Ronnie Tutt Interview

[@stevekrause5931]

In the late 80s, I had just gotten into drums and sent Ronnie a "fan" letter of sorts (this was pre-Internet), since he was my inspiration. I didn't know if I'd ever hear back, but sure enough, he wrote me a long, thoughtful letter and answered some of the questions I had about drumming. Being the nice guy that he is, he invited me to keep writing, so he and I corresponded for a bit. He was kind enough to answer the many question I had about drumming -- and offered me tips etc. Sometime later, I was lucky enough to meet him after a Neil Diamond show and he was very kind and gracious -- and funny -- and put me immediately at ease. I still have his letters today and will always remember his thoughtfulness.

[@randyrudd5594]

Dang, that is a great story.

[@nickjohnsen444]

This guy played such a huge part in the music of Elvis and Neil Diamond. His style with Elvis was groundbreaking. Huge part of the music.

[@gumbly]

I saw the Aloha from Hawaii special on TV when I was twelve, and the coolest thing other than Elvis was Ronny Tutt with his enormous, eye-catching blue sparkle double bass drum kit. That made such an impression on me that I bought a beater kit from a friend and started to fix it up. I studied trombone at school, but played drums on the side. Forty years later I'm a drummer and playing in various local bands, loving it. Thanks Ronny, you broke new ground and inspired me and countless others to learn drums!

[@joanne26]

Hello from England R.I.P Ronnie You were a GREAT FRIEND TO ELVIS. Heartbreaking to hear the news that Ronnie has died. I have shed tears today but we must think happy thoughts. You have now got together with you buddies from the TCB band that have gone before you and Elvis. You can play as many shows in heaven

[@Bro77ful]

Awesome drummer. Loved his style when he played for Elvis.

[@aderynmawr]

If you watch Elvis’ concert performances, you’ll notice that Ronnie never takes his eyes off him and mirrors Elvis’ energy with amazing accuracy. Fantastic to watch.

[@loyalroyal1015]

Ronnie Tut one of the most talented and versatille Drummers EVER. JUST AMAZING TALENT !!!

[@Trays7940]

Elvis Via Satellite is still one of my favorite albums! Used to listen to it for hours.

[@lorenazure7116]

Ronnie was my biggest influence as to why I became a drummer. As a kid growing up in the 70's, I would listen to Elvis Live at Madison Square Garden and whether I was air drumming or playing on boxes with wooden spoons, I would try to emulate and mimic everything Ronnie was doing....Ronnie Tut..my first drumming influence..Thank you sir!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

He's such a class act

[@richieburns1021]

The Buddy Rich of Rock and Roll . Ronnie a legend always loved his playing .

[@charlywhotv915]

so underrated ,,,im a huge ELVIS fan,,,but ronnie was my introduction to drums,,at 7 years old trying to be ronnie,,,drum lessons an all,,to this day im 51 and a pro DJ ,,,Ronnie was the beat in my childhood ELVIS is my idol,,

[@steveec9704]

Ronnie Tutt's timing was impeccable he was a human metronome Elvis Presley only played with the best musicians in the world, fact

[@thejimmysbuffet]

Love your work Ronnie & what you brought to the touring years with Elvis. Such a fan. So much energy, passion & fun in that music. And the drums drive the car. LOVE those mid fills! Insane rig with toms galore.

[@bamamoondog9039]

Great Interview! Ronnie Tutt... the Greatest Touring Drummer of the 1970's. You can still catch him on Tour with Neil Diamond. My favorite kit that he played was the Double Bass, Blue Sparkle kit with Zildjian Cymbals from the early 70's. Beautiful Drums under the Lights back then. Keep Rockin' Ronnie !!

[@shlomorabenovets4709]

Ronnie played on our Worship Team in the mid 90s in Franklin TN. Few drummers I have ever played with were recognizable by the tone they got out of the kit. When he said be a musician first he wasn't lying . He is a consumate pro. God bkess brother Ron!

