.

While it is true that Little Richard wrote the song Tutti Frutti and had his own indelible performance style, Presley sought to make the ditty his own on that February night. Presley would go on stage backed by the Blue Moon Boys.

The Blue Moon Boys were not just any backing band, they were comprised of Scotty Moore and Bill Black. These men would go on to be enshrined into the Musician's Hall of Fame and Museum. As Presley began to sing this song, he ended every verse with, "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom!"

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It's also noteworthy to mention that he chose "bam-boom," instead of "bom-bom." It was just Presley's way of infusing the pop hit with some of his own flair. The audience, especially the young women, reacted favorably to this change and screamed in delight with each verse.

During the instrumental part of the song, Presley broke away and started to twist his hips and legs, seeming to no longer be able to contain the energy of the song.

Elvis Presley's undeniable charisma as a performer was the perfect match for this high-octane song, and the combination certainly makes you understand why it was chosen to be featured on the B-side of the Blue Suede Shoes album. It proved that Presley could electrify a room with material that wasn't even his own.

When you listen to Presley sing this classic song, do you believe he made it his own? How do you think his version stacks up to the original? For those who were lucky enough to see the performance live, seeing this again is bound to bring up some nostalgia. People with big Elvis fans in their life should show this to them and get their feedback. Let us know how this classic performance makes you feel!