[@subatomic10]

So he was a Christian then , Awesome !

[@NatEDread]

@@subatomic10 absolutely Ron has a solid walk with the Lord. Musically speaking he was the drummer on many of the worship albums released on early Maranatha Music

[@subatomic10]

@@NatEDread That's wonderful to know , thankyou : )

[@DennisJohnsonDrummer]

Thanks for posting this. What a legacy and what a humble man. A role model for sure.

[@ashrafel-baroudi8835]

Ronnie and Elvis had something in common ..the edge ..the attitude ..the soul.. that made them both cling on one wave ..great artist ronnie

[@patriciabarn118]

RIP Ronnie🙏🏼🥁Condolences to your family❤️

[@holmes1978]

The Greatest Drummer In History !!!

[@devinw5150]

I’m definitely a fan but Buddy Rich would have a lot to say about your claim.

[@oldtimer7635]

Great, but maybe not the greatest? (Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker....) ; )

[@devinw5150]

@Cradleof FilthySabotage Well said and not to mention he’s playing the most difficult style of music which is jazz.

[@randyrudd5594]

That was fantastic, just not long enough. Sure am gonna miss him as time goes by.

[@janemcgrath4907]

Ronnie Tutt is one amazing drummer,he was a gift to EP,he reminds me of Don Henley

[@janemcgrath4907]

+blindtoby Do you think?

[@MrMustard2U]

It would be a dream come true to jam with Ronnie Tutt, always one of my Favorite Drummers... Keep on Rockin Ronnie...

[@jodyriggs7859]

Ronnie was my favorite! Man could he play the drums, always happy!

[@kevinjohnson-xt6kn]

Rip 🙏 Ronnie with your friend Elvis for ever more 😢

[@minoshchalanka9321]

The man who fucking hell carried entire tcb band ❣️🤘

[@pamvansickle2191]

elvis cut him loose on his last concert...let him do a solo and it was something else. never seen anything like it! he's a legend without a doubt and so humble. You could tell he talked about Elvis with such love and he missed him!

[@Jessyvevo95]

toward the end of 1974 through 1977 elvis let each member of the band playing a solo during the introduction of the group

[@randyrudd5594]

I love that clip of him in Omaha, June 1977.

[@dougieladd]

Love Ronnie Tutt - He was the first drummer I saw on screen when i was a kid watching Elvis. I always though he was better than most the guys out there. And just loved his feel on the kit... sadly I went down the route of guitar, but I always loved (still do) drums. The guy's a legend. Would love to see him live... does he still work? Wondering if he'd ever come to the UK? Thanks for this interview... made my day coming across this online.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

He does still work. Last I talked to him, he and Paul Leim were drumming on the big screen Elvis tour that was out. That was over a year ago now though, so he may be on to other projects.

[@dougieladd]

OK great.. thanks for that.

[@saviodeluna4091]

Incredible and the unique drummer! He new everything about style off Elvis!!!

[@35strange]

My all time favorite drummer, his style and groove were ridiculous!

[@tapsa412]

Rest in peace Mr Tutt. ❤🇫🇮

[@elvisfan6475]

Hard Working Ronnie Tutt

[@charlywhotv915]

i love the way Elvis says that,,

[@Judezki92]

Wow, must have been a great experience to do an interview with such a legendary musician.

[@brianmoylan1671]

A truely incredible drummer. ✌🏆🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🏆✌

[@stoneyhurddle3031]

u knew the king since 56? Ron pioneered the double bro. U were a mad man on the skins and the footage in the 70;s with u keepin up with the king was amazing. I hope u teech the art in a proper fashion. U sir had a amazing 1 time offer in life to play next to 1 if not the most infuentail human beings that ever exsted on the earth and made sum sweet fuking music :) thanks Ron for all those great moments in history :)

[@Jessyvevo95]

from 56 to 68 the drummer was dj fontana,in 69 elvis comeback in vegas after almost 10 years without performing live and he asked to james burton (his lead guitarist from 69 to 77) to put a band together so james knew ronnie and call him for the job

[@jnadle1]

I didn't know he once worked for Billy Joel. But he did in his early years when he was out in LA, but then Billy moved back to NYC and worked with NY-based session people on subsequent albums, but his touring band had the driving Liberty DeVitto on drums. We could see Liberty go crazy on them, too.

[@elvisfan6475]

RINGO WHO ? NOBODY COMES CLOSE TO RONNIE TUTT PLAYING THE DRUMS

[@35strange]

Best drummer of all time! But why was the interview cut short?!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

He really is one of the best. The rest of this interview is on my website. I just posted a portion of it here.

[@subatomic10]

RIP Ronnie Tutt 💔🥁

[@RonYoungAsElvis]

VERY GOOD INTERVIEW WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD YOU TO WORK WITH LOVE YOUR STYLE WITH ELVIS AND THE WHOLE TCB BAND !!!!!

[@MrDjphil1976]

Is there anymore of this interview?

[@varrevartiainen4318]

Yeah Ronnie!

[@chriscosby2459]

Drummer for Elvis and Jerry Garcia, the dude is extremely talented.

[@janemcgrath4907]

If you ask a question have the respect to listen to the answer (interviewer) especially in the company of genius

[@stewartwilbanks4294]

RIP ronnie TCB

[@kellylamb359]

What good is a 5 minute interview.

[@jamesroeder9940]

great great hard working drummer !!!!

[@bastiaanstapelberg9018]

He is a great drummer

[@MrCarlosescobedo]

I ADMIRE A LOT MR RONNIE TUTT BECAUSE HE HAS A PARTICULAR STYLE TO PLAY DRUMS SINCE ELVIS PRESLEY FINAL 60´S AND 70´S ACTUALLY HE IS THE DRUMMER OF MY MUSICAL IDOL NEIL DIAMOND I ADMIRE A LOT HIM AND THE NEIL DIAMOND BAND AND MY FAVORITE AND MUSIC IDOL NEIL DIAMOND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND ALL THE BAND

[@222056]

I can't wait till i can subscribe on the 25th

[@noelduggan72]

Good Stuff!!!!

[@thomasnodine4072]

Legend. Check him out with Roy Orbison and Friends

[@shelbyrobertson1743]

R.I.P. my friend.

[@Ireland299]

WORLD FAMOUS

[@davidshahan7528]

always said ron tutt was one of the best drummer in the world,,john Bonham neil pert are the best in the world,,,,john from led zep. is no longer with us,,but always said look at tutt's drum set,,for elvis,,elvis had the best musians in the world ,,your the best RONNIE TUTT

[@53mango]

Slow down folks Tutt is a great drummer ,but in the 60s it was DJ Fontana that introduced this sound that Ronnie is playing

[@subatomic10]

Really ?

[@geeram516]

I always said, when John Bonham passed away. Led Zeppelin should have Ronnie for drums. He kind of looked like Bonham and I know he could have got the playing done.

[@pearldrummer4077]

Never thought of that Gee but can you imagine it. Could have been amazing.

[@subatomic10]

I read he was friends with Bonham

[@bourkept]

I used to play trumpet then i quit then played drums too

[@petrarassfeld7269]

❤

[@elvis-jj1sc]

ronnie was a king also tcb ronnie!

[@AquaAnim]

swweeeeeet

[@zacharychall-hutchinson6720]

I regret to inform you that Ronnie has passed away

[@punchline43]

Geez..cut off mid-sentence by a 25 second outro-nice job! Good video otherwise.

[@drummerjen]

Lol and then it stopped :p

[@gtorjoepontiac5136]

First question should have been how has Elvis affected his life. The only reason he's relevant.

[@jamesd3594]

Churlish comment: Elvis had a lot more time for him than you evidently do. Have a little respect.